When a storm brings down power lines, a wildfire forces an evacuation or a long outage silences the cell network, you rarely get time to hunt for a missing adapter. A go-bag is one pre-packed kit that lets you leave in minutes and still be able to operate. This guide builds it in tiers, so you can start small and grow it, with the goal of keeping you on the air and reasonably comfortable for about 72 hours.
Why 72 hours is the planning target
Emergency agencies commonly suggest that households be able to look after themselves for at least three days, because that is often how long it takes for normal services to recover or outside help to arrive. Building your radio kit around the same window gives you a clear, practical yardstick.
Two reminders first. Transmitting requires the correct amateur licence, and the rules differ between Canada and the USA, so follow the regulations where you operate. Also, amateur radio in an emergency is a volunteer service. Do not self-deploy into a danger zone, and follow the instructions of any served agency or organised net. Listening, on the other hand, needs no licence at all.
Plan in three tiers
Trying to pack everything at once leads to a bag that is too heavy to carry and too expensive to finish. Think in layers instead:
- Tier one, grab essentials: a handheld radio, a spare battery, your paperwork and enough water and food for the first day.
- Tier two, field station: a more capable radio, a proper battery, an antenna you can raise quickly and the tools to do it.
- Tier three, comfort and endurance: solar charging, shelter, spares and the small things that make day three easier than day one.
Tier one: the radio
For most people the core of the kit is a dual-band VHF/UHF handheld. Programme it before you need it with your local repeaters, simplex channels and any weather or public-service channels you can legally and sensibly use. Then print that memory list, because a phone or programming cable may not be available when you need it.
Add a spare battery, a battery case that takes ordinary AA cells, and a better antenna than the stock rubber duck, such as a roll-up or telescoping design. A speaker-microphone saves the radio from being handled constantly.
If you hold HF privileges, a compact, low-power HF transceiver is a sensible tier-two addition. You do not need 100 watts to be useful; regional communication on the lower HF bands is often possible with modest power and a decent antenna.
Power: the part everyone underestimates
Battery capacity is measured in amp-hours, and the maths is simple: average current multiplied by hours. A radio averaging 2 amps over 72 hours would need about 144 amp-hours, far more than a portable battery holds. That example is only illustrative, but it shows why power planning matters.
The fixes are practical:
- Listen far more than you transmit. Receive current is much lower than transmit current.
- Run the lowest power that gets the message through.
- Choose a battery you can carry, such as a lithium iron phosphate or sealed lead-acid unit, and put a fuse close to the positive terminal.
- Add a folding solar panel with a charge controller to top up during daylight.
- Standardise on one connector type across the whole kit so everything swaps cleanly. Many operators use Anderson Powerpole connectors for this reason.
Sealed lead-acid batteries last longer if you avoid draining them deeply, so plan to use only roughly half their rated capacity. Charge every battery fully before it goes into the bag, and recharge and test it every few months.
Antennas you can raise quickly
A simple wire antenna is light, cheap and hard to beat for a go-bag. Pack the wire, some cord, a throw line with a small weight and a few stakes or clamps. Add short coax jumpers, adapters for the connector types you use (PL-259, BNC and SMA are common) and a compact SWR meter or antenna analyser so you know the system is working before you call. A common-mode choke can also help keep noise out of the receiver.
If you are unsure what suits your setup, this beginner's antenna decision guide is a good place to start. Practise putting the antenna up in daylight and with gloves on, so the first time you do it is not during an emergency.
Paperwork: paper works when batteries do not
A phone is a great reference until it runs flat. Keep a waterproof pouch with:
- A copy of your licence or qualification certificate and a photo ID.
- Printed frequency lists, repeater lists and local net schedules.
- Names and phone numbers of family, neighbours and your local club.
- A notebook, pencils (they still write when wet) and blank message forms.
- Maps of your area, plus a page of phonetics and common Q-codes. The ham radio quick reference prints neatly for this.
Keep a simple paper log of who you heard, when and on what frequency. Once things are back to normal you can enter those contacts into your online logbook and keep a tidy record of your field practice.
Personal gear: look after the operator
A radio operator who is cold, thirsty or in the dark will not operate well. Cover the basics:
- Water and food for three days. A commonly cited guideline is about four litres (one gallon) of water per person per day.
- Any regular medication, a first-aid kit and sun protection.
- Layered clothing, rain gear and sturdy footwear.
- A headlamp with spare batteries, a multi-tool and a small tarp.
- A power bank for your phone, and some cash.
- Headphones, which help you hear weak signals and avoid disturbing others.
Pack it, label it and test it
A kit that has never been used is a kit with surprises. Try this routine:
- Pack everything in one or two bags with labelled pouches for radio, power, antenna and paperwork.
- Take it to a park or your yard and set up from scratch, timing yourself.
- Make a few contacts or listen on your local repeater or net to confirm everything really works.
- Write down what was missing, fix it and repeat.
- Check batteries and expiry dates on food, water and medication every few months.
Before choosing an HF band, look at the live HF propagation page to see what is likely to be open. Joining a local club exercise is also an excellent rehearsal, and you can find a club near you.
Stay safe when you deploy
- Keep antennas well away from power lines, and look up before you throw a line into a tree.
- Keep people, pets and children away from an antenna while you transmit, and use only the power you need.
- If thunderstorms approach, stop operating, disconnect the antenna and take shelter.
- Run generators outdoors, well away from tents and windows, because they produce carbon monoxide.
- Check polarity before connecting any battery and never leave it unfused.
Common mistakes
- Relying on one radio and one battery. Carry a spare of the thing you cannot do without.
- Mismatched connectors. Standardise, and pack a few adapters.
- Unprogrammed radios. A handheld with empty memories is much less useful.
- No paper backup. Do not depend on a phone or the internet.
- Ignoring the licence rules. Study and stay current. Practice questions on the licence exam practice pages can help, whether you are preparing for the Canadian or the US exams.
- Never testing. If you have not set it up in a park, you do not know it works.
Wrap-up
A good go-bag is not about owning the most gear. It is about having the right things, together, tested and ready. Start with a handheld, your paperwork and water, add a power source and a quick antenna, and build outward. Set a reminder to check it every few months, and you will be ready long before you need it.
How HamRadioList can help
Once your bag is packed, {{svc:logbook|the free HamRadioList logbook}} is a good place to record your practice sessions and field tests, and {{svc:propagation|the live HF propagation page}} helps you pick a band before you set up. If you are still working toward your licence, the free exam practice pages are a friendly way to get there.
- Free online ham radio logbook - log every contact, import and export ADIF, sync with QRZ.com and keep your awards organised.
- Live HF propagation - see current band conditions before you call CQ.
- Ham radio quick reference - bands, modes, phonetics and Q-codes on one page.
- Find a club - locate a local amateur radio club.
- License exam practice - practice questions for the US and Canadian amateur exams.
New here, or getting back on the air? Create your free HamRadioList account to log contacts, check band conditions and practise for your exam, or browse more guides from the blog. HamRadioList is built by amateur radio operators in Nova Scotia for operators everywhere.