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[Fair Use: For Educational/Research Purposes Only]

Bracing for communication problems

by Michael Hyatt - Friday, December 3, 1999

Network radio and television broadcasts may not be possible after Jan. 1, 2000, but local radio may be, depending on whether or not the electricity stays on in your area. Don't bet on it, even if the utility officials are assuring you there is no problem. You won't know -- and neither will they -- until we get there.

I recommend that you buy a Solar and Dynamo Powered Radio. This radio will pickup AM/FM, shortwave bands, police and aircraft bands, TV sound, and the National Weather Service. This one runs on A/C power as well as batteries which can be re-charged by solar or hand-cranking. It's only $89.95, plus shipping. A very good buy in my opinion.

Another option is the BayGen Wind-up Radio. It has AM/FM and shortwave and will play for approximately 30 minutes on a 30-second wind. This is the one recommended by the Red Cross and the United Nations. (Don't let the latter endorsement keep you from buying one!) It currently sells for around $100.00 plus shipping. It is the best option if you don't have consistent sunlight.

If you are new to shortwave radio, you may also want to order Passport to World Band Radio. This guidebook contains up-to-date program schedules and frequencies for most international broadcasters, peeks behind the scenes, and equipment reviews. It is also available from Jade Mountain for about $23.00.

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-- snooze button (alarmclock_2000@yahoo.com), December 04, 1999

Answers

These solar/crank radios hardly seem worth it. If problems out last the life of battery operated radios; then there probably won't be anything to listen to.

-- Ocotillo (peeling@out.===), December 04, 1999.

Important to note that this poor stooge has been wrong with EVERY single one of his predictions thus far. Examples?

"April 1, 1999. On this date, Canada, Japan, and the State of New York begin their fiscal year. This will, of course, include dates beyond Y2K. As a result, planning systems, especially budgets that have not been repaired will fail as they attempt to process Y2K dates. Since New York City is the media capitol of the world, problems there will grab headlines worldwide. Problems in Japan will remind everyone again of how interconnected our world is. The Japanese will also be forced to admit that there systems might not make it. I expect the stock market to react and begin (or continue) its downward spiral. Public confidence will continue to wane and the number of Y2K optimists will continue to dwindle.

July 1, 1999. On this date, forty-four U.S. states begin their fiscal years. The problems that began in New York will now spread exponentially across the country and around the world. The public will feel the global and pervasive nature of the Y2K Problem for the first time. This will be further exacerbated by the fact that many states have not had the resources to adequately address their Millennium Bug problems. Consequently, the failures will be real and widespread."

From the 12 Oct 1998 issue of Westergaard - Michael Hyatt

-- Secret guy (who@knows.com), December 04, 1999.

I wonder what the past has to do with the future, snooze. Are you saying that if you lose a bet today you necessarily lose tomorrow because of today's loss? Are you saying that the past determines the future? Make my day.

We are traveling a road that nobody has ever traveled. Sticking with the status quo takes no guts and requires no thinking. It also results in **NECESSARILY** staying on deck until it's too late. That's you, snooze, necessarily on deck, shitfaced probably, until the moment the ship lists so badly that you fall ass over teakettle into the dark, icy drink, never to be heard from again.

The bottom line is that you look like an idiot if the ship goes down and 20 odd days earlier you were belittling a man who tried to warn you to head for the life boats.

If he's wrong, he's wrong. If you're wrong, you're dead. Who is the smart bettor in this situation? I'm askin', now you be tellin'.

-- paul leblanc (bronyaur@gis.net), December 04, 1999.

Yo, Paulie -- tempis fugit. How's it going?

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), December 04, 1999.

I sincerly hope they are all wrong!! It would be wonderful. However, Murphy is still with us and he is still true in his law. "Everything costs more than you planned, it will take longer to complete and if anything can go wrong it will at the worst possible moment".

Try and argue that one.

-- Susan Barrett (sue59@bellsouth.net), December 05, 1999.

Say What?

Who has $100 for a wind up radio....Just buy a dozen batteries for the radio you already have. (batteries, if properly stored will last up to 3 years)

You guys are giving the scoffers something to scoff at!

-- Ron Wiebe (ron_wiebe@bc.sympatico.ca), December 05, 1999.

Or get a crystal radio. Uses no power and can pick up AM and some shortwave frequencies from a 25 mile radius.

-- John Ainsworth (ainsje00@wfu.edu), December 05, 1999.

Incase anyone wnders all the way down here:

How do I store batteries for 3 years?

What in the heck is a crystal radio? Link?

-- Hokie (nn@va.com), December 05, 1999.

Hey paul..................your post should have been directed at Secret Guy, not snooze.

Snooze posts here alot, I have gotten many informative insights from him, he is not the polly/troll on this thread.

Go Snooze!!!!

;-)

-- timetowakeupandsmellthecoffee (karlacalif@aol.com), December 05, 1999.

Ocotillo (peeling@out.===), said:

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These solar/crank radios hardly seem worth it. If problems out last the life of battery operated radios; then there probably won't be anything to listen to.

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I said the same thing a month ago and got blasted.

Let's look at the facts.

If it's TEOTWAWKI then the only people transmitting will be the HAMS on shortwave and you will need a better shortwave than the Baygen to listen to them as they use Upper Sideband and Lower Sideband signals which are nearly unintelligable on the Baygen.

If it's one of the middle of the road scenarios then 2-3 years of batteries will be sufficient.

If it's a BITR then who needs it at all.

Bottom line either buy a good shortwave and solar panels to run it or just get some extra batteries for a cheap SW from Radio Schlock.

Oh and bye the bye if you have a shortwave, have you set up your longwire antenna? A good antenna makes a huge difference.

-- (Shortwavin)LM (latemarch@usa.net), December 05, 1999.

I really fail to understand the need for a wind up radio. If the power is off for so long that the batteries go down in my portable radio, what good would news two months later with no elect do for me? If there is no elec, then there will be no raido stations, and then for what do I need a radio?

-- chicken farmer (chicken-farmer@ y2k.farm), December 05, 1999.