Nov 19 2005
Product Review: Innovage “hand-crank” AM/FM Radio
A discussion a while back with Lisa brought me the sudden and shocking realization that we did not own the most basic disaster readiness item, a battery powered AM/FM radio. Essential for keeping up with the news when the lights go off, The importance of this item cannot be understated. Without power you’ll have no access to the news sources we take for granted in everyday life, and I can guarantee that your local kwiki-mart will have sold out of batteries and any portable radios they have before you get there.
It was by accident that I came across the “Innovage Outdoor hand-crank radio” a few days later, on the table of one of those mobile cheap-item stores that flit from mall to mall. The vendor didn’t inspire confidence, but at a price of $15 (CDN) I figured I’d give the radio a try, and worst case scenario I was out the cost of a pack of smokes and a coffee.
The package includes a small (tiny!) user manual, a set of ear buds, a wrist strap and the radio itself.
The salesman had told me that the hand-crank would power the radio for 20-60 minutes (which at the time I felt was reasonable, if a little labour intensive). To test the radio I took it in to work for two consecutive night shifts cranking the handle until the “full” light came on, then turning the radio to an audible (but low) setting and leaving it on for the bulk of the shift.
While I consistently forgot to do this at the very start of my shift, on each occasion the initial cranking session was sufficient to power the radio for 7 and 10 hours respectively without dying (considerably better than the 20-60 minutes promised by the salesman).
The radio features AM, FM and “Weather” bands (although I have been unable to receive anything on the weather band to date). The tuning dial is fairly cheap making precise tuning difficult but it is sufficient to tune most local radio stations in with a little fiddling.
Overall I’m quite impressed with the little device, and for the $15 (tax in) sticker price I’ll not be hunting for a replacement for some time.
Even if it doesnt get am/fm well, you could always scrap it for parts and rig it up to power a real radio… a few resistors here, maybe a capacitor there and yippie! A good crank radio that gets the job done right!
My wife says I crank it too much as it is. I’m glad that you have a lot of time at work to crank it.
Nice! I’ve got a couple of them in the emergency kit for much the same reasons.
The next toy that I’m hoping to add is still being developed, but I read about them in the Vancouver Sun: There a power source that is embedded in things like a backpack or a belt kit that generates a charge from the “sway” motion that people do when they walk. In other words, if you’re moving, you’re able to power a host of things like cell phones, PDAs, etc.
If you hunt around, you’ll see there are some fairly well known name-brands that sell this type of unit. It’s my understanding they are/were intended for rural, third world usage. I discovered them, as well as several solar-rechargable flashlights & night lights during the 1999 preperations. Both types of flashlights and the radio are still functional.
Kool gadget Mon,
I’ve got two and both of mine have the capacity to take a charge from either hand-crank, solar, plug in and of course, regular old batteries. One thing I can say for ‘em is that while out on a camping trip back in ‘03, Aldo, Dave and my buddy Che managed to get the hockey game on it - in a valley, in the middle of nowhere.
Initially, we couldn’t get much for reception but after hooking up a piece of copper wire attached to Aldo’s camp shovel, to the radio’s antennae then wiring the shovel to the highest point of our shelter, voila! It worked! Innovation at it’s weirdest.
As for your decision to stick with only one unit, I’d say get another, just for the sake of redundancy. You know how Murphy loves the situations YOU get into (remember the hike you went on out at Bunsen Lake a few years back and all you had was a 910ml bottle of gatorade/water and no flashlight or compass…?).
You should also get a set of GMRS/FRS radios, you know the ones that can reach out and molest someone at 13 to 18 kms. You never know whether or not you might have to split up your party in the event of an emergency. There sure as hell won’t be any cell service or any other service for that matter. It’s all line-of -sight but better than the alternative — nothing.
You’ve got the means to protect whatever you’ve got. Now get something to protect.
Dan: Hehe, no comment.
Greg: I knew I was running behind on this stuff, like I said in the post it genuinely took me by suprise to discover I had overlooked such a basic item. What brand are the ones you have?
Merle: I’ve seen these from time to time but always glazed over, sort of ignoring them as too “gimmicky”, it wasn’t until the previously mentioned “epiphany” that I grabbed this one.
Patrick: Bunsen lake? Whadya mean?
-GRIN_
Yes, I remember the “Bunsen death march” well, an excellent example of two guys who should have known better just barely getting out of a situation without terminal embarassment.
I do have two FRS radios, they’re older models (the “cobra” brand ones I bought for montain biking with Steve and co down SFU years back), but they and spare batteries reside in my closet.
So here’s an open question, what other supplies do my close friends have that I’ve overlooked?
Another thing to have kicking around with the battery run Radio is an old fashioned plug in phone…Ya know those klunkers Bell Canada has. Comes in handy. And before you all say CELL PHONES, during the black out afew summers ago they didn’t work. Landlines did though.
Mel’s right, of course … cordless phones don’t work worth a sh*t when the power goes out! Besides, it’s always good to have a corded phone when you’re trying to figure out why your cordless phone doesn’t work (this time
I went for the ‘high-priced spread’ on this one, and bought myself a Grundig FR200 ( http://makeashorterlink.com/?E1C72133C ) which covers the bases by accepting standard AA’s as well as having a replaceable cordless phone battery which can be charged either by cranking or a 4.5V DC adaptor. The tuner (including 3-22Mhz SW) is quite acceptable - sound quality is reasonable. (LED ‘flashlight’ feature is kewl, too
KD likes her little dynamo LED flashlight ( http://www.ewis.ca/onlinestore/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=819 ) which Zellers zells for about $15(?) but I’m sticking with my trusty old 2xAA Mag-Lite (with a secret stash of AA’s
“So here’s an open question, what other supplies do my close friends have that I’ve overlooked?”
Hey Mon!
Aside from different weaponry and other assorted ordnance, what else would you have around for survival purposes?
In this I mean such things as access to food products, potable water and other amenities (medications, personal hygiene items, water purification methods - don’t matter how much water you’ve got stored, sooner or later, you’ll need some fresh stuff, and any other consumables you can think of) we’ve come to rely on in these ‘modern’ times. Humans need a lot of shit, ’specially those of us used to living the urban life.
I guess one could find a place like a mall or some such location ( just like in the movies) and at least have these supplies for a while, but what about others who might have already staked a claim to a shelter you - as a johnny-come-lately, want to exploit?
Look how things got down in (soon to be abandoned) New Orleans after Katrina. Survivors wandering around in and out of the city trying to find - then compete, for the means to survive.
That was with live, somewhat sane humans in the city where the only threats were other humans, the environment (hot and muggy - like T.O. in the summer) and the utter lack of cops who were willing to engage those who were rampantly raping the remains of the city. Don’t forget that during that period of absolute anarchy, there were living snipers taking pot-shots at others - including the remnants of the cops who didn’t run. In situations like that, you already have people commandeering whatever shelters are left standing including the resources found within.
Aside from your meager (and I mean reeaally meager) supplies that you keep in the closet, what else would you do or have on hand to protect whatever you’ve got left - which is usually stored in your dwelling? If others are armed as well, then good luck with even trying to barter for things ’cause that doesn’t work. The blackout in New York way back showed that.
All people could think of doing was either going out into the street to “acquire” whatever their needs dictated through force (and that was with New York’s full compliment of law enforcement on the streets) or hiding like scared children in their homes huddled by their families, hoping that those on the outside didn’t choose their house to pillage next.
Now these are only natural disaster situations I’ve been talking about.
What happens when you’ve got all I’ve just mentioned above…then compound the problem with zombies in the mix?! Zombies who can create more zombies by infecting others with a single bite? You can shoot them as they show up, burn out multiple barrels and ammo (.22LR, 303, 308, 7.62×39, .223, 9mm, .45, .40, 12 gauge etc.) and they’ll still keep coming.
Having an M14, AR/AK/SKS or HK is great (if you’re military-oriented and all) but how many rounds will you go through before you either run out or the barrel warps from sustained usage?
If there are any other living survivors who show up with a horde of the undead behind them, and you can’t let them in simply because you already lack any further survival supplies, they will simply add to the undead forces who will be showing up at your door, pressuring you for something a little fresher than canned/dried beef stew.
It’s fine in the movies for the protagonists to go for a cross-country trek (in a vehicle but usually on foot), locating supplies as needed while trying to get to that remote signal/beacon. In real life though, would you really risk exposure to you and your family trying to get to some signal in Utah or Newfoundland when you can’t even verify if the signal’s for real (you won’t have the necessary radio equipment)?
If the situation were to happen even two years from now, could you really risk bugging out with your daughter with that many bogies around?
At the end of the remade “Dawn of the Dead” the protagonists left for a supposedly uninhabited island in a helicopter. If the shit were for real, what’s the likelyhood that you’d find an island nearby where you could survive undisturbed let alone find a helicopter or even a pilot?
Also, how would you survive on an uninhabitated island? Is there enough wildlife around to support your dietary habits (you might not survive long on squirrels as like rabbit, they’re rather lean most of the time and you need fat to survive)?
Do you know what kinds of flora and fauna are edible?
Do you have the tools to build a proper permanent shelter (it could be one really long camping trip and there’s no Home Depot/Rona/Home Hardware on the island)?
What happens if you have a medical emergency (even paramedics can’t do everything)? What would you do for power and fuel requirements?
What happens when the zombies (as in LOTD) learn that they can traverse waterways! What do you do with other survivors if they arrive on your little sanctuary (think of how much your friends consume when they’re over - now imagine that they’re scared AND drunk)?
Will you have enough helicopter fuel to go somewhere else? Do you even know where else to go?
Just something else to think about. *GRIN*
(Sorry for the long rant!)
Who’s invading your house now?
Jebus Patrick,
Just finished a twelve hour night shift with no sleep the day before, I am so ill-equipped to respond to this.
Ironically I have a draft blog entry about exactly this sort of thing, althought the focus is that while guns are sexy, supplies and knowledge are more important.
When I eventually regain consciousness I’ll see if I can’t polish it up and throw it online.
As for our survival supplies, well budgetary restraints prevent me from hoarding the level of supplies I’d like, but I’ve accepted a minimum 3 days household supply (including potable water, and purification tablets and bleach as a backup).
It’s not optimal, but realistically it should do. And to be quite frank, we add to these supplies more than we subtract.
You’re right, Jillian adds a new wrinkle to the equation, and since her arrival my plans have shift from bug-out to bug-in.
Ammunition? Hehe, you know me.. like the supplies I always maintain a minimum “war stock” of so many hundred rounds (admittedly thats for range trips so I don’t get caught short on a whim, but it works either way) for each firearm (althoug, again with the budget I’ve really only sufficient on-hand supplies for the pistols, the SKS, AR and Mossberg).
It’s an interesting mental exercise.
I guess in the back of my mind, I was concerned about another “blackout” situation with Jillian here. I don’t want us to be out foraging for formula because we got caught short on grocery day.
(As an interesting aside, the bug-in plans make logistics alot easier, canned goods are much more acceptable when you don’t have to haul them around on your back. I’ve taken to grabbing a variety of wierd and wonderful things each shopping trip, and trying them out).
As you mentioned in your latest entry “Bug-out or Bug-in,” Staying in is definately preferable in times of the Zombocolypse. If you can strengthen your stronghold then you’d at least stand some sort of fighting chance — at least until you started running out of food. Water shouldn’t be too much of a problem since just because you’ve got the masses of former humanity shuffling around outside your dwelling doesn’t mean all your amenities will just shut off.
This would only be a problem if all the Hydro techs became zombified and started randomly shutting this and that down in the plant where they were working before the attacks started.
I believe these are times when one should start thinking about setting up a small hydroponics system in their attached garages, cause you obviously couldn’t go out into the yard to tend your plants.
Now the reason I have for having a set up like hydroponics is that when you finally have something set up, you’ll realize just how limited your options for certain types of vegetation/food plants are. Instead of trying to grow as many varieties of edible plants as you can, only grow a few of those but keep the remainder of tray space for growing edibles that can provide you with the maximum daily requirements of vitamins and minerals like tomatoes and other such things. You don’t want to end up with something like scurvy or beri-beri simply because you’re stuck at home for extended periods of time and can’t get out.
If necessary, you can also grow “other things” ’cause by then, it won’t be illegal anymore and who knows, it comes in handy for medicinal purposes and it’ll probably be a prime barter item, it’s position only behind food and water because it can double as tobacco. The only problem is that it can cause severe depletion of food resources due to a condition known as “the munchies.”
Much of your other vegetable/fruit sources - if you can’t grow them, like peaches, pears apples, oranges, pineapples and the like, can come from canned sources you should have stocked away. The fact that these canned items also come with a certain amount of their own water or liquid means you can save some of your stored potable water (for other things like drinking) when it comes to cooking. You should try cooking rice with the liquid from a can of Green Giant corn or peas sometime. It’s actually quite good as it gives the rice a nice pleasant, almost sweetish flavour.
As you’ve got a child, you might also want to keep a small of washable diapers around since disposable ones will only run out. Make sure you’ve also got a good supply of any over-the-counter meds that Jillian might need (as well as yourselves) such as gripe water, Childrens Tylenol, cold medicine etc. Adults can tolerate a fair bit of pain as we understand why something hurts. Babies don’t.
You may also want to start stocking up on dry bulk items whenever you get a chance. The bulk stuff you can get at any large retail grocery market and can be kept safe by double bag zip-locking it. This can include such items as lentils, soup stock, pastas, food flavourings , chocolate etc.
Stock up on things like salt, pepper and other seasonings at the dollar store where you can often find a deal of some sort on something like 2kgs of salt for $1.00. You can probably find a whole host of other things at the dollar store that can come in very handy all the time.
Other items you can stock up on at said store are things like tin foil, plastic bags and wrap, paper products, candy, cheap batteries (although IKEA batteries are much better cause they’re alkaline instead of dry cell and almost as cheap.), small tools (especially those of the manual variety like drills, saws, axes and chisels etc.), and the list goes on.
You should also have a supply of tarps as well as plastic sheeting ’cause if you have the chance, you can always construct a solar still or set up a rainwater catchment rig to augment your water supplies.
Since you live in an apartment building, you can always set up on the rooftop with relative safety while Lisa keeps an eye out. I’m in a house but have the advantage of a relatively flat rooftop that I can get to with a step ladder. I can also play sniper from there as well.
All in all, surviving is good but can become a pain in the arse simply because you have to start thinking outside of the box. When you have to find ways to make do with what you have, it can become something of a shock to the system when you subsequently realize you can’t simply go running to a supermarket everytime you run out of a necessity.
Life as a survivor can be extremely stressful. When you finally realize that everything of convenience you’ve taken for granted and that what you once had is only a fading memory, self-dispatchment can become something that doesn’t seem so bad after all.
Just a bit more to think about.
Hey Mon,
Before you start wondering what the hell is going on in my head when I comes to survival, don’t forget that I live in an earthquake zone and that the BIG ONE can come at any time. I guess that’s another reason for you to not come back here!