The Network
Neighbours helping neighbours. Grid-down scenarios, medical kits, mutual aid, comms. No algorithms — just people who prepare, together.
Best budget water filter for a family of 4?
Looking to set up water filtration for a family of four on a budget. I see a lot of options — gravity filters, squeeze filters, pump filters. For a household that wants something reliable but not $200+, what's the real-world recommendation? Main use case: backup for tap water outages, plus occasional camping. Not expecting to filter heavy sediment or chemical contamination.
Grid-down: keeping insulin cold without power
This is a serious one. A family member is insulin-dependent and I'm trying to build a realistic plan for keeping medication cold during an extended outage. Options I'm considering: - Frio evaporative cooling pouches - Small 12V fridge cooler running off a portable power station - Rotating frozen gel packs in a good cooler Anyone with real experience? How long can each method actually hold temperature in summer heat?
Ham radio vs CB for local comms?
Trying to decide on a local comms setup for my neighborhood group. We're about 8 households within a 2-mile radius, mostly suburban with some trees. - Is a technician license worth it for ham, or is CB enough for this range? - What about GMRS as a middle ground? Looking for practical experience, not theory. What actually works in the suburbs?