MARA Net 07-25-2012

Thanks to all those who participated in the July 24th parade or races or fireworks displays with ham radio. That is how we get better at what we do, that is how we serve the community and that is how we keep amateur radio on the minds of service providers.

I have often recommended Automatic Siphon hoses as sold by Emergency Essentials (BePrepared.com/Utah). Someone bought an automatic siphon hose at Harbor Freight and said that it smelled awful and was poorly constructed. NEVER buy or use ANY siphon hose on your water supply unless it is made from food grade plastic. Emergency Essentials also has food grade garden hoses (25 foot or 50 foot) for filling your water storage containers.

You can light a propane stove using a magnesium fire starter. You do not need to shave off any magnesium, just use something to scrape on the flint bar and you can light your camp stove. Thanks to KC7ZVA (JEFF) for this handy bit of information.

KJ7ABC - SUSAN - Informed us about a 10 INCH FAN that runs off of D CELL batteries, NI/MH RECHARGEABLE batteries, AC and 12 V DC. It is made by O2 COOL (www.o2-cool.com) and is a very handy emergency fan.

It is HIGHLY recommended that you add a Porta-Potty to your emergency supplies. In an actual emergency, there may not be any running water!!!

KD7UM, Dave, informed us about a battery booster (DC to DC converter) that can take the output of a battery that is slowly going lower and lower in voltage and boost it to a constant 12 to 35 volts. It is sold on eBay by seller "LINEDAYS2012" and costs less than $10 with shipping. Right now it is item # 270963078608 on eBay.

Handy item to have - a grease pencil, a plastic clipboard and a piece of clear plastic. Clip the clear plastic on the clipboard. Now you can lift up the clear plastic and take notes in bad weather. Then flip the clear plastic protective sheet back down. Easy to erase with a finger or cloth/paper napkin. GREAT in bad weather.

FOR NEXT TIME - Please be thinking about handy items you can add to your emergency supplies (ham radio related or not) to share with the rest of us. More next time.
N7OZH -O. D.-
73
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