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October 27, 2005

Fastfind Plus 406mhz Personal Locator

I saw this on Cool Tools and realized how important it is to carry something like this for our readers. It's a GPS system with a built in personal locator and emergency band broadcasting. Manufactured by McMurdo, this is a must have for any real adventurer out there. At one point in your life, you will undoubtedly find yourself in a less-than-ideal situation, possibly involving a debilitating medical emergency. This device is the best insurance policy I can recommend to you to equip yourself with to ensure continued adventuring. The Description from McMurdo:

When activated, the Fastfind Plus with integral GPS provides a 406 MHz alert signal via the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system. There is a visual indicator of GPS acquisition. Fastfind Plus also transmits on the International Aircraft Emergency Frequency of 121.5 MHz providing a homing signal for the Search And Rescue (SAR) services. A built-in self test facility includes testing of the 406 MHz and 121.5 MHz signal (where permitted) and GPS power up.

If you're looking into a McMurdo or similar system, I'd recommend checking out the Wikipedia article on Emergency Position Indicating Rescue Beacons, it covers the technology described above in explicit detail.

Check out McMurdo for more information on this life saving device.

Posted by Beau Gunderson at 12:43 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 14, 2005

Do-everything travel goo

I have, as have most people, been out adventuring around and broken gear, blown engine parts or destroyed electronics with uncanny ease. Like many of you I quickly break out my MacGyver tools, such as duct tape or an army knife, and expertly craft my repairs. Usually they last for about another mile before they short out or break off and I'm fixing them again. Scenarios like this makes it a crime to not recommend the Plasti Dip line of products to every possible person I can reach. This stuff is amazing. I can't make a better product brief than the creators, so I won't try:

A flexible, synthetic, multi-purpose rubber coating that exhibits excellent moisture, acid, alkaline, and abrasion resistance.

Flexible: Won't crack, chip or become brittle
Insulates: Electrical shock, vibration, heat; Deadens sound
Grip: Provides safe non-slip comfort and control (Non-skid grit can also be added)
Durable: Resists weather, chemicals, impact, and abrasion
Assorted Colors

I've used to stuff to seal and protect many broken parts, repair temporary cracks in parts exposed to the weather, and coat tools and sections of electronics devices. It's actually really fun, I find myself constantly looking for something that I can coat--usually for no particular reason.

It comes in a dip container or spray on version (I have both). Be sure to check out Plastiseam, the weatherproof fabric seam sealer, as well as the vinyl and leather repair products at plastidip.com.

Perhaps the most useful to those traveling by vehicle, though, is Plasti Dip's Liquid Electrical Tape. The product page says it will "seal out moisture and salt--permanently."

Plasti Dip products are available at Amazon.

Posted by Beau Gunderson at 12:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 13, 2005

We're back!

Getting settled (and getting a little free time to update the site) proved much harder than I thought--we are, however, finally back online! Check back in the next few days for updates as Jesse and I steal company time to write more entries.

Posted by Beau Gunderson at 10:50 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack