Great post Gil - education is what got me to come here, and to get my license. I was in a thread on a preppier website. I ran into a ham radio guy that probed my fantasies a bit (buy and old tube set because it was inexpensive, operate it as a "pirate" station in case the S hit the ol proverbial F...

Just a few questions proved my ignorance, but the gentleman did it in such a even handed way, it didn't make me feel stupid, just that I had a really dumb idea. There is so much to know, especially for us NON-technology types (...mostly how easily noobs can be electrocuted because they didn't understand basics..or that the ANTENNA is more important than your radio...).

Great reminder Gil, thanks - and while we're educating - I'm going to try to remember that I always found the best teachers are those I accept education from is by someone who actually cares about what others want to do with the subject-at-hand (in this case radio)...and then figure out how to help them get there.

You can overcome any how, if you know why...

Pretty cool that you're in the south of France - from the looks of those videos from your YouTube channel - it looks as if you're enjoying the ride!

EXCELLENT post, thank you! I've finally secured a BOL - so I'm busy dusting off my comms plan - and digital has always been the plan. Before I went "dark," I began accumulating equipment, mostly based on the input from many of you on this board - things like a eeePC 10" netbook, a mobile interface, a signalink, etc., - also a couple of apps to decode morse/CW for iPad/iPhone...(even seems like I had one for a weak signal mode?)...

...but this is a completely new/exciting direction, again, THANKS for posting!

I know this is an old topic - but one that is escalating.

Headline from a Yahoo news article with today's (April 14th, 2017) dateline:

Riots, Looting in Venezuela, Opposition Leaders Arrested

Then factor this into your calculations as to where we are on the "collapse" cycle:

We Have To Earn $42,000 Every Year Just To Cover Our Obamacare, and GOP Plans won't Help

...and this:

Feds Collect RECORD Payroll Taxes Through March, Still Run Half-A-TRILLION Deficit.

The Organization of American States adopted rules for intervention that allow a state to repulse a civil or military revolution - in so doing they helped ensure that once a country commits to a socialist agenda, as long as they do not overtly close the democratically elected national assembly - not even a 'people's revolution' will be tolerated...

Venezuela has become a case study for ensuring you cannot always "throw the bums out" - sometimes, regime change "can't" correct overreach.

...for times such as these, it is necessary to stay in contact with those you love.

Get a plan, work out the bugs in it, perfect it.

Quote from: NavySEAL on March 21, 2017, 12:57:14 PM
I didn't see any radios.:)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4332818/Inside-billionaire-bunkers-bought-super-rich.html

Give it another 6 months...took me about that long when I started noodling through what I'd need. My initial need was storage food, then the means to "protect" my family and our food stores, then I began to think about shelter (BOL) and comms about the same time...since comms were the cheaper er..less expensive option...I went with comms.

Then it took me running into the right person (who later became my elmer), who turned me onto this place, and in about 60 days I was licensed, had a radio (at least one of my radios), and a plan to learn about digital.

All of that happened before work got really crazy. I had reached a point where I could afford to refocus my attention. Now, six years later, I've (just this week) completed the acquisition of my bug-out-location (which initially will double as a vacation destination). Now I'm beginning to dust off my old plans to duplicate some radio equipment, build a shack, and begin communicating between the BOL and QTH...

I figure the 300% increase in those seeking shelter against TEOTWAWKI - are where I found myself towards the end of 2009, when I knew there was a problem and started doing something about it. Maybe they're better funded than I was and have the means for acquiring both food (http://www.businessinsider.com/liberal-doomsday-preppers-trump-2017-3) and shelter - as a means of providing some level of security for themselves and their families...you know, in case the S Hits The Fan.

Though I'm (now) sure it's no coincidence that both sides of the political spectrum are being/have been manipulated by some group to cause us to react in the same ways - I'm just not exactly sure why - but whatever it is, it's probably not going to be good for any of us.

Whatever the cause, I just feel motivated to get back on track. Time is compressing.

Then again, I'm of a 'prepper' mindset, or I wouldn't be a member of a site called "Radio Preppers"...!!

Quote from: DCJon on July 08, 2014, 10:52:45 PM
Mac solution:

Winlink works within a Windows 7/Parallels VM on a refurbished Mac Mini.  It hooks nicely via USB to my Signalink & Yaesu.

Hey DCJon! I'm intrigued by your description of your setup - any way to coax a picture of it out of you?

I currently have an older Ten Tec (Omni D) and before moving forward with my plans to "gonHF digitalhaving had a conversation with a ham who has the same rig - I believe I can use it for digital commo's - however, I've also been warned by an engineer at Ten Tec that the Omni D is just too old/unstable for any modern digital modes outside of CW - I'm fighting the urge to think I'll need to upgrade...




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Hah! Thanks Gil - nice to BE back!

The only problem with CB is it's channelized - and while it's not that big of a deal, now - but think of what might happen if any type of event kick starts a SHTF moment...

Thousands of people would be trying to use 40 channels - I think it would be helpful to have - I wouldn't want to rely on it in times of trouble.

Quote from: gil on January 19, 2014, 02:14:22 PM

QuoteSo, do you have any good intel on low power, cheap netbooks?

I have heard from more than one source that the Asus EeePC is pretty good on batteries, which would be a major concern for remote operations..

Gil.

Does anyone know if there is a difference between the Asus eeePC 1000 HE and the HA model?


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Quote from: RockHillWill on January 14, 2014, 06:44:10 PM
I am 72 years old and built Winston Cup Stock cars for 24 years and that was my only exposure to the CB radio. Of course we used it while transporting the cars, but I am absolutely slack on CB radio and electronics.

My purpose for visiting here is to find out what I need to do to learn to use the CB and what I need to acquire to have a BC radio in my emergency 'cave' for communication.

Thank you for any help in this regard.

Welcome - not that old, yet - and while I've tried to like Winston Cup stock car racing, I just don't (I do like to drive fast though). They still let me come in and post!

I've learned a lot about HF and VHF from the very open folks here - I think you'll like it!


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Quote from: KF5RHI on January 13, 2014, 03:38:12 PM
Neither do I; but it never fails, every holiday we get at least one.

I dump it out then thoroughly scrub it out.  I screw on the drawer pull then mask off the outer edge of the can and the inner edge of the lid (ensuring a good metal to metal contact) then give the inside of the can and the lid two or three coats of FlexSeal. 

I hope to never have to test the EMP withstanding capability...;)

Someone from here (Frosty, or Ray?) gave me a great (read: cheap) way to test the continuity of "lid" to "base"...put a cell phone inside the container, then dial it.

If it rings, you don't have continuity, or it's not a good anti-EMP safe.


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Quote from: extra_class_ham on January 13, 2014, 01:24:38 PM

Quote from: cockpitbob on January 13, 2014, 08:58:50 AM
I can't remember for sure, but I was so thrilled at him getting his General that I think I promised to pay for that first renewal.

I know the thrilled feeling. Many people at the test center was floored to find out he was doing general. He missed 2 on his tech test and one on his general.

Bob,  you know, if you go to the FCC website directly, you can renew at no cost at all, just a mouse click as long as there is no vanity call. But don't tell him that .  ;)

and by the way - they're not the only one's floored!

Congratulations!


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Quote from: Sunflower on October 19, 2012, 09:45:33 PM
Finally got on QRZ tonight. Wow. Went from 40 to 55 percent. Not very good.

I also spoke with the exam man for our area. Next test date is Nov 14th. I hope to be there. Much will depend on how the progress I make on QRZ.com.

Hey Tess, an update on your test? Hope all is well!


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Quote from: RadioRay on January 13, 2014, 02:12:29 AM


Why Is It That I Have To Throw Out All Those Radios He Put In The Trash Can, but Was TOO Lazy To ACTUALLY Throw Them Away Himself?!?



de RadioRay ..._ ._

Hah, Ray! That certainly adds some perspective...maybe I'll stick with the filing cabinet concept.


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Ever since ttabs brought this issue up in a thread from long ago...lets see, ah...here it is...http://radiopreppers.com/index.php?topic=330

I have thought of using the filing cabinet idea. From what I have read about this - you do need to consider protecting solid state electronic equipment from CME's - you need to also keep some feedline in your "faraday box" - and watch out about grounding those things. Apparently, grounding systems actually act like antenna's that direct the damaging ion flux right into your shack!

I have a couple of radios, dipoles, and feedline inside two old military night vision goggle cases - made sure the lid has continuity to the base and that the items are suspended in foam and not near enough to the edges of the inside of the case to cause problems.

I carry a 2m Baofeng UV-5R with me in the car and I have recently considered storing it in an ammo can - anyone have some practical experience with something similar?


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Welcome aboard!