Establishment of an Effective and Cost-efficient means of Communication in the Advent of a Disaster

Since times, disasters have been classified as mainly by two types: Natural and Man-made. Recently, In 2011 Japan faced a tragedy where natural disasters (tsunami, earthquakes) were accompanied by man-made disasters (nuclear radiation emitted by damaged nuclear reactors).It was found that, man-made disasters could be prevented whereas natural disasters could be controlled. But when a diabolical disaster strikes without a warning, communication plays a vital role in survival. With the help of communication, the emergency disaster service team can be contacted and alerted the whereabouts of the casualties. In order to know the whereabouts of the casualties we have various working systems like mobiles, internet, etc. But what if disasters like cyclones, earthquakes effect communication by disrupting the antenna which is a primary source for mobile communication? So here comes an oldest mode of communication Home Amateur Radio (HAM) which is still the superlative choice. Amateur radios come in handy in such dire situations. This paper deals with the making of a homemade amateur radio that can be built using the simplest and commonly found electronic equipments available and the communication procedures regarding the transmission and reception of various signals. These hams hold a major advantage over other communication systems as they are easily made, low cost and portable in nature. It is essential for a portable and light weight means of communication during repercussion of a disaster as it quickens the pace for travelling. These hams are allocated with certain frequencies which help in communicating with the outside world. The homemade radios have become essential now for people belonging to every sector of the society as it helps them to gain both technical knowledge and a medium for maintaining amiable social relationships.