Welcome aboard Eric

There are a lot of great people here. To add a state board and to make sure Gil see's it head over here to the state board request area, and post there. Or fallow my link.
http://radiopreppers.com/index.php/topic,321.0.html

73
Joe

Just scored a HP Mini, was over at my brothers house helping him out. I knew they a notebook so I asked my sister in-law which one they had, and if she liked it. It took her a minute to remember where it was, since they got their tablets they haven't used it. I told them what I wanted one for. They thought it was a good idea to expand our comms and gave it to me.

So now its charging so I can go in and clean it up and start loading the programs needed. Now all I need is to order the interface, and I can start VHF.

Quote from: Luigi on June 25, 2014, 12:49:26 PM

Gill, I agree with your assessment on VHF. An area wide outage is going to make VHF useless if all stations are down. For Joe, this may be a place to start on an RF only email system. Don't rely on it entirely during a regional outage.

Usually it is best to go with the faster options first: 1. Cell phones 2. VHF Winlink 3. HF Winlink 4. Attempt to leave the disaster area or not be there in the first place.

I agree VHF for area wide outage will be useless if all stations are down. The people I need to contact during a disaster would be using RF packet.

We have a comm tree set up to contact each other in a disaster. 1 cell phone/text message 2. CB/ VHF simplex HT's 3. VHF Winlink 4. HF Winlink 5. If you have to bug out without making contact with anyone, we have a marking system set to leave a note for any on that comes by.

Totally agree Gil.

When bringing up emergency power with my friends, they always go to the biggest generator they think they need. We usually get into a pretty good debate. Don't get me wrong everyone's needs are different some want them for camping to have all luxuries while camping. But when it comes to emergencies power its a different story.

Think of what you need not what you want. I went around my house to all appliances I wanted to run during a power outage. And the biggest load is my freezer at 3.1 amps. So I went looking for a generator that will run a max load of around 6 amps. After reading many reviews, and mind you I work at a Honda generator dealer. I got the Harbor freight 2 cycle generator, max load 6.3 amps.

http://www.harborfreight.com/engines-generators/gas-engine-generators/900-peak800-running-watts-2-hp-63cc-gas-generator-60338-9057.html

I picked mine up during a parking lot sale and got 50% off. Changed out the spark plug to a NGK, applied lock tite to all vital nuts and bolts, and stuck a spare spark plug in the tool bag. It is a 2 cycle engine which I prefer because it will burn some pretty crappy gas.
Its not to load for a 2 cycle, running it in the shed you can't hear it at the road (100 ft away), I know this will be different during grid down. But it will keep my freezer frozen, and recharge my battery bank when there is no sun for weeks at a time in the winter. I have roughly calculated I would need to run it about 3-4 hours a day to keep freezer frozen and top off battery bank once a day, this is roughly 1 gallon of mix. My total investment in generator $80.00. I like to kill all power to house during the different seasons for atleast 24 hours to test my prep's and find out what works and what need improvement.

Gil brings up another good point oil. You will need oil for everything when the grid goes down. From food prep to repairs, And not one type will do it all. I keep a good supply of cooking oil including my used cooking oil. Engine oil for all my equipment, Hydraulic oil, ATF oil, cutting oil, 2 cycle, and high temp grease.

73
Joe

Quote from: gil on June 24, 2014, 05:22:01 PM

Quotewe might be able to squeeze in the occasional fish fry!

Just be glad you're not on the Pacific side :o

Gil.

We just have to start taking the iOSAT the day before eating  ;)

Joe

Thank You Gil and Luigi

I checked the map for my area looks like VHF is covered. I will use my 2M Yaesu 2500 and Baofeng for now. I don't have a HF rig yet but its on my list, I know I am getting the cart before the horse but I figured If I am starting a thread might as well ask for future reference.

I am looking at getting a netbook, sticking with name brands I know. The ASUS Eee 1000 series looks like it will do what I want and has good reviews. And small enough to keep protected until needed.

Thanks
Joe

Quote from: KeyBoardMine on June 24, 2014, 09:04:24 PM
Is this the correct manual?

http://www.amazon.com/Technician-2014-2018-manual-HamStudy-software/dp/0945053800/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_y

The one they show on QRZ expires June 30th.

That one will work, it comes with a software package to take practice test. I used just the paper back edition and took practice test online and on my phone.

Just Paper back
http://www.amazon.com/Technician-Class-2010-2014-Gordon-West/dp/0945053622/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1403669126&sr=1-1&keywords=technician+ham+radio+license+manual+gordon+west

Joe
73

Hello all  :)

I have been reading as much as I can on digital communications. And I think I'm ready to make the jump.
Looking for recommendations on what to get. Budget wise I would like to stay as cheap as possible, but not afraid to buy once and cry once either. Looking for VHF and HF modes. From what I have read this is the list I have come up with.

Computer: notebook/laptop
Sound card interface and cables
Radio and antenna
Program like fldigi

For the computer part I am planning on getting a used netbook, but what OS should I get Linux, Microsoft (XP,7, ect.) ?
What kind of interface, I know I will need 2 one for VHF and one for HF ?
What program is stable and secure for sending packets ?


Thank You
Joe
73

Welcome aboard  :)

Looking forward to reading your books always looking for something in the prepper area.

I threw a little in the hat also.

On another note I have noticed a lot of the sights I frequent have been having problems.

For me my hobby is part of prepping. Prepping doesn't not only includes storing items but also learning new skills. To me learning CW, tuning in the shortwave, and making new contacts is part of prepping.

I am the first one to say my radio skills have taken a back burner lately, but I am working on making more time for it. It also helps to have a supporting wife. ;)

These little things are addictive !!! Ordered 3 more to help round out my HT coms.

Thanks Bob for reminding me about the rat tails, I will install them after I get the other 3. I will post a pick of 5R family when I get them.

Hello All

I took the red pill and picked up a UV-5S. I got a good deal on it, it came with a extra battery and speaker mic. I programmed it using CHIRP. Thanks for the recommendation. It came with the cable, but I already had one from my Wouxun.

Programming with chirp was easy. Turned on radio and  was able to pick up the local repeater traffic. I have not transmitted at any distance. I am to far from the repeater to hit with a HT.

Based on Ray's recommendation I will be ordering the Nagoya antenna.

I checked the batteries, does that count.

With this drought we are in out here I've been busy planning the garden and getting with my neighbors on there gardens. We split up who grows what that way we all don't end up with tons of the same stuff. We trade back and forth. And can up some of the excess. Our well should be deep enough to get through this thing.

Welcome aboard Jeff !!!

Practicing for the tech is no problem, if you have a smart phone there are some free apps that will help you get ready for the test. I used Ham radio exam Tech and General by Roy Watson. I would use it during break and lunch time at work. It also tracks what sections you are lacking on and you can go back to your book and study those sections. I made the mistake of not taking the general after taking the tech, know I have waited so long that I need to relearn every thing. There is a lot of cross over between Tech and Gen. Even if you think your not ready try it, nothing lost if you do. Eham.net also has practice exams you can take.

http://www.eham.net/exams/

I am also in Northern California, I live in Marysville. Don't know how far we are from each other, But if we are close enough we could get together and go over gear selection and other things.

Ray it should be fun on skeds the next couple of days, and how it affects everything.

2014-01-09 20:02 UTC  CME Has Arrived

The coronal mass ejection (CME), originally expected to arrive around 0800 UTC (3:00 a.m. EST) today, January 9, was observed at the ACE spacecraft just upstream of Earth at 1932 UTC (2:32 p.m. EST).  It's too early to see much with respect to the magnetic structure of this CME, but short-term, high-confidence warnings will be issued as this event plays out.  The original forecast continues to be for G3 (Strong) Geomagnetic Storm activity on January 9 and 10.  Aurora watchers may be in luck for tonight.  The ongoing Solar Radiation Storm, currently at S2 (Moderate) levels, is seeing a modest enhancement with this shock passage but remains below S3 (Strong) threshold at this time.

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/

G 3  Strong 

Power systems:  voltage corrections may be required, false alarms triggered on some protection devices.

Spacecraft operations:  surface charging may occur on satellite components, drag may increase on low-Earth-orbit satellites, and corrections may be needed for orientation problems.

Other systems:  intermittent satellite navigation and low-frequency radio navigation problems may occur, HF radio may be intermittent, and aurora has been seen as low as Illinois and Oregon (typically 50° geomagnetic lat.)**.


S 2  Moderate 

Biological:  passengers and crew in high-flying aircraft at high latitudes may be exposed to elevated radiation risk.***

Satellite operations: infrequent single-event upsets possible.

Other systems: small effects on HF propagation through the polar regions and navigation at polar cap locations possibly affected.


S 3 Strong 

Biological: radiation hazard avoidance recommended for astronauts on EVA; passengers and crew in high-flying aircraft at high latitudes may be exposed to radiation risk.***

Satellite operations: single-event upsets, noise in imaging systems, and slight reduction of efficiency in solar panel are likely.

Other systems: degraded HF radio propagation through the polar regions and navigation position errors likely.

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/NOAAscales/index.html#GeomagneticStorms