Depends on what your needs and objectives are. VHF/UHF line-of-sight radios aren’t going to be good for more than a mile or two at most after the ham and GMRS repeaters go down. FRS will be OK for tactical comms a little beyond shouting distance - but not much. GMRS will have better range, especially those connected to a real antenna. A programmable scanner will probably be more useful unless you have a defined communications target withing a 2-20 mile radius. Since most law enforcement/first responder comms have not gone to trunked digital systems that works basically like the cellular network, they will be dependent on commercial power or availability of fuel supplies for backup generators, and in many cases (sadly) the internet. If the S really HTF and these digital networks go down, the fire/police dept’s that still have operational backup V/UHF FM systems will revert to using them, and those local frequencies in your area would be important to have on file. As long as the digital systems like P25 are operational, you need a $500 scanner to hear them, period.
The real action is likely to be “off the grid”, using purloined and highly protected HF frequencies and most likely frequency hopping and/or encryption.
Many of them are streamed (during normal times), but I don't much care for that because you can't customize anything. You're stuck with the talkgroups and whatever the streamer has chosen.
It’s why HF is where it’s at...Or will be...Talk/listen to the world completely off the grid if one desires.
Any idea what I have here? Is it an asset for the SHTF scenario? Is there some sort of chrystals I should buy to make it more versatile?
Imagine it might be useful if I could figure out what sort of antennae it uses and stack it up with the marine VHF and CB that I keep in the boat.
This is an area I need to improve on the 'Gulch"!
HF is my preference. Other than a skip zone here or there it is very reliable.