Playbooks

Small Town Communication Network

500–5,000 residents3–6 months$2,000–$20,000

Regulatory references (licensing, frequencies, equipment certification) reflect US rules (FCC) unless otherwise noted. Requirements differ outside the US — verify with your national radio authority before operating. Full disclaimer →

Small towns have different characteristics than neighborhoods: greater geographic spread, existing institutions that can serve as anchor points, potential for local government partnership, and clubs that often already exist.

Before You Start: Situation Assessment

Key questions for small towns:

  1. Is there an existing club? Check ARRL Club Finder.
  2. Does the local emergency management office have a communication plan?
  3. What infrastructure already exists? , EOC, fire/police radios.
  4. What are the geographic constraints? Hills, valleys, river corridors.

Assess and Leverage Existing Infrastructure

Month 1

Contact existing organizations

  • Local club
  • ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) group
  • Local emergency management office
  • Fire department and EMS

Inventory existing assets

  • (location, frequency, coverage)
  • Emergency operations center (EOC) communication capability
  • Generator-backed facilities
  • Elevated sites (water towers, fire towers, hilltops)

Identify gaps

  • Areas with no repeater coverage
  • Facilities without backup power. See portable power options →
  • Populations without communication capability (elderly, non-English speakers)

Build the Backbone

Months 1–3

Repeater network

If no exists, install a VHF/UHF repeater at the highest accessible point:

  • Hardware: Kenwood TKR-850 or Motorola CDM1550 (~$500–$1,500 used)
  • Controller: SCOM 7K or similar (~$300)
  • Antenna: Comet GP-9 or Diamond X-510 (~$100–$200)
  • Power: Connect to generator-backed power at the host site. See power options →

Meshtastic backbone

Install T-Beam at 3–5 elevated locations (water tower, hilltop, tall buildings). Use solar-powered nodes at locations without grid power. Configure as router nodes (not client nodes) for maximum mesh performance. See mesh networking →

AREDN consideration

If you have licensed operators with networking skills, provides full IP networking capability — VoIP telephony, email, and data sharing between sites. Install AREDN nodes at key community sites (EOC, hospital, fire stations, shelters).

Establish Anchor Points

Months 2–3

Identify 5–10 anchor points that will serve as community communication hubs:

  • Town hall / EOC
  • Fire station(s)
  • Hospital or medical clinic
  • Library
  • School(s)
  • Community center
  • Grocery store / pharmacy

Each anchor point should have

  • A radio (minimum: programmed handheld; preferred: mobile or base station). Compare radio options →
  • A
  • A printed frequency list and communication plan
  • A designated communication volunteer

Community Outreach

Months 2–4

Ham radio licensing

Organize a licensing class using ARRL resources. Target: 1 licensed operator per 50 households. Focus on people who are already community connectors — neighborhood watch, church leaders, business owners.

Licensed short-range radio (e.g. GMRS)

Promote the no-exam option for families (US; check your country's equivalent). Organize a group purchase of compatible radios. Program all radios with common frequencies.

Training

  • Monthly nets for licensed operators
  • Quarterly community drills. See the Annual Drill playbook →
  • Annual tabletop exercise with local emergency management

Integration with Emergency Management

Meet with the local emergency management coordinator early. They often have resources (grant funding, access to facilities, training support) but lack the volunteer base to execute. You have the volunteers; they have the authority and resources.

Minimum documentation

  • A letter of agreement specifying roles during activations
  • A shared frequency list
  • A contact roster (who to call when)

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