Emergency Communications Team SuperComBox, Pelican Case units and home / portable stations

1. Emergency Communications TeamSuperComBox, Pelican Case units and home / portable stations CVRD ECT Level 3 Workshop Advanced Station Setup & Management Module 5 of 9 June 03, 2013

2. 2013 CVRD - ECT Training

3. 2013 CVRD - ECT Training Program

4. ECT Training – June 03, 2013 SuperComBox

5. Local authority radio kits Above: Victoria Emergency Management Agency ACS radio kit (VA7VEP) Left: PEP radio kit (VE7POB, VE7POC, VE7VIZ)

6. SEPAR portable radio kit Google search ‘SEPAR radio kit’ and you will find the operational manual for this unit. 2009 RAC Story

7. SuperComBox - background • Created in 2008 as a parallel to the PEP / EMBC box • Intended for deployment to any location where enhanced communications support is required for either short or long term events • Design concept is purposefully very basic to reduce the learning curve for the user group and reduce operational issues that are common to more complex portable units • Box can operate on either grid or a 12 volt battery • Requires access to an external antenna system • Weight is about 45 lbs • Should be moved by 2 people

8. SuperComBox – SKB • The box is described by its California-based manufacturer as an ‘innovative design that produces an indestructible case with unsurpassed quality for transporting the most valuable cargo anywhere in the world.’ • One of the largest user groups for this line of cases is the music industry where the cases are used for transporting sound equipment and concert related electronics. • SKB cases are distributed exclusively in Canada by BJ Music in Toronto, ON. In terms of retail point of sale for SKB Cases, our local supplier was Long and McQuade Music in Victoria, BC.

9. SuperComBox – SKB Roto • The box is built using an SKB “US Series 10U Roto Rack” case. The following images detail the practical nature of the case design

10. SuperComBox - contents • Three (3) radios, TNC, power supply and a laptop computer • Motorola SM120 for VHF commercial that has the same code-plug as all CVRD Pelican Case • Kenwood TM-271A for VHF amateur radio applications • Motorola GM300 and Kantronics KPC3+ TNC for RMS Express • Powered by a Samlex N+1 40 amp power supply which is capable of operating from either wall current or supplying control revert circuitry to power the box via a 12 volt battery

11. SuperComBox – front layout

12. SuperComBox – internal

13. SuperComBox – activated

14. SuperComBox – electrical

15. SuperComBox – 12v connector • To utilize a 12v power source, connect the jumper cables in the kit to the blue connector. Connector is polarity sensitive so it will only allow the user to connect it correctly • Push the connector together until the ‘snap’ is heard and be aware that it takes a good strong pull to disconnect the connector. For either operation, grasp the blue connector firmly, do not hold onto the cable when connecting or disconnecting

16. SuperComBox – fuse panel

17. SuperComBox – circuit breaker • Breaker would only be used during routine maintenance. Switch off power centre MASTER before opening the breaker

18. SuperComBox - Motorola M120 • Turn on the radio using the large round knob on the top left of the radio face. This is also the volume control • When the radio is powered on, it should automatically be on channel 1. If for any reason there is another channel number showing in the channel window, use the plus or minus buttons to toggle the radio to channel 1. The radio is now fully deployed and ready for service

19. SuperComBox – Kenwood TM-271A • Radio pre-programmed with all local frequencies • On / Off button located top left on face plate • Radio operates in ‘locked-mode’ • Use UP and DOWN buttonsto change operating frequency

20. SuperComBox – Kenwood TM-271A • Radio programming is as follows:

21. SuperComBox – Motorola GM300 • Radio / TNC package for RMS Express only • On / Off button located top left on face plate • UP / DOWN buttons change operating frequency

22. ECT Training – June 03, 2013 Pelican Case Radio Kits

23. Pelican Case radio kit - intro • Radio kits provided to all partner agencies (F, P, A, CDH and local gov’t) for use during large scale emergency events  • Primary function of the kit is to link all agencies to CVRD EOC with a common set of frequencies that would be used for large scale event coordination • Approximately 50 units in service (c code-plug) • Replacement cost per unit is $1000

24. Pelican Case radio kit - layout

25. Pelican Case radio kit - operation • Powered by grid or 12v adapter in any vehicle • Antenna must be mounted on metal (not PS) • Check power connectors before switching ON • Radio should power-on to Channel #1 (Sicker) • Use + / - buttons to change channel • Monitor Channel #1 – do not transmit • Try to organize kit when finished activation • Restricted usage controlled by CVRD - PSD

26. Pelican Case radio kit - radio

27. ECT Training – June 03, 2013 Home and Portable Stations

28. Circa 1991: Steven Roberts, N4RVE working the world from BEHEMOTH, somewhere in Wisconsin

34. Home and Portable Stations • Stations are an extension of the operator • Station layout is very personal • Modest or massive, they all generate enjoyment • Layout is typically stacked or shelving in design • Radio choice should be secondary to antenna design and construction • You can never have too many antennas • Antenna build and testing makes the station • Grounding (RF) should be a major consideration

35. Home and Portable Stations • Operators that submitted images or comments are: VA7CBN, VA7KYZ, VA7YJJ, VA7VHK and VE7TCJ • Station photos will only appear on screen and are not be part of your printed package • Each operator will speak to their images / comments