Running with the Big Dogs:

Keeping up with the Experienced Radio Amateur

Monday, 28 November 2005

Wes Wilson, KØHBZ, is known by many as the long pole (or the 40-foot mast) in the tent of Pikes Peak ARES deployments. Wes’ experience and equipment is second to none in the region. We’ve all seen photos of the vehicles belonging to over-the-top hams that turn a Crown Victoria into a porcupine – that’s not Wes. While his camper, for example, does have a half-dozen permanently-mounted antennas on it, there’s nothing exaggerated or superfluous about it. As you’ll see below, while Wes has a lot of gear, there’s no fluff.

Wes agreed to spend a couple of hours with me, going through his inventory and explaining the where’s and why’s of what he had. So on the frosty morning of 22 November, we stomped through his snowy yard (beneath a small forest of ponderosa pine hiding a 135-foot inverted-V and other real-estate-intensive radiators) looking at the array of equipment.

Very broadly, Wes’ inventory divides into two groups: the “go-kit” which is his one-ton truck, and the towed vehicles which are optional candidates for deployment depending on mission requirements. There are also a few stored items, mostly antennas, additional masting and other less-used equipment.

Hilltop

Among the three towed vehicles there’s an 18-foot camper, “Hilltop”; the repeater trailer “Roach”; and the antenna trailer, “Drag-‘n-Fly”. Wes explained that while most local ARES deployments are typically local and consist of one- to two- day duration for any given operator, the Disaster Response Team (DRT) deployments require planning longer-term (5 days or more) and can be anywhere in the State. The camper, therefore, is outfitted with an extra large 50-gallon water tank and enough food and supplies to handle the longer deployment.

Hilltop deployed as DRT Base Camp, Ocean Springs, MS (Photo: KCØNRZ)

Wes acquired the trailer in the mid-90s and, with the help of several radio friends, spent about three years outfitting it. It’s got VHF/UHF radios, an HF radio, a CB base station which is used for talking to back-country four-wheelers, and a scanner for maintaining situational awareness. He also carries a 10’ x 10’ EZ-Up for outside shade/shelter, a 6-foot fold-up picnic table and two 6-foot folding tables for outdoor operations.

The radio rack inside Hilltop. It’s located over the table so you can keep log
sheets, set up computers, drink coffee and operate at the same time.

The camper has DC circuits powered by a 363 amp-hour deep cycle battery. The battery is charged with three 50-watt solar panels (two additional panels are awaiting installation) on top of the camper. 12VDC is also available through a standard three-pronged wall outlet on the outside of the camper. DC power is wired between the ground and common terminals so that if a hot 120VAC cord were connected to the system, no damage to the DC components would result. Wes says that the system is controversial, but with adapters he’s built, it enables him to use conventional extension cords (which he carries anyway) to run DC to equipment set up outside his trailer.

Wes’ plans for the trailer include upgrading the electrical system to meet power requirements of additional radios and computers, computer networking and installing the two additional solar panels.

Roach

The next item in Wes’ arsenal of tow-able equipment is the Roach. The Roach contains a full VHF repeater system with a UHF link radio and a complete UHF repeater (under construction). Also included is a packet mailbox/node so digital communication can be done at the same time. The unit has a self-contained tilt-over mast assembly that can support a freestanding antenna at 25 feet. As you can see, the Roach isn’t pretty, but it works well, has stood the test of many missions and events, including Katrina, and has provided invaluable support of our public service events. Like Hilltop, the Roach is also solar powered.

The Roach deployed at Ocean Springs, MS,
during Hurricane Katrina relief. Optional
40-foot mast set up for additional range.
(Photo: KCØNRZ)

Drag-‘n-Fly

The third mobile asset is Drag-‘n-Fly, the tower trailer. Wes recently purchased this unit that originally was a portable construction light and sign generator trailer retired by the Colorado Department of Transportation – and then paid half-again as much in repairs. Wes converted the crank-up tower to accommodate ham masts and antennas. The unit has a system of extendable jacks to ensure the tower will be vertical and stable. When Drag-‘n-Fly was acquired, it contained a six-year-old Homelite electric-start generator which had never been started. The previous owner bought the generator new, but could never get it to work. Dean Haskins (KAØPII) discovered the low-oil sensor was defective and disconnecting the sensor wire took care of things and the generator started right up. The generator was an added bonus to make up for the expense of having to replace the original axle and tires on the trailer.

Drag-'n-Fly deployed supporting apex of inverted
V antenna at 55-feet in Creede, CO
(Photo: KØHBZ)

The Truck

While all of these vehicles represent considerable effort and ingenuity, Wes’ real magnum opus is his truck. The back of the truck is pretty well loaded; Wes tries to keep the weight forward of the axle to help balance the load when he tows the camper. We spent over an hour going through the truck’s contents. Here’s a reasonably complete list:

In the back: • Coleman 1850 generator. • Two folding canvas camp chairs • Pelican box VHF/UHF radio kit o Two Yaesu FT-8500 dual-band/dual-VFO radios. o Kantronics KPC-3+ TNC o MFJ 25-amp switching power supply o 5 terminal Rigrunner o Anderson extension cable o Duplexer (based on experience from an exercise last year, the duplexer came in handy because one radio could handle two UHF frequencies, and the other radio two VHF frequencies. By combining their outputs in the duplexer, one antenna could be used and there would be no risk of one radio’s output going directly into the other’s front end. • Pelican box HF station (see photo below) o Yaesu FT-847 o LDG AT-11MP automatic antenna tuner o MFJ 45-amp switching power supply o SCS PTCII-Pro TNC (capable of Pactor III for Winlink 2000 communications) o Desk mic, CW key, external speaker and other accessories • Two Arrow Antenna dual-band J-Poles • Dual-band mag-mount (MFJ) and a BNC mag mount (mag mount to utilize HT rubber duck as a rooftop mobile mount). • 120’ of military aluminum camo-support masting. • 60-lb bow and wrist rocket to lob things over trees to pull up antennas • Approximately 700 feet of coax, mostly RG-8x which is fine for HF, but a little “iffy” for VHF/UHF. • Approximately 200 feet of RG-8U coax • Box of mono-band dipoles (6, 10, 15, 20, 40 & 75/80 meter) • 120-foot G5RV • 135-foot multi-band dipole • Rope box with about 1000 feet of various-sized rope used for antenna support and mast guys (antennas are usually guyed at the 28-foot level). Wes uses 4” washers which have an inner diameter that exactly matches the outer diameter of the mast sections. The washers have 3 holes drilled in them, 120 degrees apart. The guy ropes have military tensioners on one end and carabineers on the other end that quickly clip into the guy rings for fast setup. • 400 feet of AC extension cord. • Six power strips • A fully-instrumented LaCrosse Technology wireless weather station that includes, remote thermometer, anemometer, electronic rain gauge and barometer. This is used for wildland fire support as well as possible Hazmat or WMD incidents. • An FRS radio kit containing 12 FRS radios and 8 headsets. The radios are given to non-ham served-agency personnel to keep them in radio contact with the hams without requiring hams to physically “shadow” agency officials. • A computer network box contains a wireless hub, some network cables, and associated wall wart (the unit is also 12vdc-capable). • Winter clothing, 30-degree-below sleeping bag, arctic gloves and probably some 3-year-old granola bars. • A test-equipment box including an antenna analyzer, HF power/swr /modulation meter, a microphone diagnostic box, and a VHF/UHF twin-needle Power/SWR meter • Large toolbox (heavy tools, socket sets, pry bars, mallets, etc.) • Small toolbox (1/4” ratchets, screwdrivers, pliers, etc.) • Electrical bag with various tools, VOM, a soldering torch (used with pencil tip for fine work, without tip for PL-259s). • Soldering vice that can be clamped to a table top • Several cans (I saw two) of “Fix-A-Flat” (these are recent additions to the inventory. When traveling through the hurricane-ravaged Gulf coast, roads were littered with nails from blown-down houses, roofs and other debris) • Box of antenna connectors—PL/SO-259, BNC, SMA adapters. • Box of batteries, especially AA’s, but also AAA, D-Cells and 9-volt. • Documentation bag with ICS-213 forms, log forms, check-in forms, and a variety of TNC manuals. • All radios are packed with their manuals. • Bag of magnetic “Emergency Communications”, “ARES” and “SkyWarn” signs • Box of Anderson-equipped cables and accessories. • Antenna roller made from two PVC toilet flanges and a 4” length of PVC. This is used to quickly (and neatly) roll up HF wire antennas. • Custom fabricated mast support—one mounting to hitch receiver, another a drive-on plate. • Cable ties of a half-dozen different sizes, some very large to be used to secure antenna masts to existing structures (signs, fenceposts, guard rails, etc.). • 4’ shovel (always!). Other items like tire chains, jumper cables, etc., are seasonal. • Last but certainly not least: a Maxwell House portable ashtray (i.e., a coffee can to hold smoking residue).

Portable HF station set up for SSB and Winlink 2000 digital operation (Photo: KØHBZ)

In the cab: • Standard C5900DA Triple-Band (6m, 2m, 70cm) transceiver • A Skywarn box containing a Kestrel 3000 anemometer/thermometer/hygrometer, a compass, a rain gauge, pocket binoculars and a GPS. • A roll of blaze orange surveyor’s tape which can be attached to an antenna to indicate wind direction • A “field laptop,” which is an older model laptop Wes doesn’t mind getting dirty • PK-900 TNC for field operations • HT kit with cables and adapters. There are two Icom W32A’s in the truck. • Wide variety of county, city, Forest Service, and specialty maps

Wes’ other comments

• “There’s more equipment in the house.” Computer printers and additional radios live in more benign conditions in the house, but can be loaded into the truck at a moment’s notice. (Wes’ shack itself will probably deserve a future article in its own right). • Typically a 75/80M dipole (or inverted V) is used for HF operations on DRT deployments. The band often holds all day in Colorado. While Near Vertical Incident Skywave (NVIS) isn’t a model that impresses Wes, he admits that the inverted-V dipole arrangements he uses probably resembles NVIS models a little bit. (A good discussion of NVIS (from the Park County Radio Club) can be found at http://www.ab0pc.org/QUA%2004%2005%20FINCH%20NVIS.htm) • Wes likes to use military surplus ammunition boxes for storing and transporting equipment. They’re weather proof and solid enough to support his weight as he crawls across them inside the truck’s cavernous shell. He buys them from Glenn’s Surplus (114 E. Mill St). • Many of the radios are bought new. Although wheeling and dealing on E-bay has brought some bargains in older equipment and TNCs. • Coax is bought in bulk rolls because it’s cheaper that way – then cut down to required size. Soldering PL-259s with a torch in the field is a necessary skill.

Conclusion

One can’t help but marvel at the range of equipment Wes has put together for the purpose of supporting ARES and DRT efforts. Neither can one ignore the fact that Wes has spent an unbelievable amount of time (not to mention money) putting this capability together. Wes is one of those people whom it makes no sense to call an “amateur” radio operator – he’s as professional as they come. We are extremely fortunate to have such an example of a dedicated ARES member. Hopefully, Wes’ dedication will inspire other Pikes Peak ARES operators. If our members each achieve only a fraction of what Wes has done, we’ll be a significantly better organization.

Al Glock, kc0prm@arrl.net