Actual QST Question - From "The Doctor Is In" - Nuclear EMP And The HT

[W1UJR]

Now of all things I've read in QST over the years, this one has to take the cake, and no, it was not in the April 1st issue.

"Terry, K0THD, asks: How do I protect my Amateur Radio equipment from electromagnetic pulse shockwaves as the result of a high atmosphere nuclear explosion? Or can I?"

Now, I ask myself, do I really care what happens to my plastic radio when someone lights off the Big One over my house?
The denotation of even a low yield thermonuclear device directly overhead can make any day trying, so is the survival of the 2 meter HT, aka the "Shack On The Belt", the first thing to worry about?
I'm sure that Terry is a fine business fellow ham and all that, but gosh man, is radio really first on the list? 


Think I'm kidding, check page 67 in the October 2008 issue.

So fellows, how do you protect your gear from NEMP (Nuclear Electromagnetic Pulse)?
Bonus question, do you see the flash first, or hear the resounding boom?

[ka3zlr]

Think what it will do to that power Mic... .. i couldn't resist Bruce...

[KB2WIG]

I have my Communicator 2 under some galvanized sheet metal in my garage... i'm all set


klc

[WQ9E]

If you are one of the "emcommers" just make your tinfoil hat large enough to cover several HT's and that should protect you and them from the EMP     But the real concern is how do you protect the light bars on your mobile emergency shack?

Rodger

[W4EWH]

Bonus question, do you see the flash first, or hear the resounding boom?

Look for the shadow.
Get in the shadow.
You will live in the shadow.

... or so they taught me in Basic Training.

Bill, W1AC

[KB2WIG]

 " But the real concern is how do you protect the light bars on your mobile emergency? "

[N8LGU]

    I can assure you as a 20 year SAC Navigator, that if that would happen, his two meter handi-talkie would be the least of his concerns.

[W1UJR]

   I can assure you as a 20 year SAC Navigator, that if that would happen, his two meter handi-talkie would be the least of his concerns.

Thank you!
I was surprised it was even published.
Other things came to mind, family, friends, home, property, and where do I go to get a good Slurpee now that the local 7-11 is a glowing bed of embers.

[w4bfs]

   I can assure you as a 20 year SAC Navigator, that if that would happen, his two meter handi-talkie would be the least of his concerns.

Hi Dave ... I was SAC enlisted, ground radio, worked in Minuteman ... seems a long time age .. 73 ..John

[WA1GFZ]

We wouldn't need Homeland Security if Tora Bora was turned over to SAC on 9-12.

[W1UJR]

We wouldn't need Homeland Security if Tora Bora was turned over to SAC on 9-12.

Why stop there?

[W9GT]

What that guy needs is a tube-type HT!  Might be a little heavy and a little hard on batteries, but EMP proof.

73,  Jack, W9GT

[WA1GFZ]

Bruce,
where do you stop though.....ever heard of a key hole bird

[WB2EMS]

I'm not sure the original question is that off the wall. In the last month or so, there were a spate of news stories about the threat of an EMP strike as part of asymmetrical warfare waged against the US. The specifics included the idea of a ship launched missile that would detonate high up in the atmosphere, 50-100 miles, too far for blast effects to spoil your day.

But popping one one off say 20 miles off either coast and 50 miles high would, without even penetrating our borders, basically take a large portion of the country back to the late 1800's. No power, radio, computers, cars, etc. I imagine that post EMP, any functioning electronics would be quite valuable and useful, especially radios. QST ran an article about protecting from EMP attacks like this a while back. There was a congressional hearing on the topic back in July, which is what spawned the news coverage (and probably prompted the question in QST).

I can see it now, like the "Dinosaur Killer" asteroid that wiped out those great beasts and let the mammals rise, an EMP weapon that will come to be known as the "Slopbucket Killer"  or SBEE (Slop Bucket Eliminator Extraordinaire) is being assembled in a small shop in Northern Maine... The goal, to turn all those plastic radio guts into sand, leaving the bands clear for the BC610's, T368's, DX100's etc!
The weapon, code named RileyII,  is set for a launch on or about November 15...


http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=69280
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A57774-2005Apr15.html
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=44017
http://smarteconomy.typepad.com/smart_economy/2008/07/electromagnetic.html

[WA1GFZ]

I think the threat of lightning has our power system harder than you think.

[W1UJR]

Bruce,
where do you stop though.....ever heard of a key hole bird

NRO has something even better than the KH-11.

[Tom WA3KLR]

There was a thread a month ago on EMP due to a federal commission ending and reports being issued.  Links are included to the reports:

http://amfone.net/Amforum/index.php?topic=16757.0

Let's say EMP to the power lines is no worse than a lightning strike.  A lightning strike only affects a small area, so the manpower is there to fix the only problem right away.  EMP would be like lightning hitting every where at the same time.  The repair time will be very long.

[Bill, KD0HG]

To save your HT:

Sit in a chair in a strong interior room,
Bend your head down and kiss your @ss goodbye.

Or, put the HT in a metal coffee can..Oops, that's an endangered species, too.

Or hope that the next president can build on the verifiable disarmament treaty with the Russkies.

50 Kilotons took out Hiroshima, 50 MEGAton bombs won't be much fun.

Humans are such idiots. For cryin' out loud. You don't win a war by incinerating the planet back to the stone age. Including yourself.

[ab3al]

if you fart in the woods next to the bare giving birth to the state trooper will the Pope

DRILL HERE DRILL NOW

[N0WVA]

I think Id rather be at ground zero than 40 miles out.