New Release: Starlink and Ham Radio
Since the disaster brought on by Hurricane Helene, followed up with the unnecessarily complex and utterly disordered and mismanaged FEMA response, I thought it time […]
Disaster
New Release: Increased Tensions
Many of us have watched the new cold war brewing for some time now. This increase in tensions has had a profound impact on my […]
Pre-Order Grid Down Emergency Communications
This is a eBook pre-order. The release date is December 24, 2024 In a world where traditional communications can fail when you need them most, […]
My Off-Grid & Grid Down Comms Energy strategy
The off-grid ham shack is fully energy self-sufficient, utilizing solar, wind, and other power sources, with a focus on low current devices for sustainable communication.
Retevis Ailunce HD2 AES256 Encryption clarification
Summary: Retevis clarified AES128/AES256 encryption for the HD2 and confirmed, IT’S COMING!
LiFePO4 Battery deals for March 2024 | Power Queen
March 2024 Power Queen promotions offer discounts for large LiFePO4 batteries in the US and Europe, plus a 5% discount with code…
Retevis Ailunce HD2 DMR Radio is here!
The Retevis Ailunce HD2 is finally here! Here’s a short preview of the highlights. A few weeks before this post was published, Retevis reached out […]
Keeping the Ham Shack & my Lithium batteries warm in winter
To protect lithium batteries from cold while charging, a video/blog showcases using a Chinese diesel heater in an off-grid ham shack. It’s vital to keep batteries above freezing, a lesson learned from electric cars in winter. The video details the installation and operation of a 3kw Vevor diesel heater, which also powers up using the ham shack’s LiFePO4 batteries, maintaining ideal temperatures for both batteries and equipment.
Charging a LiFePO4 battery with wind power
This video shows charging Power Queen LiFePO4 batteries with a vertical wind generator and discusses off-grid ham shack power storage solutions, including during non-solar conditions.
Building a Solar Powered Ham Radio Station
The Off-Grid Ham Shack series discusses creating a self-sufficient ham radio station or ‘Ham Shack’ capable of operating on solar power during any grid down scenario, emphasizing the importance of an energy strategy for off-grid communications. This system includes solar panels, a charge controller, battery, and power distribution system. Key elements are the use of photovoltaic (PV) panels to harness solar energy, a solar charge controller to regulate energy flow and prevent battery overcharging or damage, and a battery to store energy for later. As well, power distribution ensures the allocation of power to multiple devices simultaneously. A grid-down energy strategy is crucial to any communication-related emergency, be it CB, FRS, GMRS, MURS or PMR radio, UHF CB, DMR, DStar, Meshtastic or LoRa communications.