OT: EMP and Equipment

[Nico de Jong]

From: "Vintage Computer Festival" <vcf at siconic.com>
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
<cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 3:58 PM
Subject: Re: OT: EMP and Equipment


> On Wed, 4 May 2005, Al Hartman wrote:
>
> > I was hoping to tap in to the combined expertise here
> > to settle a question.
> >
> > Let's say that tomorrow, and EMP weapon is employed
> > over a major city in this country.
> >
> > Is there anything an average citizen can do to protect
> > their Computers (Classic or otherwise)?
> >
> > Would having them unplugged help?
> >
> > Or must they be shielded in some way?
>
> No Al, I'm afraid you're just going to have to play nice with the rest of
> the world's children so that sort of thing won't ever need to happen.
>
> -- 
>
This question is in my realm, as I am a CBRN specialist in the danish
National Guard.
There is only one thing  that can be done : enclose all electronic things in
a Faraday cage. So the answer to your question is : No, Joe Average cant do
shit.
Unplugging is no help, as the electromagnetic forces are so big, that even
the small wire between e.g. an antenna jack and the HF amplifier will act as
an antenna and fry the first stage. Wires towards the loudspeaker will take
care of the rest. And with the plastic radios we have today, every single
wire can and will act as an antenne, blowing everything in its vincinity
skyhigh.

Nico