Archive | Survival

Learn Together: Meshtastic (Part 1)

I was drawn into Meshtastic by the promise of license-free, relatively easy-to-use, off-grid, off-network text communication on affordable hardware. There is very little barrier to entry and the potential upside is immense so I thought it was worth a try. I am going to drag you along with me, an absolute radio simpleton, as I learn so you can decide if it is worth a try for yourself.

Be advised: If you actually know something about radios or Meshtastic, you are going to be very frustrated with my layman’s misunderstanding and oversimplification. You have been warned!

Before we go too much further, we should establish what Meshtatic even is. Well, you can read about it here from its creators on Meshtastic.com. Basically, it is a radio mesh network made up of mostly inexpensive radios that allow the user to send small amounts of data across the mesh either corporately or privately. The mesh network does not require the use of any network or data connection other than the radios themselves. Meshtastic utilizes the license-free 915mhz band in the USA. Additionally, many of the radios used have very low power requirements making them easy to keep running even when electrical power is scarce.

My Goals for Meshtastic

This is just an introduction to my time with Meshtastic given that I am still firmly in the don’t-know-what-I-don’t-know phase of my journey. However, I have set three basic goals for what I would like to try to accomplish:

  1. Communicate reliably within a few miles of my home.
  2. Set up a private, local mesh within a few miles of my home.
  3. Communicate as far as 40-60 miles away in my region.

The Gear I Have Used So Far

If you want to follow along, I can already suggest a specific radio which I will probably do a more thorough review of later. The Lilygo T-Echo is one of the more affordable ready-to-use options that has a more energy-efficient chipset than many others in this price range. I bought mine on Amazon along with an improved antenna (the stock antenna is compact but doesn’t do the radio any favors):

Where I Am and What to Look Forward To

I have already accomplished goal 1 using just the gear listed above. I will have a post about that eventually as it is quite easy and there are some simple tips and dirt-bag hacks that will make a local mesh even more reliable.

My initial testing has been promising so far with contacts being made over tens of miles and detecting nodes as far as 70 miles (over multiple hops). It has been encouraging enough that I am already researching an outdoor solar node to install on my property to further improve my chances at meeting my goals.

There will be reviews of radios, tips and tricks, and practical information shared all along the way so stay tuned.

Keep Training with Leukotape P

Blisters suck. You are faced with quitting your training or a whole lot of pain the moment you start to feel that hotspot developing… unless you have a way to prevent it from becoming a blister in the first place. That’s how I use Leukotape P, to prevent blisters as soon as I can feel that one might be developing.

Leukotape is a thin fabric tape with low stretch and an incredible adhesive that sticks to skin, even sweaty skin, but also peels away fairly easily. It is best used on friction spots where a blister has not yet developed but where you can feel one coming. I also use it preventatively on known problem areas until that area fully heals and toughens.

The adhesive and the thinness of the tape is the real game-changer here – it lets me keep my runs, hikes, or other training going without the annoyance of moleskin coming loose in my boot. Moleskin is probably still a better treatment for areas that have already developed large blisters thanks to the gentler adhesive and additional padding… but I haven’t gotten a serious blister since I started using Leukotape.

Pro Tip: Don’t carry the whole roll around with you. Save your scraps of release paper (from stickers, receipts, return labels, etc.) and store pre-cut sections of Leukotape on those.

This stuff can be a little hard to find in some areas. I have a local drugstore with a better-than-average medical supply section that sometimes has it. Otherwise, I just buy it on Amazon. If you go that Amazon route, watch the pricing because it fluctuates heavily. I paid $7.99 a roll last week and there is usually some discount for buying in bulk. A single roll lasts a long time but I usually buy at least 3 at a time and end up giving this stuff away like candy.

Leukotape P on Amazon.com

Review: Eberlestock Bando Bag

I walk a lot, hike whenever I can, and run occasionally. I tell you this to justify the fact that I wear a fanny pack regularly… almost daily during some parts of the year. I even like doing it. Please don’t judge me. It is a convenient way for me to carry the items I want to have ready access to when I am outdoors and that includes a firearm.

It has been my experience that you can carry a firearm in almost any fanny pack but not all fanny packs are well suited to it. Access is the key. That is where my Eberlestock Bando Bag comes in. This fanny pack has a dedicated pocket that makes accessing a firearm quick and easy. I have been using it since December of last year.

There are other fanny packs that are suited to carrying vital self-defense items but what sets the Bando Bag apart is its appearance. It looks like any other sporty, outdoor-brand fanny pack and this is what I appreciate about it most. I don’t wear it into town but if I did, it would look like every other fanny pack you see in an outdoorsy area.

The Bando Bag features three compartments. The firearm compartment (5.5″ x 9.5″) is accessed via a full zipper. It can be “torn” open to allow full access by grabbing one of the zippers or hooking your thumb in the gap between the double zippers (my preferred method). It works well. This compartment will just barely fit a G19 (I usually use a G43 or small-frame wheelgun) but the new XL version fits full-sized handguns.

The second compartment is a very generous cargo compartment with organization. There are two small slip pockets and a large mesh zippered compartment with plenty of other loose space for larger items like phones. The third compartment is a zippered stash pocket on the front which is great for small items like chapstick or a lighter.

I have found the Bando Bag to be comfortable to wear and efficiently laid out to allow me to carry anything I would otherwise have knocking around in my pockets. Drawing from concealment is easy with practice. On top of all that, it is significantly less expensive than most similar bags. I like the first one I bought so much that I just ordered the new XL version to try.

Eberlestock.com

As of the time of this writing, the Bando Bag and Bando Bag XL are on sale for 20% off on Amazon (the regular size Bando Bag is less than $40!): Bando Bag and Bando Bag XL on Amazon.com

Lightning Review: OCOOPA Rechargeable Hand Warmer

I have gone through a lot of disposable, chemical hand warmers over the years. I like using them to keep my hands warm without the need for bulky gloves, keeping my hands more free for kung fu and such. I also think having a way to charge up a cell phone on hand is a good idea. So, the more I read about OCOOPA Rechargeable Hand Warmers, the more I wanted to try one.

I purchased the 5200mAh model which features 3 levels of warmth, USB-C charging, and a very pocketable and sleek shape. The single-button interface is easy to use – tap once to view charge level or hold for heat, then tap to change heat levels. These warmers have two aluminum plates (one of each face of the warmer) that give you plenty of surface area to make contact with or even share heat between both hands so I haven’t felt the need to buy a second one.

This hand warmer has surprised me with just how much I use it. It is great for cold hands, obviously, but I have found it to be a decent battery bank as well. It also works well tucked into an inside pocket of a jacket to add a little warmth. My office gets a little cold sometimes so I even use it there for warming hands or tucked under my flannel.

I will say that I think the duration time that OCOOPA states (8 hours of warmth on low) is optimistic. I have noticed that it lasts longer when kept in a pocket so it seems there is some kind of thermal regulation and the insulation provided by the pocket means the warmer heats less often, extending the battery life. I might consider buying a larger capacity model if I was doing this again.

All things considered, I love this thing more than I care to admit. I see it as a battery bank with a very useful bonus feature. If you already carry a battery bank, it would be easy to swap this into your EDC when the weather turns cold.

Given the time of year (as I write this), this would also make a great gift.

I bought mine from Amazon where they are frequently on sale so watch prices: OCOOPA Hand Warmers on Amazon.com

Lightning Review: Hewlett Two-Side Diamond Sharpener Medium/Fine

There are many, many overdone field knife sharpeners on the market but very few that I would consider carrying regularly. That is why I love my USA-made, easy-to-carry Hewlett Two-Sided Diamond Sharpeners with medium (600) and fine (1800) grits. I have had a couple of these knocking around for years now. It might be the most versatile, easiest-to-carry, field sharpener I own.

These diamond plates are the right size – small enough to carry in their included sleeve and large enough to actually work. They are just under 4″ long, 1.25″ wide, and just about 1/16″ thick. They weigh just over 1 ounce.

I rarely use the medium side but it is coarse enough to get some mild reprofiling done in the field should you take some chips out of an edge. The fine side is all I usually need to touch up an edge before finishing with a quick strop.

I have even used mine to strike a ferro rod and scrape tinder like fat wood thanks to the crisp edges on the plate. It isn’t meant for that and I am sure it isn’t good for it… but it works.

I bought mine on Amazon: Hewlett Diamond Sharpener Medium/Fine

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