Here is a link to an article on another site that is long but well written. 

LINK

http://survivalblog.com/letter-emergency-preparedness/

 Be Ready, Be Prepared!!

Final Communications Prep.

This should be the last entry on communications as I think I am prepared in that category. I added an old CB 40 Channel Radio to my preps.

I got it free, paid 14 dollars for an antenna and hooked it up. It is mainly for monitoring and intelligence gathering. I was able to monitor a guy in downtown today, about 20 miles away. 

I have 2 Meter, and 70 cm radios, HF Ham radio, shortwave and FRS Radios.

I can work digital modes, receive weather reports and send email via HF radios.

I have back up radios for 2 meters and 70 cm, and a back up HF Ham Radio. I only have one dedicated shortwave radio but I could also use my Ham radios to pick up shortwave stations. 

I have 3 different HF antenna, back up coax and connectors. Fuses, wire, cable, grounding straps, end connectors and other odds and ends.

I am going to start working on water and food storage. I still have other projects to work on, fix the old generator being one that I have not finished yet. 

Be Ready, Be Prepared!!!

Small Engine Repair

I try to start my two generators at least once a quarter to make sure everything runs and I put them under a load as well. I last started them 2 months ago as a storm was approaching Hawaii. My cheap generator has always been a hard one to start and it was no exception this time around. This is a 1200 Watt Power Star Plus Generator, the first I ever owned. Remember, cheap is not always good! I think I paid $89 dollars for it at a car parts store on sale in 2008 or 2009. 

I pulled until the rope finally broke. I always thought it was hard to start because I turned the fuel off and let it die on it's on so the fuel would drain out of the lines. 

So I took the opportunity given to me to learn a few things about repairing it, or should I say attempting to repair it. 

I went to the local Home Depot and purchased a new rope for about $4.50. I took off the pulley and cut the old rope and put a new one one. It took several attempts to get the pulley lined up but it all eventually went back on easy enough. I did have to cut the rope to the correct length so it would pull tight enough to start.

I pulled again several times, but alas nothing. I took out the spark plug and noticed the clip on the plug spring was loose. It looks like it has a metal end on each side that should go into the wire to the spark plug. While I had the plug out I sanded the end and cleaned it up and checked the gap. I put that back together and tried again. NO LUCK.

I checked the oil/fuel mixture as I get lazy and don't mix it and just pour it in the tank, but it looked good. 

Next I checked the Air Filter and then made sure the fuel was getting to the carburetor. I took off the gas tank and the hose from the tank to the carburetor to ensure I had good fuel flow and opened up the drain plug at the bottom of the carb and fuel was coming out. 

I checked all the electrical connectors while I had the fuel tank off and all seems tight and connected. 

I sprayed carb cleaner into the air filter and the spark plug cylinder. Put it back together and pulled, it would run for about 10 seconds and die. I took off the fuel tank, drained the tank and the carb bowl, put new fuel in. Pulled and nothing. Sprayed carb cleaner in and it would start and run for a few seconds and die. 

Did I mention the owners manual did not do me very good? It says if it doesn't start and you checked the spark plug, fuel, and air filter than you should call the company.

As of this writing the Power Star Plus is still not a star and is not running.

I'm glad my other generator is a Honda EU 2000i and runs like a champ. I may order the propane conversion kit for it one day. 

Be Ready, Be Prepared!!!!!

Shortwave Radio

A cheap and easy way to pick up what is going on in other parts of the world is to listen to Shortwave Radio Broadcast. Shortwave Radio Listing, (SWL), is still going strong although some stations has closed their doors, others have opened up. In October 2014 Global 24 Radio came on the air. 

Global 24 is currently on 9395 MhZ out of Florida and is getting some good reception reports. I have heard it in Hawaii on a few occasions and they are testing other frequencies so it may get better sooner than later.

A good site to find frequencies or to find out what is playing on a certain frequency can be found at Short - Wave Info.  

SWLing is one of the most popular radio activities in the world. Even with the advent of the world wide web, SWLing stands apart because it provides some of the best "unfiltered" news and content to be found. The joy of SWLing is that you don't need expensive equipment, a connection to the internet, an elaborate antenna, or even AC mains power.  To pick up most broadcasts, a few batteries and an inexpensive pocket-sized shortwave radio are all you need.  This is simplicity at its best, and the reason there are so many people SWLing today. Of course, once you've mastered the basics of SWLing, you may also be interested in DXing (searching for more distant stations) which will require an upgrade from your pocket-sized radio; however, even then, you may be amazed at how little it takes to put together a good DX-chasing set-up.

I have a list of frequencies and stations that I have recieved in Hawaii on my webpage. Click HERE.

Nearly every country broadcasts on shortwave ( 2.3 - 26.1 MHz ). Many of these countries transmit powerful signals that are some times beamed toward North America. These broadcasts can often be heard on portable shortwave radios. International broadcasters often cover stories not reported in the American media. If you use or are learning another language there are many non-english broadcasts. These signals travel thousands of miles via the upper atmosphere and they may have static, fading or interference. These signals are also affected by the seasons, time of day and solar activity (sunspots etc). Broadcasters often change frequencies, languages and times. Any schedule would soon become out of date. I have never used a "schedule. In stead, I just tune around the dial and listen to any interesting stations.

The "Radio Regulations" of the International Telecommunications Union define the shortwave broadcast bands. At the 1992 World Administrative Radio Conference, new bands were created and existing bands were expanded. The band limits in the following table reflect the WARC-92 agreements and broadcast band expansions used on a non-interfering basis (e.g., the 41 m band starting at 6890 kHz on a non-interference basis): Although the allocations do not become official until 2007, in practice many stations have already started using the expanded portions under the motto "use it or lose it." Additionally, there are a few stations that broadcast outside the band edges above, e.g., Iran on 9022 and a number of African stations around 9200 kHz. Clearly, receivers with continuous coverage between 1.6 and 30 MHz are preferred.

Some Basic Rules of Thumb

1. Night shortwave reception is usually better than daytime shortwave. This can change from time-to-time, so it's worth checking the bands during the day as well.

2. Shortwave is usually better in the winter than other times of year.

3. Typically, the best daytime shortwave bands are 13, 15, 16, 19, and 22 meters, 16 and 19 usually the best. At night, the best bands are 25, 31, 41 and 49 meters, with 31 and 49 usually best.

4.  Around sunset and sunrise, both the day and night bands may often be exceptionally good,often making listening at these times quite rewarding.

5.  Because the construction materials of some buildings severely block shortwave signals, it may be best to hold the radio in your hands and get very close to a window or use an external antenna mounted next to the window or outside.
 
A shortwave band is like a street with many addresses on it. In this case, the individual addresses are called frequencies, each one a potential home of a broadcaster. For example, in the 19 meter band (it could be called 19 Meter Street), 15110 kilohertz is the home of Radio Spain International, 15190 is the home of BBC World Service and 15275 is the home of Deutsche Welle (Germany). As on any street, the occupants at a specific address are not always at home.

Be Ready, Be Prepared!!

JWX Free Software

Here is another way to recieve weather reports via a radio.

Short video on JWX weather Fax software for use with shortwave or HF Radio to receive NOAA weather Fax. Radio was a FT-450D, SingaLink USB Sound card and computer.
Software webpage http://arachnoid.com/JWX/
The most up-to-date information about U.S. weatherfax schedules and frequencies is available at the National Weather Service marine weather site, but here is a recent list of U.S. transmission locations and frequencies (Winter 2010-2011):

Boston, MA (NMF) 4235(02z, 08z), 6340.5, 9110, 12750(14z) kHz
New Orleans, LA (NMG) 4317.9, 8503.9, 12789.9, 17146.4(12,18Z) kHz
Kodiak, AK (NOJ) 2054(10z, 18z), 4298, 8459, 12412.5(4z, 22z) kHz
Pt.Reyes, CA (NMC) 4346(except 19z,23Z), 8682, 12786, 17151.2, 22527(19z,23Z) kHz
Honolulu, HI (KVM70) 9982.5(0519-1556z), 11090, 16135(1719-0356z) kHz
 
To receive a weatherfax station, one tunes 1.9 KHz below the station's published frequency and selects upper-sideband mode. For example, to receive the Pt. Reyes 4346 KHz broadcast, tune to 4344.1 KHz.

Be Ready, Be Prepared!!

HF RADIO WEATHER REPORTS

We had two weather events in Hawaii in August of 2014 and I was able to receive these weather fax over the HF Radio. I had some help from a fellow Ham on the Mainland to set it up. I used SeaTTY, FT-450D, and a computer. No Internet needed.

Be Ready, Be Prepared!

Optics!

The very next set of optics you should purchase, after your eye glasses, should be a decent set of binoculars.  Nothing says safety like avoiding trouble in the first place.  If you can watch from a distance, you may be able to avoid a lot of heartache latter.  It doesn’t matter if you are looking for wild game or running surveillance on what is going on around your own home or retreat, you can’t properly react to what you can’t see.  If you needed to get from point A to point B under severe conditions, it is better to scan the area as best you can for additional threats.  The further out you can spot those threats the better.  Often the best way to survive is not being seen or found.  In every book I have read on survival, binoculars have always come into place to create a tactical advantage whether it is putting game on the table or saving your own bacon.  So buy the very best you can afford and don’t skimp on quality.  Let’s go over some binocular basics so that you will choose the right pair for the task at hand.  One of the first requirements of a good set of binoculars is that they must be waterproof.  You never know what kind of action they may see so make sure that they will at least pass that test.  The next thing I would look for is what they call armor coated or rubberized so that they can take on a little more punishment.  Again, this is to protect your investment in what could be a piece of equipment that will last many years.

PRISMS:

After you take into account the different sizes, i.e. 8x42 compared to 10x50, the most significant difference it which type of prism do you pick.  The binoculars that use the Porro prisms are the ones we are all most familiar with.  These are the ones that have the offset from the lens to the eye piece.  The advantages of the Porro prisms are that there are many more models to choose from and the costs are more in line with what most people are willing to spend.  One could argue that you can get more bang for the buck by going with a set of binoculars that incorporate the Porro prisms.  Porro prism binoculars have a single pivot point between the two lenses making them easier to adjust the distance between your eyes.    While it is true that they deliver the best value for the dollar, they also have some drawbacks.  From reading several reviews on binoculars while looking for the “best” set for the money, I noticed that many times customers reported that the waterproof and fog proof attributes either flat out failed or over time ceased to exist.  It is also hard to find a suitable set of offset binoculars that are truly compact, or maybe we should say as compact as they could be.  If you purchase a set of binoculars that use Porro prisms, then hold out for what they call BAK-4 prisms as they are considered the best right now.  Some use a BAK-7 prism, but they just aren’t as good as the 4’s.  Generally speaking, it is easier to find better optics and by that I mean better coated optics as the cost for manufacturing can be spent on the glass and not the prism.  My guess is because this design has been around for decades and thus the options are greater.

Now let’s look the other option in prisms.  That is the roof prism.  These are found in the binoculars that cost a little more and in some cases, a lot more.  Roof prism binoculars can be spotted from across the room.  This is because the lens for each eye is lined up to for a single tub for each side of the binoculars.  By design, it is easier for companies to ensure that they are both waterproof and fog proof.  Also because of the straight tubes, you end up with a more compact set of binoculars.  Compactness may not matter while pulling your time in the Listening Post/Observation Post, but if you are on the move, it will matter a lot.  Because of the straight tubes, it is a little more difficult to adjust these for the spacing between the eyes.  The biggest downside I see is that you get a really good set of roof prism binoculars; you have to get in that $300 and up range.

What do the numbers mean?

The next thing to decide is which size do I need?  Binoculars are often classified as compact, mid-size, full-size, and zoom or astronomical.  For our purposes, we’ll pass on the astronomical as we would rather spend the money on something else, maybe another pair of binoculars.  As with any other tool, each size was designed for a specific task.  I would recommend that you own two pair, one compact and one full size. 

To understand how they are sized, you should understand what the numbers mean.  When you see a set advertised as 8x42, the first number represents the number of times an image is magnified when you look through them.  The second number is the size in millimeters that the objective lens or the lens opposite the eye. 

Be careful of not getting caught up with buying the biggest set of numbers you can.  The higher the first number or magnification is, the harder it will be to keep them focused on something. 

Get something in the 12x range or higher and it will feel like you have the shakes if you look through them too long as it will detect the slightest movement in your hands. 

Experts suggest that you stay with something in the 7 or 8 range for your first number. 

The second number is just as important.  Bigger is better but you will also be giving up the compactness of them as they will weigh more as that lens gets larger.  The larger this lens, the more light that goes into the binocular and the sharper the image will look.  This is called the exit pupil.  The actual diameter of the exit pupil is easy to compute.  You take the second number and divide it by the first.  For example, a pair of 8x42 binoculars will have an exit pupil of 5.25mm.  For a comparison, the human eyes in excellent condition have about a 7mm pupil opening.  So the closer you can stay to that number the more you’ll see even in dim light. 

What does this mean?  With all things considered equal, a compact set of binoculars in 8x21 would be better than a set of 12x25.  The 8x21 set would have an exit pupil of 2.63mm while the 12x25 would be 2.08mm.  You’ll be able to see more at dusk with the 8x21 than with the 12x25.  This may seem backwards as the magnification is 33% more (8 vs. 12), but without enough light entering the front of the lens, your eyes can’t process the images correctly. 

Still we haven’t answered the question of what size to buy.  I would suggest a pair of 7x50, giving you an exit pupil of 7.14 which is great, and a pair of 7x35 or 8x40 giving you an exit pupil of 5.00 each.  I would treat the later as my compacts and the former as the full-size binoculars.  Some compacts that are in the 10x25 range will only give you an exit pupil of 2.5 so don’t expect to see much unless it is the middle of the day.

ACCESSORIES:

Now that we have given you some ideas for binoculars, we need to talk about accessories.  The first thing I would purchase would be a decent case to keep them in.  After that and probably just as important, I would upgrade the neck strap.  I am partial to the ones like Cabela's or Bass Pro Shops sell that are part neck strap and part harness.  The harness system keeps you binoculars from bouncing and banging around while you are walking/running.  They keep them strapped close to your chest and easy to access.  I would also purchase a lens cleaning pens to keep the lens clean and free from scratches.

What do I have:

I have a 7 x 50 JENA by Carl Zeiss. This is a Monocular and works very well for me. It is the same size as a regular binocular but just cut it in half. 7 x 50 provides a exit pupil of 7.14. A really good exit pupil ratio.

A monocular is essentially half of a pair of binoculars, or a very simple telescope. Using prisms and lenses, a monocular allows the user to view objects at a distance as though they were much nearer. Through the use of two prisms, the resulting image appears in the correct orientation. This is in contrast to most telescopes, in which the image is inverted.

A monocular is both lighter and smaller than an equivalent pair of binoculars, making it ideal for certain uses. The fact that, like a telescope, it must be used with only one eye introduces a number of problems that make binoculars preferable in many situations. The stereoscopic effect, which is achieved by using both eyes to view an object, allows for much better tracking of moving objects. It is for this reason that binoculars are preferred for following races or for tracking aircraft or birds in the sky.

I have several field Binoculars. Simmons 10 X 25, tikon 20 x 21, and Tasco 10 X 50 Zip Focus Wide Angel.

They all have their  place and I use the one that best suites the job I'm doing. 

Be Ready, Be Prepared!!!!

LET THERE BE LIGHT!!!!

 

My family believes I am crazy about lights, flash lights mainly. That is what I get for presents. I do enjoy a good quality Flashlights. I have them everywhere, truck, each bedroom, office, kitchen, plugged into the way (I wrote about those here before) and in the garage.

I found this light on the internet and it gets great reviews. The lights are called "Mr. Beams". 

Mr. Beams is a Wireless, Motion Sensing Security Lights. Different sizes, shapes and colors. They seem to be great for any place you don't have an outlet to plug a light into. They run on batteries and the reviews are the batteries are really good. Just attached them to anyplace that may need lite up. 

When the power goes out and if you have motion lights people will understand you maybe a little more prepared than your neighbors and may move to the next home and you will not have to meet them and use the business end of your weapon. It is always better to avoid a fight then to fight if at all possible. 

Another good product they have is one that you can connect as many lights as you want within a 70 ft. range.

"If the power goes out, you don't have to be in the dark. The Mr. Beams Home Power Outage Lighting system features battery-operated emergency lights that automatically turn on during a power outage. Set up is simple: Plug a power detector into a wall outlet. When the power goes out, the power detector will turn on the emergency LED lights via a wireless signal." This is kind of like the system I have but mine is only one light. 

 Prices are decent as well. The below light set is currently $60. 

 

Be Ready, Be Prepared!!!!

10 Things to Stock up On That No One Thinks About

I've seen this before but thought it would be worth posting.

The link to the original article is above

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Written By: David (Dok-The El Cheapo Schlock Prepper) Amberson

Prepper always stock up on food, medical aids, water, weapons, and even have some kind of shelter set up just in case of an emergency. Let’s think about this a little bit more. What would really happen in an “end of the world” situation? Isn’t our mental health as much a priority as food, water, medicine, or even shelter?

I was in the US Army for quite a while, and one of the things we had in our supply room that a whole lot of people didn’t know about was a supply of sports equipment, as well as a supply of board games and such. When I asked about these supplies, I was told that sometimes the best way to get your mind off your crappy situation is to do something fun. This allows you to see things from a fresh perspective and can give you better clarity in your job.

For this reason, I have taken the time to write this list of the top 10 items that people may seem to neglect when they are prepping.

Books & Magazines: Books and other reading materials are the one thing that we can never lose. They contain our history, our beliefs, our hopes, our successes, and our failures. They also make a great way to keep yourself entertained.
Arts & Crafts
Children’s Entertainment
Crafting Supplies: You are going to have time on your hands sitting in your bunker, you may as well do something like learn to knit, take up painting, or any number of other crafts. These may also come in handy once things have quieted down. You may even find yourself with an extra source of revenue.
Crayons & Coloring Books: A great way to help keep little ones happy and somewhat quiet. Crayons also can be used as fire starters in the most dire of emergencies as they can last for up to 30 minutes, and are non-toxic.
Notebooks & Writing Paper: These will be necessary to make notes, write a diary of what you are doing, and as a way to help pass the time.
Nuts, Bolts, Screws, Nails, Et Cetera: These will be necessary for all sorts of things. Trust me, you will need these items. Personally, I’d keep these items in my tool box.
Pens, Paper, Pencils, & Erasers: These can be used for lots of things, from taking notes to writing your memoirs about what is happening. Remember reading about Anne Frank? Same Concept. People are going to want to read about “TEOTWAWKI,” and how we survived, the decisions we made, and how we came to those decisions, and our feelings.
Religious Material: There is an old saying in the military, “There are no Atheists in foxholes.” Having your faith means everything to someone who is religious. So having things that allow you to practice your faith is paramount in a “TEOTWAWKI” Situation.
Sporting Equipment, Card Games, & Board Games: We all need a way to blow off steam. This gives us the opportunity to have some fun, play some games, and relax for a bit.
Tools & Toolbox: We are going to have to repair everything in a TEOTWAWKI situation. That means having the tools to fix things with, and a little knowledge on how to repair things.
Toys: Kids always need a way to play, and having toys on hand is a great way to make sure that kids are not bored. Let’s be realistic here, suddenly, there isn’t going to be anymore birth control, and abortion will be a very trick thing should the worst happen. That means we will suddenly have more kids. We need to keep these kids entertained somehow.

Be Ready, Be Prepared!!

TRUCK CONVEY

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6juJo36clhk

 RICHMOND, Va. – A record number of 125 commercial vehicles will be participating in this Saturday’s 2014 World’s Largest Truck Convoy for Special Olympics. The truck convoy is a unique one-day celebration in which law enforcement escort a convoy of trucks through cities and towns in 38 states and Canada. The event helps raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics athletes. In 2013, over $20,000 was raised with 49 trucks participating in Virginia’s nearly 50-mile round-trip convoy along Interstate 95 from Caroline County to Henrico County





Conspiracy Theories are everywhere!

Be Ready, Be Prepared!