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Naw, EMP/CME is just tin foil hat stuff.

How big of a mast are you looking to use ? Our SAR team purchased the mast here on ebay - http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTENNA-TRIPOD-29FT-ALUMINUM-PORTABLE-TOWER-MAST-KIT-NEW/361384099911?_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D888007%26algo%3DDISC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131227121020%26meid%3Dc8638571b9a64db4b78809ad1b1b3bc3%26pid%3D100009%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D360908000786 It works awesome and is light enough to carry up a trail. As for cable I tried various options from RG213 to 1/2" superflex. When all said and done we had the best luck with RG142. The loss for 30' is not enough difference than the 1/4" superflex hard line and holds up much better. I liked the 1/2" and 1/4" hard line but after both were kinked in half on the first deployment i knew they wouldn't work.

Now imagine an EMP and 10-15 years without power and your neighbors eating you.

I love my Tera TR-505's! They really talk and have all the options one could want. They just feel good in the hand, sort of like a high end business radio, and I can't say enough about the 15 inch optional antennae, those guys really extend the range. I programmed the last 5 channels with (1-5) MURS frequencies, 1-10 GMRS simplex, and 11-12 for two local repeaters. Works quite well for me. I have talked 17 miles to a Cobra walkie from a mountain ridge and talked between Tera's about 7 miles over average terrain with the 15 inch antennas.

The problem with any cable that uses 'foil' as the inner shield is that over time it will begin interacting with the braided wire shield and become 'noisy'. This doesn't happen immediately and may take many months to develop, but it isn't a question of "if" as much as a question of "when..." : For detailed information, see here: http://www.repeater-builder.com/antenna/double-shielded-coax.html

I was talking to some operators on the Dallas County REACT System and they said there is a form on the ARRL website that you can put in your callsign and it will print up a paper to give to your HOA stating the laws regarding antennas, they said something about a legislator passing something that allows Ham and GMRS Operators to keep their antennas up, because when the Public Safety Systems goes down? Who do ya call! Lol. I've tried looking and have only found more details regarding the passing of it. Maybe someone can find it? If I hear them on today Ill ask for more info. Otherwise I've heard them talking about using a push up pole and put it up at night, although I'd get tired of doing it every single night..