National Risk Register/National Resilience Update - Nothing new to us.

[GreyCat]

If I where in your shoes, and of course if money permits (its seems to be that age old question) i would look into a getting a gene .. battery banks are ok ive a few myself just small pack size ones if you ration the power the Anker and Samsung I highly rate, but a generator would be much more beneficial to you in you, you can pick the up on the market place second hand pretty cheap, Infact if you are lucky the local tips have them come in sometimes and will sell them at a fair price.
Just safely store say 10L petrol with some fuel stabiliser should be good for say a year and just rotate it from there.

As for radio it all depends on what your wanting really, it can be relatively cheap to setup if you look about, CB doesn't need license anymore Ofcom abolished that in 06, HAM you need licence as you most probably know, its mostly free apart from booking the test itself, I think you'll find HAM equipment can come with a bit of a price tag, I'm not completely ofay with that side of things, you can get them Baofeng radios are pretty good one they are set up you got rhe 5w little £20/£30 things UV-5R or something and the 10w can't remember the price of the top of my head.. they ain't to much more say £50 get yourself a one of them folding whip antennas if mobile or i reckons you could set up a half decent home based antenna.. a lot of it is down to what your local terrain is like what obstacles will your transmissions encounter the higher the antenna the better.
Antenna antenna antenna, thats what you biggest thing to focus on if anything first.
I mean don't get wrong i don't know a mawhosive amount about coms and I'm sure there is others on here who know way more than myself but I think its doable!

I'm on CB myself, its nothing like it once was admittedly, but there are people still out there, I managed to pick someone up in Ireland last year with my T2000 sat on a hill with a silver rod set up so it was above most obstructions and im in East Anglia so was pretty happy with that he must have been putting some power out though to reach me if I managed to pick him up

Any how.. sorry went on a little bit there haha, I hope something in that essay might be able to help you somewhat.

On the subject of gennies.

If I lived where @Woody girl lives, or where i used to live for that matter, I wouldn't be getting a gennie, they make noise which other nearby people would hear. Even the quiet ones. A gennie is only useful if you can avoid it being nicked...... which in most urban and suburban situations- even "nice" small towns or housing estates- is very difficult.

Where I live now is prob just about OK for my quiet little suitcase gennie...... away from people, outbuilding with block walls in which to have the gennie running..... and quite a lot of folks have them, so less easy to locate one across a hillside of scattered dwellings. But it would still only ever be used for limited bursts during the day- when sound travels less easily- tomorrow things like charging the power stations.

The power stations are easier to use too. Mobile solar panels can be tucked out of sight and brought in at night.

GC

 

[slowworm]

Agree about the noise, even if you're just trying to work the noise could be off putting. Although I'm more concerned with coping with storm damage rather than major unrest.

I would also be careful with a 2nd hand generator as the last thing you want is for it to fail to start if you are relying on it. I was also a bit surprised recently when trying to fix two different lawn mowers, both with honda engines, how patchy the parts supply can be as well.

I also wonder rather than buying a battery power station and an extra battery if a more robust solution would be two power stations in case one went wrong. That might sound over cautious but some times the spare batteries aren't much cheaper than a whole unit.

 

[Falstaff]

I would also be careful with a 2nd hand generator as the last thing you want is for it to fail to start if you are relying on it. I was also a bit surprised recently when trying to fix two different lawn mowers, both with honda engines, how patchy the parts supply can be as well.

https://www.engine-specs.net/honda-small-engines Useful reference site? Honda made/have made previously an amazing number of different small engines and over a hundred variants. I tried to use a spreadsheet to see if there was any obvious parts crossovers. There probably is, but I couldn't see it.

The trick is to keep periodically running them, and have lots of spare filters and oil. Once serviced, 2nd hand should be ok. I don't know anything about these portable power supplies but think there is a lot to be said for them.

Unfortunately generators of all types, large and small, are of great interest to criminals. Like the calls of deer and owls, they can recognise the sound of one from a distance, and tuck this knowledge away for the future. Being inquisitive types, they also like going exploring and noting potential future foraging spots. Favourite foraging areas are remote places like farms and country housing, who are used to being resilient, preferably with easy access to the rear.
Then, when market demand or a potential relocation arises, they go foraging.

Exactly the sort of areas where it is reported that in major incident priorities, the Govt have already mapped out as being harder to restore and low population density.

 

[GreyCat]

https://www.engine-specs.net/honda-small-engines Useful reference site? Honda made/have made previously an amazing number of different small engines and over a hundred variants. I tried to use a spreadsheet to see if there was any obvious parts crossovers. There probably is, but I couldn't see it.

The trick is to keep periodically running them, and have lots of spare filters and oil. Once serviced, 2nd hand should be ok. I don't know anything about these portable power supplies but think there is a lot to be said for them.

Unfortunately generators of all types, large and small, are of great interest to criminals. Like the calls of deer and owls, they can recognise the sound of one from a distance, and tuck this knowledge away for the future. Being inquisitive types, they also like going exploring and noting potential future foraging spots. Favourite foraging areas are remote places like farms and country housing, who are used to being resilient, preferably with easy access to the rear.
Then, when market demand or a potential relocation arises, they go foraging.

Exactly the sort of areas where it is reported that in major incident priorities, the Govt have already mapped out as being harder to restore and low population density.

Exactly.

Whereas power stations can live inside a locked building and are silent, and portable solar can be tucked away out of sight in use then packed away at night.

Much more difficult for the tealeaves to find, even less than a solar array on the roof feeding the house scale battery.......

..... and the tealeaves who steal to order won't balk at violence.

Easiest to be invisible and inaudible.

As for Honda engines. Not convinced that they are as good as they used to be. My 3 year old Honda petrol strimmer has developed an overheating problem. Tried all the obvious things, it's always been serviced and not really worked that hard. It also has a 5 year warranty, so I might try to claim on that......

Overall given the performance of power stations. I have come to prefer them over gennies for immediate use. If you use a gennie you really need a means to protect it from detection, unless you are using it in situations where you are rural and inaccessible after a storm which is IMO the main use case.

GC

 

[TheTravellingTree]

Thanks Travelling Tree. I remember the old CB & FM becoming popular with "youth" and wondered if it was still being used. But are there many folk out there on any/all forms of radio & what use will any of it, incl "Legit" stuff actually be?

Unless you subscribe to the "End of the World" scenario, any national or local emergency or issue is likely to be relatively short-lived, days or a few weeks at most. Unless your fellow radio ham is fairly close by, they are unlikely to be able to really help you. Information on the national news/position/rumoured situation, is purely a nice to know.

Now back to the You Tube surplus body bags conversions..too much condensation as a poncho, but might make a great hidden buried emergency/stealth stash..? Say on a roundabout..?

Yeah there is still a small network, best place to go would be the dedicated forums for radio enthusiasts.. as for use well its all down to personal preference at the end of the day i think, personally for me its just a bit of a crack and a blast from the past for me just so see who you can manage to contact out there haha

I'm not really on board with the whole WWZ/I Robot/2012 "End of the World" scenarios that get fantasized about so i can't honestly throw my 2c in on that I'm afraid .. there is to many variables to make a honest judgement In my honest opinion, its bad enough trying to gauge a general emergency situation like a freak weather event for example, let alone a 28 days later
10-10 rubber ducky

I have been considering some sort of comms, mainly to be used when out and about or in an emergency. CB was one option as I had discounted PMR due to its limited range and power (0.5). Then I found out that there is a business PMR licence that you can get - it costs £75 for 5 years. This lets you operate up to 5 mobile business PMR radions, which can have a power up to 5W for handheld and up to 40W for mobile devices. That increase in power substantially increases range.

That's interesting never heard of a "Business PMR Licence" one would assume you would need proof of an existing currently trading business in order to claim such licence though right?

 

[TheTravellingTree]

The power stations are easier to use too. Mobile solar panels can be tucked out of sight and brought in at night.

GC

How dose your solar panel fare up to the bad weather, cloudy conditions, winter autumn/winter seasons etc?

Do you still receive a decent charge back or dose it vary?

 

[GeraldTheBonsai]

I have a small generator. Even though its supposed to be one of the quiet ones, the minute I start it, you know someone is running a generator (or something). I have thought about building an acoustic box for it that would dampen the noise down a bit. Project for the autumn.

The shed has two large panels on, but these are now visible from the road very easily. These feed a 280Ah lifepo4 battery. Also got an inverter in there. Like many here I prefer battery banks. I have a few but the biggest is an Aferiy P280 which can power up to 2.8kw. Its a bit heavy but what I like about some of these better battery banks is that they are extendable - I can get add on batteries up to a total of 10Kw.

What I do is charge the bank up in the shed then bring it into the house. It sits in the "office" and powers all of my kit - laptop, raspberry pi etc. I find I have to charge it up maybe once every 2 weeks.

The shed panels still charge in bad weather - just slowly. The combined voltage is around 40V - once the charge controller has stepped it down to 13V to charge the battery, I still get a few Amps. So it will still charge the 280Ah battery, just slowly. If I really had to I could charge the big battery from the generator, via a 20A AC to DC charger.

 

[GeraldTheBonsai]

That's interesting never heard of a "Business PMR Licence" one would assume you would need proof of an existing currently trading business in order to claim such licence though right?

No you don't - you just buy the license.

 

[Falstaff]

10-10 rubber ducky

Re panels on shed roofs - one way might be to put a panel edge all round the roof to make it look like a flat roof then the panels are out of sight ? (but leave a gap for drainage and overlap below the felt roof edge or it'll give the game away).

Re the small engines/Honda - the modern designs all seem to overheat if used for too long. Never seen any max run times like for Gennies, but think it's quite a short time. I think even the newer Stihls do now ?
Ditto issue if building an acoustic box for a Gennie - maybe add an IT type cooling fan?

 

[TheTravellingTree]

And you pal

The shed panels still charge in bad weather - just slowly. The combined voltage is around 40V - once the charge controller has stepped it down to 13V to charge the battery, I still get a few Amps. So it will still charge the 280Ah battery, just slowly. If I really had to I could charge the big battery from the generator, via a 20A AC to DC charger

Yeah makes sense to have back source of power source for the battery, I seen a few videos on YT who have tried different ways of dampening the sound, but like falstaff says would be wise throwing a couple of 120 fans in for good measure help pull the air through, cant beat a good project in the fall!

I think my only concern with having a large power bank is the worry if it decides to go pop like some of these EVs that go up, ha that might be me over worrying though, I don't know enough about then to make an informed decision in that respect

Got to agree again though it seems the older engines are a lot more hardy than the newer engines, as long as they are serviced well oil/filters etc they can do well, mind you it seems with most things now they not built to last, but there's no money in that is that.

 

[Woody girl]

I'm not to worried about not having power. I've geared my home to cope without it as much as possible. If I can listen to a radio, heat my food, and keep warm, im there. Been investing in some interesting books, crafting supplies and water procurement. Other than that, it's picking up firewood any time I see it, even down to twigs that I can use for kindling. This week I got an old plastic garden box that someone was getting rid of for all my nicely dried out kindling...its full!
I've made a batch of pine cone fire lighters, and im in the process of making a new cover for the coal storage area.
Just finished hand spinning a fleece..took me a whole year to process, and started knitting a cosy tank top for the colder weather.

My one worry is carfulls of " others " who might want to try and enter my home. I've just managed to find a door wedge in the charity shop and two window alarms, but they have no working batteries. So, security is my next issue, that has been on my mind for a while.
Im happy to keep myself under the radar. I've found talking to people and trying to get them to up their game is failing.
Case in point, yesterday, went out to do a charity shop run (sounds posh, but we only have two) with a friend.
We talked about her habit of just over buying clothes she never wears, and ends up just donating them back and what a waste of time effort and money it is. She promised to shop sensibly with me. We've gone over this a few times and she knows she's being silly.
The first thing she saw..embroidered velvet jacket. Even knowing it was 3 sizes too small, she had to try it on and even considered buying it, "because it was so beautiful. "
After my haul of a demi jon for a pound, a btcv woodlands manual, and a roll mat, total £7, she was still trawling through the summer dresses. I said you should be buying for winter, and then came across a warm padded gilet, which i added to my haul after she barely looked at it.. I finaly left her still looking at pretty summer dresses after nearly 30 mins.
This despite her asking me to help her buy stuff she might need to get ready for winter. She had no interest in anything I showed her , left her looking at necklaces.. Just pretty stuff.
I give up!
She better not knock on my door for any more help. ! Sorry but im done with these idiots.

 

[Falstaff]

Anybody got experience of the wind up radio's? The original clockwork designs by Trevor something (made by Roberts?) were probably the real deal but there's lots of cheap stuff on the market now. If they rely on charging up a lithium battery then forget it.
I tried a YHA wind up torch for the kids like that - pants.

 

[Woody girl]

Wild up torches.. useless tat! I have several solar /battery operated radios. The wind up ones always fade out at a critical moment in my experience plus the effort of winding them for a few minutes play time is a waste of energy. Solar/ aa batteries for me everytime. Solar for daytime, and battery for evenings.
As a kid, we had a Phillips radio that worked for weeks on one of those big square batteries. If I could find one of those and a few batteries I'd be very happy. Nowadays they all seem to be retro style copies that need plugging in, or last two minutes on half a dozen aa batteries.
I think you are thinking of the clockwork ones. Origonals were good, but mine eventualy gave up the ghost when the rubber band perished a couple of years ago. No spares available, and the moment I took it apart to attempt a repair , all the cogs fell out and it was a complete. write off.

 

[HorseGuy]

Anybody got experience of the wind up radio's? The original clockwork designs by Trevor something (made by Roberts?) were probably the real deal but there's lots of cheap stuff on the market now. If they rely on charging up a lithium battery then forget it.
I tried a YHA wind up torch for the kids like that - pants.

I've got one of those original Trevor Bayliss wind up radios. It's built like an absolute tank and feels like it will probably outlast me.

However compared to modern wind up/solar powered radios that have a lithium battery it is rather lacking in many respects. For a start it's much larger and rather heavy. Also the clockwork mechanism doesn't last for very long either. You only get about five minutes of play time before needing to wind it up again so it's very inconvenient compared to modern ones. It'd probably be more reliable in an emergency though compared to modern mass produced Chinese ones.

They seem to have become quite a collectors item now too with examples in good condition fetching a quite decent price. I'll be holding on to mine for the foreseeable as it's become quite a piece of classic cool 'retro'.

 

[HorseGuy]

I think you are thinking of the clockwork ones. Origonals were good, but mine eventualy gave up the ghost when the rubber band perished a couple of years ago. No spares available, and the moment I took it apart to attempt a repair , all the cogs fell out and it was a complete. write off.

Did the original Bayliss radios use a rubber band as well?

I'd never really thought about it before and had just assumed it would be windup metal spring inside.

 

[GreyCat]

I still have one of the original Baygen Freeplay radios too.

GC

 

[Falstaff]

Thanks all, it occurs to me that the old ones are not digital and all stations are intent on going or are already purely digital.
Taking Woody Girl's experience, it sounds as if solar is the way to go.

 

[GeraldTheBonsai]

I have one of the original Freeplay wind up torches, that can also be uses as a small battery charger. Still works (after a bit of a repair).
I met him once - Trevor Bayliss. He lived on Eel Pie Island in the Thames, near Twickenham. Its a sad story - he struggled to get backing for his wind up inventions, then eventually found a backer which allowed him to go into production as Freeplay. However, he lost control of the company and in later life struggled to make ends meet.

 

[GreyCat]

Wasn't part of the thing with the wind up radios that the ones sold in UK subsidised production for remote parts of the world where they had no electricity and a wind-up short-wave radio was (in those days) a lifeline? Hence the high price of the radios in UK.

The wind-up generator was the novel thing that took Trevor Bayliss many years to perfect, however as usual it was then copied and as a result cheaper (lower quality?) clones flooded what was a limited market.

My radio was one of the first generation Freeplay radios with the SW band on it (as it was fundamentally for the non-UK remote parts of the world market), originally bought from a ham radio shop in west London. It hasn't had that much use in truth. It was stored in a box under the bed for years, but I found it when we moved and it's now on my office shelf. It wasn't something I wanted to part with even once I wasn't using it regularly, and I'm glad I didn't.

The wind-up products had their window of popularity, but were overtaken by cheap lithium batteries and solar (and in the case of torches- LEDs). Arguably the Baygen radio was a more sustainable technology than what replaced it.

GC

pee ess: @HorseGuy , if you are only getting 5 minutes of listening time from a full wind, your radio generator has a problem. A full wind should give 35 to 40 minutes listening time on an original.

 

[Woody girl]

Had a wierd recorded message phone call from the water company thanking me for my patience while the water was out.
Now most of the postcodes mentioned were ex postcodes and the ta ones were not mine. I've not heard anything about water outages on any news channels at all, and no phone calls warning me about water outage.. very odd.

This actually shows how important it is to have water stored in case of a problem..
I still have no idea what caused the water outage. Anyone in Exeter or Taunton postcode areas affected? Any idea what the problem was?
Theee are warnings of possible cyber attacks on our creaking water infrastructure .
Are we all prepared for this?. I know round here, many are not, and just don't seem to care.