Why PRaaS™ Beats GMRS, MANET, and Even HAM Radio for Local Off-Grid Communications

Preppers and emergency planners have more choices than ever. GMRS, HAM, MANET, even cell-based mesh devices dot the landscape. Each promises their version of independence. But when the grid is down and the stakes are high, only one combines true privacy, legality, and practicality: PRaaS™ — Private Radio as a Service. Let’s discuss each one.

Ham Radio

HAM radio is unmatched for long-distance reach. It’s how operators share disaster reports when phones fail, and it has saved countless lives.
But HAM is public by design. Every transmission is open-air, unencrypted, and identifiable by call sign. FCC rules specifically forbid encryption or hidden messages.

That means if you plan on using use HAM radio as your local tactical channel, anyone with a scanner can monitor your traffic.
HAM is perfect for situational awareness (listening for regional or national updates) but not for secure, private coordination between family or group members.

Prepper takeaway: HAM radio is a great set of ears, not necessarily a mouth, (especially locally) when things go bad.

GMRS

GMRS radios are everywhere. They are affordable, legal, and simple to use. And, They’re a good starting point for families who just want to stay in touch.

But for serious preparedness or coordinated operations, GMRS shows its cracks.

• No encryption: Every transmission is public.

• No accountability: Many GMRS repeaters are community-run and open-access. If the owner shuts it off, changes tones, or loses power, you’re out of luck.

Even when Shielded Signals deploys repeaters in the future, the difference will be clear: they’ll be controlled, support our encrypted radios, and governed under one FCC license. This will ensure authorized use, consistent configuration, and high availability.

Prepper takeaway: GMRS is fine for hobbyists. PRaaS™ is built for groups who can’t afford to wonder if their link will still work when they need it most.

MANET

MANET (“Mobile Ad-hoc Networking”) has become the new darling of the prepper community. The promise sounds irresistible: radios linking directly in a self-healing mesh, no towers, no repeaters, no central control.

But The reality is more complicated.

Most civilian MANET systems rely on short-range Wi-Fi or Bluetooth links. Claims of “10-kilometer range” are lab conditions — perfect line-of-sight, high-gain antennas, and fixed power. In the real world, range drops to a few hundred meters.

Even more concerning, the so-called “encryption” is usually the same WPA2/3 security your home router uses. Traffic is decrypted and re-encrypted at every hop, meaning a compromised node can read every packet that passes through. Military MANET gear uses secure, frequency-hopping waveforms and hardware encryption modules. things no civilian prepper radio includes, and honestly, equipment most civilians can easily afford. the battery alone for a military grade unit starts at over $300.

Prepper takeaway: MANET may look like the future, but it’s built on consumer Wi-Fi tech, not military encryption. For real security and reliability, choose systems designed for it from the ground up — like PRaaS™.

PRaaS™: Built for Local Resilience

PRaaS™ fills the gap that all Ham, GMRS, and MANET leave open. It’s encrypted, private, and professionally managed under Shielded Signals’ FCC license. Every radio arrives pre-programmed, tamper-locked, and field-ready, with AES-256 encryption keys unique to each subscriber or family.

• Local coordination: perfect for families, teams, and neighborhoods.

• Secure by design: no scanners, no eavesdropping.

• Simple operation: just power on and talk — no configuration or call-sign rules to memorize.

• Legally authorized: operates under Shielded Signals’ license, not your own.

Prepper takeaway: When you need to talk quietly, legally, and reliably — PRaaS™ is the tool you want in your hand.

A layered approach

there’s no single silver bullet for communications. Every situation presents its own challenges. But for most “grid-down” scenarios, for maximum efficiency, intel, and security, this is how your communications strategy should play out:

• Use HAM for listening outward — gathering intel and checking conditions beyond your region.

• Use PRaaS™ for talking inward — coordinating with your family, neighbors, or local team securely.

Together, they form a layered strategy: situational awareness from afar, tactical coordination close to home.

The best preparedness plans balance reach, reliability, and realism. GMRS gives you accessibility. HAM gives you distance. MANET gives you novelty.

PRaaS™ gives you privacy and control.

When everyone else is scrambling for A signal, you and your group will already be connected. quietly, legally, and securely.