Years ago I went deer hunting with a vietnamise friend, as I set-up my camp he got on an old bicycle with his rifle and backpack and peddled off. The next day he returned to camp walking with the bicycle, a nice deer was field dressed and spread the length of the bike, tied in place.
If you think about it, a bike mounted radio set-up would work great. At least for recon missions and the bike is almost silent too. Something to think about considering the shortage of gas.
Take Care, 73'S  KA5SIW

146.52 in the national simplex call frequency. Sometimes like at a Hamfest or convention too many hams will try to use that frequency. Many times I use 146.55 as a simplex frequency. Hope that helps you out.
73'S  KA5SIW

Bob,

You have to use CW to measure SWR. Set-up your station, the select what freq. you want to work. Adjust the tunner's inductor for maxium rec. signal. Connect a key and select CW mode. With the power set at about 1/3, key the trans. and measure the SWR. If the SWR is above 2 to 1 you will need to change the cap. settings to lower the SWR.
Be sure you have a good ground. Be sure all your coax connectors are soldered, and check for possable shorts on the coax.
It also might help to take your radio to another hams station and verify the radio is working correctly.
Let me know if you need more help, 73'S  KA5SIW

When considering a radio, question is how are you going to use the radio. I would sort the radios into 3 size lists. Desk rigs, compact/mobile rigs,  portable rigs. Just about any rig can be used as a desk rig, but do you want to carry a full sized rig up to the top of a mountain?? Based on my personal experance, all of these radios I have owned for years, here is what I suggest:
Desk rig: Tentec Corsair, Tentec Omni-C,
Compact/mobile rig: Icom 730 Icom 735, Icom 718, Icom 7200, Tentec Delta
Portable rig: Tentec Argosy, Icom 703, Yaesu 817
If you use SSB, you need 50 to 100watts. Yes, I have used a Icom 703 on 20 meters, but to fight your way into 40meters you need more power. Do you plan to learn CW? The Youkits 4band CW rigs Tentec sells are getting good marks.
Do you require a general coverage receiver? When SHTF, you may need to get your news from BBC shortwave.
My togo kit has an Icom 7200 and 703, with wire antennas and a MFJ mobile tunner. I do not like auto tunners. I string-up and wire antennas and cut them to correct length. The tunner is used to adj for CW or SSB sections of the band. I have two different sized gell cell battery packs with solar panels to go.
For VHF work I will use my Icom IC-v80 and thrown a good scanner too.
I hope this helps,  73'S  KA5SIW

Bugs, I just hate those critters. For me, I hate chiggers the most. For ticks and chiggers I use powered sulfur on my socks, shoes, civies, and pants. For mesquitoes I use listerine mouthwash. 
73'S  KA5SIW

Different times and different purpose sets what you use. Most of the time nightime HF will require 80 and 40 meters. Daytime, you will use 20meters and the higher bands if they are open. I use a scanner and CB just to hear what is going on in my general area. Yes, 2meters would be my constant companion.
Suggestions, work some 2meter simplex, you may not want everyone to hear what you are doing. Lots of people use scanners for the repeater freq. yet 146.55 may fit your needs great.
73'S  KA5SIW

Good Point! So sad to see the people hurting. Yes people could better prepaired.
I have been through hurricanes in Texas, most people just can't wrap their head around that level of damage.
This is a wake-up call to everyone, to get yourself ready. We home insurance, but we don't think about a generator that can protect $500. of food in your freezer. Gee, if you have to walk 3 miles to buy a gallon of water, maybe you should consider a becoming a prepper?

Gil, If you make a VHF antenna from twin lead (J-pole) you can house it in a section of gray PVC pipe. The gray PVC pipe can handle the UV light much better. The white PVC pipe turns brittle in just a few months exposed to sunlight.
For HF use it is hard to beat a wire dipole rigged as an inverted Vee. With that all you need is one upright support.

Would be nice to have one of these in my back yard to do some experiments. Only 285 tons of steel.

73'S  KA5SIW

I connect a water hose to a 3/4in section of pipe. This makes a water drill. Turn the water on full force and push the end of the pipe into the dirt. This will let the water dig the hole for the ground rod. After you get a hole deep enough for the ground rod, I remove the water drill, pour salt into the hole then push the ground hole into the hole.
Many time I use several ground rods, and remember to water the ground rods every week. The ARRL handbook has a good section on grounding.

73'S  KA5SIW

Can you find a local club? Most club members will let you check out their radios, also field day is great for that. With over 38 years of electronics repair exp. I think an older TenTec makes a great first HF rig. A TenTec Corsair makes a great first rig. The Corsair has everything you need out of the box, and you can add extra filters as needed.
An Icom IC-730 or IC735 are very good also. Now we are talking about 20+ year old rigs. I have a new IC-7200 and I like that radio very much. The IC-7200 is built like a sherman tank and not too hard to use. If you have the 1Kbuck I would buy a 7200. Add a powersupply or gel cell batteries a manual MFJ tunner and antenna and you are set.
I will be happy to help you pick a rig.
KA5SIW@yahoo.com
Take Care,  73'S  KA5SIW

Yes, we have a plan. My Wife and I live out in the country, about 100miles from a major city. Our plan is to honker down and stay put. I will use my radio gear to find out what is happening. I have HF, VHF, UHF transceivers, add to that several monitors and CB gear. We are ready, my station is set-up on battery back-up and solar power is available.
No, I don't have dozens of guns and cases of food. Our main worry is weather problems.
I have been through hurricanes, tornadoes and ice storms. We can rough-it for a few weeks if needed.

Take Care,   73'S   KA5SIW

Hello, just wondering if any radio preppers live in New Mexico? Maybe get together for a face to face QSO and talk about prepper ideas.

For one thing, your amateur radio license is controlled by the FCC. NO local or state agency can impede your use of amateur radio. I always carry a copy of my license, if a policeman pulls me over for talking on my HT or mobile radio, sorry, that is not his jurisdiction.
In your family preparedness plans, you need to have a list of contact info for everyone in your family. Both phone numbers and addresses. Next it would be a good idea to have a designated location for people to meet. If your family get caught up in a disaster, everyone knows to call or get to UNCLE BILL'S house (example).
I have been through hurricanes on the Gulf coast, tornadoes and ice storms in north Texas, with basic planning and some smarts we handled everything just fine.  73'S  KA5SIW

Hello, I use a 20meter inverted vee or dipole. Just throw a rock over a limb and hoist the antenna up and tie off. Once you cut the length right, either CW or SSB then it is close enough to work reguardless of shape.
73'S   KA5SIW

     Your call sign and address is public record. Anybody can find that information. When it comes to prep items, most people have more food and guns than I do. Guess I just don't worry that much about a confrontation. My main worry is weather prep. The ability to take care of ourselves when there is a major storm or power outage.
     I may be wrong, I can't kill another human fighting over a can of beans or someone stealing my TV.
     If someone thinks about harming my family, that will be a very different story!!!
73'S  KA5SIW