Active New Top (30 days) Compact Card CNN airing short film that’s partly about TP and this community John AdamaStaff - August 12, 2021 Just wrote up details on the blog, but wanted to share here too. Premiers on CNN’s TV channel this Saturday Aug 7th. First airing at 9pm ET, second at 9pm PT. We were excited to participate in this — we got multiple of our families together and spent many days with the crew — because it was pitched as a serious look at how rational people from all walks of life are taking steps to be more self reliant. Tune in… at worst, you’ll have plenty of ways to make fun of me and others on the team 🙂 Edit: I just saw the film and it’s much better than the crappy marketing made it seem. I hate that it’s anchored around bunkers. But it starts off focusing on the “community” part of a bunker community. Then I/TP come in to say that bunkers are way down the priority list, how the community is growing and diverse, there are sane steps everyone can take without moving to a rural bunker, etc. I think CNN’s marketing dept (separate from the actual filmmakers) have this idea that they’ll hook in people with the “bunker porn” and then by the end of the show they’ve expanded their horizons. Not the approach I would take — especially anchoring the narrative around bunkers — but it’s one of the better attempts at this that I’ve seen on mainstream media. Read More 15 34 MetaNews “Grey Man” vs “Hard Target” Caliber Carpenter - August 11, 2021 It’s been brought up before in several discussions already but I figured it would be good to have an entire thread dedicated to it. So let’s hear your thoughts on Grey Man vs Hard Target strategies and when each should apply. My personal opinion is that they are entirely subjective and depend on your scenario and surroundings as to which will be more effective. I will say I believe that whichever you choose to do in the moment you need to go all the way to one side or the other. If you’re trying to go Grey Man, you need to completely blend, nothing that will stick out in the slightest. I personally think the molle on backpacks is a pointless argument for anything over a typical school sized backpack, anything bigger than that is likely to draw attention no matter what it looks like. People are used to seeing small to mid size backpacks every day, they are not used to seeing full size rucks, no matter what kind. My personal “Grey Man” loadout if I had to do any sort of urban evasion (which hopefully I wouldn’t) would be jeans, a hoody, nondescript ball cap, sunglasses, and my Swiss gear mid size backpack. No visible weaponry or other gear whatsoever. Curious to hear what everyone else’s thoughts and ideal loadouts would be. Read More 17 34 GearScenarios Brit Professor provides clear picture of “Variants” Bob - August 11, 2021 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/07/prof-francois-balloux-the-pandemic-has-created-a-market-for-gloom-and-doom Good morning, Yes, this newspaper plots out on the political spectrum at the usual band….Some articles like above link are well written with clearly-presented material. Link is an interview with a Professor Balloux of University College London. The professor provides clarity to the growing list of COVID variants. Article does contain expression “doom and gloom”, but the clarity Professor Balloux presents is about focus and reality. He had COVID-19 and explains in interview that a much longer recovery time is needed than the current info. Well worth reading – at least IMO. Hopefully of value. Read More 5 5 Anyone know of any gluten-free MREs? LCS - August 10, 2021 So far I have just used gluten-free granola bars in my bug out bag. I’d like something more calorie dense, that takes up less space, and has a longer shelf life. Read More 11 8 Gear How to harvest amaranth seeds Josh CentersContributor - August 9, 2021 If you’re growing amaranth in your garden this year, you might be wondering how the heck to harvest the grains. Our pal David the Good published a video on how to harvest them. Read More 8 6 Advice Axe or Saw Darkworldxl - August 7, 2021 I live in the Northeastern USA and I’m wondering which tool is preferred. For context I have a bag that has both a saw and an axe but I want to reduce its weight. I decided I want to forgo one of them. I have a Gransfor Bruks Small Forest Axe and a Silky Gomboy. I want to hear the pros and cons from everyone. I am an Eagle Scout and have experience with axes and I’m currently leaning toward the axe. Read More 7 7 Emergency toilet – bedside commode chair Bigwig - August 6, 2021 While I’ve seen a number of options for an emergency toilet, I’ve never seen using a bedside commode chair. An image of one is in the link below: https://images.homedepot-static.com/catalog/productImages/1000/02/02ba2a43-32b9-4632-9ab9-bab8c459ec3a_1000.jpg Most affordable options are a bucket with a toilet seat. I would think the advantages are: More comfortable – as it is purpose-built. It also has a frame and handles to make it more stable for the user. Cost-effective – the cost is not much more than a 5 gallon bucket and a bucket-specific toilet seat. Portable – can be folded up. Any thoughts on why a bedside commode chair is not being recommended? What are the downsides? Read More 8 17 AdviceGear Best way to store paper products to avoid mice Jen - August 6, 2021 I am a new prepper and looking for the best way to store tp and other paper for the long term. I live in a rural area so mice are an issue. I was thinking a military metal locker but am not seeing where I can buy one in good shape. Thanks! Read More 6 12 Gear Armed citizens defend their neighborhoods against extreme civil unrest and looting in South Africa Bill Masen - August 6, 2021 This is what I fear reaching the UK and UK from SA. Read More 9 28 Scenarios Smelling Scepter container, safe for water? Nick - August 4, 2021 Good morning! I bought a couple of brand new scepter water containers for water storage. My plan is to cycle them every 6 months. However, I’m still a bit concerned about filling them since they have that strong plastic smell. I already washed them out once and have them sitting there open for a couple of days but it still smells. Now I’m wondering if I can still use the container or if I should wait until the smell is gone. I haven’t used bleach for disinfecting yet so I could still wash it out again. I’m just not sure if the smell will affect the taste or even has an impact on the water quality. Any ideas? Thanks! Read More 7 9 Advice Which Go Bag backpack(s) do you like and why? Lowell - August 2, 2021 A couple months ago, I bought myself a 5.11 RUSH72 so that I could get started on my GB. I had spent a couple hours looking through the recommendations in the 45-55L premium section of this article, but gave up after feeling overwhelmed by a combination of the lack of reviews, the prices, and the lack of off-the-shelf internal organization compared to the RUSH72. Although an OK stop-gap, the RUSH72 doesn’t seem like the right fit for me. I went on a 9 mile hike yesterday, and my back/shoulders were killing me. I originally had attachments set up like in the photo below, and then my partner advised me to move these to the sides of the backpack which was a big help! However, even after that, I couldn’t get the back to fit right. I think a big part of this is that I cant cinch the waist straps down tightly enough; I’ve got a ~35″ waist, and the tightest these straps went still left some room. Somewhat relatedly, my buddy has the same pack, and the buckle broke just from tightening it! Also, the straps are notably less smooth than my Osprey Atmos AG. The Best bug out bag survival backpack article isn’t quite as sharply opinionated as others on this site in terms of *exactly* which options people prefer and for what reasons, so I’m opening it up to y’all: Which Go Bag backpack(s) do like and why? , Read More 20 55 AdviceGear , How do I prepare while off at college? Pizza Ninja - August 2, 2021 I just got accepted to a college out of state to study marine biology and this will be my first time living on my own. Well, with whatever roommates the college sets me up with. I will be living in the dorms this first year which brings with it a mandatory meal plan, which has it’s pros and cons. I don’t want to just rely on the college to feed me though. Even though they probably won’t leave us starving, I know that things can happen and want to be prepared. Hence why I am here. I also won’t have much room to store things like a generator or gas cans, but I am dedicating the area under my bed as my emergency supply stash. The beds are nice though and can be raised two feet in the air for plenty of space. Any other advice for someone going out into the world for the first time? I am pretty nervous…, but excited -Tim Read More 13 18 ‘Ten Acres Enough’ – A book on self sufficiency Barb LeeContributor - July 31, 2021 I was just recently recalling this book, which was much touted in Small Farmer’s Journal a few decades ago. The full title is Ten Acres Enough, A Practical Experience Showing How A Very Small Farm May Be Made To Keep A Very Large Family. It was published in 1866. I found the book for free on Google Books. It’s also been reprinted in this century. I used to have a copy of it. All I can remember of the book is how exceedingly intense the work seemed to be, but it was quite a slice of reality. I thought it might be interesting reading for those striving to become self sufficient. Just go to Google Books and enter Ten Acres Enough to read it for free. I’m going back for a read with much older and wiser eyes. Read More 6 4 Intro article for types of injections Bob - July 30, 2021 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/types-of-injections#intraosseous Good morning, Above link is a good intro to injections. Ideal for some preppers to have some familiarity. Ref para 1; They’re also known as “jabs” – at least in Hong Kong and UK. A non-health care person can also administer vaccines in some circumstances. It’s been done before. Don’t do any of this self-help stuff without getting some actual in person training with the required education involved in your particular situation. Not too sure which is which – auto versus jet – but the spring-leaded stringes are great when out in the thorns, sticks or elsewhere out of reach of an ALS – Advanced Life Support – clinic (ie more than Boy Scout/Girl Scout, CERT care. Some big city fire departments, besides their EMTs, EMT-Ps and Para folks teach “intersseod” (spelling – the bone marrow delivery type). Personally speaking, I’d trust them no less so than what passes for physicians nowadays. Didn’t know that root canals were “complex” dental procedures. For some years in retirement, I’ve been doing volunteer work with dentists and perhaps it’s a calibration matter. The dentists I have breakfast with when out in the field, don’t refer to root canals as “complex”. Perhaps with dangerous pain involving prevention of shock/loss of vital sign(s), it’s deemed “complex”. If considering self-administering anything with a string, do get some formal, in person training and education. The Army used to issue 3 (memory fading) auto-inject stringes along with gas mask in case of nuclear war of some sort. Again, I consider link to be a good intro article for preppers. Read More 5 2 Thought I’d post two articles I had published by FMG several years back. “Knives for the Field” and BMBG “Bare Minimum Go Bag” Kakuli470 - July 29, 2021 https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:e616883e-223e-4a36-bd67-27afc18bc07d Read More 13 9 AdviceGearScenarios Heard The Prepared on NPR this morning in an interview titled “Doomsday Prepping Goes Mainstream” Bradical - July 29, 2021 I listen to NPR every day as part of my daily news sources and entertainment and was surprised to hear a friendly name, The Prepared! The interview was well done and goes over how prepping is becoming more popular and isn’t just for the old white guys in their underground bunker. If you need something to listen to on your drive into work here’s the link: https://the1a.org/segments/doomsday-prepping-goes-mainstream/ Read More 19 29 A report from a non prepper from South Africa Bill Masen - July 29, 2021 https://unherd.com/2021/07/the-return-of-south-africas-militias/ Read More 6 4 News Thoughts on creating a diy sleeping bag LBV - July 28, 2021 As the reviewed gear is well out of my price range, I either have what I can afford or make my own. The one I can afford (locally) is rated 8°C, but in winter overnight can go lower. The other option is diy. The filling option are standard polyester, polyester wool blends or pure wool. Outer will be ripstop nylon which can be treated to waterproof it. The polyester and poly blends are what is available for craft work like quilting. I would appreciate viewpoints on these options. Read More 6 4 Self-care in a pandemic stressed world Bob - July 26, 2021 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/5-top-tips-for-self-care-in-a-pandemic-exhausted-world Good afternoon, This article has some good points to get through this somewhat new environment – especially those working from home. I think it’s a valuable tip listed in 2. to start one’s day … whenever one’s day starts. Mine starts early even prior to the Greenwich meridan waking up … .”with things that we enjoy…”. We preppers can survive the rattle snakes and more deadly mosquitos but it’s the STRESS showing up in the many reports: medical, insurance, all of ’em. Can’t think of exceptions. Number 3 is understood by some of us – especially senior citizens who did not start out this journey of life with the web. What is deemed “news” is frequently enough an opinion article. Place max time into health, safety and preparedness. Read More 7 6 Insulin cooling case for field environment Bob - July 24, 2021 Good morning. https://www.frioinsulincoolingcase.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Are-YOU-Ready-Disaster-Prep-PWD-and-Optimism-092020-WEBSITE.pdfC The company Frio Case has a relatively new method and product to keep insulin within required temperature range during field work. Their basic website is Frio case . com Rather than post link directly to their insulin cases, the top link is their good pdf intro on disaster prep that leads into the insuin cases. Hope this proves of value to some forum members. Read More 10 8 Hydrogen peroxide and the prepper Bob - July 23, 2021 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hydrogen-peroxide Good morning, Above article is informative and encompassing. Under section titled “Alternative … for uses” at subsection “Wound Cleaning”, I believe a secondary definition of “sterile” is being used. As a disinfectant or for oral hygiene, do get preliminary guidance from a colleague EMT, DDS. Not in article but Walmart’s on the counter H2O2 is 3% USP and the 7-11 brand small bottle is also 3% USP. Hopefully link is of value for preparedness. Read More 5 3 Clarkson’s Farm, a TV show about a man learning how to start a farm Josh CentersContributor - July 23, 2021 I’m wondering if any other The Prepared readers have watched Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon Prime? If you haven’t, it’s a great show. Jeremy Clarkson, mostly known in the UK for Top Gear and other car shows, has owned a farm for years and recently decided to farm it himself. While it’s not strictly a prepping show, it touches on a lot of things of interest to preppers, like growing grain crops, raising livestock, and permaculture. Even if you can’t usually stand Clarkson, he’s in very different form here and undergoes something of a personal transformation. Read More 9 8 Meta “Founder” of Wilderness Medicine Died Bob - July 20, 2021 ———————-IN MEMORAM———————- Dr Paul Auerbach, considered the “founder” of wilderness medicine died. Cannot post the NYT obit because it’s paywalled. Perhaps some have access. The NYT obit is titled “Dr Paul Auerbach, 70, Who Pioneered Treatment of Wilderness Emergencies” He was the author/co-author-ediitor of “Management of Wildrness and Environmental Emergencies” (along w/ Edward Geehr). He also cofounded the Wilderness Medical Society. An excerpt from the obit: “Paul literally conceived of the subspecialty of medicine,” Read More 5 1 How to prevent and treat heat exhaustion Gideon ParkerStaff - July 18, 2021 Yesterday I attended an outdoor graduation ceremony and was outside in 80+ (27C)degree weather for 2-3 hours. I sunblocked up, wore long jeans, a cotton t shirt, and a baseball cap. I had brought plenty of snacks and drank so much water during those few hours and it wasn’t until I went to the bathroom and got out of the direct sunlight that I realized how hot I was. I hung out in the shade for about 30 minutes to cool down before heading back out there. Now I am more prone to heat exhaustion because of my spinal cord injury. I guess when ½ of your body isn’t functioning properly, it can’t regulate temperature as well as an able bodied person. If you are younger than 4, older than 65, obese, or are on certain medications you can be more prone to heat exhaustion as well. I felt fine all day and came home and felt fine when I went to bed. It’s during the night that the heat exhaustion finally kicked in. I wore a hoodie, slept under the sheets and comforter, and was still freezing cold. I woke up around 4:30am and felt like I had a fever of 105! My entire body was so hot, I could have cooked an egg on my leg. I stripped down to just a sheet and after a while was able to get to bed again once my body wasn’t cooking itself. This morning I feel achy, cold, shivering, dizzy, fatigued, and have a headache. Here’s what I’m going to be doing today to try and feel better: Took some ibuprofen to lower my fever and help with the aches Drinking a ton of water Drinking coconut water (not as processed as Gatorade, natural sugars, tons of electrolytes) Apples are so delicious with how juicy they are and the sugars inside Taking some magnesium supplements to replenish those electrolytes. Wearing cool and loose clothes. Although I am shivering pretty badly so I am wearing a hoodie again. Here’s what I am going to do next time to be more prepared and prevent this from happening: Wear white or lighter colored clothing Bring a small umbrella for shade Wear a better hat with 360 degree protection instead of just protecting the front like a baseball hat does Bring a bandanna and wet it and apply that to my skin to promote evaporation Wear shorts and some sandals In Argentina they have a tradition of taking a siesta during the hottest part of the day. All businesses shut down from like 12:00-2:00 or 3:00pm and everyone goes home and they take a nap, watch TV, and just conserve their energy. They then go back to work and reopen for a couple more hours. They have things down and understand to take it easy during the hottest parts of the day. Be careful out there with the temperatures increasing as summer comes. Did I miss anything? What do you do to stay cool during the summer? Read More 21 28 AdviceScenariosSkills How I became a newbie ham radio operator (during a pandemic) Jonnie PekelnyContributor - July 14, 2021 ​I want to tell you what it’s been like over the last few months becoming a ham radio operator, which I did mainly for prepping purposes and with no previous background in engineering or other related subjects. I didn’t have a lot of money to throw at this project, and I wasn’t interested in a new, time consuming hobby, so my approach has been a minimalist one. In fact, for a long time I assumed that ham radio would inevitably become an expensive rabbit hole and so ruled it out for myself, concentrating instead on getting a simple NOAA radio. But then some of you on this site clued me in to the fact that it was possible to get by with​ ​a ​relatively c​heap handheld ham radio​​ and that there were courses and materials to help people prepare for the FCC amateur radio license tests. ​Studying for the Exam If I was going to own a ham radio, ​I definitely wanted to get licensed with the FCC. Currently, the lowest level of license for amateur radio operation in the US is the technician’s license. This is the minimum qualification necessary to transmit on amateur radio. (Unlicensed operators can only listen). Passing the technician’s exam involves taking a test comprised of 35 questions on which you have to score a minimum of 75%. The questions concern various subjects such as basic electromagnetic theory (Ohm’s Law), safety, amateur radio etiquette, etc. I used two main sets tools to study for the test. The first was the HAM CRAM course offered by outdoorcore.com for $49. It promises that students can go from zero to license in six hours using the course. (A blog post from the creator explains how to study for the ham radio exam.) The course took me longer, primarily because it uses a lot of mnemonics to memorize information that might be on the test, but I’m a person who learns best by getting some understanding of what I’m studying, so I frequently delved into various subjects more than the course would encourage me. The other tools, which work in tandem with the ham cram, are the flashcards and practice quizzes at hamstudy.org/tech2018. All in all, I spent several weeks (maybe three?) doing a little studying on most days. The studying was comprised of going through the ham cram modules and doing a lot of practice exams, as well as occasionally looking up terms and explanations on the internet. I also had one or two Zoom calls with Joe Bassett (W1WCN), the creator of the course. It certainly took me far longer than six hours, but I never felt overwhelmed or inundated. Call me obsessive, but one of the things that helped me most to get my practice test scores up was going through every single flashcard in the total pool of 400 and something and reviewing every answer I got wrong. After doing that, my test scores went up dramatically until, by the end, I was routinely getting scores in the mid to high 90s. I must say that getting up to speed with the test did not make me feel that I had learned electromagnetic theory or that I would immediately be able to sit down and operate a ham radio. Apparently, that’s okay. Joe says that the test doesn’t measure aptitude for operation, so much as it does aptitude for learning. Taking the Technician’s Exam (During the Pandemic) After the studying comes the exam itself. First you have to find a radio club or other organization that administers the exam and sign up for one of their sessions. (The club charges some money for this — I believe $10 in my case and the FCC also charges $15 for issuing the license). I found my session through hamstudy.org. My test was administered by GLAARG (Greater Los Angeles Amateur Radio Group), about which I had read positive reviews. Taking the exam during the pandemic is a surreal and painstaking experience. I can’t speak to how it was done in the “before times,” but apparently it was usually in a large classroom. During covid though, people have to take the exam remotely and all manner of mechanisms are put in place to make sure that nobody cheats. The clubs display a plethora of rules for test takers on their pages, some of them in bold and red, looking rather intimidating. The rules try to exert as much control as possible over the remote test environment. There are rules about cameras, calculators, mouse devices and room setup — and the rules are not the same for every club! To begin with, you have to take the exam in a space with no pets and no other people and one with a closing door. The space also has to be free of clutter. All these requirements together immediately ruled out most spaces in my house, as they do for a lot of people. (I considered doing the test in the kitchen, but it has no door.) Many of the organizations that hold these exam sessions helpfully suggested doing the test in the bathroom, which I actually did! Many organizations administering the exam require the use of two cameras — one pointing at your head and the other at your hands, to make sure you don’t cheat. I did set up two cameras (by attaching my cell phone to the back of a chair with a rubber band!), but it turned out that GLAARG was a little less paranoid than most clubs and only required one camera. Exam takers are let into the general Zoom session in the order they asked to be admitted, so it’s good to come to the session early to avoid a long wait. First stop after being admitted is the breakout room where an officer of the club explains how the test will proceed and then does a preliminary inspection of the space with each applicant, one at a time. We had to point our camera at the ceiling and swivel it all around the room (bathroom, in my case) to let the examiners see that there are no papers hanging around with answers to test questions. The examiner looked at our computer and our mouse. We were also told earlier not to look away from the screen in any manner that would suggest that we are looking somewhere or to someone for answers. After this introduction we were let in one by one, each to our private exam room. Three examiner observers were present there for each one of us. They performed a second inspection of the space, much like the first. After this, the test itself was straightforward and proceeded in the same format as the study quizzes, which were familiar to me by then. The examiners are there to monitor the test takers and give them instructions. The actual test, once you start it, is administered by the software itself and looks very much like the practice quizzes with exactly the same wording of the questions. The online test is also graded immediately by the software, so you know right away if you passed and how many answers you got wrong. I was happy to pass with a pretty high score. From there all I had to do was wait a few days for the FCC to issue me my license and call sign. That was exciting. These Are Not Your Childhood Walkie Talkies I got my technician’s license in January. By this time I had two handheld radios in my possession (the Yaesu FT-60R and the BaoFeng BF-F8HP) which I had been asked to review, so I had to learn how to use them first. Here’s one thing to consider if you’re thinking about getting a ham radio: these are not your childhood walkie talkies, or even a CB radio your parents may have had in their car if you’re of a certain age. If you are getting a ham radio for use in emergencies, don’t think that you’ll be able to pull it out with minimal skills and training and start using it on the spot. You don’t need to become an expert at ham radio, but you do need to learn at least basic use of your equipment and practice with it with actual people. Having to write a review of my handhelds had its pluses and minuses for me. On one hand it meant that I really had to learn the ins and outs of these two radios, which I might not have done to quite such an extent if I was just learning to use them for myself. On the other hand, I learned a lot. Mainly, I read the manuals for both radios, played with the knobs and buttons and asked Joe Bassett lots of questions, some over email and some over Zoom. Having him to mentor me has been extremely helpful. At the end of the day I will be keeping the Yaesu FT-60R. I have also been playing with the Echolink app on my smartphone. Echolink software allows licensed ham radio operators to communicate over the internet. I was initially skeptical about the value of this. Don’t we have email and chat and social media for that now, not to mention Zoom? But it turns out it has its uses. On a purely frivolous note it’s kind of fun to tune into stations across the globe and hear ham operators talking to each other in Afrikaans or listen in on a meeting of hams in Australia. It’s a different slice of life than you might find on websites or on social media. Also, however, Echolink allows me to connect to remote stations and participate in activities with groups which my little handheld radio could never reach on its own. Finding Fellow Hams and Training It turns out that, once you get your license and learn to use your radio, no delegation from the local ham radio community shows up at your doorstep to welcome you to the club and offer training. Far from it! My interest in ham is primarily from the angle of emergency preparedness. In my area I had to dig around the local resources to find who coordinates the local ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) group. This turned out not to be so easy. The local clubs have not been forthcoming with that information. In fact the local clubs have been haphazard (to put it generously) in their responses of any sort to me. If I ask several questions, they sometimes respond with enthusiasm, but no answers and sometimes not at all. The gist of what I’ve gotten from the main ham radio club in my area is that I should join it before I get any information about what it offers or how it’s connected to ARES. To be honest this does not make me want to cough up $40/year to join! Apparently, this kind of lack of communication and followthrough is not uncommon. With the help of my mentor I eventually did find the weekly ARES net (meeting of ham radio operators on the radio) and have been participating in it as time allows — without joining any clubs. The level of training offered by the local ARES is disappointing, however. It essentially consists of roll call over the local repeater (an amateur radio repeater is a station that amplifies and retransmits signals, allowing radios with weak signals a much wider radius of communication). The same roll call is then performed on a simplex frequency (simplex refers to direct communication on a radio frequency, not using a repeater). It’s good for a raw beginner, but doesn’t seem terribly useful for learning how to handle myself on the radio in an emergency. Fortunately, I’ve been able to join an ARES group in Florida that IS doing some training. (This is where Echolink has been most useful.) Now, you might think, Florida? Don’t you live in California, Jonnie? I do. But training is training on a certain level. If I can learn how to follow protocol in an emergency, I might be of some use to my local hams when one comes. In Conclusion ​To sum it all up: is it possible for a person with no special previous training to become minimally proficient as a ham without spending a huge amount of money or time? Yes. Is it going to be as easy as the pros say it will be? Probably not. At least for me, ham radio did for a while take up most of my prepping time and energy, but now I think I’m coming to the end of that. Should you just get a radio and not worry about licensing or training? DEFINITELY NOT. ​At the very least, get your technician’s license and learn the basics of how to use your radio before an emergency strikes. Also, be aware that ham radio is a social activity and requires entry into a different culture. You will have to scope out the new turf and learn the rules, even if you do it very part time. Is it worth it? You will have to decide for yourself. For me it has been, and it’s stretched my mind. Jonnie KN6NHL Read More 26 28 AdviceSkills < Prev 1 2 3 … 39 40 41 … 59 60 61 Next > Recently Active News for the week of 2025-05-05 - 5 days agoNews for the week of 2025-04-28 - 2 weeks agoNews for the Week 2025-4-21 - 3 weeks agoNews for the Week 2025-4-14 - 3 weeks agoNews for the Week 2025-4-7 - 1 month ago RULES This forum is heavily moderated to keep things valuable to as many people as possible. Full community policies are here. The basics: 1. Be nice to each other. 2. Stay focused on prepping. 3. Avoid politics, religion, and other arguments. 4. No unfounded conspiracies, fake news, etc. 5. Debate ideas, not people. FILTER Show all Advice Gear Meta News Scenarios Skills

CNN airing short film that’s partly about TP and this community

John AdamaStaff - August 12, 2021

Just wrote up details on the blog, but wanted to share here too. Premiers on CNN’s TV channel this Saturday Aug 7th. First airing at 9pm ET, second at 9pm PT.

We were excited to participate in this — we got multiple of our families together and spent many days with the crew — because it was pitched as a serious look at how rational people from all walks of life are taking steps to be more self reliant. 

Tune in… at worst, you’ll have plenty of ways to make fun of me and others on the team 🙂

Edit: I just saw the film and it’s much better than the crappy marketing made it seem. I hate that it’s anchored around bunkers. But it starts off focusing on the “community” part of a bunker community. Then I/TP come in to say that bunkers are way down the priority list, how the community is growing and diverse, there are sane steps everyone can take without moving to a rural bunker, etc.

I think CNN’s marketing dept (separate from the actual filmmakers) have this idea that they’ll hook in people with the “bunker porn” and then by the end of the show they’ve expanded their horizons. Not the approach I would take — especially anchoring the narrative around bunkers — but it’s one of the better attempts at this that I’ve seen on mainstream media.

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MetaNews

“Grey Man” vs “Hard Target”

Caliber Carpenter - August 11, 2021

It’s been brought up before in several discussions already but I figured it would be good to have an entire thread dedicated to it. So let’s hear your thoughts on Grey Man vs Hard Target strategies and when each should apply.

My personal opinion is that they are entirely subjective and depend on your scenario and surroundings as to which will be more effective. I will say I believe that whichever you choose to do in the moment you need to go all the way to one side or the other. If you’re trying to go Grey Man, you need to completely blend, nothing that will stick out in the slightest. I personally think the molle on backpacks is a pointless argument for anything over a typical school sized backpack, anything bigger than that is likely to draw attention no matter what it looks like. People are used to seeing small to mid size backpacks every day, they are not used to seeing full size rucks, no matter what kind. My personal “Grey Man” loadout if I had to do any sort of urban evasion (which hopefully I wouldn’t) would be jeans, a hoody, nondescript ball cap, sunglasses, and my Swiss gear mid size backpack. No visible weaponry or other gear whatsoever.

Curious to hear what everyone else’s thoughts and ideal loadouts would be.

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GearScenarios

Brit Professor provides clear picture of “Variants”

Bob - August 11, 2021

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/07/prof-francois-balloux-the-pandemic-has-created-a-market-for-gloom-and-doom

Good morning,

Yes, this newspaper plots out on the political spectrum at the usual band….Some articles like above link are well written with clearly-presented material.

Link is an interview with a Professor Balloux of University College London. The professor provides clarity to the growing list of COVID variants.

Article does contain expression “doom and gloom”, but the clarity Professor Balloux presents is about focus and reality. He had COVID-19 and explains in interview that a much longer recovery time is needed than the current info.

Well worth reading – at least IMO.

Hopefully of value.

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Anyone know of any gluten-free MREs?

LCS - August 10, 2021

So far I have just used gluten-free granola bars in my bug out bag. I’d like something more calorie dense, that takes up less space, and has a longer shelf life.

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Gear

How to harvest amaranth seeds

Josh CentersContributor - August 9, 2021

If you’re growing amaranth in your garden this year, you might be wondering how the heck to harvest the grains. Our pal David the Good published a video on how to harvest them.

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Advice

Axe or Saw

Darkworldxl - August 7, 2021

I live in the Northeastern USA and I’m wondering which tool is preferred. For context I have a bag that has both a saw and an axe but I want to reduce its weight. I decided I want to forgo one of them. I have a Gransfor Bruks Small Forest Axe and a Silky Gomboy. I want to hear the pros and cons from everyone. I am an Eagle Scout and have experience with axes and I’m currently leaning toward the axe.

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Emergency toilet – bedside commode chair

Bigwig - August 6, 2021

While I’ve seen a number of options for an emergency toilet, I’ve never seen using a bedside commode chair.  An image of one is in the link below:

https://images.homedepot-static.com/catalog/productImages/1000/02/02ba2a43-32b9-4632-9ab9-bab8c459ec3a_1000.jpg

Most affordable options are a bucket with a toilet seat.  I would think the advantages are:

More comfortable – as it is purpose-built.  It also has a frame and handles to make it more stable for the user. Cost-effective – the cost is not much more than a 5 gallon bucket and a bucket-specific toilet seat. Portable – can be folded up.

Any thoughts on why a bedside commode chair is not being recommended?  What are the downsides?

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AdviceGear

Best way to store paper products to avoid mice

Jen - August 6, 2021

I am a new prepper and looking for the best way to store tp and other paper for the long term.  I live in a rural area so mice are an issue.  I was thinking a military metal locker but am not seeing where I can buy one in good shape.  Thanks!

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Gear

Armed citizens defend their neighborhoods against extreme civil unrest and looting in South Africa

Bill Masen - August 6, 2021

This is what I fear reaching the UK and UK from SA. 

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Scenarios

Smelling Scepter container, safe for water?

Nick - August 4, 2021

Good morning!

I bought a couple of brand new scepter water containers for water storage. My plan is to cycle them every 6 months. However, I’m still a bit concerned about filling them since they have that strong plastic smell. I already washed them out once and have them sitting there open for a couple of days but it still smells. Now I’m wondering if I can still use the container or if I should wait until the smell is gone. I haven’t used bleach for disinfecting yet so I could still wash it out again. I’m just not sure if the smell will affect the taste or even has an impact on the water quality. 

Any ideas? Thanks!

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Advice

Which Go Bag backpack(s) do you like and why?

Lowell - August 2, 2021

A couple months ago, I bought myself a 5.11 RUSH72 so that I could get started on my GB. I had spent a couple hours looking through the recommendations in the 45-55L premium section of this article, but gave up after feeling overwhelmed by a combination of the lack of reviews, the prices, and the lack of off-the-shelf internal organization compared to the RUSH72.

Although an OK stop-gap, the RUSH72 doesn’t seem like the right fit for me. I went on a 9 mile hike yesterday, and my back/shoulders were killing me. I originally had attachments set up like in the photo below, and then my partner advised me to move these to the sides of the backpack which was a big help!

However, even after that, I couldn’t get the back to fit right. I think a big part of this is that I cant cinch the waist straps down tightly enough; I’ve got a ~35″ waist, and the tightest these straps went still left some room. Somewhat relatedly, my buddy has the same pack, and the buckle broke just from tightening it! Also, the straps are notably less smooth than my Osprey Atmos AG.

The Best bug out bag survival backpack article isn’t quite as sharply opinionated as others on this site in terms of *exactly* which options people prefer and for what reasons, so I’m opening it up to y’all: Which Go Bag backpack(s) do like and why?

, 

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AdviceGear

, 

How do I prepare while off at college?

Pizza Ninja - August 2, 2021

I just got accepted to a college out of state to study marine biology and this will be my first time living on my own. Well, with whatever roommates the college sets me up with. I will be living in the dorms this first year which brings with it a mandatory meal plan, which has it’s pros and cons. 

I don’t want to just rely on the college to feed me though. Even though they probably won’t leave us starving, I know that things can happen and want to be prepared. Hence why I am here.

I also won’t have much room to store things like a generator or gas cans, but I am dedicating the area under my bed as my emergency supply stash. The beds are nice though and can be raised two feet in the air for plenty of space.

Any other advice for someone going out into the world for the first time? I am pretty nervous…, but excited

-Tim

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‘Ten Acres Enough’ – A book on self sufficiency

Barb LeeContributor - July 31, 2021

I was just recently recalling this book, which was much touted in Small Farmer’s Journal a few decades ago.  The full title is Ten Acres Enough, A Practical Experience Showing How A Very Small Farm May Be Made To Keep A Very Large Family.

It was published in 1866.

I found the book for free on Google Books.  It’s also been reprinted in this century.  I used to have a copy of it.  All I can remember of the book is how exceedingly intense the work seemed to be, but it was quite a slice of reality.

I thought it might be interesting reading for those striving to become self sufficient.

Just go to Google Books and enter Ten Acres Enough to read it for free. I’m going back for a read with much older and wiser eyes.

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Intro article for types of injections

Bob - July 30, 2021

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/types-of-injections#intraosseous

Good morning,

Above link is a good intro to injections. Ideal for some preppers to have some familiarity.

Ref para 1; They’re also known as “jabs” – at least in Hong Kong and UK. A non-health care person can also administer vaccines in some circumstances.  It’s been done before. Don’t do any of this self-help stuff without getting some actual in person training with the required education involved in your particular situation.

Not too sure which is which – auto versus jet – but the spring-leaded stringes are great when out in the thorns, sticks or elsewhere out of reach of an ALS – Advanced Life Support – clinic (ie more than Boy Scout/Girl Scout, CERT care.

Some big city fire departments, besides their EMTs, EMT-Ps and Para folks teach “intersseod” (spelling – the bone marrow delivery type). Personally speaking, I’d trust them no less so than what passes for physicians nowadays.

Didn’t know that root canals were “complex”  dental procedures. For some years in retirement, I’ve been doing volunteer work with dentists and perhaps it’s a calibration matter. The dentists I have breakfast with when out in the field, don’t refer to root canals as “complex”. Perhaps with dangerous pain involving prevention of shock/loss of vital sign(s), it’s deemed “complex”.

If considering self-administering anything with a string, do get some formal, in person training and education.

The Army used to issue 3 (memory fading) auto-inject stringes along with gas mask in case of nuclear war of some sort.

Again, I consider link to be a good intro article for preppers. 

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Thought I’d post two articles I had published by FMG several years back. “Knives for the Field” and BMBG “Bare Minimum Go Bag”

Kakuli470 - July 29, 2021

https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:e616883e-223e-4a36-bd67-27afc18bc07d

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AdviceGearScenarios

Heard The Prepared on NPR this morning in an interview titled “Doomsday Prepping Goes Mainstream”

Bradical - July 29, 2021

I listen to NPR every day as part of my daily news sources and entertainment and was surprised to hear a friendly name, The Prepared!

The interview was well done and goes over how prepping is becoming more popular and isn’t just for the old white guys in their underground bunker. 

If you need something to listen to on your drive into work here’s the link: https://the1a.org/segments/doomsday-prepping-goes-mainstream/

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A report from a non prepper from South Africa

Bill Masen - July 29, 2021

https://unherd.com/2021/07/the-return-of-south-africas-militias/

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News

Thoughts on creating a diy sleeping bag

LBV - July 28, 2021

As the reviewed gear is well out of my price range, I either have what I can afford or make my own. The one I can afford (locally) is rated 8°C, but in winter overnight can go lower. The other option is diy. The filling option are standard polyester, polyester wool blends or pure wool. Outer will be ripstop nylon which can be treated to waterproof it. The polyester and poly blends are what is available for craft work like quilting.  I would appreciate viewpoints on these options.

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Self-care in a pandemic stressed world

Bob - July 26, 2021

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/5-top-tips-for-self-care-in-a-pandemic-exhausted-world

Good afternoon,

This article has some good points to get through this somewhat new environment – especially those working from home.

I think it’s a valuable tip listed in 2. to start one’s day … whenever one’s day starts. Mine starts early even prior to the Greenwich meridan waking up … .”with things that we enjoy…”. We preppers can survive the rattle snakes and more deadly mosquitos but it’s the STRESS showing up in the many reports: medical, insurance, all of ’em. Can’t think of exceptions.

Number 3 is understood by some of us – especially senior citizens who did not start out this journey of life with the web. What is deemed “news” is frequently enough an opinion article.

Place max time into health, safety and preparedness.

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Insulin cooling case for field environment

Bob - July 24, 2021

Good morning.

https://www.frioinsulincoolingcase.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Are-YOU-Ready-Disaster-Prep-PWD-and-Optimism-092020-WEBSITE.pdfC

The company Frio Case has a relatively new method and product to keep insulin within required temperature range during field work. Their basic website is Frio case . com

Rather than post link directly to their insulin cases, the top link is their good pdf intro on disaster prep that leads into the insuin cases.

Hope this proves of value to some forum members.

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Hydrogen peroxide and the prepper

Bob - July 23, 2021

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hydrogen-peroxide

Good morning,

Above article is informative and encompassing.

Under section titled “Alternative … for uses” at subsection “Wound Cleaning”, I believe a secondary definition of “sterile” is being used.

As a disinfectant or for oral hygiene, do get preliminary guidance from a colleague EMT, DDS.

Not in article but Walmart’s on the counter H2O2 is 3% USP and the 7-11 brand small bottle is also 3% USP.

Hopefully link is of value for preparedness. 

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Clarkson’s Farm, a TV show about a man learning how to start a farm

Josh CentersContributor - July 23, 2021

I’m wondering if any other The Prepared readers have watched Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon Prime? If you haven’t, it’s a great show. Jeremy Clarkson, mostly known in the UK for Top Gear and other car shows, has owned a farm for years and recently decided to farm it himself.

While it’s not strictly a prepping show, it touches on a lot of things of interest to preppers, like growing grain crops, raising livestock, and permaculture. Even if you can’t usually stand Clarkson, he’s in very different form here and undergoes something of a personal transformation.

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Meta

“Founder” of Wilderness Medicine Died

Bob - July 20, 2021

———————-IN MEMORAM———————-

Dr Paul Auerbach, considered the “founder” of wilderness medicine died. 

Cannot post the NYT obit because it’s paywalled.  Perhaps some have access.  The NYT obit is titled “Dr Paul Auerbach, 70, Who Pioneered Treatment of Wilderness Emergencies”

He was the author/co-author-ediitor of “Management of Wildrness and Environmental Emergencies” (along w/ Edward Geehr). He also cofounded the Wilderness Medical Society.

An excerpt from the obit: “Paul literally conceived of the subspecialty of medicine,” 

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How to prevent and treat heat exhaustion

Gideon ParkerStaff - July 18, 2021

Yesterday I attended an outdoor graduation ceremony and was outside in 80+ (27C)degree weather for 2-3 hours. I sunblocked up, wore long jeans, a cotton t shirt, and a baseball cap. I had brought plenty of snacks and drank so much water during those few hours and it wasn’t until I went to the bathroom and got out of the direct sunlight that I realized how hot I was. I hung out in the shade for about 30 minutes to cool down before heading back out there.

Now I am more prone to heat exhaustion because of my spinal cord injury. I guess when ½ of your body isn’t functioning properly, it can’t regulate temperature as well as an able bodied person. If you are younger than 4, older than 65, obese, or are on certain medications you can be more prone to heat exhaustion as well.

I felt fine all day and came home and felt fine when I went to bed. It’s during the night that the heat exhaustion finally kicked in. I wore a hoodie, slept under the sheets and comforter, and was still freezing cold. I woke up around 4:30am and felt like I had a fever of 105! My entire body was so hot, I could have cooked an egg on my leg. I stripped down to just a sheet and after a while was able to get to bed again once my body wasn’t cooking itself.

This morning I feel achy, cold, shivering, dizzy, fatigued, and have a headache.

Here’s what I’m going to be doing today to try and feel better:

Took some ibuprofen to lower my fever and help with the aches Drinking a ton of water Drinking coconut water (not as processed as Gatorade, natural sugars, tons of electrolytes) Apples are so delicious with how juicy they are and the sugars inside Taking some magnesium supplements to replenish those electrolytes. Wearing cool and loose clothes. Although I am shivering pretty badly so I am wearing a hoodie again.

Here’s what I am going to do next time to be more prepared and prevent this from happening:

Wear white or lighter colored clothing Bring a small umbrella for shade Wear a better hat with 360 degree protection instead of just protecting the front like a baseball hat does Bring a bandanna and wet it and apply that to my skin to promote evaporation Wear shorts and some sandals

In Argentina they have a tradition of taking a siesta during the hottest part of the day. All businesses shut down from like 12:00-2:00 or 3:00pm and everyone goes home and they take a nap, watch TV, and just conserve their energy. They then go back to work and reopen for a couple more hours. They have things down and understand to take it easy during the hottest parts of the day.

Be careful out there with the temperatures increasing as summer comes.

Did I miss anything? What do you do to stay cool during the summer?

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AdviceScenariosSkills

How I became a newbie ham radio operator (during a pandemic)

Jonnie PekelnyContributor - July 14, 2021

​I want to tell you what it’s been like over the last few months becoming a ham radio operator, which I did mainly for prepping purposes and with no previous background in engineering or other related subjects. I didn’t have a lot of money to throw at this project, and I wasn’t interested in a new, time consuming hobby, so my approach has been a minimalist one. In fact, for a long time I assumed that ham radio would inevitably become an expensive rabbit hole and so ruled it out for myself, concentrating instead on getting a simple NOAA radio. But then some of you on this site clued me in to the fact that it was possible to get by with​ ​a ​relatively c​heap handheld ham radio​​ and that there were courses and materials to help people prepare for the FCC amateur radio license tests.

​Studying for the Exam

If I was going to own a ham radio, ​I definitely wanted to get licensed with the FCC. Currently, the lowest level of license for amateur radio operation in the US is the technician’s license. This is the minimum qualification necessary to transmit on amateur radio. (Unlicensed operators can only listen). 

Passing the technician’s exam involves taking a test comprised of 35 questions on which you have to score a minimum of 75%. The questions concern various subjects such as basic electromagnetic theory (Ohm’s Law), safety, amateur radio etiquette, etc. I used two main sets tools to study for the test. 

The first was the HAM CRAM course offered by outdoorcore.com for $49. It promises that students can go from zero to license in six hours using the course. (A blog post from the creator explains how to study for the ham radio exam.) The course took me longer, primarily because it uses a lot of mnemonics to memorize information that might be on the test, but I’m a person who learns best by getting some understanding of what I’m studying, so I frequently delved into various subjects more than the course would encourage me. The other tools, which work in tandem with the ham cram, are the flashcards and practice quizzes at hamstudy.org/tech2018.

All in all, I spent several weeks (maybe three?) doing a little studying on most days. The studying was comprised of going through the ham cram modules and doing a lot of practice exams, as well as occasionally looking up terms and explanations on the internet. I also had one or two Zoom calls with Joe Bassett (W1WCN), the creator of the course. It certainly took me far longer than six hours, but I never felt overwhelmed or inundated. 

Call me obsessive, but one of the things that helped me most to get my practice test scores up was going through every single flashcard in the total pool of 400 and something and reviewing every answer I got wrong. After doing that, my test scores went up dramatically until, by the end, I was routinely getting scores in the mid to high 90s.

I must say that getting up to speed with the test did not make me feel that I had learned electromagnetic theory or that I would immediately be able to sit down and operate a ham radio. Apparently, that’s okay. Joe says that the test doesn’t measure aptitude for operation, so much as it does aptitude for learning.

Taking the Technician’s Exam (During the Pandemic)

After the studying comes the exam itself. First you have to find a radio club or other organization that administers the exam and sign up for one of their sessions. (The club charges some money for this — I believe $10 in my case and the FCC also charges $15 for issuing the license).  I found my session through hamstudy.org. My test was administered by GLAARG (Greater Los Angeles Amateur Radio Group), about which I had read positive reviews. 

Taking the exam during the pandemic is a surreal and painstaking experience. I can’t speak to how it was done in the “before times,” but apparently it was usually in a large classroom. During covid though, people have to take the exam remotely and all manner of mechanisms are put in place to make sure that nobody cheats. The clubs display a plethora of rules for test takers on their pages, some of them in bold and red, looking rather intimidating. The rules try to exert as much control as possible over the remote test environment. There are rules about cameras, calculators, mouse devices and room setup — and the rules are not the same for every club!

To begin with, you have to take the exam in a space with no pets and no other people and one with a closing door. The space also has to be free of clutter. All these requirements together immediately ruled out most spaces in my house, as they do for a lot of people. (I considered doing the test in the kitchen, but it has no door.) Many of the organizations that hold these exam sessions helpfully suggested doing the test in the bathroom, which I actually did!

Many organizations administering the exam require the use of two cameras — one pointing at your head and the other at your hands, to make sure you don’t cheat. I did set up two cameras (by attaching my cell phone to the back of a chair with a rubber band!), but it turned out that GLAARG was a little less paranoid than most clubs and only required one camera. 

Exam takers are let into the general Zoom session in the order they asked to be admitted, so it’s good to come to the session early to avoid a long wait. First stop after being admitted is the breakout room where an officer of the club explains how the test will proceed and then does a preliminary inspection of the space with each applicant, one at a time. We had to point our camera at the ceiling and swivel it all around the room (bathroom, in my case) to let the examiners see that there are no papers hanging around with answers to test questions. The examiner looked at our computer and our mouse. We were also told earlier not to look away from the screen in any manner that would suggest that we are looking somewhere or to someone for answers. 

After this introduction we were let in one by one, each to our private exam room. Three examiner observers were present there for each one of us. They performed a second inspection of the space, much like the first. After this, the test itself was straightforward and proceeded in the same format as the study quizzes, which were familiar to me by then. The examiners are there to monitor the test takers and give them instructions. The actual test, once you start it, is administered by the software itself and looks very much like the practice quizzes with exactly the same wording of the questions. The online test is also graded immediately by the software, so you know right away if you passed and how many answers you got wrong. I was happy to pass with a pretty high score. From there all I had to do was wait a few days for the FCC to issue me my license and call sign. That was exciting.

These Are Not Your Childhood Walkie Talkies

I got my technician’s license in January. By this time I had two handheld radios in my possession (the Yaesu FT-60R and the BaoFeng BF-F8HP) which I had been asked to review, so I had to learn how to use them first. Here’s one thing to consider if you’re thinking about getting a ham radio: these are not your childhood walkie talkies, or even a CB radio your parents may have had in their car if you’re of a certain age. If you are getting a ham radio for use in emergencies, don’t think that you’ll be able to pull it out with minimal skills and training and start using it on the spot. You don’t need to become an expert at ham radio, but you do need to learn at least basic use of your equipment and practice with it with actual people. 

Having to write a review of my handhelds had its pluses and minuses for me. On one hand it meant that I really had to learn the ins and outs of these two radios, which I might not have done to quite such an extent if I was just learning to use them for myself. On the other hand, I learned a lot. Mainly, I read the manuals for both radios, played with the knobs and buttons and asked Joe Bassett lots of questions, some over email and some over Zoom. Having him to mentor me has been extremely helpful.

At the end of the day I will be keeping the Yaesu FT-60R. I have also been playing with the Echolink app on my smartphone. Echolink software allows licensed ham radio operators to communicate over the internet. I was initially skeptical about the value of this. Don’t we have email and chat and social media for that now, not to mention Zoom? But it turns out it has its uses. 

On a purely frivolous note it’s kind of fun to tune into stations across the globe and hear ham operators talking to each other in Afrikaans or listen in on a meeting of hams in Australia. It’s a different slice of life than you might find on websites or on social media. Also, however, Echolink allows me to connect to remote stations and participate in activities with groups which my little handheld radio could never reach on its own.

Finding Fellow Hams and Training

It turns out that, once you get your license and learn to use your radio, no delegation from the local ham radio community shows up at your doorstep to welcome you to the club and offer training. Far from it!

My interest in ham is primarily from the angle of emergency preparedness. In my area I had to dig around the local resources to find who coordinates the local ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) group. This turned out not to be so easy. The local clubs have not been forthcoming with that information. In fact the local clubs have been haphazard (to put it generously) in their responses of any sort to me. If I ask several questions, they sometimes respond with enthusiasm, but no answers and sometimes not at all.

The gist of what I’ve gotten from the main ham radio club in my area is that I should join it before I get any information about what it offers or how it’s connected  to ARES. To be honest this does not make me want to cough up $40/year to join! Apparently, this kind of lack of communication and followthrough is not uncommon.

With the help of my mentor I eventually did find the weekly ARES net (meeting of ham radio operators on the radio) and have been participating in it as time allows — without joining any clubs. The level of training offered by the local ARES is disappointing, however. It essentially consists of roll call over the local repeater (an amateur radio repeater is a station that amplifies and retransmits signals, allowing radios with weak signals a much wider radius of communication). The same roll call is then performed on a simplex frequency (simplex refers to direct communication on a radio frequency, not using a repeater). It’s good for a raw beginner, but doesn’t seem terribly useful for learning how to handle myself on the radio in an emergency. 

Fortunately, I’ve been able to join an ARES group in Florida that IS doing some training. (This is where Echolink has been most useful.) Now, you might think, Florida? Don’t you live in California, Jonnie? I do. But training is training on a certain level. If I can learn how to follow protocol in an emergency, I might be of some use to my local hams when one comes. 

In Conclusion

​To sum it all up: is it possible for a person with no special previous training to become minimally proficient as a ham without spending a huge amount of money or time? Yes. Is it going to be as easy as the pros say it will be? Probably not. At least for me, ham radio did for a while take up most of my prepping time and energy, but now I think I’m coming to the end of that. Should you just get a radio and not worry about licensing or training? DEFINITELY NOT. ​At the very least, get your technician’s license and learn the basics of how to use your radio before an emergency strikes. Also, be aware that ham radio is a social activity and requires entry into a different culture. You will have to scope out the new turf and learn the rules, even if you do it very part time. Is it worth it? You will have to decide for yourself. For me it has been, and it’s stretched my mind.

Jonnie

KN6NHL

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