Tech-Talk
Part 20
Welcome to part 20 of our series.
I'm going to take a little side trip here. Many, if not
most of us, have some type of "go-kit" for portable Ham Radio
Operation. If you've been subscribed to my newsletter for even a short
time, you know that I travel quite a bit to attend Hamfests all over the
East Coast and Midwest. I can be on the road for a week or more, even
up to a month or more -- when you live in New England, spending all of February
in Florida is a pretty good deal! So I get to stay quite a few nights
in hotels every year. I need to keep connected while traveling, and my laptop bag
has developed into a second go-kit of sorts. While you may not travel
as much as I do, you may find yourself on the road for vacations,
business trips, family visits, or a trip to a major Hamfest like The Dayton Hamvention. Here are some items I keep in my laptop bag....
If you depend on your cell phone, you need to keep it
charged. AC wall adapters for USB are inexpensive, and you don't have
to leave the phone in the car to charge. A spare cable just makes
sense, too. Most hotels offer WiFi, but it's not always reliable. Some
rooms are still wired for RJ-45 network cables, so I keep one in the
bag just in case... it's kept me connected more than once. And it seems
like there are never enough AC outlets in a hotel room, and they're
never where you need them. A triple tap adapter and a small and light
extension cord can put the power where you need it. Don't forget a 2 to
3 prong adapter, just in case.
Between GPS units, smart phones, and computer mapping
programs, you'd think paper maps would be just about useless. Wrong!
Returning home from a recent Hamfest, road signs told me that Interstate
84 was closed due to a major accident. The GPS was no help -- without
a whole lot of fiddling, it insisted that I stay on I-84. A quick look
at my paper Road Atlas led me to an alternate route. I heard from
friends that the delay was over 4 hours. I arrived home 30 minutes
later than I had first expected.
Call me old-fashioned, but I always keep a pad of paper and
pen in my bag. I suppose I could get a note-taking app for my phone,
and text things to others. But I don't think I'd want to try drawing a
quick picture or simple schematic on my phone. Flashlights are
something you almost never need, until you REALLY do. Then they become
almost invaluable. Same thing with a first aid kit. Something as
simple as a band-aid on a blister or cut can make a big difference.
Since Hamfests involve a lot of physical work for me, I keep a bottle of
my favorite painkiller (non-prescription) in my kit too. If you do
take prescription medications, make sure to take enough with you. When I
travel, I take at least two extra days' supply with me. Breakdowns
happen. And opportunities for side trips arise. Be ready for them,
take advantage of them, and don't be limited by not having enough meds
with you.
And cash. Real American (or that of your country)
currency. Yep, most all of us -- me included -- depend on our credit or
debit cards when traveling. But stuff happens. I never, ever, leave
home without enough cash to get where I'm going and back home. I've
never had to resort to that, but if it comes to it I'm prepared.
And finally, I always keep a deck of playing cards in my
bag. Years ago, on a trip with my then young children, a failed
alternator led to an unanticipated stay in a small town. I think
without the pack of cards and a lot of time filled with hearts, gin
rummy, and even solitaire, I (or they) would have gone a bit crazy.
Soapbox mode on for some further thoughts on traveling.
I'm sure I don't have to tell you "Don't drink and drive"
and "Don't text and drive"... but just in case, I did. Add to that
"Don't fiddle with the GPS, iPod, cell phone, radio, etc. and drive".
Stop at an exit or rest area.
Don't tailgate. I think this is a major cause of accidents
that does not get enough attention. Very often, I see cars following
just a few feet behind a tractor-trailer. No possible way for them to
see what's on the road ahead, and no possible way for them to stop in
time if the trucker hits the brakes. You need to have a clear view of
the road ahead as far as possible. And please -- when you see traffic
backing up ahead, that's not the time to start jockeying for position to
get you 2 car lengths ahead. That's the time to start gently slowing
down, giving the guy behind you plenty of time and room to do the same.
Speaking of truckers -- I find that they are almost
universally professional and courteous drivers. Give them a break -- it
takes a long time for them to accelerate and stop all that weight.
When they put their blinker on to move into your lane, don't speed up to
pass them! Back off a little and flash your headlights to let them
know it's ok to move over. They'll appreciate it.
Don't hog the left lane, especially when there are only two
lanes in each direction. When you see cars behind you (you DO check
your mirrors frequently, don't you?) move over and let them pass -- when
you see cars passing you on the right, you know it's definitely time to
move over.
Don't drive tired. Yeah, when you're only an hour or so
from home a coffee or soda and candy caffeine/sugar burst can get you
there. But when you're three hours out and it's late and you're tired
already -- that's what motels are made for. Believe me, they're a lot
cheaper than accidents or worse.
Get off the interstates when you can. Check out your Road
Atlas (see above). Most interstate highways have "sister" US routes
that take you in the same direction at a more relaxed pace. I travel
I-81 frequently from Scranton PA down through PA, MD, WV, a long trip
through VA and sometimes as far as Dandridge, TN. US-11 is rarely more
than a few miles away from I-81. It goes through small towns, past
farms, and through forests. You can do as much or as little of that as
you wish, there are frequent opportunities to get back on the
Interstate.
And for goodness sakes, skip the fast food places! Look for
local restaurants. You can always get a Big Mac (ugh!) at home.
Unless you live in Staunton, VA, you can't have breakfast at Mrs.
Rowe's. Unless you live in Orlando, FL you can't have the pork BBQ
lunch at Bubbalou's. And unless you live in Carlisle, PA, you can't get
the pot roast dinner at the Metropolitan Diner. Not to mention the
delicious roadside homemade ice cream stands.
A favorite quote, possibly but only slightly misquoted :
"When traveling and wanting to make good time, make sure the emphasis is
on good, not time".
OK, enough on the soapbox...
That's it for this time.
73 for now
John Bee, N1GNV
Quicksilver Radio Products
No comments:
Post a Comment