Radio Go Kit

Generally ARES members supply their own equipment; however the hospital may have equipment or you may experience other situations where radio equipment is supplied with an equipment case.  The operating location may be in a building or outside and usually communications is via repeater which takes up to 5 watts.  Buildings that have steel or masonry construction may require outside antennas and coax antenna cables for effective communications within the County.

Cross banding between a mobile and hand held radios enables you to not be confined to one location but have effective communications outside a building.

Below are listed some items that you might want to consider. 

1. Mobile Radio

1- Equipment Case  The Gator Case is a convenient way to store equipment where are connections are already made except power and antenna.  There are shallow cases (depth) and deeper cases, cases with shelf opening for 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 shelves, those with wheels and handles, and those without.   At the other end, you can use a canvas bag or a cardboard box for transporting your radio, power supply, etc. 

1- Key to Case

1-VHF-UHF Radio (dual receive preferred) with Microphone, pre-programmed frequencies (Sumter, Lake, Citrus, Marion), operating manual and/or quick tips card.

1- Your Headphones  (may be a pair in the kit but what works for you is preferred for this item) It is easier to focus only the incoming communication with headphones.  Often you may be monitoring two frequencies.

1- Power supply, switching with power cord (preferred, smaller, not as heavy, and fits the go-kit case )

1- Backup power supply, DC Battery (12 volt, charge quarterly especially before hurricane season)

1-Spare fuse
1-DC lighter to Radio connection (DC lighter to inverter)

1-Laptop - Personal

• NBEMS software (Fldigi 3.xx, flmsg 1.xx)
• Winlink Global Radio software (https://www.winlink.org/)
• Internet Bookmark: Weather Radar - Weather in Motion (https://weather.com/weather/radar/interactive/l/USFL0252:1:US?animation=true)
• Internet Bookmark: S. Sumter High School Weather Station
  (https://www.wunderground.com/personal-weather-station/dashboard?ID=KFLBUSHN7
• Internet Bookmark: Real Time Lightning map (http://www.lightning.org)
• TNC for Winlink software

1- Extension Power cord (moderate length, grounded connector, 15 Amp) 6 feet or longer
1- Power Strip - AC (6-Position)
1- Backup J-pole antenna
1- Length of coax with PL-259 ends for connecting J-Pole to radio
 

And/or

2. Hand-held Radio - dual receive preferred, pre-programmed frequencies (Sumter, Lake, Citrus, Marion), may use for cross banding to mobile radio which allows one to move around. Battery should last from 4-8 hours depending on storage capacity and how much one talks. Charge all the batteries when you think a activation may be near.   

1- Holder, holster
1- Operating Manual
1- Magnetic Mount Car antenna for radio use in vehicle
1- Spare charged battery (all purchases should be the large capacity battery)  
1- Charger (both the 110 volt and DC lighter charger are handy to have)  
1- Antenna adaptor from you HT connection to a PL-239 connector for connecting to antenna coax
1- Optional microphone/speaker to get the radio output closer to your ear (don't miss the first part of the transmission.)

 

 

3. Accessories - Reference documents, forms that may need completing, and other things that might prove to be useful.

Emcomm Info Packet (See left side menu)
Writing Supplies

Note pad(s)
Pen(s) pencil(s), and sharper
Paper or pad of 8-1/2x11 paper
Paper Forms - IS-205, 213, 309, 214

Supplies and Tools

1- Poncho in bag
1- Flashlight with extra batteries
 

Roll of painters tape (doesn't mark wall)
Roll of duct tape (anchor cords, to prevent tripping)
Roll of electrical tape
Length of small nylon cord for tying up the J-pole antenna
Screwdrivers, Phillips and flat blade or a multi-tool

 

 Last Update:  07/03/2018    © Copyright Sumter County ARES. All Rights Reserved.