I remember when I was a kid a friend of mine's father was a HAM radio operator and they had a good size tower at the back of their house. His dad used the little key thing like a telegraph operator from the old west days days would have in railroad station to send out his messages to people all around the world. "... - - - ..." was the SOS single, I do remember that, it amazed me because it was having braille for the ears instead of the fingers for a blind person.
He also had the voice radios as well and it was just so neat.
When TSHTF and it will ;people like you will be most valuable to the people in your area for getting information out and in.
Just remember, no fake news please.