Emergency Communications Consulting

When it matters most, will your property be able to communicate?

When it matters most, will your property be able to communicate?

Amateur Extra GMRS Licensee 20+ Years IT/Network East Tennessee & Nationwide Remote

I design and help implement integrated emergency communications systems for estates, ranches, and remote properties - so when cell towers fail, internet goes dark, and the power grid goes down, your property has a tested, reliable communications plan that works.

Emergency communications consulting — PACE layers, property-wide radio design, and staff drill procedures

Real engagements produce documented PACE plans, programmed channel lists, power budgets, and staff check-in procedures — not another drawer of radios.

  • Go-kit frequency sheets & repeater programming
  • GMRS, ham, Meshtastic, and satellite contingencies
  • Quarterly drill schedule your staff can follow
Request information Case studies Free assessment checklist Start here: property path DIY tools first

Three single points of failure

Cell Towers

Towers go down in floods, hurricanes, ice storms, and grid failures — and rural or remote properties are often the last to get service restored, if it's restored at all.

Internet

Fiber, cable, and even satellite internet depend on power and infrastructure that can fail for days or weeks during a major event, cutting off your ability to call for help or reach family and staff.

Power Grid

When the grid goes down, so does everything that depends on it — routers, cell boosters, security systems, charging gear. A communications plan that only works with utility power isn't a plan.

Engagements built for how serious you want to get

Assessment

$2,500
  • 90-minute video call
  • Current comms audit
  • Written PACE assessment
  • Frequency recommendations
  • 30-day email support

Already filled out the free checklist? We'll use it as a starting point on the call.

On-Site

From $14,995
  • Everything in Integrated Design
  • 1–3 days on-site
  • Line-of-sight analysis and antenna testing
  • System validation and equipment testing
  • Half-day staff training session
  • Full documentation package
  • Annual retainer option available

On-site work follows design and planning. Book a discovery call first to discuss your property, travel, and whether an on-site visit makes sense.

What each engagement delivers

DeliverableAssessmentIntegrated DesignOn-Site
PACE assessment / planWritten assessmentFull PACE documentValidated on property
Frequency & programming listRecommendationsComplete channel planTested with staff
GMRS / ham / DMR / Part 90AuditSystem designInstall validation
Power & antenna planHigh-levelEngineeredOn-site SWR/LOS
Staff trainingVideo consultsHalf-day on-site
Timeline~2 weeks4–8 weeksAfter design + travel

Property assessment wizard · PACE examples · Sample deliverables · Quarterly drill outline

What consulting saves beyond gear lists

  • Redundant spend: Assessment clients typically avoid $3,000–$8,000 in duplicate radios, wrong-service licensing, and antennas that do not cover the property.
  • Time to operational: Documented channel cards and staff procedures replace months of ad-hoc “try this repeater” — first quarterly drill often within 30 days of delivery.
  • Risk reduction: PACE layers tested on paper and in tabletop drills — measured failover (e.g., Alternate contact in under 5 minutes) vs cell-only dependence.
  • Part 90 clarity: Know when encryption requires private land mobile licensing — not ham “privacy tones.” Part 90 guide

View redacted deliverable samples

Not ready for a full engagement?

Start with the same frameworks I use in paid consulting — free printable PDFs, delivered by email. A DIY first step to see what a professional audit would cover.

Emergency Assessment Checklist

Self-audit your current emergency communications setup — licensing, gear, programming, power, and planning gaps — before they matter.

Get the Free Checklist →

PACE Planning Worksheet

Map Primary, Alternate, Contingency, and Emergency comms layers for your household or property — the same PACE method behind every consulting engagement.

Get the Free Worksheet →

Property assessment wizard

Five questions — DIY path vs consulting, GMRS, mobile, HF, or Part 90 private radio for encrypted operations.

Run wizard →

All free downloads live on the Resources page, including the GMRS quick-reference card.

What an Assessment or Design engagement covers

Illustrative scenarios — not published client testimonials. They show the shape of deliverables (PACE layers, channel plans, staff procedures). For redacted sample documents, see sample deliverables.

Example · Estate · Assessment

Multi-building rural estate

Typical situation: Several buildings, household + occasional staff, GMRS handhelds and maybe Starlink — but no written plan, shared channel list, or backup-power math. Cell is treated as Primary until it fails.

Engagement focus: Map Primary / Alternate / Contingency / Emergency; document a usable channel card; size a 72-hour radio power budget; draft a one-page check-in procedure.

You leave with: Written PACE assessment, frequency recommendations tied to real regional listings (e.g. East TN guide), and a short drill outline — not a shopping cart of untested gear.

Example · Ranch · Integrated Design

Working ranch / large acreage

Typical situation: House, barn, pastures, weak cell in low ground; FRS blister packs or a single mobile; “we’ll drive over” as the plan for gate and pasture work.

Engagement focus: Full system design (often GMRS base + mobiles, simplex for field work, power at a barn desk, optional HF contingency for regional liaison), antenna placement notes, and staff one-pagers for day vs night watch.

You leave with: PACE document, CHIRP-ready channel plan, power/antenna notes, and a quarterly drill outline your people can follow without you on the radio.

Sample deliverables PACE examples by property type Request information

Plans that match what is actually on the air in East TN

Consulting recommendations use public East Tennessee frequency, net, and emcomm reference maintained on this site — the same guides operators use free of charge. Links below are to public resources; they are not claims of club office, formal partnership, or official affiliation unless stated elsewhere with your permission.

  • East TN frequency & net data — curated on local.php, emcomm hub, and HF / SWL. Confirm on-air; schedules change.
  • Public infrastructure pages — e.g. NETNRC (netrc423.org) and District 7 SKYWARN® (skywarn7.org) publish their own nets and training; this site links them for operator convenience.
  • Free operator tools — offline ICS forms, PACE planner, net tools, and spotter worksheet on the tools hub for anyone, including ARES/RACES volunteers. No paid engagement required.
  • Community corrections — wrong tone, retired machine, or moved net? Submit an update so the public list stays accurate for the next net and the next property plan.

Submit a frequency or net update SKYWARN / ARES get-involved guide

Credentials that back the plan

Amateur Extra Class License

The FCC's highest amateur radio license class — full HF, VHF, and UHF privileges across every amateur band.

Licensed GMRS Operator

Family GMRS license (WSAY664) — the service most consumer and estate radios actually run on.

20+ Years in IT & Network Infrastructure

A professional networking background applied directly to RF systems, redundancy, and failover design.

Hands-On Field Experience

Systems built and tested through real East Tennessee weather events, including the regional impact of Hurricane Helene.

YouTube Educator

Teaching ham radio, GMRS, and emergency communications to a real, growing audience — not just writing theory.

Published Author

Author of A Beginner's Guide to Ham Radio and GMRS for Emergency Preparedness.

Common questions

How layered comms (not one radio) fits property and emcomm planning — more on the video library.

Who is this consulting for?

Property owners who need reliable communications when cell, internet, or grid power fail — estates, ranches, farms, remote homesteads, and commercial sites with staff spread across acreage. If you need a tested plan (not just more radios in a drawer), this is for you.

What's the difference between the three tiers?

Assessment ($2,500) audits what you have and delivers a written PACE evaluation with frequency recommendations. Integrated Design ($7,500) adds full system design — GMRS, ham, DMR, antennas, Starlink/solar integration, and a complete PACE plan document. On-Site (from $14,995) includes everything in Integrated Design plus 1–3 days on your property for testing, validation, and staff training.

Do you work outside East Tennessee?

Yes. Assessment and Integrated Design are available nationwide via video. On-site engagements are priced for travel to your location — East Tennessee and the surrounding region are easiest, but remote properties elsewhere are welcome.

What is a PACE plan?

PACE stands for Primary, Alternate, Contingency, and Emergency — four layers of communications so you're not relying on a single method. When cell service dies, you fall back to GMRS. When the repeater goes down, you switch to simplex or Meshtastic mesh. Every engagement is built around this framework.

Can I start with the free downloads before hiring you?

Absolutely — that's why they exist. The Emergency Assessment Checklist and PACE worksheet are the same frameworks used in paid engagements. Complete them first; if you hit gaps you can't solve alone, that's when consulting makes sense.

What happens after I submit an inquiry?

I review your property details and respond within 1–2 business days. We'll schedule a brief call to confirm scope, answer questions, and — if it's a fit — send a proposal with tier recommendation, timeline, and next steps. No pressure, no auto-invoices.

Do you sell or install equipment?

Consulting is design and planning focused. I recommend specific radios, antennas, and infrastructure and can coordinate licensing guidance, but equipment purchases are made by you from dealers of your choice. On-site tier includes hands-on validation of gear you already have or purchase before the visit.

Is this only for ham radio experts?

No. Many clients start with GMRS because it's simpler (no exam required). Ham radio, Meshtastic mesh, Starlink, and satellite messengers are options we evaluate based on your goals — not prerequisites. The beginner's guide book covers the same technologies from scratch.

How do I book a discovery call?

Book a free 20-minute discovery call on my calendar: schedule here. Or use the inquiry form below if you prefer email first.

Tell me about your property

Completed the free checklist or PACE worksheet? Mention that in your message — it helps us make the most of the first conversation.


KI4TQN Emergency Communications Consulting · Avery Parker · Johnson City, TN · avery@ki4tqn.com / avery@diversifiedtechsolutions.com
Service area: East Tennessee and surrounding region. Remote consulting available nationwide.