Latest Posts
We post at least one article a month, but for 2025, we will be trying to maintain a two-week posting schedule provided the same quality is maintained.
ADS-B and UAT for Situational Awareness
If you’re already using a software defined radio to monitor the RF spectrum, you can put it to use monitoring local air traffic to enhance your situational awareness in an...
Read MoreEmComm Server Power Management
Until now, I have been running wall adapters to my Raspberry Pi’s and an Ethernet switch, but it’s time to get things wired in a bit better. From determining our...
Read MoreCombat Rations and Battlefield Snacks
They say an army marches on its stomach and anyone who’s studied logistics surely agrees. Professional militaries and preppers alike invest heavily in food security – for obvious reasons, and...
Read MoreSecuring Our Server – Uncomplicated Firewall & Fail2Ban
One thing we can do off the bat is set up our firewall which is exactly what we are going to do in this third part of our portable server...
Read MoreSimplify Password Management with KeePass
Password management is essential to your digital security. In this segment of our portable EmComm Server build, we will be walking through how to install KeePass and setting up a...
Read MoreNow on GitHub – EmComm Server Live Updates
The EmComm server project is now live on GitHub, bringing version control, live updates, and collaboration opportunities to the forefront. Moving forward, you’ll now have a front row pass to...
Read MoreExternal Links
These are links to various external resources we’ve found helpful over the years. We do not control their content, nor do we always agree with it, but these sources should help break the echo chamber and foster ever more rounded knowledge.
Tactical Hyve
Tactical Hyve covers a ton of information related to the shooting sports, from dry fire drills, to competition.
Sage Dynamics
Sage Dynamics isn’t as active online as they used to be, but Aarron Cowan is a wealth of knowledge and has a ton of content posted on their YouTube channel. Most of the content is focused on equipment, but there are a few on training as well.
Kinetic Consulting
Especially if you are diving into night vision, Kinetic Consulting is another channel you may want to check out. He also posts a variety of content on concealed carry, pistol optics, and the like.
www.youtube.com/@KineticConsulting
Dirty Civilian
With cinemagraphic intros and solid information on a wide variety of topics, Dirty Civilian posts a lot of really good content on defense and preparedness as a whole.
www.youtube.com/@dirty-civilian
TNVC
Tactical Night Vision Company is of course a retailer, but their YouTube is full of helpful information about selecting and using the right NVDs for you.
Pat Mac
Pat Mcnamera is another good instructor to follow. He has a big personality, but is engaging and knowledgeable.
Hop & Brass Facts
These are two YouTubers who put out great content as far as educational content and videography. I put them in the same category here because if you like one, you’ll probably like the other – besides, their channels are somewhat intertwined as far as content sometimes.
Orion Training Group
OTG has some great videos on the more tactical side of defense as well as the more “practical” concealed carry side of things.
www.youtube.com/@oriontraininggroupllc2782
Active Self Protection
ASP has more content related to self defense than any other resource I can think of. From self defense situations caught and analyzed on film to range practice sessions and even legal discussions.
www.youtube.com/@ActiveSelfProtection
US Law Shield
I use US Law Shield for my personal concealed carry insurance, and recommend that anyone who carries daily uses a service like them. Beyond the peace of mind of having legal defense if needed, they also provided an ebook on the gun laws for my state which was packed with critical guidance about legal self defense.
Ben Stoeger
Ben Stoeger seems to rub some people the wrong way at times, but from a shooting and educational skills standpoint, there is a lot that can be learned from him.
www.youtube.com/@BenStoeger187
Kit Badger
If anyone can make your gear look under-budget, it’s Ivan from Kit Badger. Always decked out in the most high-end tactical clothing and equipment, he also is constantly attending and sharing his experiences with high-quality defensive training courses.
Spiritus Systems
Primarily a manufacturer of tactical nylon gear, Spiritus also makes great educational content on their YouTube channel.
FEMA
FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute offers free online training through its Learning Management System. Build skills in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery with courses for individuals and organizations.
Local Extension Offices
Local extension offices provide resources on farming, gardening, and sustainable living. Connect with experts for advice, workshops, and tools to improve your land management and agricultural practices.
North American Rescue
NAR is a medical equipment manufacturer that produces high quality equipment for both the civilian and tactical markets. Some of their gear requires medical authorization to purchase, but they are still a great source for the basics, like compressed gauze, TQs, and pressure dressings.
TacMed Solutions
TacMed Solutions is another excellent medical equipment manufacturer. I prefer their TQs over the CAT from NAR, an think they generally produce a better quality product. However both brands are top notch and you can’t go wrong with either.
Public Field Manuals
Access publicly available military field manuals covering survival, navigation, first aid, and more. These comprehensive guides offer practical skills and knowledge for various situations.
S2 Underground
S2 Underground on YouTube has videos on a wide variety of intelligence based concepts.
www.youtube.com/@S2Underground
Prepared Airman
www.youtube.com/@PreparedAirman
Dr Christopher Larsen
Dr Larsen has a resume too impressive to list, but is an excellent resource for small unit tactics and the author of several books on the subject.
www.youtube.com/@christopherlarsen7788
Prep Medic
Prep Medic is a good source of medical preparedness related content on YouTube. He has a diverse professional medical background giving him a unique perspective on various aspects of medical preparedness.
Ranger Handbook Audiobook
The Ranger Handbook is packed full of great information about working with small units in an effective manner. Here’s an audiobook version on YouTube.
ARRL
The American Amateur Radio Relay League is the national association for amateur radio, offering resources, training, and advocacy for ham radio operators.
RepeaterBook
RepeaterBook makes it easy to find local ham radio repeaters. Simply type in your zip code or use the interactive map to narrow down the list of repeaters near you. The app is also useful and can be used offline once you have set it up initially.
RadioReference
RadioReference is a great source for finding local public service and amateur radio frequencies. This is great for finding channels to program into your scanners.
HamExam
If you’re preparing to take an amateur radio licensing exam, you should be taking practice tests. HamExam is a website that uses the actual question pool to create flashcards, study guides, and practice tests. Their site is pretty basic, though you can optionally create an account to track your progress for free.
The Tech Prepper
The Tech Prepper’s YouTube channel is a wealth of knowledge about radio communications. He is constantly putting his gear and skills to use in real world conditions with a focus on being man-portable and expedient.
www.youtube.com/@TheTechPrepper
KM4ACK
KM4ACK is a ham radio operator on YouTube, who not only works with some intriguing equipment from time to time, but also puts together his own equipment with a modular approach.
RATPAC
RATPAC produces regularly scheduled, long form discussions on a variety of communications preparedness topics.
Suicide and Mental Health
Especially if you plan on carrying a gun, your mental health needs to be in check. Below are a few resources for suicide prevention and mental health assistance.
National Suicide Hotline: 988
National Institute of Mental Health
Athlean-X
Jeff Cavalier over at Athlean-X is a fitness coach who emphasizes safe lifting practices for both training muscle growth as well as overall performance.
The Art of War Audiobook
The Art of War by Sun Tzu is a classic book about facing various types of adversaries and is a must read for anyone really diving into the study of tactics. Here is a good audiobook version on YouTube.
The Book of Five Rings Audiobook
Similar to The Art of War, yet lesser known, The Book of Five Rings is another great read for those studying tactics.
Vortex Podcast
The podcast produced by Vortex Optics covers a wide range of shooting related topics from hunting, to defense, to of course the optics used for them all.