tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964596045360803212.post5039818040762544234..comments2023-10-11T04:38:51.793-07:00Comments on Accept The Challenge: Preps: No Communications Services, Part IChief Instructorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13604561415860237705noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964596045360803212.post-14543121852181184952010-06-12T07:53:45.022-07:002010-06-12T07:53:45.022-07:00My youngest son is in school to become an electric...My youngest son is in school to become an electrician, and is on a LONG waiting list for an apprenticeship program. Problem is, there are tons of journeymen out of work, so he's running into a brick wall trying to get into the industry.Chief Instructorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13604561415860237705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964596045360803212.post-29715210135775587772010-06-11T18:20:03.807-07:002010-06-11T18:20:03.807-07:00local libraries are your best friend there.
Last ...local libraries are your best friend there.<br /><br />Last time anyone of them bought a book on electronic repair was probably early 80's. At least that's my take on it any time I hit the library. <br /><br />If we were all wiped out and the only thing left standing were libraries, then by some happen chance aliens visited the libraries they would learn that we just discovered digital watches were the waves of the future and computers "may be" in every home some day.<br /><br />I don't even think they teach electronic repair work anymore at community colleges or vo-teks any more.<br /><br />The principals are pretty easy though. It's the reverse of plumbing. The energy flows into smaller and smaller "pipes" so it doesn't burn things out. Those pipes have resistance.<br /><br />Nice thing with old cheap equipment, if it breaks...you can use another one to fix it since the parts were pretty standard.<br /><br />Like fixing an 8 block in a 78 Ford LTD with standard 8 block 79 Chevy parts. Unlike now......flap A with never fit in slot Z because it's all trade secrets cast from specifics parts to the model and maker for after sale parts resale value.<br /><br />If the current stupidity of politics and economy of the world doesn't kill us, it will be the "standards and measures" corporations developed to make sure no one runs their crap ever again after a melt down. Sad eh. Sadder yet is they do it with medical equipment now.<br /><br />Sorry, I'm rambling now. I'm an engineer and the only decent development I've seen in the last ten years is USB jump drives in terms of standard usage, still not sure how the hell other than how handy they are, how people managed to end up with them. Not like there were commercials to buy one. 11 years ago I spent 400 bucks on 16 megs, now they come in a three pack at 2 gigs a piece at Walmart for 19.99.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15800757267114194274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964596045360803212.post-14660474134082571272010-06-11T14:59:17.754-07:002010-06-11T14:59:17.754-07:00Oh great. I need to learn something else - Electr...Oh great. I need to learn something else - Electronics repair! ;-)<br /><br />I'm pretty good with a soldering gun and may have to give this a whirl...Chief Instructorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13604561415860237705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964596045360803212.post-22377975850830048972010-06-11T08:50:24.156-07:002010-06-11T08:50:24.156-07:00Chief Instructor,
If I could recommend that you g...Chief Instructor,<br /><br />If I could recommend that you get something "stylish" from the 70's and american made. Get two or three of them. I don't know how handy you are with a saudering gun but they are pretty easy to repair and the components will be damn near identical since they aren't reliant on microprocessors. Just solid state components. So they'll be the size of a phone book and weight a bit more. And if you find an American make, it'll be built tonka tough with solid saudering and a (typically) a steel case.<br /><br />You might get lucky and get one where the gain has been hacked to extend the range. Or with two or three at your disposal, you can easily learn cheaply how to repair and hack up a CB.<br /><br />WIFI/Cell phones incidentally now sit in that spectrum now. SO if you want to mess with your neighbours turn on the old style set and start to munge their signals or just listen in.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15800757267114194274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964596045360803212.post-21927360718494940292010-06-11T08:34:40.056-07:002010-06-11T08:34:40.056-07:00CPL, that's a great idea. I hadn't even c...CPL, that's a great idea. I hadn't even considered going to one of those places (Goodwill is our local joint). I think I'll visit them today...Chief Instructorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13604561415860237705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964596045360803212.post-15352058641710633172010-06-10T18:37:27.661-07:002010-06-10T18:37:27.661-07:00Chief Instructor...
If you are looking for a chea...Chief Instructor...<br /><br />If you are looking for a cheap CB radio I suggest you go hit a Salvation Army or whatever the equivalent is in your area. No shortage to be found and I would guess 90% of the them work for ten bucks.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15800757267114194274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964596045360803212.post-85396285216340701162010-06-10T18:35:19.693-07:002010-06-10T18:35:19.693-07:00How about a handful of dollar store radio's an...How about a handful of dollar store radio's and walkie talkies?<br /><br />Technology has a habit of failing nicely when you want it to work, so having some cheap spares works nicely. Think cheap, disposable and run on batteries. I figured this out with MP3 players. <br /><br />If you've had an iPod (and the main reason I'll never buy one ever again after the first one), once the battery goes bad, it's easier getting toothpaste back into a tube than try to repair a NiCad battery pack.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15800757267114194274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964596045360803212.post-66974203902387985282010-06-08T12:42:31.464-07:002010-06-08T12:42:31.464-07:00I'm in good shape with AM/FM dynamo radios (6)...I'm in good shape with AM/FM dynamo radios (6) and short-waves (2) but need to get some two-way comms. I'll probably start with an inexpensive portable CB, then move into the walkie-talkies.<br /><br />I ran into a site that has plans you can buy to make a mini-EMP "gun" (for lack of a better word). It might be something to put together to test the efficiency of a Faraday cage. It's well down on the "must do" list, though...Chief Instructorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13604561415860237705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964596045360803212.post-6538935493377611292010-06-07T14:20:41.223-07:002010-06-07T14:20:41.223-07:00Chalk; another one for the bags.
I may get an ext...Chalk; another one for the bags.<br /><br />I may get an extra pair of GMRS/FRS radios (have a pair in what I hope is a Faraday cage now) and put one in each of our vehicles. Probably not better than 0.5 miles in the city (or less), but maybe better than nothing. The GHB is getting a bit larger...Suburban Survivalisthttp://suburbansurvivalist.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com