Amateur radio may be the best option for emergency communications. But is GMRS better?
That will be the topic for the March 2025 YouTube Live Stream. Well, at least the topic we start with. You all know how HamTube livestreams go...
Here is the video we will watch together at the beginning of the livestream to get the conversation started. I'm sharing it here with all of you before the livestream. If you have any input, please comment below.
Regrouped With a Plan
I've been experimenting with YouTube live streams the past few months. Wanting to do things a bit different than what we typically see. One scheduled stream per month with a focus on the preparedness angle of amateur radio and adjacent topics. With the target audience of those who may or may not be licensed hams. Those who are on the fringe of the hobby.
I've been starting off with a quick presentation, trying to keep it brief. Then go into a roundtable discussion with the guest, while interacting with the live chat.
Its been a shaky start, but that is the norm for livestreams and podcasts generally speaking. They are need some runway before they can take off.
I've decided to regroup a bit this time with a minor tweak to the plan. Have the presentation portion be pre-recorded, like the above. This has two benefits. First it make sure I get to the point and cover all the talking points I want to cover in a timely manner.
The second benefit is this. It provides an opportunity to get the great people here some type of perk. A sneak peek into what's to come on the livestream and a chance to provide your feedback and comments ahead of the live stream.
Another thing I plan to do moving forward with these live streams is to make a short "cliff notes" version as a standalone video. 10-12 minute video with most of the presentation and clips from the full live stream. Less face it. More people will probably find a 10 minute highlight video a better option to get the information they are looking for, than watching an 1 hour long livestream with a bunch of random conversations and inside jokes. Stuff that is fun in the moment, but not always useful down the road.
Back on a Regular Schedule... Hopefully
Finally, hopefully I'm back. I didn't have a Livestream in February because of a bunch of reasons. Family, friends and work will always come first for me before YouTube. Last half of January and February have been pretty demanding for me. Mostly the good kind of demanding. New projects at my work, new projects at my home. Getting a lot of neglected things in order. Plus a few curveballs that had to be dealt with. You know, life.
Things are getting back in control time wise and balance is found again in my life. For now anyways...
Live streams will be 7:00pm central on the first Wednesday of each month. I might do some random project build streams at random times too. But I still plan to dial back the pre recorded videos a bit. Maybe two per month or so for at least the first half of the year. We'll see.