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1. Good advice, thanks.
   My add would be to get an inexpensive tablet without cellular connectivity as backup. With the cellular companies able to push updates and/or remote wipe devices I want to make sure my tools are actually _my_ tools.

2. N. O. – Agree 100%. I included links to a couple of inexpensive tablets in part 3, and you can find refurbished tablets pretty inexpensively on places like Amazon and Newegg.

3. I’ve found the Surface 3 (not the pro) is really useful. Runs all my ham gear with no problem. Cheap enough on Ebay that you can buy two (search for microsoft surface 3 -pro -go -rt). And charges using a usb micro cord, so you don’t have to worry about finding a high power laptop charger that runs on 12V.

4. The Chinese and Russians will destroy some of our GPS and communications satellites and this will render cellphones and similar devices useless. This is where good old analog maps and compass will come in handy.

5. Hi John

   Good tip about using a digital voice recorder and it’s VOX function. Any recorder with VOX would work. I use one of these in three ways.

   1. When doing a radio survey without help. The VOX turns on the recorder and records the time and location it hears from the receiver located at the base station, as I transmit from a outlining location that needs sampling.

   2. When I cannot listen to the many scanners running, the VOX operates the recorder when traffic is heard on any one scanner. During play back, hours of time are compressed into minutes.

   3. Listening to shortwave programs, the digital recorder can record the entire day. In the evening, everyone can get together and hear the program.

   Any of these techniques can be used SHTF as one might not have time to sit a radio shack or radio room and monitor traffic for hours on end. A recorder of any kind can make efficient use of time. It could be considered a force multiplier, allowing the radio guy to be in two places at the same time.

   About GPS.

   The first time I attempted to use one out in the field, the batteries died.
   I believe modern GPS units have an ID’s and are traceable. I have old untraceable units, but I would only use one if I was uncertain about a bearing and needed verification. Basic map and compass is not hard to learn, especially if we are familiar with the area, and do not need the highest level of skill needed to call in air strikes. Using GPS as a back up, I believe is sensible, and if I had artillery, to locate a cashe or drop, I might take a single reading to pin point a location. The rest of the time, I’ll use map and compass until I get lost. I am also concerned that the GPS system available to civilians could get turned off.

   As the topic came up, I checked and found that the Magnet Declination in my area has change by almost 2 degrees since I last checked years ago. Magnet North has been moving rapidly in recent years.

   1. One tip for any newbie readers, from my years of shortwave DXing: Whenever you are dealing with headphones, speakers, and recorders, it is always important to have the impedance match. Test your equipment thoroughly, well in advance of dire need. And remember that it is the cords and connectors on those auxiliary items that get the most wear and tear, so buy spares. And don’t forget: a mini-plug to 1/4-inch adapter can be a lifesaver.

6. Be careful out there! When playing animal sounds in the woods it turns out animals really do live in the woods! We once wanted to play a joke on some friends camping in the woods at night with a coyote caller and little did we know a pack was near us and started howling back really close by.

7. I like TacticalNavigation app for marking points and using symbols. Nothing replaces maps and compass but this enhances it and I can share with others I’m not near.

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