Year: 2022

Making a Simplex Voice Channel Plan, by Don Shift

The average person who gets a Baofeng radio will have no idea how to tune in when they turn it on and see an input like 445.000 staring back at them. Pushing the buttons to blindly tune the frequencies up or down doesn’t work like a CB radio, car stereo, or marine radio. You can’t just pick a frequency at random and start using it. First, there will probably be no one to talk to. Second, you could be transmitting on a frequency or in a mode that is prohibited. My pre-ham radio experience was with VHF law enforcement radios; …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at the impact of rising interest rates on Federal debt obligations — the current national debt and long-term obligations. Precious Metals: Just as I predicted, the platinum-to-gold ratio is narrowing. Platinum just bumped up over $1,000 per Troy ounce. If you haven’t done so already, you should consider doing some …



Preparedness Notes for Thursday — November 10, 2022

November 10th is remembered in the United States as the “birthday” of the U.S. Marine Corps. Coincidentally, the 10th on November is also the birthday of the late Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov, born in 1919, died December 23, 2013. — November 10th is the anniversary of the sinking of the Great Lakes ore ship Edmund Fitzgerald, in 1975. — I’m pleased to report that we’ve established an affiliate advertising relationship with Midland Radio — makers of two-way radios, micro-mobile radios, business radios, and weather radios.  They are headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. — Today’s feature article is from SurvivalBlog’s Senior Editor, James …


Greater Idaho Movement Gains Two More Oregon Counties

The vote tallies are in! The mid-term elections held on Tuesday (November 8th, 2022) included a few interesting county-level and state-level ballot propositions in several states. But in this article, I’ll be focusing on Oregon. First, for some background, take a couple of minutes to read this article, from a liberal publication: Gun laws, abortion, taxes: Why Eastern Oregon is voting to join Idaho. The votes in favor of partitioning Oregon for attachment to Idaho passed easily in both Morrow County and Wheeler County. There are now 11 counties in central and eastern Oregon that have passed Greater Idaho ballot …


The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. Today, we look at the results of the recent midterm elections. The Red Wave Was Just a Swell Though there were some successes for conservatives, overall, the midterm elections were a disappointment. One of …



Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — November 9, 2022

Today is the anniversary of the death of Colonel Ulius Louis “Pete” Amoss. This former OSS officer was best known as the originator of the resistance warfare concepts of Leaderless Resistance and “phantom cells.” Amoss was born in 1895 and died on November 9, 1961 from coronary thrombosis. He had a fascinating life. — November 9th, 1938 was “Kristallnacht”. Be forewarned, folks: Once a group in any society has been singled out for ridicule and persecution, then they can be systematically attacked, physically. Someday it may be “Constitutionalists” who are targeted. — I’m pleased to report that we’ve established an …


Backwoods Home Magazine, by Thomas Christianson

A couple of years ago, I ran across an online ad for a magazine called Backwoods Home. The magazine looked interesting, so I added it to my Christmas and birthday wish lists for a couple of years. My family decided to buy me other gifts instead, so I decided to take the bull by the horns. I contacted the Editorial and Advertising Coordinator for Backwoods Home Magazine, and asked if they would be willing to provide me with some back issues for review. They were kind enough to provide me with all four quarterly issues from 2021 (January/February/March, April/May/June, July/August/September, …


SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

This weekly column is a collection of short snippets: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — Toby sent this suggestion on do-it-yourself garage door security: “Here are step-by-step instructions for a low-tech, garage door security system: I use two ¼” red-handle cushion grip T-handle, Allen wrenches that are 8-inches long inserted in the slots/square holes located on both sides of my garage door rails and locking into the crossbar …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Who stands firm? Only the one for whom the final standard is not his reason, his principles, his conscience, his freedom, his virtue, but who is ready to sacrifice all these, when in faith and sole allegiance to God he is called to obedient and responsible action: the responsible person, whose life will be nothing but an answer to God’s question and call.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer


Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — November 8, 2022

Today is the birthday of the late actor/director/producer Norman Lloyd.  He was born on November 8, 1914. His final film role was in a movie released in 2015. That was filmed after he had turned 100. I just learned that he passed away at the remarkable age of 106 on May 11, 2021. Our condolences to his family. — Please get out and vote today! — I’m happy to report that we’ve established an affiliate advertising relationship with Wing Bikes. They make some of the world’s best e-bikes.  They just started their Black Friday Preview Sale with $700 off their …


Do Not Comply – No Matter What, by SaraSue

Articles in SurvivalBlog are generally, focused on practical “How To” survivalist topics. I’ve been concerned more about my mental and emotional state lately. With so much negative news as of late, I’ve been focused on the practicality of managing my spirit as I work on practical things. I thought I’d share – this is where I stand. There comes a time when you realize that there is nothing left to do but face the Evil and stand firm. You’re done with trying to convince people, especially people you dearly love, that the Evil is here now. You’ve reconciled yourself to …


SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies of interest to preppers and survivalists that are located in the American Redoubt region. Today, some sad news of a fatal collision with a moose. Idaho Rexburg Man Dead After Hitting a Moose on US20. A quote: ‘Troopers with Idaho State Police are investigating a fatal accident that happened Tuesday morning involving a vehicle colliding with a moose. The accident …