I recently had the opportunity to take the Gerber Cable Dawg on a multi-week exercise and put it to the test in the field. The Dawg is one of the most well thought out tools I’ve come across, specifically targeting the communication specialists out there.
In one tool they’ve combined a cable cutter, knife, CAT5 jacket cutter, wire stripper, RJ45 crimper, and an interchangeable magnetic driver for your flat, Phillips, and even punch-downs.
My team’s multi-week experience with the tool included creating custom-length Ethernet cables, punching down wires, snipping the ends off of zip ties, opening up boxes full of network gear, etc. Essentially, we used the tool for all the real-world things one would expect from someone setting up comms gear in the field. Our goal was to install a series of IP-based cameras and other sensors, along with the supporting comms gear, bringing everything back into a small Network Operating Center (NOC) at a Forward Operating Base (FOB). [Read More…]
The advent of the Internet, including web-based banking, shopping, and all things financial, have created a popular culture that is at least trivially informed about cryptography. Most of us know to look for https:// or a lock icon in our browser before engaging in a sensitive transaction.
One major disadvantage of cryptography is that an encrypted channel sticks out like a sore thumb to an experienced digital sleuth. Enter the world of steganography, the art of hiding messages in plain sight and the advances in covert communication channels. [Read More…]
The last two weeks has seen a buzz of cyber security problems. First, RSA announced a very sophisticated breach. Anyone who has ever had to use an RSA SecurID two-factor authentication product has or will be affected by the breach. Two-factor authentication consists of something you know and something you have.
The know part refers to a user’s password, or PIN code. The have part refers to the one-time pad generator found on the SecurID token. The theory is simple, even if a hacker obtains your password, they lack possession of your token and cannot break into the system. [Read More…]
The LandNav series has reached its zenith; we’re now at the point where we are ready to learn how to use the map and compass together to maneuver.
In one sense, maneuvering with the map and compass is rather elementary since the compass is effectively employed as a protractor and ruler.
The straight sides of the compass’ base plate are used as a ruler to connect points and measure distances. This, in fact, is the first step in maneuvering from point A to point B with the map and compass. [Read More…]
The market is saturated with flashlight brands, each trying to carve out their own niche or specialty. 4Sevens is relatively new to the marketplace, showing up only three years ago.
It’s easy to get lost in marketing speak, but 4Sevens’ slogan, Redefining the Flashlight™, is so far an accurate description of many of their products. I bought my first 4Sevens flashlight, their Quark 1232 Turbo ($75 retail), back in April of this year. Since then, I’ve purchased three different 4Sevens models.
Recently, 4Sevens introduced a remarkable new light, the Quark MiNi AA2 ($43 retail). [Read More…]
In its essence, the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) system divides up the globe into small, manageable segments. Rarely is someone going to set out and hike from Oregon to Maine and most planned adventures, even when spending a week in the backcountry, won’t require more than a handful of quads.
Latitude and longitude is obviously a very valid way of referencing your position on the globe, but most recreational outdoorsmen have moved on to UTM. Likewise, the military uses MGRS, another type of globe grid system, in lieu of latitude and longitude. MGRS is a topic which will be covered in-depth in the future. [Read More…]
Today we are going to continue from our last article on Reading and Associating Terrain and discuss compass selection for use in land navigation.
Compass selection is often driven by personal preference, much like some prefer one vehicle make and model to another.
Our goal with this article is not to suggest which compass to buy before you know how to use it, but rather to show you the different options out there. We feel it’s important and necessary to have a compass at your disposal during this series. [Read More…]
Today we’re going to discuss how to read terrain off of a map. Reading terrain is more about artistic visualization than it is science. There are three major factors that aid in the visualization of terrain from a 2d map:
- Contour Lines
- Colors
- Shading
The ability to fuse these major factors is the most critical skill one can learn when using a topographic map. The primary purpose of a topographic map is to accurately represent the shape of the Earth’s surface, but the utility doesn’t stop there. Topographic maps also represent streets and trails, vegetation, streams, and every type of feature that may positively or negatively impact your ability to navigate through the terrain. [Read More…]
In our last article on Land Navigation, Intro to Map Terminology, we introduced you to our LandNav series and went over the most common terms that get thrown around when dealing with maps.
Today we’ll be addressing what all those things in the margins of your map mean and how to best use them to your advantage when navigating.
The margins of a topographic map are rich with information. For the LandNav 101 series, we are going to be operating strictly against USGS maps. While other cartographic entities may vary their margin layout, most will contain all of the details covered herein. [Read More…]
There’s an old saying wherever you go, there you are! Unfortunately that isn’t good enough, especially in a survival situation. Even a rough estimate of your position is far better than being totally clueless.
In the most ideal situation, you might have access to a GPS with fresh batteries—but even then successful wilderness navigation isn’t a guarantee. Remember back to elementary school math; they always taught the long, hard way before introducing the shortcuts that are used in the real world.
It is in this spirit that we are launching a new series on land navigation. We’ll start with the basics, progressing to more advanced land navigation topics. [Read More…]
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