Post by LowKey on Apr 22, 2017 16:04:31 GMT
Here's another function to think about and mull over what kit would best serve.
GPS is handy and fairly inexpensive these days. If you have a smart phone you probably have it already and use it when driving.
Mind you, I'm not sure I'd want to rely on my smart phone and it's robustness and durability in a major calamity.
As a back up, sure, but if I were to go with GPS for my navigation needs in a crisis I'd want a ruggedized dedicated GPS unit, preferably one that ran on AA batteries and that was shockproof, drop proof, and waterproof. Being "me" proof would be too much to ask for.
But for those of us who are old enough to remember and those who have looked into it, you can't count on GPS to be reliable or accurate...or even to be working, depending on what disaster has taken place. Aside from the dramatic ways to shut down the network of GPS satellites such as EMP (solar or man made), acts of war, hacking, and so forth there is also the issue that Uncle Sam can simply degrade the accuracy for non-military receivers.
If you're old enough you'll recall* when GPS was only accurate to 20 meters or so for civilian users. He can actually just turn it off for civilian users if they should make that decision.
So relying on GPS might not be the greatest idea. It's okay as a sort of luxury item, but we need something that can't be made useless by someone far away flipping a switch or pressing a button.
SO what did we use before GPS?
Maps, maps and compasses. For those of you too young to remember**, maps used to be printed on paper...not displayed on a screen. With an accurate map of the area, a decent compass, and a little knowledge and some practice you could navigate to within a few meters of a given point on a map without too much difficulty. Unless you are a 2nd Lieutenant.
It's news to me, but apparently you can get maps printed on Tyvek. As tyvek is some pretty tough stuff, lightweight, and waterproof this sounds like an excellent solution to the "map" problem if you can find one for your area.
If not, find the best USGS contour map of your area that you can and laminate that bad boy. Bonus points for acetate overlays with notes marked using alcohol markers. Or go very old school and mark the laminated map up with grease pencils.
Compasses....what to do about compasses?
Truth be told, I never really liked the issue compass.
Long ago I had a nice Silva, but it disappeared on me.
I'd buy another, but in 1996 Silva of Sweden lost the legal right to use the Silva brand name in the US, and now no longer sells their product in the US. They used some other names for a while, but at present no compasses made by Silva of Sweden are sold in the US under any brand name. Compasses you see for sale here branded Silva are being sold by Johnson Wax Company (or whatever they've renamed themselves) and are cheap imitations of the real Silva's they once sold. These imitations are made by whomever happens to be the lowest bidder in Asia that quarter and the quality reflects that. Ever growing bubbles in the liquid filled compass, and piss poor customer service.
Makes me a sad panda, as I'd love to get my hands on a couple of real Silva's with mirror and tritium illumination. Just can't seem to find them.
So...any recommendations on compasses?
Or for those of you who are recovering grunts of various sorts, any compass or land nav lore you'd care to share?
Your favorite way of making your own pace beads?
Notations that you'd consider important to make on your bug-out map(s)?
*Or maybe not. Dannus, your car keys are in the fridge. Right next to the guacamole and behind the six pack of Ensure.. You're welcome. Now remeber to put your pants on before you get the mail. You don't want anymore complaints like you had last week.
**It's okay, Dannus. We're not talking about you this time.
GPS is handy and fairly inexpensive these days. If you have a smart phone you probably have it already and use it when driving.
Mind you, I'm not sure I'd want to rely on my smart phone and it's robustness and durability in a major calamity.
As a back up, sure, but if I were to go with GPS for my navigation needs in a crisis I'd want a ruggedized dedicated GPS unit, preferably one that ran on AA batteries and that was shockproof, drop proof, and waterproof. Being "me" proof would be too much to ask for.
But for those of us who are old enough to remember and those who have looked into it, you can't count on GPS to be reliable or accurate...or even to be working, depending on what disaster has taken place. Aside from the dramatic ways to shut down the network of GPS satellites such as EMP (solar or man made), acts of war, hacking, and so forth there is also the issue that Uncle Sam can simply degrade the accuracy for non-military receivers.
If you're old enough you'll recall* when GPS was only accurate to 20 meters or so for civilian users. He can actually just turn it off for civilian users if they should make that decision.
So relying on GPS might not be the greatest idea. It's okay as a sort of luxury item, but we need something that can't be made useless by someone far away flipping a switch or pressing a button.
SO what did we use before GPS?
Maps, maps and compasses. For those of you too young to remember**, maps used to be printed on paper...not displayed on a screen. With an accurate map of the area, a decent compass, and a little knowledge and some practice you could navigate to within a few meters of a given point on a map without too much difficulty. Unless you are a 2nd Lieutenant.
It's news to me, but apparently you can get maps printed on Tyvek. As tyvek is some pretty tough stuff, lightweight, and waterproof this sounds like an excellent solution to the "map" problem if you can find one for your area.
If not, find the best USGS contour map of your area that you can and laminate that bad boy. Bonus points for acetate overlays with notes marked using alcohol markers. Or go very old school and mark the laminated map up with grease pencils.
Compasses....what to do about compasses?
Truth be told, I never really liked the issue compass.
Long ago I had a nice Silva, but it disappeared on me.
I'd buy another, but in 1996 Silva of Sweden lost the legal right to use the Silva brand name in the US, and now no longer sells their product in the US. They used some other names for a while, but at present no compasses made by Silva of Sweden are sold in the US under any brand name. Compasses you see for sale here branded Silva are being sold by Johnson Wax Company (or whatever they've renamed themselves) and are cheap imitations of the real Silva's they once sold. These imitations are made by whomever happens to be the lowest bidder in Asia that quarter and the quality reflects that. Ever growing bubbles in the liquid filled compass, and piss poor customer service.
Makes me a sad panda, as I'd love to get my hands on a couple of real Silva's with mirror and tritium illumination. Just can't seem to find them.
So...any recommendations on compasses?
Or for those of you who are recovering grunts of various sorts, any compass or land nav lore you'd care to share?
Your favorite way of making your own pace beads?
Notations that you'd consider important to make on your bug-out map(s)?
*Or maybe not. Dannus, your car keys are in the fridge. Right next to the guacamole and behind the six pack of Ensure.. You're welcome. Now remeber to put your pants on before you get the mail. You don't want anymore complaints like you had last week.
**It's okay, Dannus. We're not talking about you this time.
