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Messages - gil

#2746
General Discussion / Re: What's in YOUR go-bag??
October 22, 2012, 11:39:14 AM
My bag is an Elerlestock X3 LoDrag. It has two compartments, top and bottom. The lower compartment I use for items that would not necessarily be used, like a medical kit. I have Datrex emergency food rations for a couple days. The bag has two hydration pouches. I am still building the medical kit. I have a Katadyn water filter.  A solar panel will be next. Other than that:

  • Small waterproof binoculars.
  • Kukhuri knife.
  • Cold Steel Master Tanto.
  • Leatherman tollkit.
  • Magnesium fire starter.
  • Streamlight flashlight.
  • Maglite.
  • Slingshot.
  • Fishing kit.
  • Medical kit.
  • Wire saw.
  • Rock-Mite 40 & key.
  • 40m end-fed dipole.
  • Batteries.
  • Pair of FRS radios.
  • Yaesu FT-270R.
  • Change of clothes.

I am probably forgetting things, but that's what I remember right now. It is not finished yet, but getting close. My Elecraft K1 has it's own go-case.
To the bug-out bag I plan on adding a bug-out chest: http://www.emscases.com/pelican-hardigg-al4024-x-large-shipping-case.aspx
This case will have the items I would want to have for an extended emergency. It will be stored in my closet...
The bug-out bag goes with me whenever I am further than walking distance from home.

I should add a small bottle of Cointreau and a handful of cigars...  ;D

Gil.
#2748
Antennas / Re: Elk hunting and AS-1743 AAR
October 21, 2012, 09:12:52 PM
That sounds like my ideal vacation!
Gil.
#2749
VHF and Above / Re: Trisquare eXRS radios
October 21, 2012, 02:46:22 AM
I just found out myself. Some guys were talking about it on a local repeater: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NXDN. They are upgrading their repeaters to this new mode. Presumably, it adds ten miles of range to FM radios. It is digital voice. So, you do get some extra privacy, right now anyway, because there aren't many around yet. Icom and Kenwood make the radios...

Gil.
#2750
Licensing / Re: Slash AE !
October 21, 2012, 01:39:17 AM
Congratulations Ray! Welcome to the club  8) LOL.

Gil.

#2751
Licensing / Re: How many here are already licensed?
October 20, 2012, 10:57:52 AM
Congratulation on the tickets and welcome aboard  :)
I have the Buddistick, and it works great up to 30m.
The jury is still out on 40...


gil.
#2752
Yep, that was him  :)
#2753
VHF and Above / Re: Trisquare eXRS radios
October 20, 2012, 10:52:42 AM
NXDN might be the answer for Ham bands.

Gil.
#2754
Licensing / Re: Question for Technician Class:(T3B06)
October 19, 2012, 09:52:46 PM
Keep doing them Tess, the same questions are going to come up over and over, and you'll remember them...

Gil.
#2755
General Discussion / Re: Let's talk medicine.
October 19, 2012, 09:27:18 PM
Maybe buying a goldfish would be prudent...  ::)

Gil.
#2756
Systema is one of the rare martial arts where your physical fitness isn't a major issue. That's because you make your own Systema... There aren't many learned techniques. Moves are created on the fly. So, you train your brain to see opportunities and take advantage of them using body mechanics and movement. Here is one of the best instructors in the World, Mikhail Ryabko (the big guy):



He doesn't move a whole lot, but everything he does ends up being appropriate for the attack.

The problem with Systema videos is that they can look very goofy. However, when you're the one trying to attack one of these guys, everything you do ends up being wrong!

Gil.
#2757
The K2 is first and foremost a CW radio. It excels in that role. Having voice capability though is always a plus, you never know when you're going to need it. I also want the radio to be usable by other people, in case of an emergency. It doesn't do any good to have a radio only one person can use if the unconscious victim is the radio guy!

My Elecraft KSB2 kit arrived yesterday and I went to work immediately. The kit is rather small, but it's components fit very tightly together. With the excellent Elecraft manual, it was a breeze to build. That of course, after building the K2... The only thing that annoys me to no end is that Elecraft always leaves parts out on the original kits which are part of the upgrades, but should have been provided up front. So, I had to disassemble my front panel to install a few components that could have been shipped with the K2 kit. They do that EVERY SINGLE TIME! At least I didn't have to remove the heat-sink as with the auto-tuner option. What a pain...



After installation, the module worked right away, no bad surprises. I aligned the filters using Spectrogram. The microphone by the way was lifted from my Icom IC-271A. I just wired the K2 for Icom mikes. I checked in the Maritime Net on 14300 and got a good report from Jamaica, clear audio! You can see the KSB2 below installed in the K2:



As you can see above, the K2 is a complex kit. I really love the radio though. The receiver is excellent. There are just enough features, but nothing extra, just the way I like it. The last addition to my K2 will be the internal battery option. After that, we'll call it DONE!

Gil.
#2758
Yes... That is why I bought a used Icom IC-271A. Yoiu can find 2m SSB rigs on Ebay for $200, there are so many of them available... A Yagi-Uda antenna is cheap to make or buy. Add a brick type amp and you get the range.. Of course NVIS will do the same for cheaper, but there is nothing wrong with experimenting and a backup is always nice to have.

Gil.
#2759
General Discussion / Re: Let's talk medicine.
October 19, 2012, 06:06:19 PM
Yep, and those fish antibiotics work. I know!

Gil.
#2760
Antennas / Re: So what is it?
October 18, 2012, 09:12:42 PM
2m antenna?