Quote from: Solar on August 11, 2014, 06:57:46 AM

That's the right attitude.
Seriously, If I were single, I'd probably do the same.

Which I am...  But you guys can build a telegraph-network in an expansive rural setting;

Reinventing Morse: Build your own Telegraph

if you have time and inspiration to buy components and a morse-code book.

Quote from: kit saginaw on August 11, 2014, 08:20:27 PM
Which I am...  But you guys can build a telegraph-network in an expansive rural setting;

Reinventing Morse: Build your own Telegraph

if you have time and inspiration to buy components and a morse-code book.

My next door and I built one so we could talk when we were about 10 yro, lasted about two days, that's when his dad hit the wire with a lawnmower.
He got a woopin and grounded, I got a "Hey, that was a pretty good idea".

Oh, I forgot to mention, it never really worked, I'm sure we had the wires grounded.

You probably needed a relay-unit, like if you have a hidden electric-train network. 

I remember reading a model-train book where a guy had his farmhouse rigged-up with track, with his wife sending him lunch from the kitchen on tiny plates that fit through wall-tunnels, etc. 

I think a toy-train outdoor distance-record was set in Scotland, but I can't find it.  I just remember that the operators had to keep disassembling the 'used' tracks, then transport them ahead of the train to reassemble...

Solar in that event, there is nothing, and nowhere anyone would survive. Even if you had survival skills/training like some of us have had. We'd still eventually die from the exposure of the X-rays.

Good thing is, our sun, is relatively quiet and calm and middle aged. And there's zero evidence this "event" they're warning us all about, has ever happened in the entire history of our planet, as well life  has been here, for a very very very long time indeed. 

My older brother and I made a telegraph set when I was 8. Bro was 13.  It ran off a 6v lantern battery and could send a signal just under 1000 yards. The first iteration could only click, but a couple years later we added a buzzer. I never did learn Morse very well, but we had fun with it.

I've seen a design for a modernized version which uses old CAT5 cable, which, by grounding half of the twisted pairs will supposedly protect the system from EMP.

I really didn't plan anything yet, but it seems now I need to. Well, I can also copy any plan shared here in the forum. 

Quote from: Solar on August 11, 2014, 08:29:15 PM
My next door and I built one so we could talk when we were about 10 yro, lasted about two days, that's when his dad hit the wire with a lawnmower.
He got a woopin and grounded, I got a "Hey, that was a pretty good idea".

Oh, I forgot to mention, it never really worked, I'm sure we had the wires grounded.

Easier and free, back in those days, to talk on what we called the "beep line." Remember that?

Back when the evil Bell System and GTE ran everything, they used a recorded busy signal -- the exact same recording, on the exact same connection, for everyone in a service area. People 50 miles away -- long distance back in those days -- were listening to the same recording of a busy signal that you were, and they were connected to you as long as you listened. All you had to do was learn to talk between the beeps.

Met some nice babes that way, back in 1970 or so. 

    
Let's make the atmosphere more transparent!

Quote from: TboneAgain on March 13, 2015, 01:12:41 AM
Easier and free, back in those days, to talk on what we called the "beep line." Remember that?

Back when the evil Bell System and GTE ran everything, they used a recorded busy signal -- the exact same recording, on the exact same connection, for everyone in a service area. People 50 miles away -- long distance back in those days -- were listening to the same recording of a busy signal that you were, and they were connected to you as long as you listened. All you had to do was learn to talk between the beeps.

Met some nice babes that way, back in 1970 or so. 

I missed this post, sorry.
Yes, I do remember hearing about that, but it didn't work in my area like that.

Over thinking this again, in the 1859 event, fires were started in some of the telegraph offices. We would be well advised, with sufficient warning, to disconnect all electrical devices in the house as well as to knock the meter off the wall to isolate the house from the system. Even then some of the motors in the house could be at risk of over heating. Fire would be a major  problem. This would be less of a problem for those who are off grid.

Quote from: Possumpoint on April 22, 2015, 03:55:45 AM
Over thinking this again, in the 1859 event, fires were started in some of the telegraph offices. We would be well advised, with sufficient warning, to disconnect all electrical devices in the house as well as to knock the meter off the wall to isolate the house from the system. Even then some of the motors in the house could be at risk of over heating. Fire would be a major  problem. This would be less of a problem for those who are off grid.

You raise an interesting point about the meter.
Knowing the energy can leap several inches, one could make a ground cable/jumper that could easily be connected to the now dead hotleg entering the home, giving the home a complete closed grounded system.

Good suggestion solar, which is the output side of a meter, left or right?

Quote from: Possumpoint on April 23, 2015, 07:05:56 PM
Good suggestion solar, which is the output side of a meter, left or right?

There are four lugs, the two top lugs are hot.

Quote from: Solar on August 02, 2014, 10:34:31 AM
Apocalypse NOW: Killer solar superstorm could destroy Earth at ANY MOMENT, scientists warn

The headline threw me, maybe. If a "killer solar superstorm" destroys the planet, what does it matter what I have squirreled away in my stash?

While I am all for bug out bags, and think every family should have one. I'm not so certain we have much to worry about from solar flares. For a flare to hit us, first it has to be aimed at us as it leaves the sun, then there's the Earth's speed around the sun, we're all moving pretty damned fast on this rock as it orbits the sun. But even should a flare hit us, it wouldn't affect things like water supplies. As those don't rely on the grid to deliver their services. So eh, I can do without electric for awhile. Save my addiction to CPF that is. I might have some withdrawals from that, but otherwise me and my family are ready to go. Complete with first aid kits, and a few additional items I knew we'd need from my time as a combat medic. :)