Jim’s Quote of the Day:

Josey Wales: “When I get to likin’ someone, they ain’t around long.”
Lone Watie: “I notice when you get to dislikin’ someone they ain’t around for long, neither.” – The Outlaw Josey Wales

Letter From Rourke Re: Useful Web Site on Nuclear Weapons Targets and Effects

Dear Jim:
Here are the main links that I have on my groups for nuclear fallout. These are good links I have compiled over time:

Nuclear Blast Effects
FAS Page (International)
FAS Page (USA)
A PBS Web Page
Star Destroyer.net

Narrative review of effects
Nukefix web page

Nuclear Fallout Maps for North America (FEMA based) at KI4U and at Richard Fleetwood’s SurvivalRing

List of North American Targets (Also at SurvivalRing)

Jet Stream Today (for high altitude fallout direction)

Regards, – Rourke (Moderator of the Jericho Discussion Group.)

Two Letters Re: Advice on Disaster Communications

Hello,
I am somewhat new to your web site. The information I have been able to get from it is wonderful and greatly appreciated. Have you seen the article from World Net Daily [about the DC Emergency Radio Network]? I have not heard of this type of system before. Respectfully, – B.W.

JWR Replies: Yes, I saw the article. The DCERN uses the low power FRS band and thus these radios have very short range. I think that the higher power MURS or CB bands would have been a better choice. The system does has some utility. However, except for people that have an alternative power power system (quite uncommon around Washington, D.C.), in a long term TEOTWAWKI, stations will gradually drop off the air one by one because most folks will not be able to recharge their batteries. (Just another reason why every family should have at least a small photovoltaic (PV) power system.) Contact the folks at Ready Made Resources for details on setting up such a system.

Mr Rawles:
Which receiver(s) and which transceiver(s) do you recommend I buy for my first few pieces of disaster communications equipment, and should I buy in any particular sequence? I’m new to reading your blog. How can I find articles that have already been on SurvivalBlog about communications gear? Thanks, – L.Z.

JWR Replies: Your first receiver should probably be a compact portable general coverage AM/FM/Weather Band/CB/Shortwave receiver. There are several brands on the market, most notably Grundig, Sangean, and Sony. I consider the Sony ICF-SW-7600GR receiver among the most durable portable general coverage receivers for the money. It is about the size of a paperback book. I’ve had one (actually mine is an earlier “pre-G suffix” model) since 1992 and even with very regular use it still works great. In my experience, the secrets to making them last are to buy a couple of spare hand-reel antennas (the most fragile part), show care in putting stress on the headphone jack and power cable connections, and to always carry the radio and accessories in a sturdy well-padded case. (Preferably a waterproof case. I found that a small Pelican brand case with “pluck and chuck” gray foam inserts proved ideal for my needs.) One low cost alternative is to cut closed-cell foam inserts to fit inside a .30 caliber USGI ammo can. (SurvivalBlog reader MurrDoc calls GI ammo cans “The poor man’s Pelican.” These steel cans are very sturdy, inexpensive (under $10 each, at gun shows), and they also provide limited protection from nuclear EMP effects. (They would be a near-perfect Faraday cage only if you removed the rubber gasket and replaced it with EMI gasket wire mesh, but then of course the can would no longer be waterproof. (Sorry, TANSTAAFL.)

Your first transceivers should probably be a pair of MURS walkie-talkies, such as those sold by MURS Radios.

Next on your list should be a SSB-capable CB radio, such as the time-proven Cobra 148GTL. (BTW, this model is also readily adaptable for “freeband” frequency range modification.)

Next should be a pair of military surplus field telephones, for coordinating retreat security.

Then, perhaps get an EMP-proof vacuum tube technology table radio, preferably one with shortwave bands. Something like a Zenith Trans-Oceanic H500 would be a good choice. Table top vacuum tube radios can often be found on eBay.

In answer to your question about older posts: The most recent ten months of SurvivalBlog posts have been cross-indexed. Using the right hand bar (down below the scrolling ads) you can either sort by Categories (for example clicking on: “Communications and Receivers”). You can also use the Search window and type in a keyword such as “shortwave”, “CB”, “field telephone” or “scanner.”
BTW, I hope that you benefit from the information posted and archived in SurvivalBlog and that you will consider joining the less than 1% of readers that have become 10 Cent Challenge voluntary subscribers.

Odds ‘n Sods:

By way of The Energy Bulletin, here’s an interesting article from Australia: Head for the hills – the new survivalists

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I heard that JRH Enterprises (one of our most loyal advertisers) is is having a “Black Friday” (Day After Thanksgiving) sale on many preparedness items including night vision gear, gas masks, medical kits, tactical gear, and more. In true “Black Friday” fashion, these specials are available only on Friday, November the 24th.

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Israel is reportedly developing a “bionic hornet” micro drone.

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Commenting on the recent thread about barter items, frequent blog content contributor SF in Hawaii noted: “I recall a story about a 1/3rd of a roll of toilet paper trading for dinner at a restaurant in the Balkans [shortly] after the [Second World] War.”

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"To govern according to the sense and agreement of the interests of the people is a great and glorious object of governance. This object cannot be obtained but through the medium of popular election, and popular election is a mighty evil." – Edmund Burke

Notes From JWR:

Happy Thanksgiving Day! In the United States, today is set aside to give thanks to God for His blessings. Here at the Rawles Ranch we do, indeed, most earnestly. God is provident. Praises to Jehovah Jireh!

The high bid is already at $45 in the latest SurvivalBlog benefit auction, This one is for a big batch of survival/preparedness reference books, courtesy of the fine folks at Ready Made Resources. (They are one of our first and most loyal advertisers. Be sure to visit their site and give them some business. BTW, they have additional copies of each of the titles listed below, as well as more than a hundred other titles.)

Please submit your bid via e-mail. The auction ends on January 15th. The books in the auction lot include:

1. From Seed to Bloom- How to Grow Over 500 Annuals, Perennials & Herbs by Eileen Powell
2. Keeping the Harvest- Preserving Your Fruits, Vegetables & Herbs by Nancy Chioffi & Gretchen Mead
3. How to Build Your Own Log Home For Less Than $15,000 by Robert L. Williams
4. Camouflage by Desert Publications
5. Natural Pest Control- Alternatives to Chemicals for the Home and Garden by Andrew Lopez The Invisible Gardener
6. The AR-15/M16- A Practical Guide by Duncan Long
7. Apocalypse Tomorrow by Duncan Long
8. Guide To Emergency Survival Communications- How to Build and Power Your System by Dave Ingram
9. Raising Rabbits The Modern Way by Bob Bennett
10. Mountainman Crafts and Skills- An Illustrated Guide to Clothing, Shelter, Equipment and Wilderness Living by David Montgomery.
11. A Guide to Raising Pigs- Care, Facilities, Management, Breed Selection by Kelly Klober
12. Survival, Evasion and Escape by Desert Publications
13. Raising Your Own Turkeys by Leonard S. Mercia

and, three more books that I’m adding, just to “sweeten the pot”:

14. “Patriots: Surviving The Coming Collapse” (the scarce out of print Huntington House edition)
15. The Encyclopedia of Country Living by the late Carla Emery
16. One more surprise book title!

Together, these books have a retail value well in excess of $250. Get your bid in soon!

 

Letter Re: Clothes Washing Without Grid Power

Mr R.:
Saw the post this morning about the large washing machine at Lehman’s Non-Electric. Great catalogue, and obviously a washer for TEOTWAWKI. Let me give a heads-up to a much smaller, portable washer – the Wonder Clean Pressure Washing Machine. The parent company (Wonder Wash Corporation – Mesa, Arizona) developed this nifty little washer. Add in the load ( weighed ), soap, water, close the top, and turn the handle to revolve the washer barrel for a specified time. By their charts 5 pounds ( max load) would be about 10 shirts or two pairs of jeans
It’s not as robust or sturdy as the metal James Washer – it is plastic – but it works pretty well, it’s portable, and for the price of the James Washer you could have ten of these.
We have a couple and the Solar Showers ready to go, along with plenty of contractor bags, which can be used in a pinch for washing, amid their myriad uses.
The Wonder Clean is found online at several sites. A quick web search turned up Emergency Essentials and The Laundry Alternative, Inc. Season’s Regards, – MurrDoc

JWR Replies: The Wonder Clean is also available from two of my favorite vendors: Lehman’s and Major Surplus. (I’ve done business with both for many years.)

Odds ‘n Sods:

Just when we thought that things couldn’t get any worse in Zimbabwe, we opened Cathy Buckle’s latest letter. The inflation rate is now at 1,070 percent per annum. Life expectancies are plummeting. Starvation deaths are increasing. Government mismanagement, nepotism, and corruption are rampant. Cathy’s October and November letters are “must reads.” Please pray for the people of Zimbabwe.

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Joe Farah, Editor of WorldNetDaily opines: ‘Jericho’ and ‘Heroes’ TV Series Spark Concern with Civil Defense.

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Our friend Kit, author/editor of the delightful Forever Vain blog suggested the following: “I’m not sure if you’ve mentioned this site on Survivalblog before, but FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute offers lots of courses free of charge to the general public with respect to emergency preparedness and disaster planning. Check it out:”

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Great cities, the emblems of Western Civilization, began as a walled defenses against marauding enemies. In a world turned upside-down, they are now our great vulnerability. They are suicidal concentrations of expensive economic, cultural and political assets waiting, exposed, for destruction. The only way to ignore nuclear terrorism will be to “redeploy” preemptively out of the crosshairs. Within years our cities will die – abandoned or incinerated.” – “Flamethrower”, at the FreeRepubliic Forums

Letter Re: 12 VDC Wall Outlets and Power Cord Connections

Jim,
For anyone using 12 VDC in their vehicle or home, you should strongly consider using Anderson Power Poles. Compared to the standard cigarette lighter plug, these are far more reliable and safer. (Cigarette lighter plugs have no uniform rating, and can melt if used for high [current] load applications.)
These connectors come in ratings from 30 Amps (A) to 350 Amps. The 30A size is the de-facto standard for Ham radio operators now, and the larger sizes are what you see used for things like large battery racks in computer rooms and tow truck jumper cables.
They are easy to install, using a soldering iron or special crimp tool, and they last. Additionally, there is no male or female, as the blades are flat and wipe against each other, unlike a regular spade or butt connector.
I have changed out the cords on all of my 12V chargers, inverters, and other devices. You can make an adapter cable with a cigarette lighter on one end in case you do need to plug something in to a car socket.
To make a 12V wall-mount outlet, you can buy a chassis-mount power pole holder, then cut a hole in a regular house wall plate and pop it in. When installed, it looks neat and tidy.
Chassis mount:
http://www.powerwerx.com
Here are some tutorials on using them:
http://home.comcast.net/~buck0/app.htm
Remember to to either fuse your 12 volt circuits or install a breaker panel. A quick way to set up a 12V fuse box is with the Rig Runner. (Westmountainradio – Rig Runner.)
If you install a 12V breaker panel, be sure to check if the breakers are rated for DC. Some breakers do not trip properly if used for DC. You can order DC-rated breakers from most alternative-energy stores if you can’t find out for sure. Good luck! – JN

Four Letters Re: Prowlers and Lighting

James:
The subject of handheld lights is as long as it is wide. Ask 20 people what is best, get 40 answers and recommendations! As with many things, today we live in a great time for flashlight technology. My recommendation is to immerse yourself in www.candlepowerforums.com. Some guys there are truly on the cutting edge of lights.
Some of the modified lights are incredible. Have fun and enjoy a winter’s worth of reading. – Straightblast

 

Jim:
Just enjoying a last respite prior to retiring in my mountaintop isolated home and read the letter on Prowlers and Lighting at SurvivalBlog. Since this is still pre-TEOTWAWKI, I use car headlights [with my retreat DC power system.] I got them for free from a couple of salvage yards. Not just the lights, but the entire fixture. They mount rather nicely to trees and such and can be aimed. ( I might mention that if done right, they don’t draw attention or look tacky). I use military WD-1 [Army field tele]phone wire and the lights seem to function ok even at the distance I’ve strung the wire (surprised me?) I can turn them on selectively or all at once (panic switch). I set them so they backlighted the intruders (The intruders were between me and the lights). Only had to use it once and it turned out to be a neighbor (Boy, was he surprised!) He’d been over a lot and never noticed the lights before. He said it sort of took his breath away when the woods behind him lit up like a football field.
For four legged varmints, I use a surefire whit light and a red laser on the rifle.
For two legged varmints, I use an infrared laser, night vision goggles and a really good flash suppressor.
BTW, the latter works great on coyotes, which should tell you something.
Oh, it was the seismic intrusion detector set that told me somebody or something big was in the woods.

On another note: When you’re doing everything all by yourself, you’re bound to forget something. You might want to remind everybody who is using batteries and inverters that it’s Fall headed into Winter. I checked the water in my batteries and was feeling good about everything being fully charged and ready for winter and then, just happened to wiggle all the battery connection wires. Whew! Only a minor spark on one connection (batteries were on charge) and lo and behold! A loose connection. I was just lucky to have seen it. I took the volt meter and checked each and every battery and sure enough, two were lower than the others. Cleaned the connections, and the batteries started bubbling as they took a charge. The batteries are all series and paralleled in my 24 Volt system using L-16, 6 volt [deep cycle marine] batteries. If I hadn’t caught that, two of my sixteen L-16 batteries probably would have frozen and burst this winter.
Best regards to you and yours. Check Six! – The Army Aviator

 

Jim:
I bought one of the Thor-X lights at Costco last year for about $25. There great and have a high and low setting. High is 10,000.000 [candle power]. It also can be run off a 12 volt car hookup or charged and used off the battery. Great light and rugged. I found the light on this page so you could see a picture. I have seen them at Costco since I got mine but I don’t know if they still carry them
http://ledmuseum.candlepower.us/third/thor.htm
As you say there are times for light and many times the night is my best friend, use it to your advantage. – D.M.

 

Hi Jim,
I was reading the inquiry L.K. made regarding spotlights and I thought of the Maxa Beam. Perhaps you’re already familiar with it, but if not it is very powerful and versatile, and can be used covertly with NVD. I haven’t priced them yet, but they do look pricey (no prices listed on their web site). A short video showing the capabilities is can be found here –
http://www.peakbeam.com/video.html
I thought you might be interested in knowing about this product if you weren’t already aware of it. Take care, – Tom

JWR Adds: Beware when using handheld spotlights. They draw a lot of current and can drain a car battery in a hurry. Be sure to leave your engine running if using a spotlight for more than a minute.

Odds ‘n Sods:

At the library today, the kids were immersed in Brian Jacques books. The Memsahib was checking out books on fly fishing and travel. Meanwhile, I picked up the book: “Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed” by Jared Diamond. The Memsahib commented with a bit of sarcasm: “Oh, so I see that you found some of your usual light and cheery bedside reading.”

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Venezuelan president Chavez distributes free energy efficient light bulbs and promises a “energy revolution” including distributed small power generation for emergencies.

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U.S. police department radio “10 Codes” being phased out.

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T.W. sent this one: Global Hawk UAV to Fly First Mission Over U.S.

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world." – Thomas Jefferson to A. L. C. Destutt de Tracy, 1820. FE 10:175