On Feb 4, 7:50 pm, wrote:

Some might wonder why anyone in his/her right mind would bother with
such old technology, particularly when much smaller, lighter, newer
generators are available.

One reason I can see is that in an emergency situation the big Lister
can be fixed with minimal tools and parts. Another is that even a small
one isn't going anywhere unless it's on a trailer. Still another is the
ability to buy and fabricate parts - everything is so big.


I don't think your avarage guy (or gal) is going to be able to do what
that guy did, and even he had to have some spare parts on hand to keep
his generator on line. They had issues with injectors and fuel lines
that required parts that where not on hand or available from the
hardware store up the street. This was far from a "build it all
yourself" power generator. So I don't think your comparison to ham
radios is a fair one.

However, it does underscore the need to have alternate power sources
to power our radios. Batteries are great, but they need to be
charged, generators are wonderful, but they need fuel. Thinking
though these things and comming up with a long term plan to deal with
likely emergency situations is the key. Then actually testing to make
sure it will work is something we need to get done.

For instance, I live in the Dallas area so I have to consider what
kind of emergencies I might face. Hurracaines are not likely, but
tornados and ice storms are. Short term power outages are likely, long
term outages a lot less. My current plan deals with short term
outages using batteries and things I can operate/charge in my car. If
I am faced with a long term outage, I have the ability to move far
enough away to get out of the area that is likely dammaged. What you
need are plans to use what you currently have that have been tested.

Being preaired is not that hard or expensive and doesn't depend on
being able to build my equipment from scratch. It depends on being
able and ready to deal with the likely situations I will face with the
equipment I now have. And like the rest of you, I'm into collecting
more radio equipment so I also consider how that new radio fits into
my emergency plans or what I need to make my current radios work in
that new car. It's having that necessary power cable, that cable
adapter, or that coax jumper needed to make your radio work with that
antenna you just purchased, and knowing where this stuff is when you
need it in the middle of the night when the power is out and your
flash light batteries are about to give up.

You have to plan, test, evaluate, improve and repeat to be the most
effective when the emergency hits. Simple may be better, but this
doesn't mean you have to be able to run CW from a self built tuna can
built out of scattered house parts using a wire thrown into a tree
after an F4 levels your town. It means you have a workable plan that
has been practiced that can get you on the air in as many situations
as possible with what you have on hand.

KC4UAI