How to build a Faraday Cage--it doesn't need to be big. 

Protect electronics from EMP


We are thinking of a cardboard box wrapped in foil :)

At the top of the hill:

Aerial for capturing mobile reception:

22dBi 850MHz Next G Yagi Grid Antenna ($160) from City Technology in Melbourne:


connected by a cable to a: Broadband Mobile modem: Telstra Ultimate USB ($300): connected by USB to a:


Router: Draytek Vigor 2110N ($300) which consumes about 27aH per day: connected by a cable to a:


Aerial for relaying wifi down the hill: 19dBi 2.4GHz Square Grid/Dish Antenna ($178) from City Technology.


All powered by a: Solar panel: Lorentz 75 watt panel ($421) providing about 27 amp hours in six hours of sunlight: with a:


Charging Regulator: Sunsaver 10amp regulator ($110) & Battery: Ritar 120Ah 12 volt sealed battery ($349) which should store enough power for four days without sunshine


The power supply gear came from Steve at solarpumping.com.au

All this was mounted in a weatherproof electrical switch box ($200), on a sturdy stand that Nick’s dad made from scrap metal, and which also held up both aerials and the solar panel itself. Whew.

The precious wifi signal’s destination, at the bottom of the hill.


At the woolshed:


Aerial for receiving wifi signal from the top of the hill: 19dBi 2.4GHz Square Grid/Dish Antenna ($178) from City Technology: connected to a:


Wireless Bridge: D-Link DWL-G810 ($80) & Router: Draytek Vigor 2110N ($300): providing a wi-fi network for the woolshed & connected to a:


Aerial for relaying the wifi signal further down the hill: 19dBi 2.4GHz Square Grid/Dish Antenna ($178)

These were all mounted in and on the woolshed roof.

http://www.milkwood.net/2011/07/08/diy-remote-area-internet/

DO NOT PAY FOR INTERNET OR PHONES AGAIN!!

Off the Grid!... Satellite attachment for computer enables you to have internet

ANY WHERE!

Explorer 300 BGAN

polar regions or anywhere.



http://www.groundcontrol.com/BGAN_Photo_Gallery.htm

Reviews of the Best Two-Way Radios for 2016


Out hiking in the backcountry? Managing a lodge in the wilderness? Out of cell phone range? One of the best ways to keep in constant contact with friends or employees is a two-way radio system. Two-way radios work best in rural settings where there isn’t a lot of interference. They have an incredible range; with just the push of a button, you can communicate with someone who is miles away. If you’re shopping for two-way radios, you’ve come to the right place. On our site, we’ll introduce you to two-way radio basics and help you to compare popular brands and top-selling models. We’ll also be giving you tips in our blog for using your purchase!





Channels


No matter which type of radio you get, it will probably come with 22 channels, each with up to 121 “privacy” codes. These reduce interference on the same channel.


The FRS band was created back in 1996. If you are an FRS radio user, you can use the 7 FRS channels as well as 7 channels that are shared with GMRS users, for a total of 14 channels.


GMRS users can use these 14 channels plus the 8 channels designed exclusively for GMRS use.


If you are in a busy area where a lot of people are using two-way radios, you may hear interference on all of the channels. This is very common in resorts and on park grounds. For this reason, radios come equipped with privacy codes called CTCSS or CDCSS (Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System or Continuous Digital Coded Squelch System, respectively).



These allow you to use the same channels as other users, but speak privately without interference. So four users could all use Channel 4, for example, but the first two could use Code 2 and the second two could use Code 3.


The conversations will not be completely private; you may still occasionally pick up chatter from other code channels, but it will be greatly reduced. Snatches of your conversation may also be overheard by other users. And don’t forget—any user can call up your channel and code and listen to your entire conversation!


Note if you and another user try to simultaneously transmit on one channel, nothing will be transmitted.


There are of course situations where you want everyone to be able to hear each other on one channel, and not just two people.


If you are purchasing these radios for your ski resort staff, for example, each department will probably use one channel, and you may also have a channel for lodge-wide communications. You want your entire team to be able to communicate, and the fewer channels you make use of, the better, since that way everyone will be tuned to the right one.


What about compatibility? Radios with the same set of features will be able to transmit to one another with ease. So all modern radios should be compatible.


If you have an older radio, it may not be able to send out the same tones as your newer models. If this is the case, try setting your new model to code 0 on channel 1. By default, it is probably set to code 1, which your old model cannot necessarily pick up or transmit on.



Batteries


Now let’s talk about how you will keep your radios running.


The majority of two-way radios function on AA and AAA batteries, usually your regular alkaline variety.


Others include rechargeable battery packs (NiMH or NiCad).


The most flexible option is to purchase a radio that can use both. Why? Rechargeable batteries are excellent for saving you money, but they tend to lose their charge quickly. This is particularly true in cold environments, so for skiers and hikers in cold climates, regular batteries may offer superior performance.


If you get a model which is compatible with both types of batteries, you can use your rechargeable batteries, but switch to regular alkaline batteries as a backup if you need to.


You may also find a model which includes a solar charger that you can use while you are out in the wild.


We also recommend that you look for a battery-saver mode as an extra feature; this will drop your radio into a low-power mode when you are not using it.



Features



Here are some additional features you can look for in your two-way radio set:



VOX:


VOX is also known as “Voice Activated Transmit.” With this feature, you can use the radio hands-free. When you speak, the radio will pick up on it and start transmitting automatically. These are excellent for everyone, but particularly makes a great choice for workers or for people doing sports.



MIL-STD or MIL-SPEC:


If your radio is marked with either of these, it has been designed to meet military specifications. This means that it meets a certain threshold for reliability, durability, and compatibility, and that it will stand up to exposure to different environmental factors.


If you will be skiing or hiking in harsh environments, the military rating is a good one to look for.



IP:


This stands for “Ingress Protection.”

It is a rating that tells you how effectively your radio is sealed against dust and moisture. If you know you will be using your radios regularly in conditions with a great deal of dust or precipitation, you may want to pay close attention to the IP rating of the model you are thinking of purchasing.




Noise filter:


This feature will help to clarify and boost your signal.




Keypad lock:


You can use this to lock your settings. That way you will not lose them while you are doing your activities.




Headset jack:


Self-explanatory. You can use this to hook up a headset for hands-free operation. This is great for sports.



Weather radio:


If you want to stay on top of the latest weather reports, this feature lets you check the NOAA weather band stations to see what conditions you can expect. If you are exploring the backcountry, this is a must.




GPS:


Some radios actually offer GPS, so you can use them not only to communicate, but to find your way around as well. Better yet, you can use them to transmit your location to other users and check where they are. If you are out hiking or skiing with friends, this is a great way to keep track of each other, and an excellent safety feature. If someone gets too far ahead, falls behind, or takes a wrong turn, you will be able to locate them.

How-To Optimize the Range of your Talkabout Radio  video



Uploaded on Sep 26, 2011

Ever wonder how-to get the most range out of you Motorola Talkabout two-way radio? In this video Roy Reese, Chief Product Engineer for Giant International, provides some tips and tricks on how to optimize the range of your radios.

Radio 101 - How To Set Up Repeater Channels on Motorola Talkabout Two Way Radios video

The Best Kept Secret in Radio Communication

License free, low cost, two-way communication.

What’s not to love about MURS? 


MURS stands for Multi User Radio Service, and is one of the best kept secrets in personal and family radio communications.


Formerly available only for business communications, the FCC has kept five MURS frequencies license-free and open for public use since 2000. Handheld radios broadcasting on MURS frequencies can experience a range of two miles to eight miles depending on terrain and obstructions, while MURS Base Stations can reach up to 20 miles.


The stipulations for MURS use provided by the FCC restrict any transmitter in excess of two watts, but any type of antenna is allowed as long as the tower height (with antenna) is no greater than 60 feet high. All communications must also yield to any emergency communication on the same channel.


Frequencies The five MURS frequencies are listed below, The 154 MHz channels can be operated on the standard 25 kHz wide band or narrow band mode. The 151 MHz channels can only be operated in narrow band mode.


151.820 MHz

151.880 MHz

151.940 MHz

154.570 MHz

154.600 MHz


Each of the five frequencies can not only transmit voice, but also data. The best example of this are the driveway alarms which transmit a signal via MURS when the IR sensor is tripped.



Can you hear me now?


Another hidden benefit of MURS frequencies are the PL codes (Private Line codes) or CTCSS (Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System) which are sub-audible tones that allow users to operate on the same channel without hearing chatter directed to other users.


There are 38 PL codes available to each of the five MURS frequencies, which makes for a combination of 190 different MURS channels. While this is not encryption, anyone not operating with the same PL code won’t hear your conversation.

Bugging Out: Training Is What Really Prepares You For the Real Thing

?How to fix the comm error in the programming software, on a Baofeng, Wouxun or other Chinese - AF5DN ?