Odds ‘n Sods:

Remember that illegal NSA spy program that Snowden blew the whistle on? Well, now the court says it’s legal for NSA to spy on you because Congress says it’s OK. Sent in by B.B.

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SurvivalBlog reader K.C. sent in a video link on how to make your own solar panels. Depending on the cells you can pick up, this may be the option you need to get off-grid.

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Bay County, Florida Sheriff Frank McKeithen is blasting a “secret ballot” vote on Florida open carry. Imagine that! Elected officials voting in secret so you don’t know how they represented you! Sent in by T.P.

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Forget X-rays, now you can see through walls using WI-FI: Device captures silhouettes and can even identify people when they’re stood behind concrete. Sent in by Watcher.

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Fall is in the air and the wood stoves are getting warmed up…or are they? In San Francisco, all stoves in new homes have been banned. Even those certified as low emission. The regulations actually kick in next fall for wood stoves, but fireplaces are already illegal.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the Lord. And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.” 2 Kings 4:32-35 (KJV)

Notes for Friday – October 30, 2015

October 30th, 1735 was the birthday of President John Adams. (Other sources cite his birth date as October 19, 1735.) He died on July 4, 1826– just a few hours after the death of Thomas Jefferson.

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Today, we present another entry for Round 61 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value),
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul pmags 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package (enough for two families of four) plus seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate (a $325 retail value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304, and
  10. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  4. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
  5. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  6. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  7. Twenty-five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  10. Safecastle is providing a package of 10 Lifestraws (a $200 value)

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A $245 gift certificate from custom knifemaker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  3. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  7. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  8. Montie Gear is donating a Precision Rest (a $249 value), and
  9. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Round 61 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Digital Communications Capabilities for Prepared Families, by Prairie Dweller

As most preppers know, regardless of where you are on your prepping journey, the ability to communicate is a vital need. We need to communicate with our families, and we need to get information about what’s going on around us. The need for communications, as well as the traditional methods for establishing them, has been well addressed in preparedness circles. What has not been addressed much is what digital communications capabilities have to offer you as a prepper. I have been an amateur and commercial radio operator for many years, and the capabilities of digital communications as compared to voice communications astonishes me still.

Digital communications involves the interconnection of computer hardware and radio equipment in order to send and receive messages that are generated by a computer by utilizing radio transmissions. While analog voice communications have their place, digital communications offer the ability to send messages over short or long distances, using reliable error correction, under less than ideal conditions. Many times, especially on the high frequency (HF) bands, propagation conditions can be challenging and voice communications can be delayed, insecure, and inefficient. The utility of digital modes is not confined to the HF bands, as newer models are very effective on higher frequencies in the very high frequency (VHF) and ultra high frequency (UHF) bands.

Many years ago, digital communications modes required expensive, external computer hardware called a terminal node controller (TNC).That has now changed, with the advancement of computer technology. Digital communications modes now utilize audio sampling software and the on-board computer sound card to receive signals from within the typical noise floor, where voice communications would not be possible. The digital software is typically free, and the only audio processing equipment that is needed is the sound card that is already integrated into the vast majority of computers, including desktops, laptops, and some tablets. A simple interface device is also needed in order to interconnect the computer and the radio.

To start working with digital communications, you need a computer with a sound card, a radio transceiver, and an interface between them. There are many popular software suites for amateur radio digital communications. I have experimented with most of these and have found the FastLight (FL) modem software to be best suited for emergency communications (EMCOMM). The FastLight software is also known as narrow band emergency messaging software (NBEMS). The individual programs included in NBEMS are FL-DIGI, FL-MSG, FL-AMP, FL-ARQ, and FL-RIG. Download links to that software can be found at www.w1hkj.com. At a minimum, I would recommend installing FL-DIGI (which will automatically install FL-ARQ), as well as FL-MSG. As your confidence in using the basic software grows, you can then learn to operate the advanced features of FL-AMP and FL-RIG. FL-AMP allows full error correction between two stations, which guarantees 100% correct message delivery. The same cannot be said for voice communications or even morse code (CW). FL-RIG software allows you to remotely control your radio from your computer, if you choose to do so.

After FL-DIGI is installed, you’ll need to take some time to get to know it. A very good training video can be found at You Tube. You’ll need to configure FL-DIGI to your specific installation, including what sound card you are using, as well as how you want FL-DIGI to make your radio transmit when it needs to. In order to get the transmit and receive audio to flow from the radio to the computer and in order the make the radio transmit upon command from the computer, you’ll need a digital interface. Several types of these devices are available, such as the Tigertronics SignalLink, the West Mountain Radio Rig Blaster, or the BUXCOM Rascal. For the new digital operator, the SignalLink is the easiest to set up, and it includes an actual external USB sound card within the device and external controls that can be easily manipulated. This allows you to leave your on-board computer sound card available for other uses. The SignalLink also does not require a serial port on your computer. Most computers no longer come with a serial port installed, as most manufacturers have migrated to USB. The SignalLink uses voice operated keying (VOX) to key the transmitter. There are Rigblaster and BUXCOMM interfaces that also offer USB support, as well as standard serial port support, which requires a USB to Serial adapter for most modern computers. This creates a COM port that will signal your radio to transmit. The downside to the SignalLink is that it requires internal jumpers to be moved and reset when changing to different radios, whereas the Rigblaster and BUXCOMM interfaces do not require the manipulation of internal jumpers. Interfaces that use standard audio connectors will need to be connected to the computer microphone jack and speaker output jack.

To complete the install of the interface, you will need to either connect the interface cable to the radio’s DATA jack or, depending on the radio, you may need to connect it to the microphone jack and external speaker output of the radio. Connecting to the MIC jack and EXT speaker jack is typically only necessary on older radios that were not specifically designed for use on the digital modes. These older radios will still interface for digital; they just need to be connected differently. Most modern transceivers include a built-in connector that allows for seamless connection to digital interfaces. The big three Japanese radio manufacturers– ICOM, Kenwood, and Yaesu– all use a 6-pin mini-DIN connector. All three manufacturers use the same ISO manufacturing standard, so all the pin out assignments of the connector are the same. This means that the cable can be used on any of the big three’s radios that have the correct connector. The author uses the same cable for an ICOM 208H and a Kenwood TMV71A with no problems. Many modern transceivers even include built-in USB support. If your transceiver has a USB connector, then it does not need an external interface. Just download the appropriate USB drivers from the manufacturer, and then connect the radio to your computer using a standard USB cable. The computer will then recognize a COM port and USB audio CODEC for the transceiver, completely eliminating the need for any more hardware. It is a good idea to install ferrite chokes on the USB cable to reduce the possibility of radio frequency interference (RFI).

Once everything is interfaced, it’s time to get on the air. Remember that most transceivers are not 100% duty cycle at their full power rating. This means that they are not designed to be keyed to transmit 100% of the time at 100% power. The best practice is to keep the output power of your transceiver at its highest setting (typically 100 watts on an HF transceiver), but then use the audio slider adjustment menu on the computer to lower the audio output level until the output power on digital modes shows on your meter to be peaking at 25 to 50 watts. 50 watts is the maximum, and reliable communications can typically be maintained at 25 watts, with very little gained by increasing the power any higher on most modes. Once operating, you will find that FL-DIGI has many digital communications modes, the scope of which is beyond the intent of this article. A very good reference, comparing digital modes, can be found at wb8nut. The most important thing to remember when choosing a mode is that different modes have different advantages and disadvantages, and experimentation is the key to success. You will find some modes that have high throughput levels that do not perform well in noisy conditions, and you will find some modes that have lower throughput but work better in noisy conditions. Your choice of mode will be dictated by propagation conditions, noise levels, and available power. Your knowledge will increase as you train with the different modes.

Another digital mode that the author highly recommends is the WINLINK 2000 radio e-mail system, details of which can be found at www.winlink.org. WINLINK allows you to use the same equipment discussed above to remotely access e-mail gateways all over the world via HF radio. WINLINK utilizes software called RMS Express, which looks and acts like a standard e-mail client, such as Outlook Express. The difference is that instead of connecting directly to the Internet using a local connection, it uses a software modem called WINMOR, which is included in the RMS Express install. WINLINK allows you send and receive e-mail remotely, over thousands of miles, which has great utility as long as there is still Internet connectivity somewhere in the world. This e-mail will be delivered to any valid e-mail address, including non-WINLINK addresses. The author includes WINLINK in his personal family emergency communications plan, because it allows him not only to e-mail his family but even to send and receive cell phone SMS text messages to them, using e-mail to text gateways that can be found listed at www.emailtextmessages.com. The author recommends that readers download a copy of this list for use in the event that Internet connectivity is not available. Using an e-mail to text gateway allows messages to be sent both ways, so even when a non-Ham replies to your e-mail or text message, it will be delivered back to you as a WINLINK message.

There several other advantages to digital communications that are worthy of further discussion. As most preppers know, communications security (COMSEC) and operational security (OPSEC) are crucial. The problem with analog voice communications is that while they are easily established, they are also easily intercepted by anyone with a radio receiver capable of covering the frequency being used. In order for someone to receive your digital communications they must not only possess the equipment discussed above, but they must also possess the knowledge of the equipment and the knowledge to recognize what mode is being used.

While digital modes are not allowed to be encrypted under amateur radio Part 97 rules, digital modes by their very nature defeat the undetermined and unskilled listener. If you try to listen to a digital mode using just a radio receiver, all you will hear is unintelligible data sounds. For a message to be considered encrypted, it must be deliberately encoded in such a way so as to obscure the meaning of the message. The digital modes used in amateur radio are based on open protocols, so the message is not considered to be encrypted unless one was to encrypt the message text before sending it via the digital mode. Further, programs such as FL-DIGI, FL-MSG, and RMS Express contain compression protocols that make file size smaller, and hence it transmits faster. These programs also allow for the use of custom-made HTML forms that are not available as a part of the default software package. These forms can be written by anyone with knowledge of HTML coding and then distributed to only those that you see fit. Any standard Internet browser will open and display HTML files. Combined, these capabilities have the added benefit of defeating snoopers, because while it is possible to reverse engineer the message content to read it, this requires extensive knowledge of software coding that is beyond the capability of most listeners. (Think three-letter agencies here; they can read it.)

In a TEOTWAWKI situation, messages could be easily encrypted and transmitted via amateur radio digital modes using a software suite called KLEOPATRA, which uses very strong, highly secure GNUPG encryption. This encryption works by using a separate public and private encryption key. This allows users who have never met in person to exchange public keys openly, while maintaining their own private key and passphrase in order to send encrypted messages. The best indications are that GNUPG will defeat even the best equipped and determined listener, and even a brute force attack would take several years to be successful using a supercomputer. It is certainly possible that any of the three-letter agencies may have a backdoor into this encryption, but GNUPG was designed by the Germans, who are a very privacy-conscious people. In order to send an encrypted message via a digital mode, compose a plain text message in the Notepad program, and then save it on your computer. Then, open KLEOPATRA, select your recipients (you’ll need their public key to do this), then enter your pass phrase, and re-save the encrypted file. You can then send the encrypted Notepad file using the FL-DIGI and FL-AMP software, which will guarantee 100% correct reception of your highly encrypted message at its destination. I must point out that this method is highly illegal under normal circumstances. DO NOT DO THIS under normal circumstances, or you will be in serious trouble with a large fine. However, you can simulate the entire process to get acquainted with how to do it. Just don’t transmit it over the amateur bands. The author has used two complete digital communications setups using non-licensed MURS frequencies. The author has personally verified that the process listed above does work very reliably and would work fine on the amateur bands. My test was akin to what the Air Force does when they test a Minuteman 3 missile. It proves that the system works without actually “pushing the button”.

The author maintains several complete digital communications set ups, including one in a base station configuration and two in a portable configuration. These set ups consist of HF, VHF, and UHF capable radios. Power reserves are a concern for any prepper, but a digital set up can be run entirely off of a 12 VDC power system, if a laptop computer is employed. Different types of generator power, inverters, 12 VDC battery banks, and solar systems can all power a digital communications set up completely off grid. Digital systems can be as complex or as simple as needed. It can be as complex as multi-band capability using many different radios to cover the entire world, it can be a simple system comprised of two laptops, two interfaces, and two low-cost walkie-talkies to cover a small area. The author encourages the reader to explore the digital realm and to connect with other like-minded individuals using this technology. Find a local digital expert and learn from them. Be patient and work through the inevitable problems, and your skills will improve. Most importantly, communicate daily with the Prince of Peace– Christ Jesus!

Letter: .40 S&W

Dear Hugh

Service caliber semi-automatic handguns are generally considered to be in calibers 9mm, 40 S&W, and .45 ACP. A lot of people really seem to enjoy Monday morning quarterbacking the virtues of these calibers and their theoretical stopping power. Well, everyone should have a hobby. The reality is that any pistol (unless it is maybe the 500 S&W) is far less effective than a rifle. I am not sure who said it first, but a common quote is that the purpose of a pistol is to allow you time to reach your rifle.

Recent events (see below) are resulting in the .40 starting to receive unfavorable press, where everyone (including gun writers who previously thought the .40 S&W was the greatest thing since sliced bread) are now starting to poo-poo the caliber.

Cartridge popularity comes and goes in the gun press. I can remember when the “experts” were all extolling the virtues of the .45 GAP, the .32 H&R magnum, the .32 NAA, the .357 SIG, and other wonder cartridges. Likewise, the hard corps gun press will claim that anything other than a .45 auto is a “mouse gun”.

I am writing in “defense” of the .40 S&W. I have owned twenty or so different .40s over the years and can honestly say that it is a perfectly adequate cartridge as handgun cartridges go. That’s faint praise, right? Well, as far as I am concerned, handgun cartridges can never really exceed “adequate” when it comes to defensive use.

I would propose that the present time is a great time to be a prepper looking to buy used service weapons in .40 S&W. The caliber is incredibly reliable; I have well over 20,000 rounds through one of my Glock .40s and don’t think I have ever had a misfire. The round has plenty of power, “makes major” in most competitions, and is available at reasonable prices in both target and social rounds.

What we are seeing right now in the market place is the confluence of two trends that have driven down the price of pistols in .40 S&W to unheard of lows.

First, police departments tend to replace their duty weapons every 10 to 15 years; the .40 S&W was introduced in 1990, making today about the time that agencies are ready to replace their second generation of pistols.

Second, the FBI has just announced that they will be replacing their service weapons, which are mostly .40 S&W, with 9mm pistols based on the improvements made to 9mm ballistics, which make it (at least in their tests) as effective as both the .40 and the .45 in a package that is easier to shoot and that has higher capacities in the same design envelope.

These events have served to push down the price of used, quality .40 S&W pistols to unheard of lows. Sig Sauer P229 and P226 pistols can be had from wholesalers or on Gunbroker.com for as low as $300. (I bought a P226 police trade-in for $305 just a few weeks ago.) These are guns that sell new today for up to $800. Likewise, Glock 22s and 23s and S&W M&Ps in .40 are available at incredibly low prices. You can find barely used police trade-in .40s from mainstream manufactures for little over $200.

Used accessories are also available at bargain prices. Retention holsters can be picked up for a few bucks, and trade-in magazines are running $12 to $15.

If you are in need of acquiring or upgrading your handguns, forget about the 9mm vs .40 vs .45 debate, and take advantage of the buyers’ market in .40 S&W pistols. – Bruce F.

Economics and Investing:

Wow! What the Rite Aid deal means for Walgreens and the future of retail healthcare Walgreens acquiring Rite-Aid means that they will now control 41% of the pharmacy market. CVS already controls 58% of the market. How is that good for health care? Sent in by RBS

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Items from The Economics Team:

Our Debt Continues to Increase: The Boehner-Obama Deal (CNS News)

Time to Use Threats of Default and Shut-Down to Reduce Spending (My Way)

Weak U.S. Business Spending Plans Signal Slower Economic Times Coming (Reuters)

The Bull Run in Stocks is Perilous (Market Watch)

Orders for U.S. Durable Goods Fizzle (Market Watch)

The U.S. Service Economy Tumbles: October Slow Down Likely to Influence Central Bank Decisions on Rates (Zero Hedge)

Healthcare Co-ops Closing: The Bad News Keeps Coming, Consumer Coverage Choices Narrow (New York Times)

The Retirement Crisis is Real: Are Mandatory Regulated Accounts Really the Solution? (Huff Post Money) Comment: Seriously? Our solution is surely not to institute mandatory, regulated accounts trusting that the financial resources we will need at our most vulnerable time in life will be available through the same banks guilty of everything from negligence to criminal acts. Be aware of the direction of this conversation and commentary, and beware.

6 Clever Ways to Save Money on Utilities (Tesco Living)

Odds ‘n Sods:

From Frank (of Frank and Fern): Animated Refugee Map Very interesting to see where they are coming from and where they are going. It would be very interesting to have one like it of this country. It might surprise a few folks.

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Speaking of immigrants: SurvivalBlog reader B.B. sent in this link showing Immigrants FLOODING Into US At Rate Of 3 LAs Per Year

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Reader JFJ also sent in a link to American Thinker that gives us 13 reasons why we should not admit Muslim ‘refugees’.

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Do you wonder why so much of your paycheck goes to the government? It’s not constitutional defense spending…Undeniable Social Security Demographics Sent in by RBS.

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SurvivalBlog reader J.T, sent in this interesting article on the progress of dealing with Ebola: Penn Study Blocks Ebola Virus Budding by Regulating Calcium Signaling

Notes for Thursday – October 29, 2015

October 29th is the birthday of Vermont Garrison, fighter pilot, an American who fought in three wars– WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. He was born in 1915 and died February 14, 1994, in Mountain Home, Idaho. This is also the birthday of World War II cartoonist Bill Mauldin (born 1921, died January 22, 2003).

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I just noticed that Ted Koppel’s nonfiction book Lights Out just hit #9 on Amazon.com. From all reports it definitely looks worth reading. I just wish that he had selected a more original title. David Crawford’s post-EMP novel, also titled Lights Out, definitely has its merits. – JWR

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Today, we present another entry for Round 61 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value),
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul pmags 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package (enough for two families of four) plus seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate (a $325 retail value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304, and
  10. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  4. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
  5. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  6. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  7. Twenty-five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  10. Safecastle is providing a package of 10 Lifestraws (a $200 value)

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A $245 gift certificate from custom knifemaker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  3. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  7. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  8. Montie Gear is donating a Precision Rest (a $249 value), and
  9. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Round 61 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Survival Electronics- Part 2, by K.A.

Fire

Fire for heat and cooking can also be very important to survival. Enter the USB-rechargeable cigarette lighter. Note there are two versions of an electronic lighter: one which is an “arc” lighter that generates a small electric current and requires the material to be lit be passed through the beam and is loud like a tazer (definitely try these first before buying) and another which is a resistance-coil version that requires the item to be lit to be pressed into the hot coil. While the author feels a good old-fashioned firesteel is more reliable in the wilderness, sometimes you just don’t have twenty minutes to fumble around with kindling and firebuilding. In non-wilderness situations, you may not have the option to start a full-on fire, and situations where you might want to light something quickly can be easily conceived even by non-smokers. Finally, this source can last far beyond the fuel found in disposable butane lighters, doesn’t get used up as a firesteel does, and is at least as quiet and sometimes even more quiet than the alternatives. They’re available online for prices ranging from a few bucks to what you would expect to pay for deluxe windproof versions of anything. There’s even one that is combined with an electronic shaver. That one might belong more in the hygiene area below, but consider its potential utility as a medical item that can help with sterilization, shaving the area around a wound, and even small cauterizations.

Water

Drinkable water is also important in a crisis situation. The SteriPEN water purifier is a small, light (4.8 oz.) handheld device that uses ultraviolet light to kill all viruses and bacteria in clear water. There are numerous tests and testimonials online, and this author has used his repeatedly with no ill effects at all. There is an important caveat: the water must be relatively clear and sediment-free for the UV light to penetrate. If you filter out the sediment first or allow it to settle and then decant into a different container, it should work well. Alternatively, they sell a water bottle pre-filter with the SteriPEN merchandise or you can use cloth or a coffee filter, whatever is readily available. It is USB chargeable, has its own timer so you know when it has completed the cycle, and is generally a really handy device. It is rated for 50 treatments per charge and 300 cycles for over 15,000 liters of water, and the battery is replaceable if you ever treat that much water. Online complaints were noted as to the durability of the light globe itself in the past. This has allegedly been fixed in the latest USB version, and the author has never had a problem with his. If it is stored correctly, it is hard to see how it could suffer damage.

Food, Drink, and Oddities

There are a number of USB-powered devices shown on various sources online that may (or may not) cook food, refrigerate small items, or even make coffee. Some of these can be perused on the food republic website and in this CBS news report. Yes, they include a George Forman grill, a fondue set, and even an eyelash curler. No, these haven’t been tested by the author as of the date of this article, but they are pointed out just to demonstrate the wide range of items that can be worked from a mobile charging system.

Communications

So far we have covered light, heat, and water (and possibly hot food and drink). What about communications? Well, as long as cell phones and cell towers are up and running, those will probably remain the preferred means of communicating with friends and family despite their lack of security and data mining of your activities. What many people fail to realize is that there are good survival tools such as compasses, ballistic calculators, and navigation guides, such as sextants available on phones. Cell phones also permit access to an enormous amount of survival information on demand, but that is dependent upon as the towers and providers working and the government refraining from any authoritarian actions. A prudent prepper would certainly have already bought all of the information sets and stored them on a micro-SD card like a SanDisk Ultra, because SD cards are shockproof, magnet proof, temperature proof, x-ray proof, and waterproof. They probably have that chip in their phone so that up to 256 gigabytyes of data (depending on phone and chip capacity) can be accessed wherever they were, right? The same is true for maps of the area, firearms manuals for all of your weapons, homesteading information, nutrition information, and a lot more too, because 256 gigabytes is a lot of information. If one has to evacuate away from ones’ home, however, which is the most likely place where such information is normally stored and accessed, or the grid is actually down, then the information could become unavailable or inaccessible. Having that information stored locally on a SD card, on an electronic device or e-reader is important. Old cell phones, meaning ones that worked perfectly fine before you got the next newest best thing and threw the old one into a drawer somewhere, may be ideal for such a survival reader. Knowledge really is power, and in this case power can give you knowledge.

Speaking of knowledge, obtaining information in a crisis can be extremely difficult. Consider adding a small, portable AM/FM/shortwave/NOAA radio to the stack. There are a plethora of them available, some with additional features. C Cranes tend to have nice additional features, like Ham band, air traffic band, and so on, and they have an analog radio too for people who don’t favor digital. Some are rechargeable using USB and NiCad batteries, but read the fine print before buying one, so you can be sure they will continue to be useful with direct or dynamo charging.

If one wanted to go to the extreme and have absolute assurance of communications during a widespread crisis, most satellite phones have prepaid cards that will allow you to communicate and download data even when local cell towers or service is down. It’s a hefty price to pay, but as an absolute fallback something like the Iridium 9555 comes in its own crushproof Peli case with a stack of accessories and a 200-minute prepaid card. The card can be activated at any time by texting Orbital Satcom Corp. whereupon the phone will be activated to handle voice, fax, data, and SMS (text) functions from around the globe in its water-, shock-, and dust-resistant housing. It is easy to see how bypassing a region’s communications and data limitations could be useful; however, it is up to the prepper to determine whether the potential need is worth the hefty price.

If and when cell communication fails, there are also a large number of USB-rechargeable two-way radios available from well-known manufacturers like Motorola or Cobra. The Cobra CXT545 models are particularly interesting because they are waterproof and use Nickel-metal hydride rechargeable batteries from a USB-charging base. They also have the ability to take standard batteries, if one should so choose, and have “privacy codes” that filter out transmissions from people other than those with the code. The manufacturer claims that this creates 3,124 channel combinations and, in the event that there are a lot of transmissions, which one would expect in a crisis, the user can choose to hear transmissions only from their particular group. Note, this should not be confused with “secure” transmissions. Other people will hear the broadcasts in that channel. The Cobra unit just filters out irrelevant transmissions by non-group members. While I will miss my old TriSquare two-ways with their ten billion combinations of band-skipping encrypted voice and text communications, Trisquare is gone and not coming back, so they won’t be putting USB into their units (although there’s probably a market for that, as Trisquares are still selling for a couple of hundred bucks online). Ah, well, onward and upward!

Personal Grooming

Hygiene was a huge problem historically, and there is no reason to think that a societal breakdown would improve the problem. USB shavers and toothbrushes can be very helpful. The Philips Sonicare DiamondClean, for example, comes with a travel case that has (you guessed it!) a USB charger built into it, thereby providing protection and charging that lasts up to three weeks on one charge. Yes, toothbrush heads will wear and fail eventually, but you could always stock more, and until that point why not enjoy a fresh and clean feeling and avoid primitive dental surgery by non-dentists whose idea of an anesthetic consists of a surprise blow to your head?

Some clever souls have also designed Lithium-ion battery, USB-rechargeable portable bidets that are available on Amazon in a variety of styles and prices. Why a bidet, you may ask? Well, if society has broken down, nobody’s making any more toilet paper, but as long as you have USB power and water, this handy gadget will clean your nether regions over and over again without nearly the discomfort of improvised TP. Good health and energy makes it easier to weather any storm, so consider using USB devices to maintain cleanliness and good personal hygiene.

Morale

Finally, one of the most significant effects mobile power and electronics can have for a small group, in addition to the light, heat, clean water, communications, knowledge, and good hygiene is morale. It may be something as simple as charging a phone so that a depressed member can see a picture of a loved one or play a favorite song, or it may be more important to have information about other groups, relief efforts, or local dangers. Even if the information isn’t terribly positive, concrete information allows planning and action, which is almost always better than fear of the unknown, leading to passivity and inaction. If action is to be taken, confidence levels will be higher if the group has communications, fallback, or support positions and they know they can call for help if they need it, they have good health, clean water, light, and heat. All of these elements combine to increase morale and effectiveness of a group. That’s a pretty big contribution from a set of small devices.

Letter Re: Harvest Right Freeze Dryer

Hugh,

If the purpose is having a year’s supply of food in a root cellar for the next 25 years “just in case” that you never intend to eat until doomsday, the Mountain House products are less expensive and a lot less work, since you can just store the cans after you receive them and forget about them.

I got my Harvest Right mainly because I was throwing away too much really good food. I don’t grow my own but buy from local organic growers. There is always more than I can eat before it spoils, and one point Harvest Right brings up is that the cost of food you throw away can pay for the freeze dryer. Then there’s winter coming when there won’t be any local produce, so how do I insure I have a supply of good food until next growing season? So after setting it up, mine has also been running almost continuously.

There’s canning and other preserving techniques, but they are a lot of work, and most take some of the flavor and nutrition out in the process. The only work for the freeze dryer is to slice and arrange the items properly on the trays, packaging them when done, and some basic maintenance.

A few notes – things you don’t see in the ads:

  1. There is a large, heavy vacuum pump that attaches to the side via a hose, and it’s a bit noisier than I might like. I had to remove and reattach the hose to get a good vacuum. (It was tight, but it is picky about alignment to get a metal to metal seal.)
  2. It will consume vacuum oil. It will get contaminated and stop being able to pull enough vacuum every half-dozen or so batches, and although you can recycle it using filters and charcoal (I haven’t tried it yet), it is another item you will have to pay for along with the electricity to run it. [Editor’s note: This is one of the things we have tracked over the last 18 months and will report on in the follow-up.]

    Amazon is the best deal I’ve found so far.

  3. You can go years with just that (I plan to rotate), but if you want the 25 years, you need oxygen absorbers,
  4. There will be a smell left for a while from the vegetables similar to what you get when cooking them up, so I have a fan I can circulate air to clear it. It doesn’t seem to be enough to cross-contaminate different batches, it just smells funny for a while.

Some tips:

Cans or jars are nice, but I’m just using those zipper bags or heat sealers; some long-leaved veggies don’t fit well except in a big bag.

Besides oxygen, light and heat are the enemies, so I just have a black storage totes and keep them in a cool place and put the bags inside. (I try to pull as much air out aas possible and have thought of getting a small nitrogen tank to use for this and my tires.)

Buy an extra set of trays. They don’t cost any extra shipping if you get them with the dryer, and you can prep your next batch and have it ready to go. The problem is the limited size when you have springy vegetables, like spinach, which has thin leaves that aren’t flat. So I use paper towels between layers and flatten them in my regular freezer so they will hold flat, and I can reduce the freezing time. I’ve also used grill toppers. I fold them into a Taco Shell shape, and they will hold the leafy, springy veggies in, but am looking at a better shape or making a basket out of poultry fencing or trays to separate thin layers. The clearance is just under two inches.

My partial failures, which I had to rerun or run longer, were because part of the vegetable was blocked so the water didn’t come out. I’ve found the biggest problem is when the item is freezing it will freeze to the tray hard, forming a seal so it will still be moist inside and this will remoisten the rest of the bag so it won’t be crunchy. Pre-freezing helps, since you can break them away once frozen and with a new paper towel beneath there won’t be any sealed area. It is easier and works well to use Teflon Sheets at least on the bottom. I usually layer paper towels or some teflon grilling grids or other between layers of thin items.

My favorite food so far is raspberries. They keep all their flavor when dry and are a nice tart healthy substitute for candy. There are more berries, but raspberries were the only ones available locally.

The best snack is scrambled eggs (add your favorite salsa, peppers, onions, or whatever you do for an omelet). They’re like cheese puffs but also healthy, especially if you do free-range chicken eggs. Hard-boiled eggs split in half also work, but I don’t think they are as good.

I have crunchy kale, spinach, chard, and lettuce, which is like chips; I do the whole leaves.

– T.Z.

Economics and Investing:

Big Business Has No Community Or Country Loyalty – So Buy Local – RBS

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The Worse Things Get For You, The Better They Get For Wall Street, Sent in by J.Q.

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Items from Mr. Econocobas:

Empty Malls in China? A Lesson in Excess Capacity (Zero Hedge)

House Conservative Leaders Say It’s Too Late to Prevent a Debt Ceiling Hike (Reuters)

Economic Outlook Strongest Predictor of Immigration Views (Gallup)

Record Number of Americans Sell Blood Plasma to Make Ends Meet (Zero Hedge)

Debt in China: Deleveraging Delayed (The Economist)

Odds ‘n Sods:

I stumbled upon this interesting video from Latvia that illustrates just how long a well-prepared buried cache can remain intact: WW2 Unbelievable airtight container find.

My favorite item was the explosive lump of fake coal. (Designed to blow up steam locomotives.) Cool. As Slim Pickens would say: “Shoot, a fella could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas, with all that stuff!” – JWR

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Hobby Lobby dared to push back on Obamacare, and Obama will make them pay: Feds Investigate Hobby Lobby Boss for Illicit Artifacts. Sent in by T.P.

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We normally don’t say much about zombies on this blog, but The Rutherford Institute has a compelling article about the current state of affairs: Fear of the Walking Dead: The American Police State Takes Aim. Sent in by reader B.B.

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B.B. also sent in the link to this NBC News article on getting rid of the ubiquitus plastic bank card: No Bank Card Required: Citigroup Testing Eye-Scanning ATM

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From Mike Williamson, SurvivalBlog’s Editor At Large: Documentary Proves Sword Fights Look Nothing Like Hollywood I’ve seen some of the manuscripts. The European arts were every bit as evolved and complex as the Asian arts. Do you know why they largely went away? Gunpowder. It equalizes all that strength and agility down to reflex and action.

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Frank (of Frank and Fern) sent in this Zero Hedge link on Missing Refugees in Germany. Sound familiar? How many ‘refugees’ or illegal alien criminals are wandering around in our country?

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“If there were just one gift you could choose, but nothing barred, what would it be? We wish you then your own wish; you name it. Ours is liberty, now and forever.” – Isabel Paterson

Notes for Wednesday – October 28, 2015

Today, we present another entry for Round 61 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value),
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul pmags 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package (enough for two families of four) plus seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate (a $325 retail value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304, and
  10. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  4. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
  5. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  6. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  7. Twenty-five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  10. Safecastle is providing a package of 10 Lifestraws (a $200 value)

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A $245 gift certificate from custom knifemaker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  3. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  7. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  8. Montie Gear is donating a Precision Rest (a $249 value), and
  9. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Round 61 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.