Earth Abides miniseries radio frequency

July 13, 2025

ℹ️ Note

This entire article involves spoilers for the original 1949 book and 2024 miniseries adaptation of “Earth Abides” by George R. Stewart.

The 2024 MGM miniseries adaptation of George R. Stewart’s novel “Earth Abides” has several distinctions from the original study facilitated by 2020’s technology not available in the 1949 book. This technology enables a more comfortable, modern-like existence while still facing many of the same challenges as the book.

A key plot element involves the 2 meter amateur radio band VHF radio frequency 147.225 MHz. However, most of the radios used and antenna notebook designs are specifically for HF. The antenna ultimately erected is consistent with a VHF antenna. The radio powered on is an HF radio, with a possible old signal generator capable of generating a VHF signal being shown. I suppose the lack of modern radios having direct key entry was a factor in the movie production. In my opinion, showing an actual VHF radio being tuned in say 5 kHz steps would have been more realistic and not at all detracting from the story. While millennials and younger generations are decreasingly familiar with tuning a radio dial, it is still not a foreign concept to them and easy to film and understand for world audiences.

Using 50% spot probability and ideal site locations not locally obstructed by terrain or buildings as indicated on the TV show, it is possible with a typical inexpensive VHF mobile transceiver to communicate with adequate FM SNR as shown on the show. It is especially possible during periods of tropospheric ducting experienced in this region that communications would be possible between two base stations.