QuoteIf you're bugging out in a nationwide emergency, w/o your digital capability and opting only for CW, are you talking OCONUS then?

No, but I do keep in mind that motorized transportation might not be available.. So, the less I carry the better. Down to ounces.. Also, SW receiving is much more important that transmitting.. Digital modes are probably the least used modes after SSB, AM,FM,CW. In a nationwide emergency, again, I believe few of those stations would be operational for long. So, I just wouldn't bother with the extra weight.
I don't have a BOL, so I wouldn't move out by choice. In those circumstances, I'm not carrying a laptop! My KX3 does SW listening, RTTY and PSK31 right out of the box, that's what I'll reach for first. The internal ATU can even tune a 25' RG-174 cable, with nothing at the end of it! The internal batteries can easily be recharged with a small foldable solar panel.. The ideal survival radio. No Winlllink? Who cares, there would be no internet anyway, and too few people use it.. The KX3 while being small, isn't my smallest radio, but it does so much.. For anyone with a safe location to bug-in, digital modes are a nice addition to an existing station, but not for me. For me it just means extra stuff I have no need for on the move... I'll still experiment with it because I want to be able to send emails to my parents in case of regional blackout, but that's it.. I also want to get into some NTS nets to be able to send radiograms.. They have 10wpm nets, and that's great for me. It won't be long before I can do 20wpm anyway..

I like to divide preps in three categories: "Indispensible", "nice to have" and "extra." A radio goes into the "nice to have" category. A laptop is an extra. So, digital modes are "extra," meaning that anything in that category will be dropped first or most likely not taken along when relocating. One might ask: "Why isn't a radio indispensible?" I can live without a radio; probably not without a water filter. You get the idea.. Digital modes and it's associated hardware is pretty far down my list..

Gil.

Quote2.  I need to figure out -- right now would be good -- which of the RMS  stations have the capability of running everything off of emergency power.  And which ones intend to.

I suspect none of them would be running for long. Either they would not have the capability or generators would run out of gas. Also, the station owners might be looted. Remember, they are mostly owned by older OMs. People would have other concerns than maintaining a radio station.

That is why I think digital modes are nice for local or regional emergencies; not a nationwide one. I am leaning towards having Winlink capabilities myself, mind you.. Anyway, if you can do digital, you can obviousely do SSB. Do not discount CW. You can do more with CW and Morse than with any other mode using very little power. CW is my go-to mode.

I will say again that being portable is a must. You never know if, when or where you'll have to go.. If I have to bug out, the computer and Signalink box stay behind..

Gil.

Welcome aboard  :) Enjoy the forums.

Gil.

Thanks, much appreciated!

Gil.

Very sorry for your loss Tess, my condoleances..
Welcome back.

Gil.

Well, I want to set it up for myself.. For Winlink and also experiment with Olivia...

Gil

Excellent, thank you!
Now I need the Winlink box.
Won't be long before I can order one..

Gil

QuoteQuery to #1 geek child-unit is pending.

Thank you! Too bad they don't make a multi-platform version.
Windows sucks, I usually try to stay well away from it...

Gil.

QuoteOn the other hand, you can fully expect to arrange with your fellow preppers or other correspondents to send text-only or even small spreadsheet type files via the radio port like we do now with our small group of PREPNET folks, including Tim, Tom and some others.  Works well and would be especially useful for prepping purposes.

That is the whole point yes..

I don't use Windows, so I need to install it fir$t.

Isn't there some kind of automation with the SDR (KX3 is an SDR) going on to find relay stations?

Anybody has an old genuine XP CD for me?

Thanks!

Gil.

So, in plain English, what do I need to send and receive emails with my KX3?

Gil.

What could be used to build a hand crank or bicycle generator?

Gil.

QuoteI gather you like resonant stuff, but have you ever thought of picking up or building Elecraft's little T1 just to have in the kit?

I have thought about it, yes, and will get one some time. My K1 has the auto tuner, and I will get one for the KX3. I do like resonant antennas, just to squeeze a bit more power out, but sometimes, you just can't reduce SWR... Especially when operating near metal structures, using random wires, antennas on bands they are not designed for, or things that are not supposed to be antennas.!

QuoteWhen I think of what an underpowered radio used to weigh (after being militarized), jeebers.

Speaking about militarized, the only thing I don't like about Elecraft products is their lack of weatherproofing... Other than that, I don't think they have competition out there.

Gil.

Excellent story, thank you! Of course they didn't call it QRP back then, I assume, but it has indeed come a long way. The same principles apply however, mainly, portability.

For me, QRP means just that, small, simple and portable, with low current drain. The low power is a consequence of these requirements. So, when people argue about whether 6W is QRP or not, I roll my eyes... It's not so much about the power, although it is very interesting to see what can be done with very little. If there was a pocket size radio that had a 100W output and drew only a couple amps, I'd be the first one to buy it. We can't change the laws of physics, so it isn't going to happen.

The painting is great by the way, I'd love a print for the shack!

Morse code is also the hero here. There was no technology to encrypt voice back then, or data modes, that I know of... It still works as well today.

I just sold my K2 and my Icom IC-271 to buy the Rolls Royce of QRP radios, the Elecraft KX3. It is awesome! Filtering CW down to 50HZ! I'm in QRP heaven. It outputs 12W, but yes, for me, that is still QRP. On the internal batteries, power is 3-5W. It even allows me to send RTTY or PSK31 using the paddles. Decoded text scrolls on the screen. It's 160-6m, and a 2m module is in the works.

Anyway, I will be ordering a book soon: "The Clandestine Radio Operators" by Jean-Louis Perquin.

QRP is a necessity...

Gil.

Hello Bob,

The problem with epoxy is that it can't be powder coated.
They have nice Hammertone powders perfect for the task..

Gil.

Excellent, mine is just a small ammo can.. Make sure the front doors are well connected to the body of the cabinet. Chicken wire would not work, holes are too big. I wouldn't use anything like a mesh anyway. The holes have to be smaller than the wavelength of the "distrubance," or something like that... Anyway, there should be no gaps anywhere...

Gil.