Saturday, July 12, 2014

Opportunity for Salem/CERT - point-to-point radio network

CERT = Community Emergency Response Team

Since Salem's powers that be seem determined to squander millions planning the Bridgasaurus that will never be built and promoting sprawl in ways that will make emergency response nearly impossible, we don't have much to invest in real preparedness.  So maybe we need to start developing our own citizens band network, for re-establishing communications after the Big One shatters things for months.

  • Yaesu VX-8DR HT Radio ($492)
  • AC charger, earphone mic, charged extra LI-ON battery. Another good practice is to carry an alkaline battery case and spare batteries and / or a cigarette lighter plug ($28). These aren't in my current kit but probably should be, because they extend use of the radio in an emergency. Without recharging, I can currently get about 8 continuous hours of use in receive mode, but considerably less if I need to a lot of transmitting.
  • Nifty Mini-Manual — laminated quick guide to the VX-8DR for reading on the BART / bus or looking up a function (this particular radio has lots of functions, and many involve multiple key-push combinations).
  • Diamond SRH519 ($23) flexible antenna which so far has held up to a lot of abuse in my bag and allows the radio to be comfortably carried, either clipped on the bag or on the belt / waistline. I've also used the Diamond SRHF40 flexible antenna with good results.

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