Mini-Tips – Part 9 August 30, 2006

Bob Kenyon – K8LJ

Keeping Equipment Dry – Tip 1

A piece of PVC pipe about six inches or larger in diameter with a cap glued on one end and a screw type cap on the other makes an excellent way of keeping your emergency kit waterproof and ready for transportation. From N4NCT

Keeping Equipment Dry –Tip 2

Save the plastic bags that the newspaper carrier delivers your daily newspapers in: They make perfect HT covers for bad weather operating. Slip it over the HT, tie a knot in the bottom and voila, a water resistant HT. The bags are thin and flexible so you can operate the controls and speak through the bag. Our ARES/RACES group recently worked a special event marathon in the pouring rain for 6 hours and the people that used the bags kept their equipment dry. From W5ETM

Universal Power Cable

Make up a cable for your HT with alligator clips on one end and a DC plug on the other to fit your radio. That way if you arrive at a site with any kind of 12 Volt DC power you can hook up your HT for extended use. From KR4WU

Extending Battery Life

Batteries can be stored in a freezer for long time. Wrap them in plastic or use a lunch bag in case one leaks. From AC4UO [Note: this topic is quite controversial – ed.]