Survival Gear is the most unused product until a natural disaster happens, then it’s the most desired products, but usually too late to help those that really need the help.
We sell around the World, and pride ourselves on offering a level of customer service that we would want to see ourselves if we were shopping online.
Our product ranges change regularly, so we hope that you come back to our sites to see some of the fantastic offers that we regularly have.
Written by Wild Bill on The Prepper Journal.
All of us at The Prepper Journal want to wish you and your families a safe holiday season. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah.
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If you looking for the best door reinforcement kits and other door security measures, you’re in the right place.
Door reinforcement is one of the best ways to drastically increase your home’s security.
But unfortunately, it’s one of the last upgrades people make…
I want to change that, so today I’m going to cover everything I know about reinforcing doors, specifically:
**Note: Feel free to skip ahead to any section of this article by clicking a link above.
Hollywood is not reality, but movies do influence how we think about reality. This influence is especially true when it comes to home invasions.
Action movies show thieves hatching elaborate plans to trick complex security systems. OR they feature Ninjas scaling up walls to second-floor windows to cut glass and unlock it.
In reality, most intruders avoid such complex maneuvers. Instead, the experienced “pros” opt for lower-risk break-ins.
They prefer quick and easy.
They want a fast “smash and grab” they can pull off with nearly zero risks of getting caught.
For example, kicking in a cheap door or smashing a thin window allows them to escape prying eyes sooner.
That’s why most home intrusions involve forced entry through an unsecured door. Data proves this number might be high as 85% by some reports.
The first thing to notice is that most break-ins occur at home residences (67.2%), most involve forcible entry (57.5%), and 88% of break-ins occur on the ground floor.
AND only 6.3% of the break-ins fall into the “attempted” category.
The way I interpret this data is that most break-ins involve forced entry AND most are successful (for the thief).
I also see the 36.2% unlawful entries as most likely “unforced entry” through unsecured doors. These often include garage side doors and backyard doors. Why? Because these “alternative entry points” are often overlooked when the occupants leave home.
And they’re also less likely to be built to the same security standards as your front entryway door.
I’ll be honest; on occasion, I’ve forgotten to lock my back garage door after a long day of yard work. And I only realized my security mistake later the next day.
ANYONE could have walked through my back yard and right into my house. Oops! Let me just say, it’s NOT a warm and fuzzy feeling!
Now, what about all the hype around home security alarm systems? The ones that alert you (and the authorities) if someone opens a door or window.
No doubt, they’re a great addition to anyone’s home fortification strategy. But these expensive security systems are reactive by nature, NOT preventative.
They only let you know that SOMETHING BAD IS ALREADY HAPPENING!
And hence, they can create a false sense of security. And too many people ignore other necessary home security improvements – like exterior doors.
ALL exterior first floor doors should be the first place to spend your time and attention on home security.
Heck, if your doors look well-built and secure, a burglar might not even attempt to break-in.
It’s a real-life strategy called target hardening.
If a door looks resilient and has no cover (bushes/fence) nearby, it becomes risky for an intruder to attempt a break-in.
And like lions looking for a quick meal, thieves tend to gravitate towards weaker prey as well.
For an intruder, it’s all about ease and cover. Experienced intruders won’t accept extra obstacles and will seek out easier prey.
And if they still decide to give it a go, a secure door that delays entry will deter all but the most stubborn of thieves.
Before reinforcing any of your doors, you need to make sure the door itself isn’t “the weak link.” So let’s cover several different door construction options and the pros/cons of each:
All too often, people use these cheap doors to secure garages, backdoors, and even some front doors!
The majority of these flimsy doors being of the hollow-core variety.
These doors have an exterior wood frame. And this frame supports an interior honeycomb structure of fiberboard.
And then the entire assembly gets covered in thin sheets of veneer wood to make it “look good.”
The cores of these doors usually use cheap fiberboard – or occasionally cardboard! Yes, cardboard!
These doors are light, cheap, and available at ANY hardware store.
And they’re perfect for many interior spaces, like a bedroom closet. But NOT for an exterior door where security matters!
Why? Because a kid in football gear with a running start can bust right through a hollow-core door. And that’s why they won’t stop a criminal either.
This material upgrade tends to make them a bit heavier. That’s why these doors have a solid feel and better sound deadening.
However, again, you should only install them in interior settings. Why? Because, like hollow-core doors, particleboard readily absorbs water from rain and snow and…swell. And swelling forces the door out of the jamb and makes it hard to close the latch properly.
And if these doors remain wet for too long, the particle board starts to disintegrate. This process will continue until the door completely fails.
Again, a cheap solution like this will end up costing you more in the long run.
These doors start and end with solid wood boards. Those boards are then joined together with glue and fasteners.
This strategy produces a door with more strength than either hollow or solid core doors.
And that’s why solid wood doors can be quite expensive.
Not only are they ideal for security, but they also look good on the exterior of a home. Any exterior location demands unique patterns and finishes to match different home decors.
Heck, many exterior solid wood doors include designer windows and other decorative features.
A well built solid wood door can last a long time. But they also take regular maintenance and protection from the elements.
The interior of a solid wood door is often at least as strong, if not stronger, than the surrounding door frame. This strength makes them the minimum of what you want for an exterior door.
Finally, the most common type of modern exterior door is an insulated metal door.
These doors feature an insulated core, surrounded by metal panels on the exterior. Some even have extra metal panels within the interior as well.
These panels are often decorative, with textures and design elements. Many emulate a solid wood door construction including windows and “raised panel” details.
Insulated metal doors are very resistant to the elements AND forced entry attempts. So they’re a great choice if you’re replacing older doors and want to beef up security.
Of course, they come at a cost premium, so make sure to budget for the upgrade.
No doubt, the addition of windows can be a beautiful aesthetic. BUT they can also add significant security risks. Why? Because even the most secure door is worthless if a burglar can smash a window and reach the door lock.
This security vulnerability is worse if you have windows within arm’s reach of the door lock.
In that case, it may be worth replacing them with security glass or polycarbonate instead.
In higher crime areas, window bars or grates are also an option. But local laws may restrict what windows you can cover, and they’re not all that pretty to look at either.
No lock in the world can stop a persistent intruder IF the door latches into a cheap frame.
Luckily, there are several ways you can reinforce a door frame to make it more resistant to attacks.
Unfortunately, manufacturers ship many exterior doors with short 2″ hinge screws. 2″ IS NOT a deep enough for security!
Ideally, you want the screws to go through the hinge plate, door frame, and into the structure of the building.
So I recommend you remove one of these screws and buy similar screws that are 4″ in length.
Make sure to buy enough to replace ALL the screws in the doors hinges.
Now, once back home, replace each screw one at a time. This strategy prevents the hinges from shifting and causing the door to bind or squeak.
Door Reinforcement Kit via Armor Concepts
Another method of door frame reinforcement is to invest in a door reinforcement kit. I like this one from Armor Concepts.
This kit is the best on the market and includes protection for both the doorknob lock and the deadbolt. Plus, it protects the hinges and the door frame against drilling and prying!
It’s a massive upgrade to the structure of the door frame. This modification will give you extreme peace of mind. Now you KNOW the frame is as durable as the door itself.
Again, Armor Concepts is the door reinforcement company we recommend.
Their kits have stood up insanely well to intense police force testing; watch the video below for proof:
Not only that, but each kit offers a lifetime warranty. Plus, they include a $500 guarantee against door kick-ins.
You can even use their security kits to help repair previous door frame damage!
Here’s a video showing the installation of an Armor Concepts Door Reinforcement Kit:
Once you’ve got solid doors on all the exterior doorways, it’s time to increase the security even more.
Now, your chosen methods for adding security are often driven by whether you own or rent.
A homeowner can usually make extensive modifications (within local building codes). But if you rent, you’ll likely need a landlord’s permission to make ANY changes. And your lease agreement may prevent you from reinforcing doors or changing locks.
But it’s always wise to approach home security in a multi-layered strategy anyways. So let’s examine a range of security upgrades you can add in stages.
We’ll start with the easiest upgrades first. They are the ones that apply to both rentals and homeownership.
Then we’ll work towards more involved security upgrades for homeowners – the ones you may want to hire a skilled handyman to perform.
These wedge-shaped doorstops do a decent job of blocking a door from being forced open. But they also include an ear-piercing alarm system!
If an intruder pushes on the door hard enough to force the doorstop to slip, it triggers a loud 120dB alarm.
It’s not a simple doo reinforcement upgrade, and a bit cumbersome to set each time you leave home. But for about $5 each, you can afford to put one at every door.
Plus, they don’t require any installation or wiring. So door stop alarms are especially useful in rental security situations.
And some of the door jammer models come with audible alarms built-in as well.
Plus, they’re both adjustable and portable. So any jammer will fit a wide range of doors and can take them with you if you move (or even when traveling).
Like the door stop alarm, door jammers are simple to install. AND you can place them without ANY modifications to the home, so they’re ideal for renters.
What’s one of the most vulnerable situations for forced entry? It’s when an occupant cracks open the door to see who’s on the other side.
Yes, security chains do provide some protection for this. But it’s far better to leave the door shut until you can determine the safety of the situation.
A peephole is a far better option. These holes allow you to leave your door closed and secure until you can confirm it’s safe to open.
Make sure you choose a peephole with a wide viewing angle and a privacy cover on the inside lens. These features help prevent anyone from peeping back in at YOU.
Now, adding a peephole does require drilling through the door. So double-check your placement before you drill. OR hire someone to install it IF you don’t have the skills or tools to DIY.
This concern is even more critical if the door metal (which is more complex vs. wood)!
They can alert you via text message or smartphone app to movement outside your door. And even record videos and images of anyone (or anything) approaching.
Now, there are options to install these units without wiring. But the best method is to tie them to existing low-voltage doorbell systems.
That way, both the video doorbell and app will ring anytime someone presses the button.
Why? Because previous residents likely made several sets of spare keys in the past. And leaving the original lock means they could stroll back in anytime they please.
And rekeying is less expensive than replacing the locks.
One convenient way to rekey is to buy a rekeying kit.
This kit allows you to rekey all your locks to one, pre-cut key. It includes 3 pre-cut keys, pins, special tools, and simple-to-follow instructions.
Re-keying your locks is easy with this kit – even a novice can complete the DIY task.
Rekeying kits require the original key to lock being rekeyed as part of the re-keying process.
Why? Because the tapered latch on a standard doorknob lock is quite easy to defeat.
A thieve can easily bypass these standard doorknobs. They can either shim the door or spread the door frame with a hydraulic jack.
But a properly installed deadbolt extends at least an inch into the latch plate. And door frames are usually less vulnerable to the same “force-based attacks – especially if it’s a reinforced door frame.
If you want to DIY a new deadbolt, there are lock install tools that can help align the holes. But for most, it’s best left to an experienced locksmith.
An electronic keyless lock allows you to lock or unlock your door from anywhere via your phone.
You can even set temporary keypad codes to allow guests access for a limited time.
They’re a simple drop-in replacement for many existing deadbolts or locksets. But if you plan on installing an electronic lock from scratch, consider using a locksmith.
So far, we’ve primarily focused on reinforcing standard entryway doors. But it’s important to remember that garage doors can also be a natural entry point for a burglar.
Older garage doors can be vulnerable to many of the same attacks that plague entryway doors.
To prevent garage break-ins (or worse, if you have an attached garage), here are a few more tips:
Most thieves prefer to work in the cover of darkness.
Keeping landscaping away from the doors doesn’t leave anywhere to hide.
It forces them out in the open while trying to scope out or break into your garage or shed.
If you’re working in the garage, it’s tempting to leave the doors open for a breeze.
Unfortunately, that also gives passers-by a chance to see what you have. OR to grab and run when if you’re not around.
Try to keep the doors closed, even if you’ll be right back out to work.
Like entryway doors, garage doors come in several levels of quality – each having a different resistance to break-ins.
Go for an insulated roll-up metal door, and be sure to lock it when you are away for a while.
So you have zero excuses to leave it open for long periods.
It also provides a solid block against anyone rolling the door up. Electric garage door openers also use a lift mechanism that resists manual motion.
Modern garage door openers can also connect to smartphone apps. These allow you can alert you to an open door and will enable you to close it remotely.
And they also allow lockdown after use to prevent a guest from coming back with an outdated access code.
We don’t always think of the door as a high-security line of defense. But it’s the only thing standing between our house and an intruder.
A secure and reinforced door can deter interest and resist attacks. They’re an excellent investment because they keep your family and belongings safe.
With such a wide range of security upgrades, the best approach is a multi-layered one.
You can always add security as you feel the need, but it’s hard to do so after a home invasion, so don’t delay!
P.s. Do you know where the closest nuclear bunker is from your home?
There are a lot of natural nuclear shelters in the US that are absolutely free. And one of them is near your home.
Click here to see the Closest Natural Nuclear Bunker to Your Home?
Click on the image above to find out where you need to take shelter.
The post How To Reinforce A Door And Best Door Reinforcement Kits appeared first on Skilled Survival.
To say that I am picky when it comes to knives, is a gross understatement. This is especially true for knives of a more tactical …
Read moreGerber Remix Tactical Knife Review: Hands-On
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Having a survival kit in a personal vehicle is something that is often overlooked. Given how technologically connected we are, even in our vehicles, I …
Read moreCar Survival Kit Guide: Design, and 15 Types of Gear
The post Car Survival Kit Guide: Design, and 15 Types of Gear appeared first on Survival Cache.
During uncertain times, it’s important to be self-sufficient. One of the ways to do that is to have your own food supply through raising your own free range chickens. So, how do you start?
Homesteading is regaining popularity as Americans seek independence from reliance on the government and on supply chains that can be easily interrupted. With the economy, our freedoms, and our way of life under attack, self-sufficiency is a priority again.
As a first step towards backyard farming, people are turning to chickens, thanks to their easy upkeep and frequent egg-laying. Chickens are less expensive to maintain and need less space and care than other livestock. Their eggs are also harvested without any discomfort caused to them.
Even a dozen chickens can produce more eggs than a family knows what to do with! Selling eggs can pay for the chicken feed you need, especially if you are raising free-range chickens.
“Free range” is a buzzword these days, as marketers tug at the heartstrings of consumers who are concerned about the living conditions of chickens.
Unfortunately, on a commercial level, the term “free range” only means that the chickens have access to an outdoor space. That space could be 2’ wide and covered in gravel, and it would still qualify as “free range” for packaging purposes.
But for the average farmer and the novice chicken owner, “free range” means letting their chickens roam – over several acres or even miles. Your flock may not even stray as far as you let them, but the freedom to walk, eat, hunt, and dust at their leisure will result in healthier chickens and better eggs.
There are several reasons that you will still want a coop for your chickens, even if you let them out each morning.
If you live in a climate that gets cold in the winter, the coop can help provide warmth, especially if you choose to use a heat lamp. In the summer, it can help provide shade.
The coop provides shelter from predators like hawks, foxes, raccoons, coyotes, opossums, and weasels. Chickens can still become prey during daylight hours, but the dangers at night are much more significant.
Chickens can lay eggs in any number of places, not all of which are convenient or known to you. Having a chicken coop where you place wooden or plastic eggs indicates to the chickens where to lay their eggs and can save you a lot of searching.
Chickens will make a mess in more ways than one. They will eat plants and flowers, peck and dig holes, and also poop all over the space you give them. Keep this in mind when you designate space for your chickens, especially if you have invested heavily in your yard or landscaping.
Just like any other animal, chickens can be trained. If you lock them in the coop at night, call them in with some feed from the same bucket every evening. They will come running and you can safely close them up for the evening.
Be consistent with when you let them out in the morning. Chickens that are used to roaming and are unable to do so can get LOUD.
Allowing your chickens to roam freely has many benefits, both in their care and their health. You will be able to save money on feed and grit as they find their own. (Grit is how chickens break down their food since they don’t have teeth.)
Chickens eat all sorts of bugs and slugs, and even the occasional rodent and snake, which can help with pest control around the yard.
Free-range chickens are in much better physical health than their cage-kept counterparts and are unlikely to be overweight. They are also happier and stay entertained by all of the hunting and pecking they do.
The diet of a free-range chicken is full of protein, which produces more, and better quality eggs, as well as extending the lives of your chickens.
When it comes time to choose your chicken breeds, there are several questions to ask yourself:
There are actually dozens of breeds of chickens, so be sure to do your research and choose the chickens that best meet your needs.
Have you tried raising free range chickens? We’d love to hear about your experience in the comments section!
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If you’re actively researching the best walkie talkie, you’re in the right place.
Reliable communication is an essential part of any plan, whether you’re coordinating a road trip or keeping a family together in an emergency.
Cell phones are great, but we’ve all run across areas where coverage is, well…less than perfect.
Sure, you could invest in a satellite phone. But that’s not the most cost-effective option, and you may “still” run across areas where you can’t get a reliable signal.
Often, a better answer is direct, person-to-person radio communications.
Handheld personal radios (a.ka. Walkie Talkies) are dramatically better today than even ten years ago.
Plus, the list of new features keeps growing steadily.
In general, Walkie Talkies are smaller, lighter, and more rugged than ever before. Making them one of our favorite survival radios.
Plus, prices on walkie talkies have come down in recent years. You can finally afford to outfit everyone in your group without breaking the bank!
So today I’m going to use my research and rescue training to teach you everything I know about walkie talkies. With my ultimate goal to help you find the best walkie talkie for YOU!
Here’s what I’ll be covering:
**Note: If you just want our top recommendations, feel free to SKIP AHEAD HERE.
There are LOTS of walkie talkies on the market today – from basic models with simple features to professional setups for a worst-case emergency.
With such a wide range, it’s important to learn the main types of walkie talkies.
Now, the most significant difference between types of walkie talkies is the frequency band in which they operate. Different radio frequencies have different characteristics. And thus, licensing requirements are different as well.
There are two major walkie talkie branches to choose from:
UHF (Ultra High Frequency) radios operate on frequencies between 400-512 megahertz (MHz).
The FRS (Family Radio Service) radios that many people are familiar with fall in the UHF class.
FRS is available for both personal or business use but doesn’t require any licensing from the FCC for use.
That’s because power transmission on an FRS radio is limited to a maximum of 0.5W.
The GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) frequency band is also an example of a UHF radio class.
However, an FCC radio must be licensed to operate on any GMRS frequencies. This requirement is due to the frequencies involved plus the extra transmission power (up to 5W).
Many consumer-grade UHF radios combine FRS and GMRS capabilities. And this combination allows for greater flexibility in communications.
UHF radios work well for many walkie talkie users because the radio waves are shorter. Shorter waves allow them to penetrate areas of interference, such as dense urban areas or woods.
Also, some UHF walkie-talkies can handle a larger, more powerful antenna. And in general, the more powerful the antenna, the further the transmitter distance.
For young kids, simple features and easy-to-use controls are best.
Fortunately, walkie talkies built around this principle are often inexpensive. And they tend to use standard, easy to find AA or AAA batteries.
They also tend to feature large buttons and simple menus. These features help keep things from getting confusing and frustrating for kids.
But their range is often limited to only several hundred yards – though there are a few more powerful models out there.
Once you outgrow the simple features of a short-range kid’s walkie talkie, it’s time to turn your attention to a rugged sports model.
Lightweight, waterproof radios with more channels and a range of up to 2 miles are popular.
They’re commonly sold in packs of 2 to 4 radios, making it easy to outfit a family with compatible units.
What if your communication plans involve vehicle travel or coordination across vast expanses? Then you’ll need an extended range walkie talkie setup to communicate.
Unlike FRS radios, these radios use the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) frequencies. Thus, allowing them to transmit a more robust signal that can travel up to 35 miles!
Unfortunately, they’re also more expensive. This higher cost is due to the frequency range and higher-powered transmitter. Plus, GMRS requires an FCC license to operate.
What if you have multiple people coordinating over the radio?
Then you might want the flexibility that a hybrid FRS/GMRS radio. These allow you to bridge the gap between different groups.
VHF (Very High Frequency) radios operate between 136-174 MHz.
The main advantage of a VHF walkie-talkie is that it can cover more distance with less power. How? Simple, VHF waves are longer.
However, two-way VHF radios work best when there’s a clear line-of-sight between the sender and receiver.
That’s why VHF radios are used almost exclusively in aviation and marine communications. Why? Because this is where you can transmit across open bodies of water or between the sky and the ground. These applications have nearly no physical obstructions.
However, VHF band walkie-talkies can still work great for open fields, golf courses, or other low obstruction situations.
Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS) is also available for both business and personal use.
MURS is assigned 5 VHF frequencies (151.820, 151.880, 151.940, 154.570, 154.600), and power is limited to a maximum of 2 watts.
No license is required, and there’s no age restriction for MURS.
These are not as popular as FRS or GMRS radio. Hence, there are fewer radio models to choose from on the market.
But MURS frequencies are not as crowded; thus, MURS operators may have a little more privacy than other walkie talkie options.
Also, many MURS radios, such as the Motorola RMM2050, are designed for business use. They tend to be more rugged and durable than the typical consumer-grade FRS or GMRS radio.
MURS falls under Part 95 of the FCC rules.
Amateur Radio Service (or “Ham Radio”) is for hobby and personal use.
Some amateur radios can operate on many UHF, VHF, and some HF frequencies. But the VHF frequencies are especially useful in amateur communications.
These are used extensively during search and rescue operations by HAM operators.
However, there’s a limit to the number of these frequency bands available. That’s why an FCC license is required to operate amateur radios.
There are three levels of licensing available. These levels determine which bands and frequencies an amateur operator can legally access.
Let’s say you’ve now decided on the type of walkie talkie that suits your needs. How do you choose between all of the various models on the market in that category?
Here are some of the top features to consider when making your selection.
For many users, range will be the most critical feature to consider.
Radios often list their maximum range in the specification sheet. But that should be taken with a healthy dose of skepticism.
The “maximum range” is just an estimate in perfect environmental conditions. We’re talking no atmospheric interference, no obstructions, and with fully charged batteries. In the field, this is hardly ever the case.
Buildings, trees, heavy rainfall, or snow can all interfere with radio transmission ranges.
Be sure to plan for a reasonable margin of safety and find a radio with a much longer range than you think you’ll need.
That’s also why you need a good understanding of how to minimize interference. It’s a critical skill when you use your radio out in the field.
Walkie talkies run on all sorts of different battery types, from cheap AAs to rechargeable lithium-ion cells.
Listed battery life is also just an estimate with the following assumptions:
So, if you plan to talk a LOT on your radio, expect your battery to run down much quicker than the maximum listed life.
You’ll need more batteries in this situation.
Depending on the type of walkie talkie you choose, you may have a limited number of frequency options.
In a crowded area, like a ski resort or urban setting, you may find other users on those frequencies. So finding privacy may prove to be complicated.
However, some radios include privacy codes. These offer more options, but even those can be accessed by multiple users in most situations.
The bottom line is:
The more frequency and privacy code choices come at a premium, meaning a more expensive radio.
There are plenty of other features to consider when purchasing a walkie talkie.
Some of them are luxuries, while others are more pragmatic – let’s go over a few.
To help prevent accidental channel changes, a keypad lock is a smart feature.
It’s frustrating to switch frequencies in your pocket accidentally. That’s how you MISS a crucial message.
It’s never fun to fumble with buttons in the dark, and you don’t want to have to turn on a headlamp every time.
A backlit display makes it easy to tell what you’re doing in the dark. It’ll allow you to make adjustments with minimal effort, even at night.
All walkie talkies made for outdoor and long-distance use include a belt clip on the back. But not all belt clips are created equal.
If you plan to use the belt clip to hang your walkie talkie on your survival belt, tactical belt, or a plate carrier setup, it is up to the task.
Look for durable commercial-grade plastics and a strong spring mechanism.
Speaking of “easier,” preset keys allow you to store your favorite settings and can help speed things up.
Preprogram your most-used frequencies and share with the rest of the team. That way, you can adapt to a new communication plan at the push of a single button!
Depending on how hands-free you want to be, look for a radio that supports an external mic and speaker or earbud.
This walkie talkie setup prevents the need to raise the radio to your ear every time you want to hear or talk. Thus, helping to remain discrete and hidden in evasion situations.
Being able to monitor the weather is critical for many missions. So you’ll want a way to tap into the National Weather Service. This will help keep you on top of incoming storms and hazardous conditions.
Walkie talkies are great for all sorts of activities, from time-sensitive search and rescue missions to fun hikes. Or from business communications to backyard BBQs. And everything in between.
And everyone is looking for the best walkie talkie for their specific situation. How do I know this? Because of the massive search volume and keywords online. Here’s just a small sample of walkie talkie related keywords:
best walkie talkies for kids / best walkie talkies for hunting / best walkie talkies for skiing / best walkie talkies for camping / best walkie talkies for long distance / best walkie talkies for indoor use / best walkie talkies for mountains / you get the point…
So let’s go over the best-rated walkie talkies on the market today and I’ll point out which ones are best for which activities along the way.
Midland LXT600VP3
They’re inexpensive and are ideal for outfitting an entire family for outdoor adventures.
The Midland LXT600VP3 can operate on the included battery pack or purchased AAA batteries. So they can share batteries with other handheld electronics.
This is helpful because gear consolidation always reduces pack weight.
Best Uses: Hunting / Camping / Skiing / Most Outdoor Sports or Adventures
PROS
CONS
BaoFeng UV-82HP
The BaoFeng UV-82HP radio is a great low-cost HAM radio with a wide range of features.
It features a high-power 8W transmitter, which helps to boost ranges reported by some users to over 10 miles!
Plus, the commercial-grade body can withstand the rigors of daily use and keep working.
A full-featured keypad allows you to program frequencies on the fly. But you can also load all the presets via a computer link cable and Baofeng’s software. This flexibility makes it easy to update settings and add the most used channels.
It’s a full-featured HAM radio, which means that you’ll need a license to use it!
Best Uses: Hunting / Camping / Skiing / Most Outdoor Sports or Adventures
PROS
CONS
Midland GXT1000VP4
You can purchase them in standard packs of 2 or value packs up to 12 units. Plus, there is a wide range of accessories to can add to each radio!
It comes with 50 channels and 142 privacy codes to keep your conversations secure.
It also features Midland’s eVOX voice recognition technology. The tech allows for automatic transmission when the user speaks – without the need to press a button.
The GXT1000VP4 receives weather warnings and forecasts from the NOAA weather radio service. And it can also provide automatic audible weather alerts.
Best Uses: Hunting / Camping / Skiing / Most Outdoor Sports or Adventures
PROS
CONS
Motorola RMU2080D
The durable construction meets military specs for water, dust, and shock resistance. The powerful speaker makes it easy to hear radio traffic over background noise.
It operates on eight pre-programmed MURS frequencies. But it also includes 99 “business exclusive” frequencies and 219 privacy codes.
These all help to ensure secure transmissions and more reliable connections.
But these features come at a price, with the RMU2080D coming in near the top of our list.
Best Uses: Business Operations / Construction Sites / Factories / Warehouses
PROS
CONS
Yaesu VX-6R
Yaesu isn’t a household name in the US – yet…But their radios are gaining a good reputation in the amateur radio world.
The VX-6R is a great compact and durable ham radio with a full set of features.
And it’s compact enough to fit in your pocket. It also features a tri-band transmitter capable of working on 144/222/440 MHz frequency bands.
With a full keypad, you can program in the field if needed. But it also includes a link to the program via computer software.
They house all this technology in a magnesium body that’s waterproof up to 1m. So it’s more than just “splash resistant.”
Best Uses: Hunting / Camping / Skiing / Most Outdoor Sports or Adventures
PROS
CONS
Baofeng BTECH MURS-V1
It also comes pre-programmed with three banks of 5 MURS channels. Including unique privacy codes for each bank.
Each bank can be field-programmed with the keypad menu system.
Voice-activated and scanning modes make this radio more capable than most. And features like a built-in flashlight and AM/FM radio add extra versatility.
You can even monitor two incoming frequencies at once with independent push-to-talk buttons.
Best Uses: Hunting / Camping / Skiing / Most Outdoor Sports or Adventures
PROS
CONS
COBRA CXT1045R-FLT
It features a fully submersible design that floats if dropped into water.
It also features a high-intensity LED flashlight that functions as an emergency strobe light.
It’s compact enough to fit in your palm but still gets a realistic 2 to 4 miles of clear reception.
It also includes weather updates from NOAA.
Plus, it has a useful replay function that records the last 20 seconds of audio. That way, you can replay any vital information if not understood during the original transmission.
Best Uses: Hunting / Camping / Skiing / But REALLY GREAT FOR Fishing or Boating
PROS
CONS
Retevis H-777
They feature a large-capacity battery that recharges via USB. USB recharging allows you to use external battery banks or solar chargers when you’re low on power.
They work with all other FRS/GMRS radios and can support the same channels and privacy codes.
Unlike similar radios, the Retevis appears to work well in indoor settings. So they may be the right solution for warehouses and other steel structures, as well as outdoors.
Like all radios, the listed maximum range is difficult to achieve. But they tend to perform well in forested and mountainous terrain.
Best Uses: Business Operations / Construction Sites / Most Outdoor Sports or Adventures
PROS
CONS
Motorola T100TP Talkabout
They’re inexpensive, feature easy to use controls, and a bright LCD screen.
A keypad lock prevents accidental changes to the settings. And a flashing low battery alert draws your attention before you run out of juice entirely.
Best Uses: Great For Families with Young Kids (local events/backyard fun)
PROS
CONS
Midland X-Talker T20X4
It utilizes the FRS frequencies and requires no licensing to use.
These are not high-powered radios. So don’t expect long-distance communication from them. But they work great for around the yard and in the house.
They can help teach children how to use a walkie talkie before you move on to more powerful (and expensive) options.
Best Uses: Great For Families with Young Kids (local events/backyard fun)
PROS
CONS
When cell phone signals fade, your need to communicate does not have to follow suit.
At a bare minimum, everyone should own a hand crank radio. But for those who are serious about their adventures and backup emergency communications, it’s not nearly enough.
Reliable communication is important for everyone but especially those on search and rescue missions in the wilderness. Or if the local power goes out for an extended time during a crisis.
The bottom line is:
You need a direct two-way radio solution to communicate with your family and team.
And there are plenty of handheld walkie talkies available on the market today.
So make sure you – and everyone else in your group – have a radio that’s up to the challenges you see ahead.
Get Your Walkie Talkies. Practice. Get your licenses. Be successful when other forms of communication fail!
P.s. Do you know where the closest nuclear bunker is from your home?
There are a lot of natural nuclear shelters in the US that are absolutely free. And one of them is near your home.
Click here to see the Closest Natural Nuclear Bunker to Your Home?
Click on the image above to find out where you need to take shelter.
The post 10 Best Walkie Talkies On The Market Today [With Video Reviews] appeared first on Skilled Survival.
Those that have been hoping for some sort of a “V-shaped recovery” have had their hopes completely dashed. U.S. workers continue to lose jobs at a staggering rate, and economic activity continues to remain at deeply suppressed levels all over the nation. Of course this wasn’t supposed to happen now that states have been “reopening” their economies. We were told that things would soon be getting back to normal and that the economic numbers would rebound dramatically. But that is not happening. In fact, the number of Americans that filed new claims for unemployment benefits last week was much higher than expected…
Weekly jobless claims stayed above 1 million for the 13th consecutive week as the coronavirus pandemic continued to hammer the U.S. economy.
First-time claims totaled 1.5 million last week, higher than the 1.3 million that economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been expecting. The government report’s total was 58,000 lower than the previous week’s 1.566 million, which was revised up by 24,000.
To put this in perspective, let me once again remind my readers that prior to this year the all-time record for a single week was just 695,000. So even though more than 44 million Americans had already filed initial claims for unemployment benefits before this latest report, there were still enough new people losing jobs to more than double that old record from 1982.
That is just astounding. We were told that the economy would be regaining huge amounts of jobs by now, but instead job losses remain at a catastrophic level that is unlike anything that we have ever seen before in all of U.S. history.
With the addition of this latest number, a grand total of nearly 46 million Americans have now filed initial claims for unemployment benefits since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
If you can read that statement and still believe that the U.S. economy is not imploding, I would like to know what you are smoking, because it must be pretty powerful.
Some of the things that we are seeing happen around the country right now are absolutely nuts. For example, earlier this week in Kentucky it was being reported that people were waiting in line for up to 8 hours to talk with a state official face to face about their unprocessed unemployment claims…
The state police said it will be an 8 hour wait from the back of the line to speak to a state employee about unemployment. pic.twitter.com/plGONcpS6n
— Daniel Desrochers (@drdesrochers) June 17, 2020
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
By now, the U.S. economy was supposed to be roaring back to life and we were supposed to be entering a new golden age of American prosperity.
Unfortunately, the truth is that more bad economic news is hitting us on a continual basis, and that isn’t going to change any time soon.
Over the past few days, we have learned that Hilton is laying off 22 percent of its corporate staff, and AT&T has announced that it will be eliminating 3,400 jobs and closing 250 stores…
The wireless carrier AT&T is cutting 3,400 jobs and shutting down 250 stores over the next few weeks, according to a statement from the Communications Workers of America, a union representing AT&T workers.
The AT&T Mobility and Cricket Wireless retail closures will affect 1,300 jobs, while the other layoffs are said to be affecting technical and clerical workers.
Needless to say, all of these job losses are having a tremendous ripple effect throughout the economy.
Without paychecks coming in, a lot of Americans are having a really tough time paying their bills, and the Wall Street Journal is reporting that payments have already been skipped on more than 100 million loans…
Americans have skipped payments on more than 100 million student loans, auto loans and other forms of debt since the coronavirus hit the U.S., the latest sign of the toll the pandemic is taking on people’s finances.
The number of accounts that enrolled in deferment, forbearance or some other type of relief since March 1 and remain in such a state rose to 106 million at the end of May, triple the number at the end of April, according to credit-reporting firm TransUnion.
Wow.
To me, that is an almost unimaginable number, and it has become clear that a tremendous amount of pain is ahead for the financial institutions that are holding these loans.
A lot of people out there are going to keep hoping that there will be some sort of an economic rebound, but the cold, hard reality of the matter is that fear of COVID-19 is going to keep a large segment of the population from resuming normal economic activities for the foreseeable future. And it certainly doesn’t help that the number of confirmed cases in the U.S. has been steadily rising over the past couple of weeks and that the mainstream media has been endlessly warning that a “second wave” is coming.
If you doubt what I am saying, just look at what is happening to the restaurant industry. We had started to see a small bit of improvement in the numbers, but now fear of a “second wave” has caused restaurant traffic to start cratering again…
After three months of slow but consistent improvement in restaurant dining data in the US and across the globe, in its latest update on “the state of the restaurant industry”, OpenTable today reported the biggest drop in seated restaurant diners (from online, phone and walk-in reservations) since the depth of the global shutdown in March.
As shown in the OpenTable graphic below, on Sunday, June 14, restaurant traffic suddenly tumbled, sliding from a -66.5% y/y decline as of June 13 to -78.8% globally.
This was mostly due to a sharp drop in US restaurant diners, which plunged by 13% – from -65% to -78% – the biggest one day drop since the start of the shutdown in the US, and the second biggest one day drop on record.
Business travel is another area where we are seeing signs of big trouble ahead. The following comes from Yves Smith…
Business travel is not coming back any time soon. People are getting accustomed to Zoom. And word may also get out that domestic flying is much worse than it used to be, which will be a deterrent to those who might be so bold as to want to get on a plane. That is a fundamental blow to airlines, airport vendors, hotels, restaurants, and convention centers. Hotel occupancy in April was 24.5% which if anything seems high based on my personal datapoints. The pricings I see say that hotel operators are not expecting much if any improvement through the summer.
Like many of you, I wish that economic conditions would go back to the way they used to be, but that simply is not going to happen.
Yes, we will see economic numbers go up and down over the coming months, but a return to “the good times” is not in the cards.
And what hardly anyone realizes is that this is just the beginning of our problems, and I am working on a new project right now which will explain why this is true in great detail.
So stay tuned, because things are about to get really, really “interesting”.
About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe. I have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and any way that you can share these articles with others is a great help. During these very challenging times, people will need hope more than ever before, and it is our goal to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as we possibly can.
The post Americans Have Already Skipped Payments On More Than 100 Million Loans, And Job Losses Continue To Escalate appeared first on The Economic Collapse.
This article was contributed by Tom Beck of Portfolio Wealth Global.
In our opinion, a Joe Biden victory is actually what will take GOLD over $2,184/ounce, our BULL MARKET target for the metal, but a Donald Trump win is what will propel silver to CENTER STAGE. Biden will BRING BACK the middle-class preppers to buying precious metals since their confidence level WILL DROP.
Trump’s agenda is to DECOUPLE with globalization and to make American industrial capacity more independent. His economic policy inspired much confidence and in his tenure, before Covid-19 hit, precious metals sales in America ALMOST DISAPPEARED.
His plan also requires a weaker dollar, and we will GET ONE, one way or another.
COVID-19 made people FLOCK TO DOLLARS, but that was an anomaly, not the trend.
Courtesy: Zerohedge.com
As you can see, now that NEW YORKERS, some of which are prominent Wall Street hedge fund managers, understand that COVID-19 is NOT A LETHAL PANDEMIC but a mere case of a flu-like novel virus and they UNDERSTAND the risk of a recession is DIMINISHING, are resuming normal market activity.
Similar to 2009, they are lowering cash balances, getting back in the game, and SHOWING TRUE COLORS by betting on a recovery.
Most of them are CONVINCED it will be a long one (a “U” or a “W”), but we believe THEY UNDERESTIMATE just how much red tape Trump’s administration has cut through in the past four years. The recovery will be FAST AND STRONG.
No matter who wins, but especially if Donald Trump does, there will be an IMMEDIATE OUTCRY that the election was rigged.
I cannot tell you just HOW HATED he is in the circles of the Deep State, which have run this country behind the scenes since the rise of the MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX.
When Hillary lost in 2016, it shocked the elites so badly that they have THROWN EVERYTHING at him, but he hasn’t folded.
It is almost a miracle that no attempts have been made on his life.
If he wins a second term, China will realize that the American public is supportive of his anti-globalization agenda and they will have to MILITARIZE QUICKLY.
We believe a Trump victory, therefore, will lead to high silver prices.
Either way, it is our analysis that the election will be a PIVOTAL MOMENT for this nation.
We are working on a MASSIVE-SCALED report on both candidates that has never been published before.
We intend to PULL THE CURTAIN!
This article was contributed by Lior Gantz of The Wealth Research Group.
How much is it worth TO BE in the White House? The answer is IN THE TRILLIONS. You’re about to find out just how many trillions we’re really TALKING ABOUT.
For one, funding for municipalities will be SAFE AND SOUND since the component of minorities in the labor force of local government IS HUGE. The current administration will do anything to secure those votes and they will do so by making sure THERE ARE NO CUTBACKS, which lead to layoffs. As we know, states can’t print currency, like Washington does, so they’re HELD HOSTAGE.
The government is about to approve an infrastructure program as well. It is BIPARTISAN, which means its chief aim is to win Trump more votes from the swing voters. That’s valued at $1,000,000,000 and it will go towards roads, bridges, and crumbling pavement but will also be siphoned into 5G and Internet infrastructure.
It will not stop there. Before the elections, I expect to hear about more tax cuts for individuals, which are an additional way of spending money the government doesn’t have. At the end of the day, these are ways in which both parties intend to SECURE YOUR VOTE.
Between now and November, thanks to all of these, we anticipate another 4% rise in the spot price of gold, which will PUSH IT ABOVE the $1,800/ounce hurdle.
Courtesy: Zerohedge.com
As you can see above, there’s an UNPRECEDENTED STIMULUS PLAN in motion since everyone understands that COVID-19 is an event that changed America and it can MOLD NEW thought habits in people; there’s a war going on for your mind.
We really haven’t felt the BIG PAIN yet, financially speaking, and it probably won’t originate in the U.S, but in other regions that are MORE PRONE to economic weakness and will trickle to America later.
The ability to print money and increase its supply without significantly and permanently ERODING PURCHASING POWER is an entirely American phenomenon. Any other country that would have EXPENDED its currency in circulation the way Washington and the Federal Reserve have would be suffering from RAMPANT INFLATION; it is currency abuse.
Courtesy: Zerohedge.com
As you can see, Wall Street is also COMING AROUND after seeing that COVID-19 is not a global pandemic from a health perspective, but rather a PSYCHOLOGICAL ONE.
We would have to go back and study the whole chain of events leading up to the PRESENT to truly realize how WRONG THE EXPERTS WERE, for the most part about all of it, and THEY WERE.
Remember that COVID-19 death cases are SIMPLY NOT ACCURATE.
We aren’t counting people dying FROM it, but WITH IT.
On the same token, during the time of someone’s death, he/she also has a variety of other viruses in their system, all of which are not listed as the CAUSE OF DEATH.
The medical industry IS INCENTIVIZED to list COVID-19 as the cause of death, especially with ventilators since the funding for each case reaches as high as $39k for the hospital itself.
The second wave is FAIRYTALE STUFF.
Courtesy: Zerohedge.com
As you can see, Wall Street, which is supplied with the most accurate data, since its tentacles reach all WINGS OF GOVERNMENTS, is lowering cash levels and reentering markets.
In the chart above, it looks like they’re commencing on a buying spree similarly to how they did in 2009, but IN REALITY, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
The markets aren’t cheap as a whole, as they were in 09′, but WITHIN the indices, specifically in the S&P 500 index components, many stocks have been badly hurt.
With research, we can find those that WON’T cut dividends, WON’T struggle for much longer, AREN’T overvalued, and that have UNJUSTIFIED pessimism towards them, making their share price reasonably cheap.
That’s where the 100% REBOUND GAINERS lie.
We are on the hunt!
Written by Wild Bill on The Prepper Journal.
Jan 1, 2000, was supposed to be the end of the world. Anyone else remember that?
It’s hard to believe that in just a few short days, the Y2K ‘disaster’ will have been 20 years ago.
I remember all the hype and hysteria surrounding it. Clocks would go haywire, planes were going to fall from the sky or get lost due to GPS issues, and your bank would lose all your “money” because of date issues.
The run-up for Y2k started about 2-3 years ahead of time, when programmers started pointing out that the date codes in computer software wouldn’t handle the change from 99 (as in 1999) to 00 (as in 2000), as the programming would think it was 1900 instead of 2000.
What ultimately happened? A whole lot of nothing apart from a lot of money being spent to fix the problem.
I know people who spent a lot of personal money to purchase property for a bug-out location. We considered it, but the place we looked that was both affordable and near like-minded people we trusted was a 19-hour drive from the Metropolitan Phoenix area. Impractical, to say the least. Ultimately, we decided on a ‘shelter-in-place’ strategy.
We stocked our pantry with food we liked and would eat, had extra water on hand (about 3 weeks’ worth of drinking water) and water filtration, and 4 cases of MREs. We also filled both our vehicles and an extra 20 gallons of gas in case of short-term shortage. Living in the desert, there’s not much place to go that several million of my ‘neighbors’ wouldn’t have also gone to.
At the time, I was big into shooting competitions, so I’d purchase an extra case of ammo when I bought ammo for competitions. By the time Y2K came about, I had about 8k rounds of Israeli M193 and M855 ammo that I’d gotten. Sadly, I’ve used that up in the intervening decade. It was good ammo, and too bad it’s no longer imported (that I can find).
As I said, Y2K turned out to be a bust. However, it was invaluable to get me and my family thinking about preparedness and was what really started me into this area.
How about you…if you prepped for Y2K, what did you do? Were you even around for Y2K?
The post Remembering Y2K appeared first on The Prepper Journal.
