The $50 dual band radio is here.
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/9749
The first reviews are less than enthusiastic, but the rest seem very positive. Additional info is contained in the next link along with links to download literature, manuals, etc.
http://www.uv3r.com/Index.html
There was an excellent article in the Deseret News today on building an inventory list of the items in your house in case of a disaster. The list will be CRUCIAL in getting the maximum value for the items contained inside your house and garage. The article is here:
During the Great ShakeOut on the 17th of April, LOTS of public safety organizations were VERY active. Even the special trunked radios were being used. Modern scanners can track trunked systems, but your ham radio cannot. On a trunked system, you may hear a conversation consisting of 5 different people each saying just one sentence each and not realize that each person was on a different frequency. Your trunked scanner will follow the trunked frequency hops but your ham radio cannot.
The Red Cross in SLC was active during the entire exercise. I found it interesting that they participated in the exercise with an assumption that their headquarters building was destroyed in the disaster.
News about long term food storage. Some Emergency food (Sam Andy in the example) has been found to be good after 30 years. Modern food storage has a longer shelf life than the older stuff. 1. Better handling and packaging 2. Long range testing has now been done.
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There is a DCF net on Sunday on IRLP & ECHOLINK (449.425 )
The Red Cross net starts on that frequency at 7PM. It is usually over by 7:20 or 7:40. The DCF net starts immediately after the Red Cross net.
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For something interesting, Google "ENELOOP BATTERIES" and also look up "DOUBLE BAZOOKA HF ANTENNA".
For some interesting preparedness info, check out the Cottonwood web site http://chgetready.com/ This is a very well done and very useful web site for emergency preparedness right down to the block captain level.
Finally, here are some more web pages with emergency prep info.
Car survival and emergency kit http://beready.utah.gov/beready/family/documents/BRUCarSurvivalandEmergencyKit.pdf
Tips for preparing children http://utah.ptfs.com/awweb/awarchive?item=16728
(Here is the same info in a PDF) http://utah.ptfs.com/awweb/awarchive?type=file&item=16728
7-part Emerg Prep handout http://ussc.utah.gov/publications/roots_earthquake_low.pdf
Utah students at risk. http://ussc.utah.gov/students_at_risk.html
That should be enough for today. -N7OZH-
