Two-Way Radios for Fun and Disasters

Two-Way Radios for Fun and Disasters ~ Jessé Neri with Katarina Halm DRA Spring 2026

Written for Dunbar Residents Association – 2026 April

Starting out is easy.

During the summer of 2025, a dozen people in Dunbar learned how talking via radios could help others in a disaster. Some continued looking into what talking using radios takes so that they can help on their block and in their neighbourhood. A member of VECTOR has given some initial coaching on protocol and what radios can do. This small band started thinking about how to talk to each other at distances without needing mobile networks.

Dunbar needs radio volunteers

DEEP (Dunbar Earthquake and Emergency Preparedness is also planning how to coordinate neighbourhood response teams without mobile phones. DEEP has three types of radio it will use in a disaster (commercial VHF, amateur VHF, and bubble-pack GMRS).

Yet, volunteers who feel good using radios are still rare. We are planning a small radio activity during the spring festival in May.

Upcoming Events

On Saturday, May 2, DEEP will be gathering in Memorial Park West between 10:00 and noon to talk about the risk of brush fire close to Pacific Spirit Park. You will find the information booths next to the tennis courts.

Radios and Volunteering

Radios make many activities easier; skip yelling or wondering. Some people use radios often (hiking, off-roading, camping, surveying). Use your radios anywhere you need to talk without paying to be on a network. Or when the power is out.

DEEP is a group of people in Dunbar coming together to be ready for disaster.  It also helps other groups. DEEP is pioneering grass-roots efforts in the city. DEEP has three types of two-way radio: commercial VHF, amateur VHF, and bubble-pack GMRS.

Each type of radio has strengths. Anyone can use bubble-pack GMRS radios. Commercial radios need commercial licences and cost. Amateur radios need amateur certification or effort. Only scanners can hear all the radios. You can’t talk between amateur radios and bubble-pack radios, for example.

VECTOR is an amateur radio volunteer non-profit society. It works with the City of Vancouver emergency managers and Emergency Support Services. Members in your neighbourhood help advise DEEP. VECTOR teaches courses for people wanting certification to own amateur radios. Members help at complex civic events, adding time for practising their skills.

Upcoming Radio Game

You can join others in Memorial West Park for a short radio-enabled game on May 16 at 10:00. Play is a great way to get more familiar with your radios!

Follow-up Details – Contacts and Resources

1. Email VE7DET for more information
2. May 16 at 10:00 at the basketball court next to the DEEP container for radio game
3. Dunbar Earthquake and Emergency Preparedness has monthly workshops and a coordination point (disaster support hub)
4. VECTOR volunteers serve at complex civic events to practice their skills, assemble and maintain radio equipment for city Emergency Support Services, and help the city test its disaster radio equipment
5. Meeting Point between fountain and field house
6. You may remember when seeing people talking alone walking down the street was strange
7. You can find many types of radio scanner to listen with