Tube radios and EMPs

[NWARadio]

I was messing around with the Drake last night and it occurred to me: After an EMP, or in any "grid-down" situation, the Drake would be useless to me. Even if it survived an EMP, it plugs into the wall and we live in a part of the country that wouldn't be real high on the list to have power restored. So why are tube radios always suggested for EMP readiness?

[gil]

Hello,

Unfortunately most tubes require around 350V to function.. Few radios work on DC. I have a Gonset Communicator III on 6m AM. It can be wired for 12V. It would however use quite a bit of current that way. You can find schematics and kits for 12V CW transmitters and receivers.. Transmitters are low power, about 1W.

The best solution in my opinion is to protect your radios with a Faraday cage... Tube rigs are great, but their power requirements makes them impractical these days..

Gil.

[John Galt]

After reading the article from QST that Quietguy recommended, I'm not as worried about EMP as I was previous.  My takeaway was that most lightning protection will suffice along with unplugging or coiling most long wires. 

[gil]

It all depends on the severity of the EMP. A solar storm like in 1859 would be devastating. A simple metal can will protect any electronics however, pretty easy precaution. The problem is that most electronics are vulnerable..

Gil.

[NWARadio]

John Galt, could you post a link to that article? I had it up once on my computer but i've lost it now. Gil, you're right, all electronics are vulnerable. Once I get my Rock Mite in the mail and completed, I'll probably put it in an ammo can along with the am/fm radio I'm going to build. Not ideal, I know, but it'll be a transceiver (the RM) that I could use to communicate. Once I started thinking about this, I figured out quickly that a close circle of friends/acquaintances are as important as anything else, almost. Which is tough for me since I've never been a person to have a lot of friends. Guess I'll have to learn to be more sociable. lol

[John Galt]

Found it here:

ARRL members can download a 4 part series of articles published in QST during 1986 called "Electromagnetic Pulse and the Radio Amateur".  Part two is available to anyone but I think you have to be logged in to download 1, 3 and 4.  Part 4 gets to the meat of things with specific recommendations and diagrams on protecting a station.

Wally

[NWARadio]

Thanks!

So long and thanks for all the fish.

[Holiday]

The military ammo cans are the way to go for storage. Not just from EMP but they can stand up to harsh conditions and are water proof. Just and some foam or other padding around radio.

Sent from my ADR6410LVW using Tapatalk

[cockpitbob]

Holiday, welcome to the forum!  You've found a small family of high quality people here (something rare on the web).

[NWARadio]

I'm kicking around building my Rock Mite][ in an ammo can.

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

[KK0G]

I'm kicking around building my Rock Mite][ in an ammo can.

Have you checked the dimensions to see if it'll even fit? ;D

[gil]

Have you checked the dimensions to see if it'll even fit?

Maybe with a very large battery that'll last for years..  :o

Gil.

[NWARadio]

LOL I know it seems like overkill but it's not. I've also got an am/fm kit to build this winter, a regen receiver that I need to build correctly this time and the RMII. I'm also trying to buy a Texas Topper amp for the RM for 25 bucks from a guy who has decided not to build it. I'd like all that, plus an antenna and paddle in the can. Of course, I'll have to fashion some kind of divider to rivet into it to keep the antenna and paddle away from the electronics. Not sure whether I want a tuner built into it or not. I think not for now.

[gil]

My Gonset Communicator would be fine, but there is nobody on 6m AM. I called daily for weeks, never heard a peep!

Gil.

[Blue Rocket]

Lookup W1WUD on QRZ.com and his short story regarding EMP and its affect on comms:

I participated,in 1959,while aboard the USS EPPERSON DD719, in America's first high altitude atomic bomb, at Johnson Atoll,in the Pacific,it is a strong memory of mine, that for almost four days the atomic noise level on the radio frequencies was tremendous and our only communications was on slow speed CW with Navy Comm Station Guam.