NO AM Radio in Cars No More INFORMATION RADIO SERVICE Service a Vital and Important Service

 Recently Etna Pa installed a 10 Watt AM  Radio Transmitter in town and then put up signs with blinkers that come on  to warn when there is flooding and other emergencies in the town

You will find these same signs at many important  intersections of major Highways and Interstates 

Known as The Information Radio System 

This government funded program is used all across the country from helping get important traffic information to welcoming and giving guests to national parks information they need. 

https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/travelers-information-stations-search

https://theradiosource.com/resources/stations-all.htm

The service which is limited to 10 watts  from 530-1700 kHz and covers approx 4 square  miles  .

Well you say no big deal cars have FM radio as well well that is a problem FM radio band is totally overcrowded in many areas due to AM Stations which have  FM Translators taking up many spaces on the dial and FM does not have the spread coverage that AM does You need almost double to ripple the wattage .

This is why the congress must pass senate bill which requires AM in all cars. with the recent hurricane Helene the only stations up and working after the storms where AM providing life saving information

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradadgate/2024/10/08/congress-expected-to-pass-law-requiring-am-radio-in-all-new-cars/

 

When the chips are down AM Radio can be depended on

 

How in the Hell did Honeywell/ Silent Knight ever get UL approval to put out such a piece of crap line as 6800 series panels I want answers and I want to know why public safety is being compromised

 The 5700 series of panels put out by Silent Knight  in 80s and 90s where bullet proof many still working to this day.

But that ended when Honeywell Bought the line and others 

The upgraded the line to 6800 series of panels and they have been nothing but a Night Mare .

The panels where not out a month and Honeywell had to issue a  Firmware Software Update for panels and there have been at least 4 additional upgrades .Since the panels have come out and there has also been nothing but headaches with the Fire Lite and Swift Wireless accessories

Dealers put panels in come back a day later they fail to operate  same with the 5208 panels line they killed . 

Or they where bad right out of the box .

HOW THE HELL DOES THIS HAPPEN WHY HAS UL NOT DE-LISTED THESE PANELS WHICH YOU CAN NOT EVEN GET NOW BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS 

WITH THEM NONE ARE IN STOCK
 

I HAVE SWITCHED TO A NEW MANUFACTURER AND WILL NEVER USE ANOTHER HONEYWELL PRODUCT BECAUSE THEY ARE HONEY FAIL NOT HONEYWELL ANYMORE AND ITS THE SAME WHEN YOU ASK HVAC GUYS NOTHING BUT ISSUES 

WITH THAT PRODUCT LINE AND THEIR WEBSITES ARE ALWAYS BROKEN .

WHEN YOU CALL REPS NOTHING BUT EXCUSES AND NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT IT. 

WHEN PEOPLE DIE IN A BUILDING FIRE BECAUSE THE PANELS HAVE FAILED THEN MAYBE UP AND NFPA WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT

Energy saving devices from 70s and 80s now old enough to kill as they deteriorate

 

 In 70s and 80s when the made up energy crisis hit the USA  during the Carter administration many energy saving devices came out to help save energy and money

 

Many did work but many more did nothing and where rip offs .

This Movable fin draft device would be put in flue and as pipe heated up leafs would open and allow flue gas to escape . where supposedly life time warranty etc etc and yes now some almost 50years later are mostly ripped out and replaced but still being found after a Carbon Monoxide incident after they fail on old furnaces which have not been replaced when the bi metal finally wears out .

Most younger furnace techs have never seen them have no idea they may even be in the flue pipes and its just a matter of time till they all fail.
 

Illegal Unlisted Fire Alarm Products being sold online you need to be aware of

Take a good look at this Fire Strobe horn . No Markings no UL or other 3rd party listing its a cheap knock off sold on Amazon and Alibaba and other sites  

these units do not function properly can damage a fire alarm and are not to be sold in USA but yet they are popping up all over the place . Because unscrupulous building owners are cutting corners and having there handymen do the work instead of alarm company s

Most Fire Wood in Pennsylvainia is being sold Illegally . How to tell your gettuing what your paying for

 So its labor day Weekend and your on your way to your favorite campground  off Pa route 66  Pa Time to stop and buy some fire wood to get that campfire going tonight . But wait a minute did you know the vast majority of fire wood being sold in Pa is being done so illegally and your probably getting ripped off

Fire wood may only be sold by the Running cord or fraction there of.  Not by bundle like most stands sell it . By following the law it insures you are getting the correct amount of wood. 

 

Title 70 of the Pennsylvania Code

Wood used for fuel shall be sold by the cord of 128 cubic feet (4 feet by 4 feet by 8 feet) or fraction thereof and shall be accompanied by a statement or invoice certifying the amount sold and presented to the buyer or his designee at the time of delivery or billing.

Section 2.11 of the Weights & Measures Act of 1965

Cord: When used in connection with wood intended for fuel purposes, the amount of wood that is contained in a space of 128 cubic feet (4 feet by 4 feet by 8 feet) when the wood is racked and well stowed.

Firewood may not be advertised or sold by the truck load, the pile, the piece or any other method other than by the cord or fraction thereof. There is no such thing as a face cord. An invoice must be given at the time of sale.

 

For those selling illegally like along PA route 66 sellers   they can all be cited and fined for selling the wood improperly  .

Keep this in mind next time you get wood what $5.00 buys you at one stand is not same as another .

Abandoned Coal Mine Exploring . Some people are getting their kicks exploring old workings and it can get you very dead

 

 Exploring old abandoned  building and workings has always been an interesting hobby  and for most part can be done so safely . But a newer fad of going into old abandoned Bituminous and Anthracite Coal Mines is a downright Dangerous Game .

But there is a group of young people who show off their exploits on Face Book and You Tube 

who-are not taking anywhere near the precautions an experienced Mine Rescue Crew would use to enter old dangerous mine openings. 

Black Damp , Gray Damp , Collapses and deadly Explosive Methane Gas is always a possible danger when entering old mine workings .

That's why Rescue crews carry a multi gas meter which warns them if their is lack of oxygen or gas building up. 

But not these explorers who wander about mines in very dangerous risk of collapse at any time with no apparent protective equipment

 Just one breath of Black Damp and your dead. Many times no one knows they have gone in and many times it is a single person doing the exploring .

The State of Pa. has been sealing off mines every chance they can but there are still hundreds out there open for exploring . Recently 3  mine entry's near a popular bike Trail in Kiski Twp Armstrong County  where sealed by the DEP .

Yes all the pictures are neat to see but at what cost? If some one gets trapped a Mine Rescue Team must risk their lives to rescue or recover a body of some one who screwed up being in an old mine they have no business being in. 

Remember Stay out Stay Safe and report to Pa. DEP mine openings you find.

Kecksburg UFO Festival is an accident waiting to happen . How can a fair run by a Fire Company get away with so many safety violations ?

 I love going to small county fairs and one of my favorite has been the UFO Festival put on by Kecksburg Fire Dept in Kecksburg Pa. I go for the Food and Great Homemade  Cold Drinks

But this fair  has been going down hill every year with the Fire depts lack of response to issues  I for one will never return or speak at it again.

As some one who does Free Lance work for Insurance company's and providers which includes 

 Forensic Electrical Inspection , Fire Investigation , Code Compliance and Risk Analysis I am appalled at the total lack of safety concerns .

Had they been running this fair in City of Pittsburgh or other areas which takes fire and electrical codes seriously it would have been shut down .

Remember this I was not even looking hard for violations these where all out and blatant  for anyone to see.

 

To Start With their are all kind of extension cords run all over the place and not properly guarded as required by Pa State Fair laws 

This presents a serious trip hazard and hard for those in wheel chairs makes it  to get over them . Plus the fair is violating ADA rules because the booths are so tight you can not maneuver on foot let alone in a wheelchair . If some one fell and got hurt medics would have a hard time getting to some one .

There are cords all thru the booths running all kind of fans  lights and extension cords and plug strips  unknown if anything is GFCI protected and not one Fire Extinguisher to be seen anywhere and some booths had burning incense absolutely prohibited . No Open Flames are allowed in vending tent areas without proper precautions taken

Then an absolute Flagrant and serious Fire Code violation a Gasoline fueled Fan is being used in booths . Check the right corner of the tent.and zoom in. No Flammable Fuels are allowed in vending areas period.

Then the parking area 

 

 Poorly cut no  temp painted stripes or signs where to park  its all hap hazard temps in high 80s and lot was not whetted  down to prevent fire or dust and if a fire did break out from a low profile car no way for fire trucks to get into fight it. 

Another issue private citizens walking around with open carry fire arms   walking in some very crowded areas . Yes it legal but common sense says no you should not and conceal your weapon.

Too many times a weapon could have been grabbed by a deranged individual 

Then to add insult to injury they passed a rule only fire dept could sell drinks so No homemade lemonade or fruit drinks and punches  just crap sold in a bottle. just being greedy bastards

So many people walk around this fair and enjoy the homemade lemonade but not this year.

This fair has become a very dangerous joke it needs corrected or shut down period. 

SHAME ON KECKSBURG FIRE COMPANY FOR LETTING IT GET THIS WAY

USAA Insurnace and Resideo / Honeywell have teamed up to offer a Connected Home Discount Program . But there are many unanswered questions and Red Flags to be examined

 I have a retired Dr friend who asked me to put in 2 Water Leak Sensors which I did  because he could get a discount on his Home Owners Policy thru USAA .

OK no issues send him a letter to give to his Carrier but no that's not what they wanted.

 

He calls me and says his Resideo Total Connect  User name has to be a certain way so USAA can pull data from the sensors in his house.

What the hell are they thinking

https://www.usaa.com/support/insurance/homeowners/connected-home/?akredirect=true

 Appears USAA and Resideo have decided to join Forces  to offer this discount and way they do it is by 

going on to USAA site then click a button go on special  Resideo site enter your Total Connect User Name and Password .

So they can pull the data.

Sorry USAA  NO  WAY  .

What exactly are you pulling and how often are you pulling it. ??? What are you using it for??

This has all the earmarks of Big Brother  and needs investigated .  there is too much data being given away in peoples hands who have no business having it.

Just one more reason I have been slowly getting away from Resideo and Total Connect because all Honeywell is lately is Honey Fail.  This is a big one.