Practical Prepping Protocol even if Poor

my retirement project would be one of these tents and that stove

Canvas Tents | 100% Cotton Canvas | Bell Tents | Tipi Tents | CanvasCamp [link to www.canvascamp.com (secure)]

I had to get rid of all my cast iron as I couldn't hold it well any more. Had all manner of things which I sometimes still miss, but that's how life goes sometimes.

I read all of the "accidents" on that site, and only one seemed to be even partially the fault of the stove - the butane bottle had a defect, and the stove did not release it properly. Wonder if those stove defects have been repaired or if there is something we should do to fix them.

Well, I would encourage you to get licensed because then you can go to your local amateur radio club and find an "Elmer" (an experienced operator who will show you the ropes). Most groups are very interested in helping anyone who shows interest. Just don't go waving your shiny new radio without being licensed, they frown on that :)

That being said, it is permissible in the event of an emergency to transmit on any frequency, at any power level, that you think someone might be listening on without any licensing. If we haven't fallen into a society that is WROL, you will be asked for an accounting after everything has been sorted.

If the world has been packaged in a handbasket and sent off in the mail to Hades then having a license is of little consideration.

The reason that I encourage getting a license is the same that you encouraged me to fire up my Coleman stove - You get to use your equipment. You get to go out and meet people who have climbed the same learning curve that you're going through and they will help you out. Most clubs have events through the year that you can volunteer for and get out doing real work in the the real world with your equipment. In one event I got put in a hole where there wasn't any cell phone reception, I was the only way to get a signal out to the event organizers. I had that 2m radio for a few years but the only way that I knew for certain that it would do the job was because I got licensed and became active with a group.

I'll pull the trigger on the blue name here in a few days.

blues names are not that bad, welcome aboard

I used to have a gov surplus 'GP Small' tent. Similar to that Sibley 400 style. It even had a vent for a stovepipe.

I don't know what ever happened to it. Borrowed by a relative, maybe.

I also look at military tents, the only I like is this one and would love to have one, almost did too but I canceled the order and now they are out all the time, was a couple years ago, wish I did get it all the time now.

Crew tent, 10'x10' winterized [link to armytents.com (secure)]

JD, see how to cut everything you are not responding to and only leaving the sentence you answer?

That may have been a one in a million scenario. Bad canister and a bad stove. I don't know if there is anything someone could do to prevent it.

yes maam

forgot to add, I want the propane tank attachment

for reference but I think its right

5-Ft. High-Pressure Propane Hose and Adaptor | Coleman [link to www.coleman.com (secure)]

Now I understand - however, with physical limitations I would not be attending meetings or visiting a group on a regular basis. I would love to help out wherever possible by all means - but would have to do so from my vehicle, or very near it.

So if I were to attend a meeting, the shiny new radio should not go with me? I can see what comes next - "We recommend newcomers to buy . . . . for these reasons . . ." and then I do something not advised and turn up with a Baofeng and my name is already mud. LOL So obviously if I won't take the advice of "those who know" I must not be serious about HAM radio and not worth putting time into.

Yes, that will allow you to run it from a BBQ tank or larger.

EDIT> which brings up a scenario. On the road after SHTF. You come across an abandoned ruralhome. Big propane tank in the yard. Check the gauge, its half full. With thathose, you can hook up and cook dinner!

Remember, the pointy end (POL) is left-hand thread.

Last Edited by Crunch62 on 04/21/2019 08:28 PM

Waiting for MC to join us, he had the whole family over.

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Nope, my sis had the whole family over for dinner. Lamb, ham, chickeny rice, augrauten potatoes, veggies, layered salad, carrot cake, chocolate cake, caramel cake, red velvet cake, orange cake, lemon cake, jelly beans & chocolates...BOY AM I FULL!

My brother brought me a brand new MAGA cap And I paid him back the $100 I owed him.

Now I am full & sluggish & dull...UGH!

I feel like Mr. Creosote on "The Meaning of Life".

me too, although my fullness is leaving me

sounds like you had a great day too

Had Ham, Pineapple slices from the baked ham, Candied Yams, Mash Potatoes, Peas, Cream Corn, Rolls, Cranberry and Cole Slaw.

It was a good time!

My sis was sad to see us leaving & I said "I think you'd be happy, I'm ready for a nap so you must be too".

She was...she did days worth of cleaning & baking to get it all ready...it was nice of her to host it.

No, do not let them know that you are capable of transmitting. It isn't illegal for an unlicensed person to have a transmitter, hams are just very jealous of the privileges that they have and take great pleasure in tracking down people that misuse them.

But if you just walked in and expressed an interest, that would be a whole different reaction! Yes, Baofengs usually are viewed as undesirable but the truth is that I've seen plenty of hams at a meeting with Baofengs sitting on the table in front of them. Any group that would judge you for using one is a group that is probably drowning in it's own crap.

So, let's turn to some suggestions that you can do with your radio while being completely within the letter of the law.

1. Charge it, read the manual. Know what button to push to make it transmit and don't touch it until you're licensed. An accidental push won't bring the wolves to your door, just be mindful.

2. Listen to 146.52 and 446.00 Mhz, these are the national calling frequencies for the 2m and 70cm bands. You might not hear much because most of the traffic occurs on the local repeaters.

3.Find out what the frequency of your local repeaters are and tune in. [link to www.repeaterbook.com (secure)]
You'll notice a bunch of information like offsets and tones, since you are just listening you don't need to worry about this right now, just dial the frequency. You'll be able to catch more conversations during the morning and evening commutes and if you find the website of your local radio club they will have the days and times of the local nets.

4. Tune to 144.390 Mhz and listen. You'll probably start hearing buzzes, this is APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System). Hams set up automatic stations that report location, weather and other information. After Fukushima there was an option added to report radiation levels. You can see a global map of what these stations are reporting here: [link to aprs.fi (secure)]

5. If you are up for a challenge go to [link to heavens-above.com (secure)] and enter your location, then under "10 day predictions for satellites of special interest" click ISS and choose all passes. The International Space Station has an amateur radio repeater, voice is 145.80 and packet is 145.825 and 437.550. You should be able to pick up these signals with just the rubber duck stock antenna. By the way hams have all kinds of satellites that they use to communicate with!

That's just a quick list.

I delivered some food and then made calls to family further away who I do not see. My part of the family moved south and the rest are still up north.

My Uncle I talked to for an hour, I know he was alone and I might of been the only one who actually called and talked.

Thank you so much! Duly copied and saved! You obviously know your stuff and I'm thrilled we will be able to communicate by the time the proper antenna and the radio-to-computer cable arrive!

Thank you very much for talking a newbie through the baby steps! You are very kind.

77501891, one of the questions I was mumbling to myself that may not have made it to a post - supposing the time comes when coms are collected. Will they be checking such places as this forum, Amazon, eBay, etc? Or, if I have only one radio, that's all I have?

I actually hit the button and bought a set, but I can surely lose one in a hurry! After it's programmed, of course. LOL Would that be a wise idea?

Regarding Baofengs being seen as the poor redheaded stepchild, a great many people I have seen online are using them, from militia to survivalist teachers and on. They can't be totally bad! I had researched the brand in the past and that's why it was on my mind.

I have no intention of broadcasting without a license. Not sure how much I will broadcast after having a license - the purpose of the radio is to be able to hear what is going on, primarily. Emergency services, LE, nat'l guard, martial law enforcers, and all like that. Not ever ever to communicate with them, only to listen. I might even glue a bead on the Send button, just out of an abundance of caution. However, I do understand it is acceptable to broadcast a plea for assistance in case of emergency.

I really enjoy that you were the only person in position to cover communications during that exercise - great job!!! Must have been a great deal of fun, as well as good experience.

Last Edited by Pooka on 04/21/2019 10:53 PM

Crunch, how's your back doing? Relaxing yet? Or gone to bed?

I suspect our cooks of the day and big eaters have passed out for the night.

My Uncle I talked to for an hour, I know he was alone and I might of been the only one who actually called and talked.

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That was nice of you JD.

I mentioned before that my nephew said he was comming & bringing the kids...that's why my sis asked me to make the chickeny-rice.

Well, he didn't show.

He's done that several times & I have defended him up 'till now...that is just WRONG to call and say you're comming and then pull a no-show.

There was so much left over food...everybody was taking huge amounts home with them.

so sorry that happened, that is awful, I know it happens though and you just have to carry on, glad you still had a great time today

so sorry that happened, that is awful, I know it happens though and you just have to carry on, glad you still had a great time today

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Ya know what's a real shame? He could most use the leftovers.

There was enough food left over to feed him & his kids for a week...and that was AFTER we all ate. And we would have been happy to let him take it all.

Oh well...sucks to be him.

And let me just say...ham and augraten potatoes together are a match made in heaven

Back is better. I'll be crashing soon. Heading to walmart at 5:30 AM.

Well, he didn't show.

That's both rude and disrespectful and I would not invite him again, were I your sister. He is deliberately being mean, thoughtless, and punishing someone, in his mind. That would by far be the end of it for me. Shame on him. Toss some of the extra food in an email and I'll help you make it disappear.

Very glad it's better! Why so early to Walmart?

A minor point to make first, there isn't any broadcasting in ham radio. You only transmit to make contact with another person. Yes, everybody can hear you but if you want to make a news report you have to contact someone and give it to them.

Amateur radio equipment has been confiscated before so that's not out of the question. There is so much used equipment out there that it would be unlikely all of it would be found. Also, equipment can be modified - I have a wifi router that I uploaded some software to and now it transmits on amateur frequencies at amateur power levels. From the outside it just looks like a stock wifi router.

And there's also the problem that some of these hams can homebrew a radio out of garbage that other people throw out. There's even a free book on the internet that tells you how to build radios from scratch - [link to www.qsl.net (secure)]

And, for a group that is technically competent, there sure are a lot of ham pages that are distinctly Web 1.0 :)

But to finish up, I think that in the US especially it would hard to go door to door. Hams are largely law abiding so all TPTB would have to do is restrict or do away with the amateur service and make examples of any scofflaws that they catch. But you only get caught if you transmit, listening is much harder to find. (It's possible, that's how television licenses are enforced in Europe)

Keep an eye out for scanners and general coverage receivers that you might run across. Monitoring communications and shortwave is a great way for someone that has physical difficulties to make a contribution.

I meant transmit, not broadcast - my apologies. New terminology. :)

I would LOVE to be of service, make a contribution, especially if I could do so sitting right here. And if the main receiver and scanner is/are confiscated, doggone that's a shame! Oh, wait - I might have something else tucked away in the back of the closet! I will be looking for used equipment, though I won't know what I am looking at. If the price is right, I'll drag it home, describe it to you, and suddenly discover what I found via your explanation! LOL

Has equipment been confiscated due to abuse and misuse, or something else? Non-licensed I understand.

Radio Free Europe was always a Godsend to listeners who managed a tiny transistor radio and could find one of those little batteries. They never transmitted, but would learn the truth of events in the world. Great groups of people would gather, as many as could feel safe sneaking along in the night or gathering in the back of a marketplace, and try to hear this tiny radio whispering truth to them. Learning of that might have been the beginning of my interest in HAM.

Another reason for my interest is knowing of all the times, especially in disasters, when HAM radios were the only way information could be transmitted to those who needed to know. HAM and MARS have been and continue to be an incredible blessing to so many people - I would be thrilled to help in that effort.

You refer to machines cobbled together from junk as a "problem" - why is that? I think it is terribly clever to be able to do that - it is beyond my talents and abilities so I would have to just buy things. And what you did with a wifi router - amazing! Not a clue how a person would do that, and what a great idea to have a disguise! I'd be all for a disguise of any equipment. Router, stereo, microwave, LOL, whatever!

Some of these are inexpensive - well under $100 for some. Is this better than a scanner? Both needed? [link to www.ebay.com (secure)]

You are amazing! I'm so grateful for your presence here, and your willingness to be so forthcoming with every sort of assistance!

Last Edited by Pooka on 04/22/2019 04:27 AM

Is the contribution generally relaying messages which cannot reach Point A to Point B without a boost? That probably is not phrased correctly at all, but say someone in Seattle is trying to send a message to someone in Northern California, a person halfway or with an antenna that reached half way, would grab the message and relay it on to its destination? Or maybe to another MARS station which would relay to the next step?

The communication circle I am working on for us here is similar - once I have everyone who wants to be a part of it, I'll set everyone on a map and start seeing how far cell transmitters in trouble might go, and where there are MARS sites in between. Again no doubt wrong terminology but you probably understand what I mean.

What alternate power source, if any, do most hams have that wish to be of assistance during power outages? That considering we might have a loooooongggg power outage at some point.

I could see wanting equipment for this in my car. Not necessarily being able to acquire, but wanting.

Why is the shorter antenna that comes with the radios called a "rubber duck"? I have one coming that looks like a "whip" antenna - that is, it can be bent over and loosely attached to the base part of the antenna for transport or storage. It is female or whichever was noted as being required.

Is there anything already made, for a reasonable price, that is in a deflective casing, such as your router which isn't a router? Not from a major distributor, of course, because the secret would be out, but maybe from a smaller shop or person doing the building? Just cloud-walking here. Obviously your mind has gone there, at least at times, or you would not have made the router. Is there something premade for the technologically challenged?

Another question: Does "line of sight" mean literally "line of sight"? If so, I can see that working in, say, Kansas, but not in Western Washington. We have forests, hills, mountains, and I mean every few feet. LOL Really, about the only place there would be line of sight for a little way is on the beach or the freeway.

Edit: This is an interesting article and I'm curious what you think about it: [link to quietsurvivalist.com]

Last Edited by Pooka on 04/22/2019 04:43 AM