Letter Re: My Experience with TA-1042 Field Telephones

I noticed that one of your advertisers is currently selling surplus AN/TA-1042 Digital Non-secure Voice Terminal (DNVT) field telephones. Earlier this year I bought two pair of them and even though I don’t have the hard-to-find circuit switch, (AN/TTC-39D) for terminal to terminal dialing, when a pair is interconnected these phones offer super communications. The full duplex audio is clear and crisp over several hundred feet of wire (easily), has a ringer and audio volume control and a ring indicator LED ( flashing for ringing, steady on signifies in-use) for silent mode operation.
I run mine in a local battery configuration: one 12 volt, 17 or 26 amp hour battery per phone with a solar panel and charger controller on the one in my barn. The phones will operate reliably with the battery voltage level around 5.5 VDC although they are designed to function with a voltage range of 5.5 to 28 VDC with a current draw of 50 milliamp. These phones are severely damp proof and quite rugged. They even have a strap for fastening the phone to a pole or tree.
My original plan was to have a net of phones set up at various secured locations around the farm. Without the tactical circuit switch the keypad will not function phone to phone. If one can find a TCS these phones will be transformed from great to incredible. (.They have direct dialing capability addressing up to 240 terminals with four levels of priority over-ride and can even key a radio transmitter for
phone to radio communications). – Joe from Tennessee
JWR Replies: I also think that the TA-1024 is a great design. As someone that was first trained with the older generation TA-1 and TA-312 simplex-only mode field phones, the DNVT generation phones seem very Buck Rogers. As I pointed out in my novel “Patriots”, having reliable field telephones is essential to coordinate retreat security in a post-TEOTWAWKI world. For semi-permanent installation, it is best to buy cable that is rated for underground burial (“UB”) , to conceal and protect all of your lines. For TA-1042s you will need four conductor cable. (Or two parallel runs of two conductor cable.) Burying your lines will prevent both intentional and unintentional line cuts or breaks. Don’t overlook getting a few extra field phones, so that you can run commo wire to your neighbors and coordinate with them as well. The circuit switch that you mentioned (AN/TTC-39D) is sometimes available from Fair Radio Sales. Otherwise, just watch eBay.com for one to come up at auction. The TA-1042 DNVT field telephones themselves are currently available from Ready Made Resources. They sell these field phones in pairs, with a free civilian photovoltaic panel included.

Note From JWR:

Get your entries in soon for Round 7 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The writer of the best non-fiction article will win a valuable four day “gray” transferable Front Sight course certificate. (Worth up to $1,600.) Second prize is a copy of my “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course, generously donated by Jake Stafford of Arbogast Publishing. If you want a chance to win Round 7, start writing and e-mail us your article. This round will end on November 30th. Remember that the articles that relate practical “how to” skills for survival will have an advantage in the judging.

Letter Re: The Varroa Honeybee Mite Threatens U.S. Crop Production

Letter Re: The Varroa Honeybee Mite Threatens U.S. Crop Production

The Varroa mite, Varroa jacobsonii, is an external parasite of honey bees. It feeds on the hemolymph of both brood and adult bees. The entire life cycle of these mites is spent with the bees. The Varroa mite originated in Southeast Asia where it is a parasite of the Eastern honey bee, Apis cerana. It was first discovered on the Western honey bee, Apis mellifera, in 1960. The crossover resulted from beekeepers intermingling the two species, and further spread has been encouraged by beekeepers transporting colonies.

No one is sure how it came into the United States but it is most likely that they arrived with queen bees which were brought in illegally.

By 1992 Varroa mites have been found in at least 40 of the United States and continue to spread. They were first found in Wisconsin in late 1987 and shortly thereafter were reported in Florida. They are assumed to have been in Florida first and moved to Wisconsin with migratory bees. A further assumption is that they were in the U.S. for at least two years before discovery.

Why am I mentioning the lowly Honeybee in a survivalist forum?

The varroa mite has killed or severely weakened an estimated 40 percent to 60 percent of honeybees in the United States during the past six months.
• Millions of acres of U.S. fruit, nut, vegetable, seed and legume crops depend on insect pollination. An estimated 80 percent of insect crop pollination is accomplished by honeybees.
• Crops that require bees for pollination include apples, avocados, blueberries, cherries, cranberries, oranges, grapefruit, sunflowers, tangerines and watermelon. In addition, the production of most beef and dairy products depends on alfalfa, clover and other plants that require pollination.
• Honeybees are ideal for pollination because they can be managed easily and moved to where they are needed. They also will pollinate a wide variety of crops without harming the plants.

Isn’t it great? The things we get from Asia? Formosan Termites, Varroa mites, Asian Avian Flu, etc. – Hawgtax

Three Letters Re: Military Surplus Gasoline Cans–Questions on Cleaning Procedures and Venting

Mr. Rawles
The man who bought the military gas cans with the latches and no vent hole, sounds like he [might have] bought five gallon military water cans. That also could explain why he found unknown liquid instead of gasoline in the cans. Love your site. OBTW, I’m a Unimog survival vehicle owner. J.P. in Montana

 

Sir:
Joe is probably referring to the German style fuel cans! They are a very well designed can that vents with a passage from the cans opening up though the handle to the humpbacked air chamber on the back of the can behind the handles. This air chamber also serves as a float chamber if you want to throw your full cans overboard and allow them to float ashore.
With good seals these can will travel tied down even upside down (if you want) and can take a beating. There is plenty of good info on the web about these cans and their history if he wishes to learn more about them. The Allies were losing a very large percentage of their fuel to spillage until they stole the Germans idea of a Jerry can but even with the Brits and US making cans they where poor seconds to the original until the Brits just straight out copied the German can design. Thanks for the good informative Blog! – SC in WV

 

James:
The screw down lid that comes with the GI cans has a wide flange that covers, and seals the vent hole. The spout that you screw in has a narrow flange, allowing the can to vent during the pouring. If you will look at the rubber gaskets on the cap and spout you will see the difference in the outer diameter. The spout gasket has a smaller outside diameter. – TCH, in Oregon

Letter Re: Storing Coal for Home Heating at Your Retreat

Jim:
Regarding he recent thread on coal storage, old factories and military installations that used coal (some barracks were coal heated and still have bins outside) often have large amounts (suitable for the survivalist or amateur blacksmith) of coal that’s not cost-effective for the operation to do anything with. If one offers to clean it up, it might be available free. I know there’s lots of anthracite coal outside old barracks at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. Perhaps someone in the area would be able to salvage it. I’d appreciate a load for my forge for the referral if anyone does this. – Michael Z. Williamson, (in sword maker rather than sci-fi writer mode)

Odds ‘n Sods:

John the Bowhunter sent this one. The housing slump continues. From Sacramento, California: Now house prices are noticeably declining.

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Jason pointed me to this story: Brazilian granny who shot thief to get Rio medal, but may go to jail for “gun crime”

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Business booms for fallout shelter industry in Japan following North Korea’s nuclear test. My question: Since Honolulu, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles are all now reportedly inside the radius of North Korean nuclear missiles, why aren’t shelter builders in the Western U.S. just as busy? A tip of the hat to “Hawaiian K” for sending this link.

Letter Re: Military Surplus Gasoline Cans–Questions on Cleaning Procedures and Venting

Hi Jim.
I recently bought several used five gallon military gas cans over the Internet. Since they are used, they arrived with some remaining liquid residue in them. I don’t know what it is, other than it is not gasoline. Also, the lids are the kind that close down securely with a latch and don’t appear to be vented like the gas cans bought in a hardware store. I have several questions. (1) Do you have any suggestions for cleaning them out so that I can store gasoline in them? (2) What is the purpose of the cans being unvented? (3) What are the pros and cons of the cans being unvented? (4) Are there any dangers peculiar to unvented gas cans that I need to be aware of? Thanks for a great blog, I have been a regular reader from the beginning. – Joe.

JWR Replies: In answer to your questions:

1) Ironically, the best solvent for cleaning a used gasoline can is… gasoline. When cleaning a 4 or 5 gallon can, in a well-ventilated place, well away from any open flames and taking proper static electricity grounding precautions, simply put one quart of fresh gasoline (the octane number is unimportant) in the can, seal it, and then shake it vigorously for two minutes. Wait five minutes and then give it another two minute shake. Immediately pour out that gas and treat it as you would any other toxic waste. (Do NOT attempt to run it through any sort of engine. At this point it is only suitable for making napalm.) Then repeat the entire process, using another quart of fresh gasoline. Again, discard that gas. At this point the can should be clean enough to use for storing gas for use in engines.

2, 3, and 4) I’ve never heard of an unvented military gas can, but I don’t have much experience with some of the foreign military designs. U.S. mil-spec gas and diesel cans alway have vents. Look closely at the filler neck. It will probably have one or two small vent holes, possibly under the cap’s rubber seal. Unvented cans are a safety hazard in my estimation, because they would be at risk of leaking or rupture with changes in temperature or elevation.

Letter Re: Advice on Ammunition and Precious Metals for Barter?

Mr. R.:
Years back a good friend – a “tech incubator” and investment banker – asked me “What would make a good, easily portable medium of exchange ?” He was referencing some WTSHTF, post apocalyptic scenario. Good question. We thought about it and came up with answers, none of which were a pretty, malleable, ductile, shiny metal.
Same with diamonds. Pretty. How do they taste when brewed up in the coffee-pot ? … oh yeah, they don’t!
Wanna barter ? You’d better be bringing something to the table that has functional value. Food. Water. Shelter. Fire. Things that go bang. Things that when fed-in make those things go bang [i.e. magazines]. Medicine. Seed. Tools. Knowledge – the ultimate tool
I understand that we’re talking about a more rounded management and market-system where a universally-accepted medium of exchange would be operative, and that many here are interested in money and gold. But discussions of precious metals seem to be the economic analogue of the “Tommy Tactical” threads. The foundation of any pyramid that would support either an individual or some aggregate of individuals will have to focus on essentials. With apologies to Mr. Maslow, gold ain’t in that bottom layer, or any of the higher ones.
I’ve got a brick of .22 and you have a gold coin. If I have enough bricks, I’ll sell. If not, that one gold coin ain’t gonna be doing it. It’ll take two, maybe three. Your stock of gold just went down in valuation by 67%. And that would be on a good day, when the marketplace is beneficent, and there’s no gangs roaming the countryside, and you’re healthy and can walk, and your boots are in good shape, and so on. Ditto with a tin of butter, coil of rope, lighter, cold-weather parka
Actually envisioning the landscape and scenarios that’ll eventuate, should inform decisions we make. I’m hoping that I never need to use my resources in a world gone kaflooey, but since it might happen, I plan for that scenario. My stewardship of family wellness and preparedness entails investments and savings, and for us gold isn’t one, nor are gold stocks, gold funds, gold futures, gold coins, promises of gold or the lure of gold. Markets move up over time, and we’ll invest, just not in gold. Not till we’re squared away with our other funds, the kids and their UTMAs, our HSA, and other more tangible and productive ventures
Yes, I like the payoffs from expendable income, and the things that money can buy. But I’m skeptical that gold holdings will serve me in the world-we-hope-never-to-see. If the SHTF (Excuse me again, Mr. Farnham – when ) gold will be of little value, and I suspect that any surviving governmental apparatus will be rounding it up along with real assets. Flash yer gold and get what you want (or) loose it (or) get incarcerated …. hmmm ? Three outcomes, two bad … hmmm ? Woody Hayes is speaking to me from the grave. In the interim, I’ll be brewing real coffee, versus virtual coffee from my envisioned precious metal asset-base. – Monsieur Anon

Odds ‘n Sods:

North Korea defiant, amidst fears of second nuclear weapon test. In other headlines, North Korea say that the recent UN sanctions resolution is a “declaration of war.”

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The U.S. is beefing up security on the Canadian border, deploying air assets–including drones.

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The U.S. Special Forces SCAR rifle acquisition program moves forward: The SCAR has unique specifications that allow the same receiver to be used for both .223 (“SCAR L”) and .308 (“SCAR H”) variants. Hmmm…The army finally gets back on track, nearly 50 years after the T44 versus T48 rifle trials, and acquires an FN-designed gas piston-operated 7.62mm NATO rifle with a pistol grip stock, charging handle on the left side, and a relatively straight line stock. (Sound familiar? Sounds like a FAL-inspired design to me.) My only question is: Will the .308 version of the SCAR use standard metric FAL magazines? I hope so.

Letter Re: Earthquake in Hawaii

Jim:
I woke up last Sunday to the sound of my house shaking. Yup, an earthquake and wow, a really big one. Calmly and firmly I ordered the kids out of the house and waited until the shaking stopped. When we went inside my 6 and 8 year olds had already gotten their little mini-survival packs out (emergency mylar bags, flints, tinder and Swiss army knives) and were working on getting their heavier survival backpacks out from the closet (food, clothes and sleeping bags) while I swept up the broken glass on the kitchen floor. They did me proud. No worries, they could put them away, I said. “What about if the volcano goes off?” one asked. “Okay, leave them out and put your shoes on.” I responded. I got out the short wave and some AA batteries and scanned to find an operating radio station running on a generator (Statewide power outage). When I found one, I got the location of the epicenter off the northwest coast of the Big Island, grabbed my topographic maps and saw that the tsunami (which never came) would be a non issue for my location. I was surprised by the lack of decent information on the radio. No one mentioned turning off gas lines to avoid explosions. All they said was stay off the roads and limit cell and land line phone usage. I got through to my wife on the other side of the island (working a crafts fair) and while rocks had tumbled from cliffs no one had been hurt. Dang, I thought. Is there any food in the car? How about water? Did she bring good walking shoes? Mental note, put all in the trunk How much gas was in the tank? I have a bad habit of letting the gas tank go to nearly empty before refilling. Okay, so from now on, gas fill ups at 1/2 a tank. 1/4 at worst.
Later in the day my neighbors came back from their survival trips into town. One said that 1000 generators had been sold in one day at the local Home Depot and he had bought one himself. [JWR Adds: I’m dubious about what your neighbor said. Is there a Home Depot store has that kind of deep inventory? Or were they mostly taking back orders?] I asked what kind of generator he got and he said gasoline. “How much gasoline do you have?” “Well, 5 gallons plus what’s in my [car’s] gas tank.” “I see, and with no power on the island, how will you get more gas from the gas station? The pumps won’t work.” I queried. “You’ve got a huge propane tank over there. Why not get a propane generator?” I left him scratching his head. Why not get food and water? If the quakes and or tsunami took out the docks, then we’d have no food on the island real fast. Well, at least he could watch his big screen TV for a few hours until his gas ran out. Several of my neighbors didn’t even have portable radios. – SF in Hawaii