As I said in the video I got this cannon to try to make aircrete, I was skeptical, because I figured it would add too much water, but since I also have siding and cars that need cleaning, I figured I had nothing to loose. Turns out I was right, this is not the right tool to make foam for aerated cement, but it does a wonderful job cleaning stuff.
Right out of the box I could tell the quality of this foam cannon, this is a solid tool and the sellers added a good sized roll of Teflon tape to help with installation, which is a nice gesture.
There were no instructions in the box, but if you need them then you probably shouldn’t be using a tool as dangerous as a pressure washer…. Press the hose onto the barb, screw on the soap container after adding soap, and finish by screwing in the right adapter for your wand.
Its simple to put together and should not take you more than a couple minutes. I took me an additional couple of minutes to figure out to controls as I had never used a foam cannon before. the nozzle turns to create a solid stream or a fan shaped mist. the dial on the top controls to amount of foam made. I used both extremes, one to wet and rinse the car, and another to cover it in foam.
This device is inexpensive and really helped was old tree sap off my car. Dirt came off touch free, but the stubborn tar took a little (not a lot) of additional scrubbing with a rag.
All in all, I think this is a great product, and I would definitely get it again.
I don’t normally post bad reviews – sticking to the idea that “if you don’t have anything good to say don’t say anything at all, but this radio holster was SO poorly made I felt I had to share.
I recently came back to corrections, and I am now an Academy Instructor that is assigned field duties to teach new employees how to survive working in a prison. I love this job, but to get it I had to be rehired as a basic correctional officer and go back through the entire training process before I could apply.
I bought this Tact Gear Radio Holder upon graduation from the academy and used it as I began my 2 week on the job training. I did not work hard, as I was not allowed one on one work with inmates during the training. I did not get in any fights and only responded to a single “officer needs assistance call”. Imagine my frustration when less than 2 weeks of light use the radio holder broke.
I could not imagine that gear designed to hold such an essential tool as a radio would be built so shoddily. I was able to sew it using a hand awl speedy stitcher, but I am not sure I can trust it. Luckily my new job does not have me in a duty belt daily, so I don’t have to buy a more expensive radio holster.
Remember, cheap is cheap for a reason – sometimes you have to have a piece of equipment and you can’t afford the best, but if you can shell out for better gear – you only have to buy once and cry once.
In our opening show we will discuss our goals for the Preparedness Radio Network show, the mindset behind what we are doing, and the background of the host.
We also discuss how David gets his ideas, and he will discuss the newest idea shared with him, which was an easy way to prevent mold growing in the milk bottles his young son likes to hide…
You can download the show to listen later at this link.
l am quite happy to be a host for preparedness radio network. I hope the show lasts for a while. I enjoy helping others and I think that podcasting is another way to do that.
One thing I worry about is coming up with enough ideas to keep a weekly podcast and a weekly youtube video without messing up the quality of either.
Luckily there is a lot of information to explore and share. My goal is that we actually converse and people call in and talk. I find a two way discussion is much more fun that a lecture. Besides when people talk they learn more than when a single person just rambles on.
Through twitter I was introduced to some really cool guys that run a new Prepper Reality Radio Show.
What is different about these guys is that their hosts specialize in particular topics so instead of having one host with a longer show that covers a lot of topics, they have shorter but more focused shows.
That works for them because they are focusing on teaching topics, so you can listen live or download only what you want to, and don’t have to listen to topics you my not be interested in to hear what you want.
But what really got my attention is that the lead host Maha33, coined the term prepsteading, which is homesteading for preparedness. As soon as I heard the term I focused i, because that is exactly what I am doing, but never thought to label it.
Right now we are working on scheduling a time that I can come on as a guest to talk about firearm issues for preppers.
I look forward to learning more from these guys and I have posted their website addresses below so you can check them out.
Prepper Reality Website: www.anythingprepping.com
New site (under construction): www.prepperreality.com
Now for those that care about these things, I have not received any compensation of any type for this review. I am reviewing this device because I think EVERY prepper should have at least one ham radio, and with the quality/price ratio this radio is worth looking into.
First strike against the Wuxun KG-UV3D radio is that is Chinese made. Some don’t care –some do, personally I’d rather buy American made, but a simple internet search will show you how hard it is to find a American made ham radio.
First positive comment is that it’s around $100 bucks. This is in a world where almost all other handhelds start at 5 times that amount. I first learned about this radio from a group of ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) volunteers in East TN. These guys all had at least one and they were of the opinion that it was good enough, and sturdy enough, and if they broke the thing it was only a $100 radio.
As I said in the video my intent was to buy one, try it out, and if mine was as functional as the ones I was shown in Athens then I would buy a couple more for the wife and for storage. My wife is now expecting, so I had to add another prepper tier to my list, so the extra radios were bumped back, but I still intend to buy a couple more once I stockpile a lot of diapers and bottles…
I am not going to get into too much detail on these radios, as a ham will just go dig up the spec sheet and it may cause informational overload to a non-ham. But basically:
Wuxun KG-UV3D Features
Dual band monitor (VHF/UHF, VHF/VHF, UHF/UHF)
You can monitor two different sets of frequencies at the same time
The radio comes in different flavors so you can almost pick which two bands you want.
Includes intelligent desktop 3-4 hour rapid charger
Loud speaker audio output (500 mW)
Bright flashlight illumination function
Meets IP55 waterproof rating
English female voice prompts enable non-sighted operation (can be turned off)
The Chinese lady scares me so I turned mine off
128 memory channels (shared)
VOX Function
Digital FM radio (76-108MHz) with automatic tuning and storing, radio frequency display, 18 FM memories in 2 banks
Wide/narrow bandwidth selection (25 or 12.5 kHz)
Power on display: show battery voltage, 6-character customizable welcome message, or display test
Windows PC programmable, free software available for download. Optional low cost cable
This is the selling point for me – I found the manual programming wasn’t as bad as some reviews claimed it to be, but I liked doing it from my computer even though
There is some bugs in the setup and you may have to try more than once to get your radio to connect to your computer
The program is limited to a “legal” frequency band and not actual – meaning I can listen to the weather radio and FRMS and GRMS frequencies (among other things) but I have to put them in manually.
Radio to radio cloning with optional cable
105 groups DCS/50 groups CTCSS
DTMF encoding (includes ABCD tones, continuous with button press duration)
CTCSS encode/Decode (no decode delay)
Stopwatch function
SOS function
Low-voltage voice prompt
Busy channel lockout
Selectable transmit over timer (from 15 to 600 seconds)
Selectable step sizes of 5, 6.25, 10, 12.5, 25, 50 or 100 kHz
Multiple scan modes including priority scan
Keypad lock (auto or manual)
Programmable by computer or keypad
High contrast white backlit keypad. All keys are backlit (except A/B & TDR)
Conclusion
That’s a lot of stuff, add in that you can unlock the radio to get additional channels* and that it feels like a Kenwood (very sturdy feeling) transmits clearly and loudly and you can buy an adaptor to run a longer antenna makes it (IMHO) a very good buy.
*about that unlocking;
1. It’s most likely illegal, and I am not suggesting you break the law
2. With the advent of trunking and other digital radio advances just because you can transmit and receive on the local law enforcement channels on the Wuxun KG-UV3D or other radio does not mean you can communicate with them.
I don’t normally post bad reviews – sticking to the idea that “if you don’t have anything good to say don’t say anything at all, but this radio holster was SO poorly made I felt I had to share.
Now for those that care about these things, I have not received any compensation of any type for this review. I am reviewing this device because I think EVERY prepper should have at least one ham radio, and with the quality/price ratio this radio is worth looking into.