Considering devices like the Kindle and Kindle on the iPod Touch can allow you to carry a large amount of reference (or other) material with you, pretty much full time, I wonder what material people think is valuable?

I understand the limitations of electronic devices, but in reality, with a bit of planning, electronic devices can be viable for a fair amount of time and you simply are not going to be lugging an encyclopedia set around with you with traditional medium.

Anyone else do this? What materials do you carry? What would you like to carry?

-john

They sell Faraday Cages with those Kindles?

;-)

sure.

;-)

-john

I have a PDF reader loaded on my PDA with FM21-76, Swedish survival manual, PSK sheet & everything from RAT cutlery. So long as I have power, I have tips & tricks at my finger tips.

A emergency charger might be a good idea.

A solar charger might be even better.

Sue

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpWJPobfWd8

Stuff like this downloaded from Youtube using Youtube downloader from http://youtubedownload.altervista.org/ onto a number of 16GB SDHC cards, which I can then watch, using an Archos 605.

One of the great advantages to electronic media is the ability to not only view text and photographs i.e. pdf format etc but also video and audio such as the podcasts from http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/page17.asp

http://www.theoutdoorsstation.co.uk/

I EDC a Sony PRS-505 for pleasure reading. In my EDC bag is an SD card with PDF files of many US Army manuals, Where There Is No Doctor, other medical texts, and a bunch of reference texts. The 505 isn't the best pdf reader, but since I'm carrying it anyway, an extra memory card doesn't cost me much weight and bulk, and it might come in handy sometime. And yes, I also have a AA-powered charger and extra batteries.

With the price of USGS maps up, it might be cheaper to have those saved as pdf's too. Never thought of having them on a handheld computer.

I have a lot on my Palm PDA (Sony TH55E). Almost every useful material which I've found on this forum is in there, plus many more. They are mostly in PDF format, some in JPEG images, several in MS Word .doc format, and some in a plain text. Video is too space consuming but it's also records and plays Ok (for the proof of something, for example) with this PDA.

Plus, I've acquired many palm software titles over the years, which are in fact are the interactive documents. They are ranging from the simple knots reference chart and subway guide - to the several languages vocabularies and 3 different GPS navigation applications with the integrated map database covering about 1000 mile radius from my home location. Everything is on the 2 trans-flash memory cards - 4 GB total (+1 backup stick of 2GB).

Regarding the power for my PDA. No problems at all - it's not a fridge. It holds the charge for 10-14 hours of reading (that's sufficient for about a week of intensive use). However I have a power kit right on my person almost all the time (in the pockets of my ScotteVest).



It consists of 3 components:

• one is a bit smaller than a cigarette pack with a bunch of different connectors and adapters, standardizing all of my everyday devices (actually much more than that) to a single mini stereo audio phones male connector, piece of electrical wire, piece of nichrome wire (to improvise a particular ohmmage resistor), high voltage rectifier, several voltage regulator IC's (step-up and step-down) with schematics, variable resistor, screw terminal, gold plated neodymium magnets, mini voltmeter, and a single AA cell 5V charger (bottom of the image);
• another component size is like a 1/8" thick stack of postcards. It contains 7 sheets of solar film panels producing 200mA at 7V each (may be configured for producing a different voltage and current), and a piece of aluminum foil (not shown because they are a part of another, sealed for now, pocket kit);
• the last component is the 4 AA USB charger. It's slightly wider than a cigarette pack, and equipped with 4 Eneloop rechargeable AA's. It allows to charge them from any 5V source and to discharge them at its regulated 5V output port. Usually, it gives at least 4 charges for my PDA with the freshly charged Eneloops (shown at the top of the image).
• oh yes, I forgot about the 4-th component - AC and Car options, it's ScotteVest, you know :
  
  The smallest I could find. However while shopping make sure the AC adapter can provide enough current to power your device. As a rule of thumb - the 500 mA is the minimum for the most of a nowadays electronics.

As you can see I can rig a charger for my palm PDA, phone, radio, flashlight, etc... to use almost ANY source of electrical power, and in many different ways. Once I've charged my PDA to 50% from 14 soup plates with salted water (galvanic cells). Another time I've got enough juice to trigger the "charging" indicator using a Wimshurst machine (electrostatics). I'm using this kit on a daily basis (primarily charging from an available USB ports though).

I don't believe in high probability of damage from EMP, but I do have an aluminum case for my PDA (the PDA is not in it all the time though).

Thanks for reminding me about Where there is No Doctor.

I'm using an iPod Touch, and have an application to and read various files such as PDFs, applications for offline storage of Wikipedia, applications for offline maps (topographical and street), dictionary, and book readers where I can download public domain and Kindle books.

My setup can be seen in this post, although I do carry a few additional issues like spare cable, and a external battery pack that takes AA batteries, but again, supplies USB charging capability. The main optimization is that I only need one cable.

I have been keeping reference manuals for gear I carry, personal information (in an encrypted notes application), and a number of medical related (Kindle) books such as:

First Aid: A Pocket Guide
Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary
Medicine For Mountaineering
Mountaineering First Aid
Illustrated First Aid Guide
98.6 Degrees
Current Medical Diagnosis
Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook

You get the idea.

Being able to have PDFs and self prepared stuff has been great, but I'm *really* happy with the ability to get commercial books now as well.

-john

I have an 8GB Micro-SD card in my BB, I guess I could put some stuff there I'd prefer to reference my hard-cover books though, or a PDF file.

However, I can see how having a lot of info mobile would be cool too. It would be nice if Garmin had a PDF reader in their larger screen GPS units.. heck maybe they do ??

Alex, that is FREAKING AWESOME! You speak my language, dude. There's always a reader provided you can get power to it.

I'd buy you a virtual beer, but there's no smiley for it (hey, Mods, surely we can afford a virtual beer?!).

Ah, I know, - my pity English... Sorry about that. I'm just hoping you've got the idea.

Alex, my intent was to congratulate you for your outstanding travel charging kit and your innovative ways of generating electricity. I carry a few items but nothing so comprehensive. Well done!

You communicate very clearly. Apologies if my silly reply caused you to think otherwise.

Thank you, dougwalkabout, it's really inspiring! I'd like to add some more details on the kit, if nobody mind.

Regarding the connectors number optimization. Actually I've standardized about 90% of my devices on mini USB connector already. But I've decided to keep the most complicated phone connectors in order to be able help other people to charge their phones in an emergency.

The AA charger is retrofitted with 3 additional connectors and a switch, which allows to connect different cables for charging, discharging, and to use the box as a gender changer or for conversion from one connector type to another (mostly for my older power options, which rely on a larger regular size stereo phones connector. Also I've installed an ultrabright LED in it so it can serve as a simple but long lasting flashlight. The orange tape on the box is actually on the custom made plastic lip, one side of which is for clipping the box on the inner pocket of my vest (so it hangs under my left rib rather than on the bottom of the side pocket), the other side fits tight between the batteries and charging terminals, preventing possible slow discharge into the circuit. It's transparent, so it's easy to loose it without the tape.

The neodymium magnets in the kit take almost no space, but simplify a lot rigging the standard AA,AAA,C,D,etc cells into the batteries in series for a particular voltage (they are actually a magnetic closures for the jewelry, and have very robust tool-less wire mounting features). Also, theoretically, it is possible to improvise a rotary electric generator with them (never tried though).

With enough electrical power available at your disposal the nichrome wire can also be used as a precisely controlled heat source. For example: for fire starting, which is more gentle on the batteries than steel wool, bare wire, or pencil core methods; to boil water even in a zip lock bag; to cut, seal and glue plastics and styrofoam, e.t.c.

Back to the reference materials.

My survival reference folder:

• Complete mechanical repairs manual for my Subaru Forester in PDF format.
• Dangerous Plants and Animals.html+
• Emergency food prep.txt
• Ebook - Recipes Tried And True (1894 Cookbook).txt
• Emergency Food Preparation.pdf
• Enjoy Yeast Breads - FN283.pdf
• Quilt Inn Country Cookbook.pdf
• Field Cooking Nutrition.txt
• Drying_Foods.pdf
• Emergency_Water_Supply.pdf
• Food Storage Cooking School - FN503.PDF
• Canning Butter
• Canning Hamburger
• Emergency Food and Water Supplies
• Family Food Security
• Guide to Food and Water Storage
• How Much to Store
• Providence Cooperative Prudent Food Storage Ver 3
• Providence Cooperative Stored Food Pests FAQ Ver 1 (TXT Format)
• Providence Cooperative Water Treatment FAQ Ver 2.2 (Word Format)
• Prudent_Food_Storage_FAQ
• Salt Cureing Meat
• Start Your Food Storage on $10 a Week by Alan T Hagan Issue 59
• Storing Flour
• Storing Grains in Buckets
• Storing Honey
• Storing Water in 2-Liter Bottles
• Survival Meat Preserving - Part 1 - Pemmican
• Survival Meat Preserving - Part 2 - Jerky
• Waxing Cans and Boxes for Storage
• BackPack Stove.htm
• Building a SmokeHouse.txt
• dutchoven.txt
• How To Build An Outdoor Fire.htm
• Water_Proof_Matches.pdf
• Basic Fishing.htm
• Disinfecting After the Flood.doc
• Emergency Water Treatment & Sanitation Handout Pages .rtf
• Emergency Water Treatment.htm
• Food Procurement.htm
• Skinning_And_Dressing_Rabbits.pdf
• wild rice.pdf
• wildriceappendixa.pdf
• Portable Food
• Recipes
• Emergency Shelter Factfile.htm
• Granddaddy of All Underground Storage Areas.pdf
• Shelter.jpg
• Building_Shelters.htm
• Debris Hut Construction.htm
• Tent Plans.doc
• Container Herb Gardening.htm
• Gardening_Classic_-_How_to_Grow_and_Prepare_Tomatoes.pdf
• Gopher Repeller.htm
• Greenhouse Gardening.htm
• Growing Barrels Of Potatoes.htm
• Natural Chicken Feed.txt
• Saving Seeds 2.txt
• Successful_Gardening,_Vol._1.pdf
• The City People's Book of Raising Food - Olkowski.txt
• WILLIAMS, Ann - Backyard Rabbit Keeping.txt
• Survival - FM 21-76 Supplemental Photos and Diagrams
• Survival_Bible_-_Richard_Perron
• Survival_Library
• Survival_Manual_(PDB)
• Tappan,_Mel_-_Tappan_on_Survival
• Disinfecting After the Flood.doc
• Extension Agent's Handbook for Emergency Preparation and
• Response.doc
• Urban Survival - Douglas Bell.html
• 11 Steps to Survival - Canada Emergency Measurses
• Organization.pdf
• Aids to Survival.pdf
• Be Your Own Bodyguard - Peaceful Paths.pdf
• Bushcraft (Canadian Scout Manual) - PO 403.pdf
• Camp Life in the Woods and the Tricks of Trapping.pdf
• Captain Dave's Survival Guide.pdf
• Citizen's Homeland Defense Guide I - The Art of Survival.pdf
• Citizen's Homeland Defense Guide II - The Art of Survival.pdf
• Civil Preparedness Guide - FEMA 1-10.pdf
• Combat Survival and Evasion.pdf
• Common Sense Guide to Being Prepared - Time Magazine.pdf
• Essential Underground Handbook (P M L Publishing).pdf
• Fieldcraft - B-GL-392-009-FP-001.pdf
• Free_Hot_Tips_on_Survival_by_Ex-Green_Beret_Don_Paul.pdf
• Handbook_of_Knots_&_Splices_-_Charles_Gibson.pdf
• How to Prepare for Any Disaster.pdf
• Injurious Plants GTA 08-05-055.pdf
• Mormon Emergency Preperation.pdf
• National Security Emergencies.pdf
• Pioneering Knots and Lashings.pdf
• Risks & hazards - A State by State Guide - FEMA196.pdf
• Special Forces Caching Techniques - TC 31-29A.pdf
• Summaries of Soviet Civil Defense Research Reports - FEMA RR-27.pdf
• Survival - MCRP 3-02F FM 21-76.pdf
• Survival Evasion and Recovery - MCRP 3-02H.pdf
• The Art and Science of Dumpster Diving - John Hoffman.pdf
• US Marine Corps MWTC Summer Survival Course Handbook - MSVX.02.01.pdf
• Wilderness Survival Techniques And Tips.pdf
• You Will Survive Doomsday - Bruce Beach.pdf
• You Will Survive Doomsday - Bruce Beach (file version 2).pdf
• Don't Leave Home Without Your Brain.txt
• Out-of-Home Defense.txt
• Providence Cooperative Survival FAQ - Threat Analysis.txt
• MILITARY MOUNTAINEERING FM 3-97.61(TC 90-6-1).pdf
• Mountain Operations FM 3-97.6.pdf
• MOUNTAINEERING TECHNIQUES (BASIC) IN0486.pdf
• RAPPELLING TC 21-24.pdf
• Desert Operations FM 90-3.pdf
• SPECIAL ENVIRONMENTS OPERATIONS (DESERT) IN0828.pdf
• JUNGLE OPERATIONS FM 90-5.pdf
• Terrain Analysis FM 5-33.pdf
• MAP READING AND LAND NAVIGATION FM 3-25.26.pdf
• SURVIVAL, EVASION, AND RECOVERY FM 21-76-1.pdf
• FM_21-76_US_ARMY_SURVIVAL_MANUAL.pdf
• Air Force Survival Manual afr 64 4.pdf
• SURVIVAL IN COLD WEATHER TC 21-3.pdf
• Basic Cold Weather Manual FM 31 70.pdf
• WATER SURVIVAL TRAINING TC 21-21
• MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS IN UNUSUAL ENVIRONMENTS AL 9006

- plain txt format if nothig specific stated;
- most of the html documents are with the complimentary images folders.
- no, I didn't read all of them as of yet

Cool. Any chance you could change those items to links to the source material?

thanks,

-john

I can not do that. Sorry. They were acquired over the years from many different sources, including this forum (just added the "Where there is no doctor.pdf"). And I had no chance to keep track of them.

No problem. Thanks.

-john

Oh yeah, my iPhone 3GS is definately a permanent component of my EDC and for more than the built in digital compass. I have Cody Lundin's 98.6 degrees, John and Geri McPhersons Ultimate Guide to Wilderness Living on my Kindle App along with various first aid guides and encyclopedias. Also scans of personal documents in my PDF reader and even just fun reading material for staying in place waiting for rescue. For urban survival I'd recommend everyone have some sort of PDA as a primary part of their kit, just remember carrying personal data that way can be a security risk too. Any PDA out there today has some kind of passcode security available for it, you should definately make use of it even if its just a simple keypad lock.

Another useful book in my survival refs collection (now with the fresh link):

4016475-the-golden-book-of-chemistry-experiments-robert-brent.pdf

It's always good to be able to refresh the basics.

This is one of the most awesome chemistry books ever produced!! Anyone who wants to understand basic chemistry should download this book and work through it's experiments (at least the ones that are still legal). I love this book.

-Blast

FYI, I found this PDF down loadable without registration here:

http://chemistry.about.com/b/2008/08/05/banned-book-the-golden-book-of-chemistry-experiments.htm

-john

I know, people are afraid of the "registration required" sites because they have to enter some personal info for that. However one can always use a temporary e-mail address service like one provided on http://mailinator.com - no hassle or consequences at all.