[R-390] EMP Pulse:

[mikea]

On Thu, Sep 24, 2009 at 02:40:38PM -0500, Frank Donnelly wrote:
> Thanks for the info.  That is what I kind of figured. and YES I do have 
> a standby generator.
> It would not take much of a Puls to fry  solid state rigs.
> I could probably only communicate with others that had standby power.
> I wonder if any of our amateur emergency services have considered that 
> possibility.
> A good reason to have some older tube type gear around.

What type of ignition does your generator have? If it's solid-state, it,
too, is toast. If it's old-style points and distributor, you've got a
chance. If it uses electronic fuel injection, _that_ is toast, too. If
it uses a carburetor or mechanical fuel injection, you've got a chance. 

For as long as the fuel supply holds out, that is. The refineries use
computers to control things, and *that*s all toast after an EMP event.
And, of course, someone has to get more fuel to where you can get it.
That probably involves fuel trucks. With electronic ignition and
electronic fuel injection. Crude comes to the refineries from where?
How?

Gotta look at the whole supply-dependency chain. 

Power <- generator <- fuel <- trucks <- refinery <- crude supply

Each "<-" link is a vulnerability that has to be considered. 

-- 
Mike Andrews, W5EGO
mikea at mikea.ath.cx
Tired old sysadmin