SitRep – 08/29/20 (Part 1 of 3)

There are times when I, as well as others, “connect the dots” and show how something has occurred that is not readily apparent to everyone but various data points exist, and existed, to show it would or has happened. Then there are times when a series of events, called strains (a.k.a. trends), come together to produce a large and significant situation. That “come together” action is called convergence. It is interesting to read the formal definition of convergence. However, in the context of this article…it is the meeting, joining, merging of several strains of major occurrences taking place in the world…specifically the United States. And that convergence…well, it is producing a mega-storm of potential destruction that could change the face of the United States forever. And I am not talking a good change.

Before I get into the meat of the article me explain, or rather “re-explain”, how I present material. I provide “predictions” in terms of probability. I don’t remember ever saying that such and such will (as in 100%) happen in regards to the material contained herein. I present it in terms of what I think will happen…but in terms of only the probability of it happening, not the certainty of it occurring.

Example: Earlier this year, after the plague started, I laid out the case for the collapse of the US economy. I gave a timeframe for that collapse in 4 – 6 weeks from the time of the article’s publication.  In that “prediction” was my assessment that the collapse probability was better that it would happen, than it would not happen. Did the economy collapse? No, at least not in the traditional sense of the term, nor did it collapse like I saw the potential for it to. It actuality did collapse further and deeper in some aspects than I thought it would…but didn’t collapse in the sense that it ceased to function. So the collapse beat my expectation on it’s probability. More on the “economic collapse” later.

This SitRep article uses the exact same concept…probability. And there is a significant difference between the percentage of probability of something occurring vs the certainty of that event occurring. In this article I am saying there is a high likelihood, or high probability, of events taking place…not their certainty. Now that all of the clarification is out of the way…on with the SitRep.

In this article I will explain how four areas of concern (AOCs) have matured and are now merging together to create an impact that I feel compelled to write about…to warn you about. Fortunately, for those of you that have been following my website and reading my SitReps and Immediate Action Warnings…none of this will come as a big surprise.

Also, something a bit different from me…this SitRep consists of three parts. Today’s part covers the first three AOCs. Tomorrow I will cover the 4th AOC and Summary. And finally I will provide my thoughts on some specific issues in regards to this SitRep and make some suggestions.

AOCs –

Basic emergency preparedness for emergencies, disasters and grid-down. check listThe areas of concern I will be referring to are:

  • The Economy
  • Civil Society
  • Politics (which includes the upcoming Presidential election)
  • The X-Factors
The Economy –

As mentioned just a few paragraphs above, earlier this year I presented the probability that the economy would collapse before or during the summer. While the economic collapse did not occur in the traditional sense of the word or as I expected it would, let’s review a few things:

  • The unemployment situation is in massive trouble. While the administration is touting the job creations numbers (i.e. 1.5million jobs created in a previous month) they conveniently neglected to also point out that 1.1million people filed for first-time unemployment the previous week. If it were not for the special supplemental federal unemployment benefit of $600 per week, the economy would have been decimated along with tens of millions of families months ago.
  • The Federal Reserve (Fed) has created as much as 15 trillion dollars of “funny money” since the beginning of the plague. Yes, the Fed has digitally created that money out of thin air with nothing to support it but the full faith and credit of the US government.
  • The Fed is now virtually the sole purchaser of US treasury notes and bonds. Why? Because no one else wants to buy them. Well, that is not entirely true. Other countries and some individuals would buy them…if the yield (interest rate) was high enough. But, allowing the interest rate to that level in the free market system would expose how precarious the credit rating of the US actually is. So the Fed conveniently steps in buys those government notes… keeping the interest rate artificially low.
  • There is a substantial amount of information out in the financial world stating clearly that the US credit, financial outlook, etc. is diminishing…actually falling to dangerous levels. While not degrading the US government credit rating, as has been done in the not too distant past, they use terms such as the “outlook” for US government economic stability is weakening. Another way they go about it is stating things like, “US economy recovery potential is softening.” But the signals are there, in abundance, and all showing that, as is well-known around the world, the US economy, propped up the Fed, is extremely unstable, headed downhill, and in a very precarious position right now.
  • The Fed has been pumping about $150 – $250 BILLION dollars per week into the US financial system…banking and the stock market. Without this massive influx of cash the US economy would have ceased to exist months ago.
  • The money that I just mentioned…has all been digitally created…yes, meaning “funny money”. But worse than that…it is money that the US government is borrowing…and adding to the national debt.
  • Due to all of this digital creation of money and massive borrowing of funds by the US government…and then it being artificially pumped into the banking system and stock markets…we are seeing a substantial reduction in the dollar’s purchasing power. That is also known as inflation. Granted, inflation is not being seen in all aspects of the US economy, the dollar’s purchasing power is being felt by all US citizens except for the very rich.
  • In terms of who owns the underlying mortgages of private property in the US…the federal government is now the largest private landowner in the US. And yes, the federal government is already the largest public landowner in the US.
  • The federal is also virtually the sole holder of all student debt in the US. And essentially the only game in town for student loans. And the student loan default and delinquency rate in historic territory.
  • The days delinquent for residential mortgages, car loans, credit card balances, and car title loans is also growing substantially…as in growing into collapse
  • Business bankruptcies are at historic levels.
  • Commercial real estate is becoming over built, sitting more and more empty.
  • The trend in personal bankruptcies is indicating that we are looking at historic levels in the near future.
  • Small business brick and mortar businesses are closing their doors at an historic pace.

I won’t keep going on, you get the picture. The picture is simply this…the US economy sucks! We are in precarious, if not perilous, times from an economic perspective. You might well point out the stock market performance as contradictory evidence…and you would be right to do so. It is doing amazingly well this year…and specifically during the plague. Why? That’s an easy one. Another question, maybe more appropriate, would be “How?” And that answer is just as easy. The Fed. Yup, the Fed has been pumping 10’s of billions into the stock market…each week. That’s the “how.”

Going back to the “Why?” Well, that answer is multi-fold; 1) to transfer massive amounts of wealth to the Fed’s member banks and the rich ruling class in America, 2) to artificially prop up the US Dollar as the world’s reserve currency, 3) to give a high-profile example of how well the US economy is doing…albeit a “false front”.

Economic X-Factor : a wealth transfer economy and inflation as a tool.

Economic Summary –

We have never, ever seen economic times like this in the history of the US or the world. But, that is not the point. The point is…”Why is it all happening now?” And that is why it one of the top convergence factors…but also just a part of the convergence. By itself the economic situation is not insurmountable. In combination with the other convergence factors…well, wait for the “Summary” at the end of this article.

Civil Society –

I actually chuckled when I typed the above term. I had to ask myself…What civil society?!

Now, don’t get me wrong…I am not referring to individual people, or even specific small groups. I am referring to the whole of US society. And our society is anything but civil any more. I originally included the next section’s topic “Politics” in this section…but quickly realized that politics needed its own section. But, back to civil society.

I won’t go into painful discussion on this subject. Simply turn on the TV, read the news, watch the videos, listen to the reporting, and talk to people you know and you get an idea of how uncivil society has become.

The obvious is just that…we can see the classic example in BLM/AntiFa protests that turn into riots, especially when confronted by opposing groups…it becomes uncivil and quickly…sometimes violently. But, we are also seeing it in the COVID “masked vs. unmasked” confrontations. We see it in teachers striking to not go back to school…and parents demanding that face-to-face classes restart. We see it in proponents of COVID-19 treatments…and those who oppose those treatments. We see it in those who want restrictions of rights and freedoms in favor of safety and security…and those who want freedoms and rights…including the right chancing to die of COVID-19.

We see peaceful protests corrupted and turned into violent clashes, rioting, looting, and all manner of criminal activity against their own community. We peace officers try to fight criminals and maintain the peace…then it turns into chemical warfare, thug-like violence, military armored vehicles, and military troops being used against US citizens.

We see a middle-class, middle-aged couple defend their home against trespassing criminals known for rioting, looting, and destroying…then they are arrested by police, police confiscate their weapons, and the judicial system charges the couple with criminal activity.

I could go on and on about the breakdown of society…and the exponential falling apart of society since the onset of the COVID-19 plague. But do I need to…or do you see it clearly enough?

There is an old saying about the times that try men’s souls. To me, in my lifetime, I’ve seen stressful times/events do two things; 1) good people become better people, 2) bad people become worse. Yeah, yeah…I know that is very judgmental of me. And that judgement is very, very subjective in terms of my personal observations. I understand all of that. But do you disagree with my statement? Do you find that stressful times/events make bad people better and good people worse?

And please, don’t chastise me on using language such as good and bad in terms of who people are. And I am talking about the “real” person, the inside person…NOT who they appear to be on the outside. And just for your information…I almost used the terms “good and evil” vs “good and bad”…so you got off easy. Yeah, yeah, I tried/trying to be a little more soft and tender.

So, I think we can pretty much agree that society has become anything but civil…especially true when you start bringing in politics into the equation. But, have you ever asked yourself the question…”Why now?” Why is society becoming so uncivil right now…during this particular time in US history?

Hold that thought…

Politics –

Oh Boy!

If there was ever a can of worms…it is now…and it is discussing politics. But, I am not going to talk about politics in the traditional sense of the word. Why? We all know the state of politics… it has never been more divisive than it is now. The Republicans and Democrats are eating each other alive…and themselves as well. And actually…they are eating the entire country alive in the process…eating way at the very foundation and fabric of the United States.

But, if you have been following me for any length of time none of this is a surprise…I’ve been pointing out the details of it for a very long time. And most of all…our Founding Fathers warned us about political parties and their inherent evil. They warned us against them, warned us about not joining them, clearly warned us that political parties would destroy our Republic. And our Founding Father were right…they have destroyed our Republic. The United States of America is a dim shadow of what was built over 240 years ago. A shameful, dim shadow at that…thanks to political parties and their blind lust for power…and I speak of Republicans as well as Democrats.

But today, right now, in the summer of 2020 we are seeing our political system at its very worst…at its most destructive. We are seeing demonization that is unprecedented. We are seeing for the first time such things as multiple former Presidents coming out and publicly speaking in terrible demeaning terms of the current President.  We are seeing a sitting President personally attacking individuals at a level that was unimaginable until just a few years ago. We are seeing demonization of both sides by both sides…demonization at unthinkable levels. And the media…well, they have fallen to such partisan depths of muck and mire that I need not even take the time to give specifics or details.

Have you asked the question…”Why?” and “Why now?” The answers to both are important.

In my opinion, in my way of thinking, the answer to “Why? Is very simple…the lust for power. No, not the less extreme, quest of power…but the extremist…”lust” for power. And not power in terms to fix or restore America…and certainly not restore the Constitution or the founding principles of the Republic…no, not at all. But the demonization as a tactic, a despicable and evil tactic, used in politician’s raw lust for power, for authority, for subjugation.

To me I see this demonization as using a nuclear bomb on the battle field by both sides, with troops from both sides still on that battle field. The Generals’ lust to claim victory…their lust for power…overshadows the idea that they kill all of their own troops along with all of the enemy troops in the use of that nuclear weapon.

Yes, that means that our politicians, both sides, are killing the American Republic in their lust for power. And the worst part…they know they are killing the American Republic.

So now let’s talk about the election for a moment. I started talking about this a couple of years ago. No one will win this election, both sides, everyone will lose. I explained it as this…the outcome of the winning political party will be contested by the opposing political party. I stated that fraud and interference (foreign and domestic) will be claimed by the losing side. And we are seeing both political parties lining up thier arguments…putting the ideas in the heads of Americans.

One political party is demanding wide-spread general mail-in voting. And we know for a fact, indisputable fact, that there has been and will be widespread fraud and abuse via mail-in voting. It will simply be a fraudulent election process. And a process not even allowed for in the Constitution.

At the same time we have leader of the opposing political party talking openly about delaying (i.e. canceling) the election. And to be clear…there is no Constitutional authority for that to be done.  However, I chose my words carefully…and that is an X-Factor to be discussed later.

We are also now seeing more reports coming to the surface that Russia interfered with the last Presidential election. Of course they did!!! That is the job of their state department and spy agencies…that is not news and it is not new. And FYI…the United States does the same thing!! The US State Department and US spy agencies have done it for nearly 120 years. And in many cases when those US government agencies can’t swing an election…the CIA simply goes in and topples the sovereign government of that country. And when it is unfeasible to topple a government the CIA has simply killed, or attempted to kill, the foreign country’s leader. So when Russia, or any other country, interferes with our election…well, it is called karma…or payback…or business as usual. Whatever you call it…it is common…and the US does it as much, or more, that any other country in the entire world. And everyone in the US government knows it…and yes, that includes all the national level politicians.

But again, that is not the issue! The question to ask is this, “Why all the posturing of political parties to be able to claim election fraud, and why all the reports of past and future election interference, and even talking about delaying the election…why now?” The answer in the political X-Factor.

This concludes Part #1 of the 8/29/20 SitRep. I will publish Part #2 tomorrow.

 

 

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TIP: Deadly chemical intake…

Poison chemicalsnote: first published September 2015

There are only three ways a deadly chemical can enter your body:

  1. Touch
  2. Ingest
  3. Breath

Prevent poisoning by deadly chemicals is accomplished by preventing those three things.  Here are the first tidbits of wisdom:

  1. Stay up-wind
  2. Stay up-hill
  3. Stay up-stream

More proactive measures that can be taken:

1 – Have sturdy rubber cloves and wear vinyl under them to avoid touching chemicals.

RubberGloves GlovesNitrile2 

 

2 – Have a good quality military-grade face mask respirator.

Gas mask

3 – Have heavy duty rubber boots.

RubberBoots

Best thing to do is simply don’t be where the chemical is.  Get out, get out soon, and don’t take chances with deadly chemicals!

When I was still a structure firefighter we used the “Rule of Thumb” for hazard materials incidents.  While holding our thumb out in front of us and looking at the Hazmat scene, if we couldn’t cover the entire hazardous materials incident with our thumb we were too close.

firefighter Rule of Thumb

Hazardous Materials Scene Rule of Thumb

Well, technically there are three more “rules” regarding HazMat that I already mentioned:

  1. Stay up wind.
  2. Stay up hill.
  3. Stay up stream.

Yup, if the HazMat substance can’t reach you…then you are safe from it.

 

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Workman Magnetic Mobile Antenna (KRDB) – Fix the Problem

note: originally published in May 2016

I wrote an article reviewing the model KRDB Workman Magnetic Mobile Antenna on 8/24/2020 (yesterday). In the article I mentioned two things –

  • Crappy antenna and DO NOT BUY IT!
  • A piece of plastic had broken and exposed the antenna wire and the internal base of the mount.

This article is going to show you –

  • How to fix the problem if you have one of these antennas.
  • How to reinforce the base if your antenna hasn’t broken yet.

Let’s review the problem…

The piece that broke off on all 3 of the antennas is almost exactly the same.

The problem comes from –

  1. Extremely poor quality plastic.
  2. Extremely poor base design.
  3. Antenna wire moving around and stressing the plastic.

So I figure to fix the problem where it already exists I have to –

  1. Fill in the hole that exposes the internals of the base.
  2. Cover the exposed antenna wire.
  3. Stabilize the wire.

Enter Liquid Electrical Tape!  Take a minute and read these two articles, they are short and will only take a minute –

So, I figure the best way to solve all three of the problems is to use liquid tape.

I forced liquid tape into the base of the antenna and then put a small amount over the exposed antenna wire.

Once the first application was dry, I added another layer of liquid tape.

And then another layer of liquid tape.

Now, you probably don’t own the Workman antenna if you are one of my regular website visitors. But, I wanted to show you the “fix” anyways. I also want to give you general ideas on how to fix things, whatever it is. When emergencies, disasters, or grid-down hits you need to be able to fix just about anything, or know someone who can. You need to be able to analyze what the problem is and then make whatever is broken work again.

Remember…liquid tape is your friend!

Related Articles –
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Workman Magnetic Mobile Antenna (KRDB)

I originally purchased several of these back in 2013 based on some good reviews that the antenna had gotten. When I first started to use it I thought it looked a little “boxy” and “put together with parts” vs. “designed and built.” But, I thought I would give it a try. Oooppppssss…

Now you're talking!

Now you’re talking!

About a year ago I noticed that one of the units had a broken piece of plastic on the base. I thought I might have damaged it in some way. I knew it wasn’t due to exposure to the elements because it has been stored for use when needed. That need hasn’t developed yet. I was disappointed to be sure and I set the antenna aside to work on it at some later date.

Today I went to do some antenna testing of the Baofeng UV-5RA radio vs. the Baofeng UV-5RMHP radio. I got a variety of antennas to compare SWR and power to see which radio was more efficient. When I retrieved the magnetic mount Workman KRDB antenna I saw that it had a broken piece no the base as well. I got the original Workman, and sure enough, the Antenna Workman mobile antennabroken pieces matched each other. I had one more of the Workman antennas and it too had the same broken piece.

This antenna is made by Electronic Products, Inc.. The company is listed as being located in Delta, Ohio but the antenna is made in China. Yeah, big surprise there!

Now that shows a clear design and engineering flaw as well as very poor quality materials. So now I have to look for a way to not lose my $105.00 worth of antennas. I am working on a “fix” and will keep you posted.

Piece of the base breaks off to expose the entire insides of the base.

Piece of the base breaks off to expose the entire insides of the base.

Based on just the design, engineering, quality of materials, and the fact that 3 out of 3 have broken…yeah, no doubt about it.

The piece that broke off on all 3 of the antennas is almost exactly the same.

The piece that broke off on all 3 of the antennas is almost exactly the same.

“Do Not Buy!”

Thumbs Down ReviewNote: “Fix” article <click here>

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> > Coming !!!

I am seeing some developments converging. These development are significant and important to us as preppers and Constitutionalists/Libertarians/Patriots…but it is mostly the convergence that makes this actionable.

I am working on a SitRep that will precede a series of “Take Action !” articles. Watch for the SitRep this week…I have to get my ducks in a row before I will publish it…you know how I am on being accurate with my information before I express my opinion.

The time is upon us.

note: I already have about 14 basic prepper articles in the hopper and scheduled for publication over the next 3 – 4 weeks. They are already to go and scheduled…so don’t think that I am distracted with the more mundane…or that the SitRep/Take Action ! articles will be just “ho hum”…this is important…very, very important stuff happening and about to happen.

TIP: Liquid Tape is great stuff!

I’ve talked about Performix Liquid Tape before but here is a great little tip when you have over-crimped your ring connectors, or any crimp-type connector. If you squeeze too hard when crimping your connections you may put a “dimple” in the connector and expose a little bit of metal. That can expose the metal to corrosion or worse yet, a short.

The way to fix that is pretty simple. Get out your Performix Liquid Tape and a toothpick. Put a small amount of Liquid Tape on the toothpick and work into the “dimple” created from over-crimping. Force it in making a good seal.

Let it dry and you are good to go.

 

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TIP: Time for a change…

First off…I apologize for the quality of the photos…they suck! I got in a hurry and didn’t verify them when I took them, I just assumed they were in focus, etc.

So now the meat of this tip…Oil Changes!

It was time for me to do a little preventive maintenance (PM) on my two Champion generators. One is my Champion 120v, 4000 watt (PSW), inverter generator, the other is a Champion 3500 watt (MSW), dual fuel generator. Both have the same engine. Yeah, amazing how that worked out…same motor on both…almost like I planned it 😉

In this case the PM was oil change, air filter cleaning, and spark arrestor check. So here are my steps on how I go about it…

1) I get the generator well off the ground to a comfortable working height and to make it easier to get to and oil drain pan underneath.

Sub-tips:

    1. Notice the dump cart in the background. I use that to transport the well house generator to my mini-barn/shop. The cart tilts to ground level, I roll the generator onto the cart, tilt the cart bed back to its upright position and haul the cart with my UTV. My solar system stand-by generator is on a 4-wheeled cart that I simply hook up to and pull with the UTV. Yeah, I mounted it on its own cart to assist in moving it around the construction site while I was building the house. I also left it on the cart to make it easy to move around the property with the UTV should I need the power somewhere more remote. I can also more easily use it at other locations in my community should the emergency need arise.
    2. Don’t buy some expensive oil drain pan! I use a Walmart plastic storage bin that cost me about $2. It came with a lid so I can close up the drain pan till I am ready to dump the oil.
    3. To get my wheeled generator off the ground high enough I simply pulled it up on my car ramps.
    4. And what you don’t see in the picture is my mechanic’s stool. An adjustable stool, on casters, with a tool tray around the base. That gives me a nice comfortable working height…sitting down. And a place to keep my tools off the floor of my shop which happens to be cinders.

2) To make my efforts more efficient I actually work on changing the oil and cleaning the air filter at the same time. I use a stiff brush to clean around the drain plug, then I remove the drain plug to drain the oil, and remove the oil dip stick to make the draining easier. Then I remove the air filter and take it to the house to clean it. There are some air filter cleaners out there but they are a little pricey. I simply use hot water, a little dish soap, and clean it like I would a shop rag. After I have rinsed it thoroughly I use dry paper towels to wrap it in and squeeze until the paper towels are no longer damp. Then I sit the air filter out in the sun to finish drying. You must get the air filter completely dry! While I have been cleaning the air filter the oil has drained completely.

Sub-tips:

    1. When I remove the dip stick I place it on a clean paper towel to make sure it stays dirt/grit free. And it has a nice absorbent surface to drain on.

3) I make sure the air filter cover is clean on the inside as well as the air filter housing that is connected to the engine. If needed, I use WD-40 to clean off any grime. Before I put the air filter back into the housing I use PJ1 on the foam filter to assist in catching/trapping any dirt/grit/sand/dust from getting through the filter.

4) Time for putting in the nice clean oil! Yeah, don’t forget to put the drain plug back in. And really don’t forget to ensure that if there is a crush washer that it goes back on.

Sub-tips:

    1. I use only fully synthetic oil when I do oil changes. Yes, I use manufacturer recommended oil for the break-in period…then fully synthetic after that. And yes, I use a slightly heavier oil in our hot summers and a slightly lighter weight oil during the winter. And yes, I buy my oil in gallon jugs or larger…cheaper.
    2. Make sure you have a long-neck funnel on hand to assist in pouring the oil back into the motor. Champion generators come with a funnel…nice touch! Also, notice the Ziplock bag in the picture? Yeah, I store my funnel in it. It keeps any dirt/grit from getting on it. I also put a couple of paper towels in the bottom to absorb any leftover oil when I put the funnel in the bag.
    3. When adding the oil I use the drip stick to check the quantity of oil to add. To check the oil level correctly you have to screw the oil dip stick all the way in. But, I am inpatient. I simply put the dip stick in until it hits the mouth of the oil fill inlet, I don’t screw it in. When the oil reaches about the halfway full mark it is close enough. Then I screw it in to do a final level check.

5) The final step in my PM in checking the spark arrestor screen and cleaning it if needed.

Note: A buddy of mine saw a used generator deeply discounted at a “big-box store” that appeared to be fairly new. The tag said it would not start or run. He looked at the spark arrestor screen…he immediately purchased the generator. He got it home, took the spark arrestor screen off and cleaned it really well. He checked the air filter…fine. He checked the spark plug…fine. Checked to make sure the gas wasn’t foul…fine. It started right up.

Sub-tips:

    1. You can run the generator without the spark arrestor screen. But, check the warranty, it may void it, and it won’t be approved for use on public lands…or in California.
    2. If you are in California…move.

 

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Baofeng Antenna SWR testing results…

Antenna SWR testing SWRnote: article first appeared in December 2015

I have been testing a number of antennas over the last couple of years. The stubby antenna that comes with the radio is sturdy enough but reduces the overall range of receiving and transmissions. Additionally, there is also one more negative side effect, clarity. The antenna just doesn’t give you good clarity on the reception side. I didn’t really notice the difference until I used the Elite 14.5″ antenna. The improved clarity of reception was more than just noticeable…it was really clear.

However, I wanted to give some hardcore data on the different antennas that I tested. Some of the antennas that I have been testing I haven’t even posted a review yet. But not to worry, the review is coming. I did want to get the data out there just to show how versatile the Baofeng UV-5RA radio really was.

SWR meterThe objective of this article was to identify the best antenna(s) for the Baofeng UV-5RA radio.

My testing was simple…What was the SWR reading with each antenna. But let’s review what SWR is just in case you aren’t clear.

First, SWR means Standing Wave Ratio. When your radio transmits it sends the signal from the radio out to the antenna. When the signal, for whatever reason, reverses and heads back to the radio it reduces your ability to transmit. The reasons that the signal will reverse is normally due to discontinuity or impedance mismatch. When your signal reverses, your signal will not transmit as far. Another way to say it, you are losing transmission power when the signal reverses. The more power you lose, the shorter your transmission distance. The key is keeping that reversal as low as possible.

A low SWR refers to a large forward RF signal and a small reversal of that signal. Very little of your signal is being reflected back at your radio. SWR Example – Low: 1:1

A high SWR refers to a large amount of your signal is being reflected back at your radio. A large part, maybe most, of your signal is reversing. SWR Example – High: 9:1

SWR antenna readings chartSWR chart keyNow, as if it weren’t already complicated enough, SWR readings can be different based on the frequency being used. So, what I did was to identify the most commonly used frequency ranges for my operations and then test the SWR. Knowing full well that SWR readings may vary if I switch out of those commonly used frequency ranges. That’s OK, not everything can be perfect…especially in the Ham world.

A final note for Ham operators already understand SWR readings. I am testing the SWR performance on a handi-talkie (handheld) radio. I use a 12″ adapter cable from the radio to the SWR meter. Then another 12″ lead from the meter to the antenna. I don’t think I am losing anything along the cables since they are brand new.

Back to the SWR results…

Boafeng UV-5RA antenna SWR resultsThe bottom line…All the antennas tested showed SWR meter readings that are just fine, some actually very good. Something that really did catch my attention was the results of the larger vehicle antennas, they all showed great results. The Aweek UV108 antenna makes me think this would be a good antenna for inside an apartment or other area where you wanted a low profile.

Here is a picture and link for each antenna. Some will have reviews that I have done as well.

Aweek Nagoya NA733Antenna Aweek NA-773 baofeng uv-5r

Band: Dual band VHF/UHF, Antenna type: Soft Antenna, Frequency: 144/430MHz, Gain: 2.15dB/3.0db, Max power rating: 10W, V.S.W.R: less than 1.5, Impedance: 50ohm, Connector: SMA-F (Female), Polarization: Vertical, Radiation: Omni, Length: 4″ – 15.5″

Amazon-Antenna-AweekNA773

ExpertPpower XP771 EliteExpertPower XP-771 Elite 14.5-Inch Dual Band Antenna (144/430Mhz U/V SMA-F) Boafeng UV-5R

Impedance: 50 Ohm, VSWR: less than 1.5, Radiation: Omni, Polarization: Vertical, Maximum Power Input Watts: 50W, Height: 14.4″

Amazon-ExpertPowerEliteAntenna< click here to read the review >

Aweek Speak/Mic/AntennaAntenna-Aweek Speaker Mic Antenna

Speaker Mic with Dual band 7.5″ antenna (VHF / UHF: 136-174Mhz & 400-520MHz)

Amazon - Antenna - Aweek Spkr Mic Ant

Antenna - Aweek UV108 baofeng uv-5raAweek UV108

144/430Mhz dual band, high gain antenna with 30′ of cable

Amazon-Antenna-Aweek UV108

 

Tram 1185 Amateur Dual-Band Magnet Antenna Baofeng UV-5RTram 1185 Mag-Mount

 

19″ tall, dual band 144-148 / 440-450MHz, 2.5 dBd gain on UHF, 0 dBd gain VHF

Amazon Tram1185 Antenna< click here to read the review >

Antenna-Tram1600Tram 1600 Marine

Base-loading coil, 38″ stainless steel whip, GAIN: 6 dB

Amazon - Antenna - Tram 1600

Browning BR-180 Amateur Dual-Band Mobile AntennaBrowning 180

37-Inch tall, 144-148 MHz/430-450 MHz, 3dB gain VHF, 6 dB gain UHF, center load, max power 100 Watts.

Amazon - Antenna - Browning 180 antenna

Bottom line to all of this information is there for you to pick the antenna to accomplish the mission – your mission. You wouldn’t buy a Browning 180 to carry on your person while patrolling. But, you might want the Aweek speaker mic antenna combo if you needed to keep the radio under your poncho but want the speaker/mic/antenna near your ear to make talking and listening easier. Identify the mission and then choose the equipment to best meet that mission.

 

 

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TIP: Performix Liquid Tape

note: originally published in 2015Performix Liquid Tape - Electrical

There are times in life that really cool stuff comes along…like Duct Tape. Performix Liquid Tape is one of those times and products.

As you know I do a decent amount of electronic and electrical fabrication. That is a fancy way to say I “tinker” a lot. I have learned that you really want to keep electrical and electronic parts separated.

Sparks and the smell of burning wiring is not a good thing!

I like electric shrink wrap a lot but that is not always feasible. And there are times when you want more sealant capability, especially for cracks and odd shapes. Liquid tape really comes in very handy for those times and so much more.

This stuff is “gooey” and can be forced into cracks and crevices to form watertight barriers and act like electrical tape preventing contact between electrical components. AntennaFix2

One example is the antenna waterproofing project published on 8/17/2020 “ExpertPower XP-771 Elite for the Baofeng UV-5R radio.”

Let your imagination run wild on what you can do with this product.!

 

 

 

 

 

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Something to think about…

Martin Niemöller (14 January 1892 – 6 March 1984) was a German theologian and Lutheran pastor. He was a national conservative and initially a supporter of Adolf Hitler but he became one of the founders of the Confessing Church, which opposed the Nazification of German Protestant churches. He then vehemently opposed the Nazis’ Aryan Paragraph.  For his opposition to the Nazis’ state control of the churches, Niemöller was imprisoned in Sachsenhausen and Dachau concentration camps from 1938 to 1945. He narrowly escaped execution. After his imprisonment, he expressed his deep regret about not having done enough to help the victims of the Nazis.

 

2009 - 2020 Copyright © AHTrimble.com ~ All rights reserved
No reproduction or other use of this content 
without expressed written permission from AHTrimble.com
See Content Use Policy for more information.