Posted: 1/18/2010 8:49:29 PM EDT
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Yaesu FT-2900r 75 watt 2m ham radio installed in truck
Sony AM/FM radio (AA batteries) Midland weather radio (in master bedroom, turns on when it has an emergency message) Corded telephone (works even when electricity is out) Midland FRS/GMRS radio Midland FRS/GMRS radio Cell Phone w/AC & 12v power TV card for laptop Digital TV converter box TV antenna Google Voice phone number (so I can redirect my incoming phone calls to any phone, online voicemail and text messages) Ipod Touch (so I can check email, send text messages, and browse the web anywhere there is a wifi connection) With the above I can monitor police, sheriff, fire, and participate in the local ham discussions. I can watch TV when the power is out, as well as make phone calls. I can listen to the radio, browse the web, and control where my phone number is routed to. What am I missing??? |
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Check your local public service frequencies, see if they're mainly within 130-170 mhz.
You'll be missing aviation, but that's no big deal. Aviation TX is very difficult to get, since it's AM, and aviation RX is of minimal use. A scanner or wide RX ham radio might help. |
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To the above I would add a deep cycle marine battery and a decent charger (doesn't have to be expensive). I would also construct a multi-use wiring harness with multiple ends (cigarette lighter plug, alligator clips etc) to charge your batteries and/or run your station using unconventional means.
To me, getting through an emergency is all about having a layered strategy, allowing you to be flexible enough to overcome a given problem-no matter what Murphy throws at you. ETA: For example, here is an updated version of the portable power stations I built for the Dec 2008 ice storm. You can build one yourself fairly inexpensively and use it to keep your comms running, as well as tons of other things in an emergency: 
After the 2008 ice storm I built over a dozen of these power stations for the remote employees at my company. They used them to keep their laptops, modems, and cell phones running. You could adapt it easily for your emergency comms-or anything else that needed power. Inside the black plastic box is a deep cycle marine battery. I included a battery charger with each station, but since nobody had electricity I also included a charging pigtail that could be plugged into the cigarette lighter of their vehicles to charge the battery. I'm working on a how-to guide for anyone interested in building one for themselves. I'll post it in a couple of days when it's done 
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Quoted: - How about HF. The repeaters are only good until the ups's fail. - Alternate power sources i.e. generator - Rechargeable batteries - The ability to create power such as solar or wind All of the above. Tapping sustainable energy sources to power your comms is $$$ but gettng a HF radio + batteries are probably a good way to plug gaps. I'd also think about getting a base VHF/UHF radio and antenna for the house. As opposed to a car mount, the RX/TX range is bound to be much better when a base antenna is mounted up somewhere high. The midland WX radio that I have in the house has no where near the reception range of NOAA transmissions that the FT2900 has, thanks to the base antenna being mounted up in the attic. |
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To the above I would add a deep cycle marine battery and a decent charger (doesn't have to be expensive). I would also construct a multi-use wiring harness with multiple ends (cigarette lighter plug, alligator clips etc) to charge your batteries and/or run your station using unconventional means. To me, getting through an emergency is all about having a layered strategy, allowing you to be flexible enough to overcome a given problem-no matter what Murphy throws at you. ETA: For example, here is an updated version of the portable power stations I built for the Dec 2008 ice storm. You can build one yourself fairly inexpensively and use it to keep your comms running, as well as tons of other things in an emergency: http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/PortablePowerStation_v4.jpg After the 2008 ice storm I built over a dozen of these power stations for the remote employees at my company. They used them to keep their laptops, modems, and cell phones running. You could adapt it easily for your emergency comms-or anything else that needed power. Inside the black plastic box is a deep cycle marine battery. I included a battery charger with each station, but since nobody had electricity I also included a charging pigtail that could be plugged into the cigarette lighter of their vehicles to charge the battery. I'm working on a how-to guide for anyone interested in building one for themselves. I'll post it in a couple of days when it's done
I'd like to know more about that. Looks fantastic! |
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Thanks for the kind words all
I'll have the how-to guide with pics posted in a couple of days. To answer some of the other questions: -It would be very easy to incorporate a solar panel and charge controller. -That particular circuit breaker came from my local marine supply store, but right after I bought it I found an identical unit at AutoZone for about half the price  The power station pictured is actually a fourth generation build-it was put together and given away as a Christmas gift for the SF gift exchange. The earliest versions had some limitations, due to the limited availability of parts when I was building them. Since I had to gather parts from a multitude of local sources no two power stations were exactly alike.
ReadyOrNot, please accept my apology for the thread hijack. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
Another ARFcomer and I met up with CJ_NH last week and share some thoughts. Skill are wasted that are not shared. I had built this after seeing his rigs from last year.
There is a second battery in the basement to bring me up to about 210 amp-hours. The inverter fits in to the Homer bucket after loosening two wing nuts. It is mounted on a old cutting board. I ran a 300 watt pellet stove for a few hours the other day. With the 1.5 amp charger it stays charged and all you have to do is. Unplug pellet stove from wall outlet Open lid of battery box and turn green knob clockwise till tight and replace lid Turn on inverter by pressing button above outlets on top of inverter Plug in pellet stove into invertor Relight pellet stove in manual mode if needed Check voltage hourly of battery Shut down at 11 volts. With two AA chargers and a headlamp I am go to go. On the bad size......CJ_NH cost me a Honda 2000... |
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Yaesu FT-2900r 75 watt 2m ham radio installed in truck Sony AM/FM radio (AA batteries) Midland weather radio (in master bedroom, turns on when it has an emergency message) Corded telephone (works even when electricity is out) Midland FRS/GMRS radio Midland FRS/GMRS radio Cell Phone w/AC & 12v power TV card for laptop Digital TV converter box TV antenna Google Voice phone number (so I can redirect my incoming phone calls to any phone, online voicemail and text messages) Ipod Touch (so I can check email, send text messages, and browse the web anywhere there is a wifi connection) With the above I can monitor police, sheriff, fire, and participate in the local ham discussions. I can watch TV when the power is out, as well as make phone calls. I can listen to the radio, browse the web, and control where my phone number is routed to. What am I missing??? Are you good to go on the IRLP stuff? FRS? Goal for me is to have a few of these to hand out for the neighbor watch type idea. |
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On the bad size......CJ_NH cost me a Honda 2000... Heh heh...sorry brother 
It will cost you a bit more when we install the transfer switch in your house too 
FRS? Goal for me is to have a few of these to hand out for the neighbor watch type idea
Being able to communicate with your neighbors is always a good idea. The bubble pack type FRS radios are inexpensive enough now that keeping several on-hand to pass out won't break the bank. My normal reply to someone when asking about comms is to urge them to get their ham radio license, but let's face it-most people around the cul de sac aren't going to bother. The little bubble pack radios certainly aren't the greatest, but they're a helluva lot better than two cans and a string
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On the bad size......CJ_NH cost me a Honda 2000... Heh heh...sorry brother
It will cost you a bit more when we install the transfer switch in your house too
FRS? Goal for me is to have a few of these to hand out for the neighbor watch type idea
Being able to communicate with your neighbors is always a good idea. The bubble pack type FRS radios are inexpensive enough now that keeping several on-hand to pass out won't break the bank. My normal reply to someone when asking about comms is to urge them to get their ham radio license, but let's face it-most people around the cul de sac aren't going to bother. The little bubble pack radios certainly aren't the greatest, but they're a helluva lot better than two cans and a string
http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/FRS1.JPG That is enough for my whole town. |
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You may want to consider a Skype-Out account. For a little over 2 bucks a month you can call any cell or land line in North America.
You can share a single account on all of your computers, etc. Works great on the iPod Touch if you get a set of ear buds with a microphone. |
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To the above I would add a deep cycle marine battery and a decent charger (doesn't have to be expensive). I would also construct a multi-use wiring harness with multiple ends (cigarette lighter plug, alligator clips etc) to charge your batteries and/or run your station using unconventional means. To me, getting through an emergency is all about having a layered strategy, allowing you to be flexible enough to overcome a given problem-no matter what Murphy throws at you. ETA: For example, here is an updated version of the portable power stations I built for the Dec 2008 ice storm. You can build one yourself fairly inexpensively and use it to keep your comms running, as well as tons of other things in an emergency: http://home.comcast.net/~cjan99999/PortablePowerStation_v4.jpg After the 2008 ice storm I built over a dozen of these power stations for the remote employees at my company. They used them to keep their laptops, modems, and cell phones running. You could adapt it easily for your emergency comms-or anything else that needed power. Inside the black plastic box is a deep cycle marine battery. I included a battery charger with each station, but since nobody had electricity I also included a charging pigtail that could be plugged into the cigarette lighter of their vehicles to charge the battery. I'm working on a how-to guide for anyone interested in building one for themselves. I'll post it in a couple of days when it's done
Right click...Save as.....New Folder...Radio Very nice setup.....if the box were orange. 
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I could always spray paint one orange-maybe Jedi would be willing to be a beta tester?[/span] It is his fault. any expenditures caused by this thread are clearly not my fault. [span style='font-weight: bold;']Quoted:[/span]
After the 2008 ice storm I built over a dozen of these power stations for the remote employees at my company. [span style='font-style: italic;']<applies for a remote janitorial job at CJan_NH, Inc in hopes of getting in on this plan>[/span] ar-jedi
ETA gratuitous portable comm box picture... 
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...and maybe a link to the thread where Jedi told us how he built his radio box tons of info here: http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=22&t=604477&page=1#10323272 see also http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=22&t=627490 and http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=22&t=630956 Quoted:
Is there an 11m mod for that IC-703? do not get this thread locked by discussing illegal activity –– read the COC #4. (link) ar-jedi |
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ReadyOrNot, please accept my apology for the thread hijack. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile No problem, and it fits in perfect with the topic. I think I'll build one of your power stations. Would go great with my FT-2900 so I could bring it inside. I think I will add a cig. lighter socket as well. |
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Are you good to go on the IRLP stuff? No, I'm not. I'm not sure I even understand how it could be useful in an emergency? It requires the internet to work correct? If that is still working the S hasn't hit the fan that bad. What am I missing, couldn't I just Skype someone if I have Internet access? Please educate me! |
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Equally important to power storage, you need to manufacture your own power to recharge! Otherwise what do you have? A few days of power until the batteries die? Get yourself a quality folding solar panel… http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v488/mr_joshua/NewPicture-1.jpg what type(s) of batteries are you charging with that panel, and what charger are you using? ar-jedi |
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Equally important to power storage, you need to manufacture your own power to recharge! Otherwise what do you have? A few days of power until the batteries die? Get yourself a quality folding solar panel… http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v488/mr_joshua/NewPicture-1.jpg what type(s) of batteries are you charging with that panel, and what charger are you using? ar-jedi Was wondering the same thing... Also, I've had bad luck with the Schumberger [sp?] chargers from W-M, etc in the past, but have had good luck with several Vector chargers in the more complex applictions I've written about. For example, charging 2 G-C batteries with a 3000 watt Honda and turning on the trailer AC, it took out the Schumberger charger instantly. The Vector has never missed a beat since 2004 charging at 40 amps usually from a Honda 1000 watt. Save deal in the mtns. Have had other issues with the Schumberger trickle chargers cooking all the water out of batteries in an unattended location. I now stick with only Vector chargers unless no other choice. Vector makes some good stuff and a few yrs ago Black and Decker rebranded the Vectors and I saw them at W-M. Now W-M inventory really sucks in the automotive dept for stuff like this because of pre-depression survival inventory controls. Someone posted a few months ago that the Oddsey colored top batteries were no good. I never tried one, is this true? |
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AR I would love one on your commo boxes. you should make and sell them. this. but without the actual radio so that we can choose which one we want. yes, great, but here's the problem: how much are you willing to pay for the case as a carcass (no radios, just the infrastructure incl power and wiring etc)? 1st market: amateurs –– hams are notorious cheapskates and would not pay a nickel over what they think they could build it for, which in their minds is $12.99 using spare parts from the last 7 projects they abandoned. 2nd market: amateurs heavily involved in EMCOMM –– i can see from lots of positive feedback that RACES/ARES-oriented folks like the idea, but again, how many are going to want a pre-built solution and how many are going to pay a premium for it? 3rd market: SF forum preppers –– not enough of them who are simultaneously interested in communications above and beyond FRS plus have the disposable income to expend on a not-complete product which they still need to buy radios for and may not ever have the need to use. 4th market: agencies –– each wants it's own solution, and as a complete product complete with radios rather than as a DIY erector set. plus there is a ton of overhead –– they issue RFI's, i write a response, 3 months later they issue RFQ's, i write up a quote, 4 months later they make a decision but it's not quite like i quoted, it's a "little" different... 5th market: others –– unknown size. if you guys are up for a group buy i will build qty 10 boxes sans radios but with power supplies, batteries, all internal wiring, switches, etc –– as a buyer you will need to mount the radio(s) you want in the box using the hardware that the radio vendor supplied. it's really no different from mounting the radio into a vehicle. now then, what do you want to pay? i will never be able to quit my day job like this...
in the end, construction of such a box is quite simple, and ANYONE here on the ARFCOM SF is capable of building one. you don't need any special parts, just some time, planning, and a cordless drill. here is a link to a design which requires very little metal fabrication and most everything needed is available at the hardware store. tons more info/ideas here. ar-jedi ps: like many others, i use my box as my fixed station as well. here is another of our ham radio forum guys who does the same: 
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yes, great, but here's the problem: how much are you willing to pay for the case as a carcass (no radios, just the infrastructure incl power and wiring etc)? if you guys are up for a group buy i will build qty 10 boxes sans radios but with power supplies, batteries, all internal wiring, switches, etc –– as a buyer you will need to mount the radio(s) you want in the box using the hardware that the radio vendor supplied. it's really no different from mounting the radio into a vehicle. now then, what do you want to pay? i will never be able to quit my day job like this...
To answer your question I would say "give me an estimated cost and i'll tell you if i'd be interested" |
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Please accept my apology for not posting the how-to guide yet. Over the weekend my company deployed a new mail server, and it's turned into an absolute horror show. E-mail is FUBARed across six of our domains-I've been working on that every waking second.
Thanks for your patience guys
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Please accept my apology for not posting the how-to guide yet. Over the weekend my company deployed a new mail server, and it's turned into an absolute horror show. E-mail is FUBARed across six of our domains-I've been working on that every waking second. Thanks for your patience guys What's more important-job or ARFCOM? Come on now. Just joking
Just making sure you didn't forget about us. Looks like a sweet unit you built. |
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Please accept my apology for not posting the how-to guide yet. Over the weekend my company deployed a new mail server, and it's turned into an absolute horror show. E-mail is FUBARed across six of our domains-I've been working on that every waking second. Thanks for your patience guys I figured it must have been something catastrophic because in NO WAY does ARFCOM take 2nd place in priority to anything but emergencies!
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You are correct-ARFcom IS more important than the 225 people in my company with screwed up e-mail, but unfortunately they don't see it that way...
...the spoiled little bastards
I promise that I'll get my priorities straightened out soon Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |