What Have you done to Prepare This Week?

[Royal-1]

Where to start, it has been several weeks.

Tonight received my bore sighter. Now I have the scope sighted in, about time, maybe next trip to plink I can hit the paper at least.

Have picked up 2 of the latest FRS/GMRS radios from Midland. GXT900 They have a good range, not anywhere close to the 30 miles "Under best conditions" but still much better range than our last set.

We canned some beef a couple of weeks ago, that will go well with the chicken we have already done. Had one jar not seal, so we put in the fridge and ate it a few days later. WOW! that is some good tinder meat after being cooked at such high temps. The other jars will be some good eats when needed.

Checked out Google Maps they have walking distances now, how long is it going to take you to walk home from work? 7 hours for me and 8 for the wife. A friend of ours has 24 hours of walking time. He has put together his 72 hr bag now after learning that. 7/8 hrs might not need 72 hr bag but I am starting to put some stuff together for walking, like water, hat, knife +

Bought more supplies for reloading.

[bwframe]

Great info. Love to hear a little more on the radios and canned beef.

[Royal-1]

The canning was done using a Mirro presser canner/cooker. 22qt capacity. Simple task follow the directions found on the jar lids, the small book that came with the canner and on the USDA Canning Guidelines found at http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/publications/publications_usda.html

The radio info can be found on Midlands site. Lots of nice features like headsets included, vibrate, “waterproof”, scramble, and extra channels not on most of the lower priced radios in that band. Tested the range, in urban setting, to at least 1.5 miles. They claim 30 miles in perfect conditions, like over water with a stiff wind blowing and standing on top of a lighthouse….. That said, they will have far better range than the ones listed as 5 miles, 15 miles, 20 miles……

[Justus]

Originally Posted by Royal-1

Have picked up 2 of the latest FRS/GMRS radios from Midland. GXT900 They have a good range, not anywhere close to the 30 miles "Under best conditions" but still much better range than our last set.

Just checked them out, these have voice scramble now!
The owner's manual is not online yet, could you let me know
if the GMRS frequencies are capable of being scrambled or if
it is the FRS frequencies only.
IIRC, the FCC regs don't allow that on GMRS.

Motorola tried that several years ago (FRS) but discontinued the
radio before I could buy a set.

Thanks

[Royal-1]

I was thinking that the scramble works on both the standard FRS & GMRS channels, same with the coded squelches both CTCSS and DCS. Neither work on the "Extra" Frequencies, the 20 that are not on most FRS/GMRS radios.

We did "Try" it on a GMRS freq last night. Worked fine, I'll try a FRS channel later.

I would like to know what freq's they are using, even the back of the book does not have them listed, just blank spaces for them.

[Justus]

Does the manual still specify freqs for channels 1-22?


EDIT:
I found an online manual.
It appears that the scramble can be used
on any channel (freq).
This radio may not be around for long,
it would be a good idea to get a couple while you can.
There's a notice on the Midland site that it has not
received FCC approval yet.
I just ordered a set.

[Justus]

Thanks Royal-1

I'm a Midland fan and was saving my pennies
for one of their Base Camp radios.
Thanks for mentioning these 900s!

[Royal-1]

Yes Freqs are listed for channels 1-22, but 23-42 are blank unlisted.

Manual states: 142 Privacy Codes available which can only be used on channels 1~22.

The privacy codes are only the coded squelches.

&

I was wrong about the scramble function, it is available on all channels.

[Royal-1]

The camo ones have 1 extra function, the call function has 15 different, 5 are animal sounds. The black ones that I have because the camo ones are all B/O from every where I looked. only have 10 with no animals.

[Warwagon]

We just canned a boat load of beans and pickled beats. next is zucchini pickles. Once the apples hit, we'll be hot and heavy on apple sauce and dehydrated apples. After that it's the annual spaghetti sauce and chili canning cook off! Shooting for 36 quart jars of each.

We use the Ball Blue book for all our recipes. Best place to get jars is Menard's their price has beat everyone around here. 7.12 / dozen 1.22 for lids.

As well, is just picked up 10 more cases of jars and 30 packs of lids.

Mylar bags and o2 absorbers are being ordered next.