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Training & radio

When the phones go quiet, the North End stays connected.

We use two kinds of radio that work without cell towers or internet. Meshtastic: small, inexpensive radios that pair with your phone and pass text messages from device to device across the North End. No license needed. HAM (amateur) radio: licensed operators who can reach across the county and to official emergency teams.

How messages move when phones are down

  1. Residents ⇄ Block Captain Face to face, printed notices, and Meshtastic.
  2. Block Captain ⇄ Area Lead Meshtastic and HAM radio.
  3. Area Lead ⇄ Coordinator HAM radio and Meshtastic.
  4. Coordinator ⇄ NKFR, Kitsap County DEM, and tribal partners HAM radio, with Kitsap ARES and the Suquamish Tribe HAM Radio Team.

Meshtastic (anyone can join)

  • What it is: open-source, off-grid text messaging over LoRa radio. Devices pass messages along a mesh, so they reach farther than any single radio. Pairs with a phone app over Bluetooth, or runs on its own.
  • No license needed in the US.
  • What to get: a Meshtastic-compatible node, a battery or small solar panel, and the free app. A short, vendor-neutral device list is coming.
  • Public channel: NorthEnd, for community updates and check-ins.
  • Etiquette: short messages, include your road name, and no chatter during an activation.
  • Monthly setup sessions: bring your device and we'll help you set it up. Dates are on the home page.

HAM radio (licensed operators)

  • The backbone between Area Leads, the coordinator, and official responders.
  • Partners: Kitsap ARES, the Kitsap County Amateur Radio Club, and our partner the Suquamish Tribe's HAM Radio Team.
  • Get licensed: the Technician exam is easier than most people think. We're starting study groups. Our goal is at least one licensed operator per area, ideally one per block.

Everyone: keep a battery or crank AM/FM radio with NOAA Weather Radio for official information.

If radios fail too

Runners and paper. Block Captains post printed updates at their block's meeting spot and walk status reports to their Area Lead.

Radio groups

Interested in radio?

Tick the radio box when you join your block and we'll invite you to the next setup session.

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