Test your faraday bag. And test all the radios. (can you see your phone inside the bag via Bluetooth, WiFi, cellular [on 3,4,5g], NFC?).

I have one bag several years old that is leaky and stopped working. Some kind of hard case is probably more reliable. Real science-grade faraday boxes of all sizes and forms are available, but they are $$$.

Know that there are a ton of alternatives to carrying a smartphone when you need to maintain comms, but they all have their own pros and cons and most come with a monetary cost and a learning curve, depending on the tech.

• +1 to meshtastic. This seems like the gold standard right now of accessibility and function
• Alternatively, you could get a Ham license (or not, because not wanting to be in a federal db is completely understandable).
• CB is still a thing. It does not have any privacy features, but it’s accessible and basically unregulated if you’re not being egregious
• Learn how to set up 2-way encrypted DMR. (Note that encryption on Ham bands is technically not legal, but pretty much impossible to enforce unless you’re constantly using it from specific locations and end up being fox hunted.)
• Ham bands can be used in an emergency without a license.
• There is GMRS/FRS. FRS is your typical “walkie talkie” that you can just buy and start operating. GMRS is on the same frequencies, but more power, you can set up repeaters and it requires a license. You can just buy a gmrs radio and use it though and no one will notice or care
• Satellites unlock a whole different array of possibilities depending on where you are. (And they are actually more accessible then it initially sounds)
• SSTV (images transmitted over radio. There are some fascinating and fun opportunities for steganography here)