Before we start, I would like to thank Paul for donating his copy of the "Rawles Gets You Ready Preparedness Course" - now if I could get more readers to donate books and other related preparedness products for review I'd be set.

I admit being a little surprised when I opened the package. I was surprised that the "book" was nothing but 200 plus pages of 20 bound 8.5×11 copy paper printed on one side.

At first I thought Paul had simply sent a copy of the book, which would have been fine with me - but after doing more research, I quickly realized that this is the configuration as shipped from the publisher.

One thing is certain; The Rawles Gets You Ready Preparedness Course, isn't short on wasted space or paper. By printing on both sides of the paper, length could have been cut in half. Font size is also larger than needed as is spacing between lines.

With proper editing and formatting the 200 or so pages, of  The Rawles Gets You Ready Preparedness Course could easily be reduced to less than 100. To be honest if  I had paid the asking price of $149.95, plus $12 shipping for this "course" I would have felt violated, ripped off and lied to.

As for the quality and usefulness of the information, I didn't see anything dangerous or out of line, but I didn't see anything extraordinary either. Just an overblown shopping list for a trip to Costco with tidbits of information that can easily be found for free on the web.

Don't get me wrong Rawles has some good information on his web site and his other book "How To Survive The End Of The World As We Know It" at $11.47 is much better. My advice is, stay clear of The Rawles Gets You Ready Preparedness Course - if you're a Rawles groupie, I suggest his other book instead.

Have you read The Rawles Gets You Ready Preparedness Course? What did you think? Was it worth the asking price?

It looks like James Talmage Stevens author of the popular preparedness book Making The Best of Basics, has started blogging over at the Family Preparedness Guide go on over and take a look at what they have to offer.

Hey, just want to tell you that was a nice, well written article on bug-out radios (which also applies to retreat radios). It wasn't so far in depth as to lose people and wasn't too high level to be useless. Honestly, it was just right.

At my retreat, we chose to use FRS radios. The reasons were:

1) You can get them real cheap right now used on eBay. The price for used FRS is so low, its easy to buy extras to cover possible breakages. We also all got the same model, so we're compatible for parts.

2) Since this retreat is under 100 acres, we didn't need the range of GMRS. FRS covers our entire retreat, plus the neighboring properties we collaborate with on security. Keeping the range down is better for OPSEC and extends battery life.

3) We did pick up a pair of GMRS/FRS base stations to run in our TOC. One is kept on the FRS "channel of the day" we use at the retreat, the other is set to scan GMRS/FRS channels for radio chatter in our area. They can also be used to communicate with neighbors outside the FRS range. We also keep a CB in the TOC for that purpose.

It may sound like we are going to be radio-chatty, but it's far from the truth. We're all ex-military and have OPSEC drilled into our heads. We have a dozen surplus field phones that will actually be our primary comms to our OP/LPs and immediate neighbors (with an old surplus SB22 switchboard in the TOC tying them all together). The radios are only for when a field phone isn't available (such as when patrolling), or if things suddenly "go tactical". And even then the cadre is already well drilled in only broadcasting when necessary and using brevity codes.

The one problem we haven't solve yet is battery recharging. It's simple if you're talking one or two radios, such as in a bug-out situation like your article described (there are good portable solar chargers available). But in the case where you've got a full cadre, with all adults carrying a radio on their belt, with TOC base stations running 24x7, and with other devices also needing batteries (AA's for night vision, D's for field phones, etc.), you can imagine how the small 4-battery solar chargers aren't nearly enough.

What we need is a design for a large-volume battery charger that runs off full-sized solar panels. The design should:

1) Hold 18-24 batteries for simultaneous charging.

2) Charge all batteries in under 10 hours, thus completing the charge in one day.

Problem is:

1) What size solar panel?

2) What electronics are needed to first step down the solar panel's power to charge 1.5 volt batteries, and second to control potential over-charging?

With this design, retreats can build one, two, or more of these recharging arrays … depending on the number of 1.5 volt batteries they need recharged in a given day.

It'd be great if you would put this out to your readers as a challenge. There's bound to be a smart electrical engineer out there who can design it for us and let you post the design on your web site. I put this same challenge to "the other survival site" last fall, but never got a response. I think it would help out a lot of folks.

Last thing, it might be good to mention to your readers that the privacy codes available on most FRS radios don't actually hide your chatter. They actually filter out everyone else's chatter on that channel who isn't set to your privacy code, so you don't hear them. It does nothing to "privatize" your own broadcasts. If someone sets their privacy code to "0" (no privacy code), they will hear all chatter on that channel, regardless if the others have a privacy code set.

Well again, good article on Bug Out Radios! Appreciate it if you would put the large-volume solar battery charger challenge out to your readers … let's see what they come up with.

Cheers,

Paul

Many of you suggested we bring back the weekly "What Did You Do To Prep This Week" segment of the blog. I think this is a good idea. Seeing what others are doing to further their preparedness can give ideas and encouragement to those still procrastinating. Or set the idea wheels spinning for those of us who have been in this for a while.

We should all strive to do something, even if it is only something small, each week to better our preparedness level. While it may be impossible or at least unrealistic for most of us to put away a case of ammo and 500 pounds of hard red winter wheat each week, it should be our goal to do something, no matter how small, to increase our level of preparedness.

For instance; This week I went through the contents of my bug-out bag (if I'm forced to retreat from my homestead by a superior force) I try to do this at least two times per year adding and replacing contents as needed while at the same time looking for weakness in the system and correcting any potential problems.

This morning while looking around a local thrift store, I spotted four unopened boxes of 12 Ball Quart Wide Mouth Jars with corresponding lids and rings. When I inquired as to price the attendant smiled and said I could have all four boxes plus the lids and rings for $15. I'm sure these will come in handy at harvest time.

Expanding the larder this week I bought 1 gallon of apple cider vinegar, some more spices and several rolls of aluminum foil. I also bought and transferred another 100 pounds of dog food into rodent proof containers - my dogs are very important for security. Failing to provide for their needs would be a huge oversight on my part.

Well that pretty much does it for me this week - but the question remains what did you do to prep this week?

I know what you're thinking - great another article dedicated to the bug-out bag. And I agree, over last couple of weeks I've been preoccupied with this bugging out business. First we talked about children during a bug-out, then guns for the bug-out bag and here we go again with communications for the bug-out bag.

Trust me, I'm not turning the survivalist blog into another head for the hills bug-out site. I've had these ideas for sometime and originally planned to space the articles over several months, but since everyone seems to be interested in this subject, I've decided to go ahead and post my thoughts.

An area I haven't seen discussed in much detail is communications for the bug-out bag. Let me tell you before we start, that I'm not a radio geek and I'm sure some of you know more about radio communications than I do. That is why I've opened this discussion to give my thoughts and give readers a chance to share theirs.

A means of communication between members of your bug-out group could prove important or even be the difference between life and death. Members of your group could become separated or wounded while away from base camp or you may need a means of communication when coordinating offensive and defensive maneuvers.

The first consideration should be range and type of radio. Keep in mind that advertised ranges of 10 to 30 miles for the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) band radios are under ideal conditions, conditions that seldom exist in the real world. Actual range is often much less.

The average output for the hand-held GMRS band radios is around 1-2 watts. I'm not sure if this can be adjusted or if it is a fixed wattage set by the manufacturer? If anyone knows for sure we would like to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Legally to operate a radio using GMRS channels 1-7 and 15-22, you'll need to get a license issued by the FCC, although you do not need a license before purchasing a GMRS-capable two-way radios.

Family Radio Service (FRS) models are lower power units that operate with a half watt of power. They can transmit on 7 FRS channels and 7 shared FRS/GMRS channels (channels 1-7) for a total of 14 channels. No license is required to operate this type radio - the downside is limited range when compared with GMSR.

Variable power would be a good option. If you are talking a few yards you don't want to waste your batteries by broadcasting at full power 100% of the time.(Note) any radio—even if it has 2 watts of power—automatically switches down to a half-watt when operating on the 7 FRS-specific channels.

A variable power option will allow you to adjust output depending on the situation, saving power and lowering the possibility of your communications being monitored by a third and possible hostile party.

During an extended emergency having charged batteries will become a concern (also an excellent barter item). Most two-way radios run on standard AA or AAA batteries, these are small, light and cheap - perfect for building the cache.

When stocking up on batteries it's best to keep the one-size-fits-all concept in mind if possible. In other words try to standardize your lights, AM/FM/ shortwave, two-way radios and other devices so they use only one battery size - preferably AA.

Rechargeable's and compatible solar chargershould be considered. I would stay away from the Wal-Mart Rayovac green rechargeable's, I've had much better luck and extended usage from the Duracell Nickel Metal Hydride rechargeable's they have lasted nearly twice as long.

I've purposely avoided suggesting makes and models of two-way radios for the bug-out bag, because there are so many choices with new models coming out nearly every day, my suggestions would quickly become dated and I only have experience with a limited number of models.

Feel free to add your thoughts and recommendations in the comments below.

I just got word that Emergency Seed bank is having a 2 for 1 seed bank sale. What was normally $119 for a seed bank is now $119 for 2. I've dealt with this company before and totally recommend their product (I have 5 of their seed vaults).

Today we are going to do something different, some of you suggested we have a question and answerer day - where you pose a question related to survival and I or other readers answerer in the comments below.

Depending on how it goes, we could make this a weekly feature here on The Survivalist Blog. 

Remember your questions need to be survival / preparedness related - food storage, gear, firearms, homesteading, foraging anything really as long as it will help you and others become better prepared.

Enough of the preliminaries - lets get started. Ask your nagging survival queries in the comments below.

I'd like to thank the folks at Paladin Press for donating this book and video set for review. Paladin offers a huge selection of books and videos not found anywhere else - I suggest you check them out to see what they have to offer. And don't forget to mention the survivalist blog when you place an order.

Since several readers stated they would like to see more book and product reviews here on the survivalist blog, I've decided to make Monday review day. Each Monday I will post reviews of a survival related products. I hope this will help you make better decisions with your purchases, saving you both time and money.

If any advertisers have products they would like to have reviewed feel free to contact me. However be forewarned, I only give honest reviews - if your product is low quality or not of practical use to my readers, I will state the fact in my review. Don't expect a favorable review just because you donated a product - do expect an honest review.

Now that we have that out of the way, let's get on with the business at hand. As many of you know I'm a fan of Gabriel Suarez his Kalashnikov Rifle Gunfighting video was excellent and I highly recommend it for owners of this extraordinary rifle. His books and videos are easy to understand, of high quality and he actually knows what he is talking about.

The Tactical Advantage Book/video Set can be purchased separately but since Paladin sent the book and video as a set, that's the way I'll review them here.

Don't buy this set expecting to learn the fundamentals of handgun and use. This isn't basic instruction, if you don't have a strong foundation and understanding of the basics such as safety, shooting positions, site picture, trigger control and other fundamentals in-place, my advice is skip this set and concentrate on the basics before moving to more advanced techniques.

The goal is to teach you to move safely through, and clear a building. Suarez shows you how to navigate corners, clear T-intersections and doorways, traverse stairwells, clear rooms and a host of other skills needed to clear a structure under hostile conditions .

This is a great set and should be required viewing for any one interested in personal defense, from the homeowner investigating a suspicious sound in the night, to the police officer or military operative searching for a bad between the walls.

No matter how skilled or tactical you are - moving through a structure searching for an armed opponent is extremely dangerous and there are no guarantees that you will make it out alive or unscathed.

In most instances when a homeowner hears a suspicious sound or expects an intruder it is best to stay put. Find cover and, or concealment, facing the door with your weapon at the ready and if possible call the police. Just be sure of your target when you pull the trigger.

I think this set would benefit the homeowner or survivalist most is during an escape. Sometimes you may need to get out of the dwelling and away from danger. The techniques and strategies presented will work just as effectively while escaping from a structure as during a search.