“Information is the first thing you lose in a crisis — and the first thing that saves you.”
When the towers go dark, the families who can still talk, listen, and see what’s coming are the ones who make it through calm and in control. The other 98% are blind and silent. This manual closes that gap — in plain English, with gear you can actually afford.
What’s Inside the Manual
Six field-ready chapters — from your first radio to live drone recon drills.
1. Talk When Cell Towers Are Dead
Beginner GMRS in 15 minutes — channels, range, and the exact handhelds to start with.
2. Reach the Next County & State
When local fails, HF radio carries your voice across the country. The simple starter setup.
3. Hear What Others Can’t
Use a scanner to monitor weather, responders, and traffic before the panic spreads.
4. See the Threat First (Drone Recon)
Scout roads, rally points, and your perimeter from the sky. The beginner drone playbook.
5. Fun Practice Drills
Weekend missions the whole family enjoys — radio relay games and drone scouting runs.
6. Protect It From EMP
One Faraday bag can save every radio and drone you own. What to shield and how.
Get the Manual + the Monthly Prepper Intel Report
Drop your email and we’ll send the field manual plus a once-a-month briefing on prepper sentiment, new threats on the horizon, and smarter ways to get ready — before Day-X ever arrives.
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📌 Pinned From the Field
What other preppers are saying.
★★★★★
“Got my whole family on GMRS in an afternoon following this. The drone scouting drill is now our Sunday tradition.”
— Dale R., Idaho
★★★★★
“Finally a comms guide that doesn’t assume you’re a ham radio engineer. Printed it for the bug-out bag.”
— Maria T., Colorado
★★★★★
“The monthly report is the only prepper email I actually read. Signed up the family roster the same night.”
— Greg P., Montana
Your Printable Field Kit Is Below ⬇
Print it, fill it in by hand, and stash it in your bug-out bag. Works with zero power.
Bug-Out Day-X • Eyes & Ears Field Manual
Grid-Down Comms & Drone Recon — Family Field Plan
Print this. Fill it in by hand. Keep one copy in each bug-out bag and one at home base.
Beginner Quick-Start (Read First)
- Pick a family channel & backup. Choose one primary GMRS channel and one backup. Everyone memorizes both.
- Set a daily radio check time. e.g. 8:00 AM & 8:00 PM — a 10-second “radio check, all good” from each member.
- Assign call signs. Short, clear, no real names on air (see roster below).
- Charge weekly. Radios, drone batteries, and power banks topped off every Sunday.
- Faraday the spares. Keep one spare radio + drone controller in a Faraday bag, always.
Family Comms & Recon Roster
| Member | Call Sign | Assigned Radio | Primary / Backup Channel | Recon / Drone Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Rally Points & Comms Windows
| Location | Address / Grid | Who Reports Here | Check-in Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Rally | |||
| Secondary Rally | |||
| Out-of-Area Contact |
Equipment Checklist — By Member
COMMUNICATIONS
☐ Extended / upgrade antenna
☐ HF base radio (home station)
☐ Scanner / weather radio
☐ Printed channel & frequency card
☐ Power bank + charging cable
☐ Faraday bag for spare comms
DRONE RECON
☐ 2–3 charged drone batteries
☐ Charging hub + power source
☐ SD card (footage / mapping)
☐ Drone go-bag / carry case
☐ Printed flight & rally checklist
☐ Faraday bag for controller
Fun Family Practice Drills (Do One a Week)
| Drill | Goal | Done ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Radio Relay Race | Pass a message across all members on the family channel, fastest time wins. | |
| Blind Check-In | Everyone checks in from a different room/spot using only the radio — no shouting. | |
| Drone Scout Run | Fly the perimeter / driveway, report 3 things you see over the radio. | |
| Rally Point Rehearsal | Walk/drive to the primary rally point and radio in on arrival. | |
| Dead-Zone Hunt | Find where your radios lose signal around the property — map it. |
© Grid Down Gear / Bug-Out Day-X — Built for preparedness, not panic. | bogriddowngear.com