Category: Contest

Writing Contest Prize Winners Announced — Round 107

We’ve completed the judging for Round 107 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. Round 107 ended on July 31st, 2023. The contest is run in rounds that each last two months. The prize-winning writers for Round 107 are: First Prize First Prize goes to PrepperDoc, for: Assembling a Stealth Prepper Group, posted on July 18th and 19th, 2023. See: Part 1, and Part 2. He will receive the following prizes. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000. A Gunsite Academy …


Using Pop Culture to Teach Survival and Civics, by M.J.

This short article does not teach any particular skills, tactics, or procedures. My only objective here is to offer some suggestions for using pop culture to get children or teenagers to start thinking about survival and to learn about civics. While most pop culture ranges from fluff to downright destructive, there are some gems we can pull out of the trash heap. Some of the examples here are irreverent and some have bad language; that’s the point. Books and sober lectures aren’t always the best way to get people’s attention. Note that I am labeling anything with vulgarity or profane …


Lessons From a Road Trip, by Richard T.

In April of this year we made a road trip from our home near the upper Mississippi River to the southern tip of Florida. In a previous article I covered navigation, communications (between driver and passenger), and maneuvering in traffic on that trip. This article is about other aspects of the same trip and what worked, and what didn’t. This trip had a two-fold purpose, to make a visit and to deliver cargo. Late the night before we were going to leave we decided to take the truck instead of the car as we needed the room for the cargo, …


A Low Power Communications Station in a Bucket – Part 5, by Tunnel Rabbit

(Continued from Part 4. This concludes the article.) RTL-SDR and SIGINT The photo at left shows a 2.GHz panel Yagi (a directional antenna) that was installed on a field expedient 30-foot wooden pole that is stabilized with guy wires. It is for use with a RTL-SDR dongle and a laptop to detect the signals controllng the movement of line of sight (LOS) drones that would emanate from the direction of the most likely avenue of approach. Its range of detection would be greatest when placed above the top of trees. In the world of radio, ‘Height is might’.) The link …


A Low Power Communications Station in a Bucket – Part 4, by Tunnel Rabbit

(Continued from Part 3.) Crossband Repeaters The Anytone AT5888uv, or the TYT TH-UV8000, a 10-watt handheld ($79) are examples of what I prefer in a open-banded transceiver with a crossband repeater. These use only one dual-band antenna, and are true two-way cross-band repeaters. For low-power operations, the TYT TH-UV8000 is the most practical. The Anytone AT5888 moblie with 50 watts of power, can do the same job and be a base station transceiver, yet it would draw more power, and when in use as a repeater, it can not be a base station transceiver. So, get both!


A Low Power Communications Station in a Bucket – Part 3, by Tunnel Rabbit

(Continued from Part 2.) Photovoltaic (PV) Power Power can be supplied by an internal or external source. For long-term fixed installation, a single wire pair can deliver power from a 12 to 24 vdc from a PV panel to a battery stored inside, or placed outside, or directly to the voltage step-down converter inside. A Baofeng battery eliminator can accept the higher voltage of a PV panel and step it down to 7.4 volts that the transceiver requires. However, there is no battery present to be charged and consumed after sunset, whereas with the voltage step down covert charges the …


A Low Power Communications Station in a Bucket – Part 2, by Tunnel Rabbit

(Continued from Part 1.) Transceiver Selection These are various sizes and types of radios. For the purpose of size comparison, the photo illustrates why we should choose the smaller-size transceivers that will allow one to pack as many as possible into the metal can that is housed inside the 6-gallon bucket. The metal can is needed for protection from EMP, and as an additional protection from the environment when stored inside, or outside the bucket.) The smallest in size is the tiny Anytone Smart which is a 10 Meter FM, and 16-watt PEP CB AM/FM that has 400 channelized frequencies …


A Low Power Communications Station in a Bucket – Part 1, by Tunnel Rabbit

Introduction This five-part article is about a low-power communications station that fits into a 6-gallon plastic bucket that can be operated in or out of a bucket, or perhaps two buckets. Included are tips to help maintain the station, and improve its effectiveness. Some can afford to buy better equipment, and some will also be interested in gathering Signals Intelligence (SIGINT). I believe that SIGINT will become essential in the future. This example was put together on a tight budget, so I can afford to make several communications stations, and still perform SIGINT and use digital modes. We should assemble …


Preparing With a Parent in Decline, by C.H. in Kansas

It’s a hard thing to watch a parent who is in decline. This may include physical failings, cognitive decline, loss of memory, forgetfulness, disturbed sleep patterns, and bad decisions. The person who once took care of you is simply no longer able to take care of themselves. What responsibilities do you have toward family? 

In this article,  I’m going to relate some thoughts regarding the care of an elderly parent and some considerations for general preparedness planning, not necessarily TEOTWAWKI. This is not intended to be an exhaustive treatment of the subject of hospice, elder care, legal issues, or anything …


How to Make and Use Vinegar, by St. Funogas

If there’s one thing we take for granted in our kitchens it’s vinegar. For a couple of bucks you can buy a gallon and it’ll last most people a year or more. After the SHTF when every survivor must learn home canning as well as make their own cleaning products and limited antiseptics, vinegar making is a skill every household will need to master. Today it’s a fun activity and a way to put our canning waste to good use but after the Crash, it will be one of the most important food-preservatives available to us. Thus, it’s one more …


Selecting Ham Shack Equipment, by Muscadine Hunter

When it comes to assembling equipment for a ham shack, there are about as many options as there are differing opinions about what one needs. Also, a ham shack for hobby and one for intel gathering post TEOTWAWKI is vastly different. With that said, allow me to share my experiences and background. I started fooling around with radios when I was about 10 years old. One of my dad’s best friends was an avid short-wave listener and introduced me to the hobby. I would sit in Hoyt’s den for hours listening to various overseas shortwave stations as well as occasional …


Getting Ready For Winter in a Northern Climate, by Hollyberry

It may now be summer but it’s time to think ahead to those cold weather months. It has been said that in Maine there are only two seasons: winter, and getting ready for winter. Winter is beautiful in Maine with the white snow, blue sky, and evergreens. Winter is also dreaded by most people but a little preparation can go a long way in making it easier. It’s also a great time to get outside and enjoy the crisp, clean air (as snot freezes to the side of your face). Its soooo tempting to just forget about winter and head …


Assembling a Stealth Prepper Group – Part 2, by PrepperDoc

(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article) Developing your leadership skills If you work at this, you’ll gain many skills in the areas of operational communications, and in logistics as well. You’ll find the Professional Development Series will help your skillset for leading a volunteer group– whether a prepper group or an ARES group. You’ll be well accepted by the local Emergency Management folks for your willingness to help forestall the onset of anarchy in your community. Most emergency managers realize that communications is a weak spot in their own knowledge base, and if you come across as likable, …


Assembling a Stealth Prepper Group – Part 1, by PrepperDoc

On the wonderful pages of SurvivalBlog, I have read article after article about hardy souls setting up individual homesteads and gaining hard-won knowledge at significant cost. But also, of course, of people bemoaning the out-sized risks of “loners” in a truly desperate time, and the need to find some way to establish a like-minded group. That adventure is fraught with risks, as leadership, membership, and governance are sticky but important issues. I wish I were young enough and strong enough to have my own homestead, but that was not my path in life. (Someone has to be the doctor, engineer, …


Building a Simple Faraday Cage, by OhioGalt

This article describes the effects of EMP and CME and how to build a simple inexpensive Faraday cage. Most readers of the SurvivalBlog are aware of the potential damage from either a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) or an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) and the impact on everyday electronics. With an EMP, an electromagnetic pulse is generated at high altitudes from a nuclear explosion damaging sensitive electronics. A CME damages electronics in a similar way with the release of a large solar flare from the sun reaches carrying magnetic fluxes and plasma toward earth. These magnetic fluxes interfere with Earth’s magnetic fields …