Category: Retreat Security

The Meme of Crushroom: A Key Retreat Architecture Element (Updated)

JWR’s Introductory Note:  This is an update and expansion of an article that I wrote for SurvivalBlog back in 2009. I’ve corrected the article’s dead links and added some important details. — One bit of retreat architecture that I’ve often recommended to my consulting clients who are designing (or retrofitting) retreats is the inclusion of a protruding entryway foyer, that I call a crushroom. Passing this advice along to you gives me the chance to employ one of my horrible puns: The Meme of Crushroom. A crushroom is a controllable confined space, typically an entry foyer, that can be covered …


The “Come as You Are” Collapse–Have the Right Tools and Skills

Introductory Note From JWR: This article is an update and small expansion to a succinct post that I made back in February, 2008. When the Second World War broke out in September, 1939, the United States had nearly two full years to ramp up military training and production before decisively confronting the Axis powers. In the mid-1970s, looking at the recent experience of the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, the Pentagon’s strategic planners came to the realization that the next major war that the US military would wage would not be like the Second World War. There would not be the luxury …


The Price of Home Security: You Can Pay a Little Now, or Pay Much More, Later

JWR’s Introductory  Note:  This is an update to a SurvIvalBlog article that I posted in March, 2007.  Many home security technologies have advanced, especially with the advent of inexpensive webcams and trail cameras. So this is a fairly important article update.  I have also added mention of an alternative modular gun safe manufacturer. — I’m often amazed to hear some of my relatively wealthy consulting clients tell me that they don’t own a home gun vault or safe room. I ask why not, and they make excuses like: “I’ve been too busy at my job to shop for one” or, …


Preparedness Primer for an Uncertain Future – Part 6, by Single Farmer

Editor’s Introductory Note: This young man is prayerfully seeking a wife. He is offering an after-marriage gift of up to $50,000 to whoever introduces him to his bride with $18,000 after their marriage and another $16,000 to the individual who provided the introduction after the first two births of healthy children born to him and his wife, for a total potential gift of $50,000. For further details, see this link to his article posted on July 13th, 2025: My Quest for a Wife: I’m Willing to Move. — (Continued from Part 5. This concludes the article.) Five Hundred Dollar Prepper …


Armasight Thermal Optics, by Thomas Christianson

I stepped out my door with the dog on a leash, ready to go for a walk. A glance toward the woods on the other side of the driveway did not reveal any signs of life. I was carrying an Armasight Thermal Monocular in my right hand. I turned it on, put it to my right eye, and glanced at the same patch of woods across the driveway just to make sure that the monocular was on. Much to my surprise, I saw a herd of a half dozen or so deer looking back at me. What was easy to …


Directional Antennas Improve COMSEC, by Tunnel Rabbit

Editor’s Introductory Note:   For those who are unfamiliar with the term “YagI”,  I’ll preface this article with a bit of history from the InfoGalactic wiki: “A Yagi–Uda antenna, or simply Yagi antenna, is a directional antenna consisting of two or more parallel resonant antenna elements in an end-fire array; these elements are most often metal rods (or discs) acting as half-wave dipoles. Yagi–Uda antennas consist of a single driven element connected to a radio transmitter or receiver (or both) through a transmission line, and additional passive radiators with no electrical connection, usually including one so-called reflector and any number of …


Using Military Principles to Improve Civilian Radio Comms – Part 3, by Tunnel Rabbit

(Continued from Part 2. This concludes the article.) Antennas As an example, factory broad band antennas can suffice, yet performance in terms of propagation and receive will be lacking, and the overall range shortened, and the transceiver’s life possibly shortened. And there are other issues to consider. The crude, yet effective Baofeng UV5R does not power back given an excessively high Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) from an antenna, and this situation will shorten the life of the ‘finals’ of this transceiver. If the back side of a Baofeng UV5R becomes warm to the touch, stop transmitting, drop the power …


Using Military Principles to Improve Civilian Radio Comms – Part 2, by Tunnel Rabbit

(Continued from Part 1.) Emergency Communications The Emergency level (the “E” of the PACE acronym) methods of communications are used exclusively during recovery or for link up in the field where no electronic means are possible or desirable. The injured may need to use a whistle as their only means to call for help. Linking up in the field is a very dangerous situation that carries the threat of ambush with it, or even casualties from friendly fire. How the Emergency PACE level methods are used to signal using a code or a procedure only known to friendly participants must …


Using Military Principles to Improve Civilian Radio Comms – Part 1, by Tunnel Rabbit

Introduction In my recent SurvivalBlog multi-part article, Communications Options for the Common Man, I looked at how to use commonly available license-free radios in a way that provided a low level of communication security by following a few basic rules, by mostly untrained people. Included in that article was the use of field phones that are easy to use, and provide the highest level of communication security that could be available to both untrained and trained personnel. In this article, I will describe methods that could only be used by trained and disciplined personnel who can maintain higher standards, and …


TEOTWAWKI Signals Intelligence – Part 2, by Mike in Alaska

(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.) I will devote the rest of this article to a USB “dongle” type radio receiver that I have on hand, and the amazing things you can do with it. I also intend to make mention of a device called a “Tiny SA” a signal analyzer that was made more for spectrum analyzing signals on the test bench but can also be used for SIGINT as well. The USB dongle I am currently using is the RTL2832U. This is a low-price unit costing just $40. But I do advise you consider buying the …


Expatriating to the Philippines: 12 Years to Reflect, by M.B.

Twelve years ago, I moved to the Philippines to escape U.S. economic pressures—tax hikes, healthcare mandates, and a struggling economy. Now, with over a decade of experience, I’ve gained a perspective on life here. This guide, refined for aspiring expats, covers natural disasters, construction, security, education, a unique location in Subic, and critical considerations for accessing specialized services like medical care. The Climate and Agriculture The Philippines offers a year-round growing season, but gardening is tough. Red clay soil demands effort, and ants and weeds are relentless. The dry season—hot and arid—requires irrigation or hydroponics. Fresh produce prices spike during …


Communications Options for the Common Man – Part 6, by Tunnel Rabbit

(Continued from Part 5. This concludes the article.) Field Phone Line Circuits: The Platoon Hot Loop This method can to be used if the layout of LP/OPs is favorable. This method of connecting phones is referred to as the Platoon Hot Loop, yet the connection can be made to string the phones together, not in a circle but all along a singe line be it straight or in a circular shape that resembles a perimeter. The ‘loop’ is actually the electrical path created the connections made in a series in the same way Christmas tree lights were once supplied with …


Communications Options for the Common Man – Part 5, by Tunnel Rabbit

(Continued from Part 4.) The Swedish M37 field telephone is an example of a good middle-of-the-road approach that is relatively lightweight, affordable, adequately durable, and mostly found to be in good operational condition.  These are not as sophisticated and suitable for silent operation as either the TA-312 or the TA-1, yet they can be fitted with a 12 VDC grain of wheat sized red LED that pulses when an incoming call is made to the phone or a peizo buzzer that softly chirps and closely duplicates the TA-312 reduced volume ‘ringer’ merely by connect either to the terminals.  Disconnect the …


Communications Options for the Common Man – Part 4, by Tunnel Rabbit

(Continued from Part 3.) Applying P.A.C.E. to a Commo Plan For every communication requirement, always have an alternative or substitute option to accomplish the same task. For example, hand and light signals and whistles are appropriate alternatives for a security operation. As a last resort, a signal fire, fog horn, or air raid siren could be for emergency communications.  However, I should let the user make the final decision.  Stay off the beaten path as much as possible and increasingly so as the threat conditions escalate.  As threats learn and evolve, so should we.  Continually improve your security operation and …


Communications Options for the Common Man – Part 3, by Tunnel Rabbit

(Continued from Part 2.) Low-Power Radio, Communications Planning, and SOI Several radio types that are relatively easy to use can used to complete a commo plan. To start, choose a primary platform such as either FRS, GMRS, MURS, or CB, and then choose an alternative to standardize on. Then select a primary and alternative channel for both your primary and alternative radio services.  Expect to be jammed and be prepared with a set of Signals Operation Instructions (SOI) so that all understand when and how to quietly switch to the alternative channel or radio service. For longer ranges, GMRS and …