MCMINN COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, INC.

MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS TRAILER

(NOTE: The KF4CFO call sign on the trailer is now KG4FZR.)


The Mobile Communications Trailer was made possible by a gift from the City of Athens of their old MCP and it's sale, donations by local businesses and individuals, and a lot of good hard labor!

It will be used in emergency and non-emergency events, such as severe weather, drills, communications support, bike rides, walks, parades, etc.



It is equiped as follows:

Inside:
Communications:
Amateur:
1- Icom IC-207 Dual Band
1- Yaesu FT-8800R
1- Yaesu FT-840 HF rig
1- MFJ 1 KW tuner
1- Radio Shack PA System w/ PA horn on top of trailer

Government:
1- Johnson VHF 8 channel radio

120V electrical system:
120V / 240V 30A mains via L14-30 twist-lock inlet (all interior AC powered equipment operates on 120V)
4- duplex outlets on 2 circuits inside
2- GFI outlets feeding 2- duplex outlets on 2 circuits above fenders each side
1- Dometic 13,500 BTU Rooftop Air Conditioner
2- 2bulb 4 foot flourescent lights
1- 30 foot 10-4 SJO cord with L14-30 twist-lock plug and cord end
1- L14-30 twist-lock to 120V / 20A plug custom made adapter
1- L14-30 twist-lock to 120V / 240V 20A twist-lock custom made adapter
1- L14-30 twist-lock to 120V / 240V 50A twist-lock pin & sleeve custom made adapter
 
 
120V / 240V 30A AC Electrical Panel 12V Electrical Service

12V electrical system:
2- 12V gel cell batteries, fused 50A positive
1- Progressive Dynamics 75A RV type power supply and charger, fused 50A positive
7- 12V RV type dome lights (3 are under cabinet, 4 on walls)
3- 55W halogen type flood lamps
2- green strobes, road side rear and curb side front  (not yet installed / aquired)
2- 3way 12V cigar lighter adapters
All 12V equipment is fused or on 12V breakers, tie point is 2- screw type buss bars under counter.

Antennas:
4- dual band 2M / 70CM each corner of the trailer on custom aluminum mounts (2 are spares for HT's)
1- VHF public service
1- 40/80 trap dipole
1 pair each -75M Hamsticks, 40M Hamsticks, 20M Hamsticks, and 10M 1/4 wave whips
1- 30 foot telescopic mast, on custom brackets road side of trailer, rotatable and lockable
    May be used with small beams, dual- hamstick dipoles, and wire antennas
    Stores in a 4 inch PVC tube under counter inside See pictures below:
 
Lower Mount & Turn Table Upper Mount Storage

Trailer is equiped with 10 feet of counter and overhead cabinet space. Custom aluminum steps are deployed outside the entry door. A 6 foot stepladder is stored inside, along with space for a generator. Various operating aids, charts, and maps as well as a large clock and indoor / outdoor thermometer adorn the walls. A custom made vinyl door is place over the side door as needed, similar to a walk-in freezer door.

Here below are some picture of some of our "custom" goodies:
 
Hamstick Dipole Mount All Aluminum Steps Antenna Racks

And here is what it looked like before we started:
 
Exterior View Interior View

Thanks to the Volunteer Electric Cooperative "Shares" Grant Program, we will will buying a Honda ES6500 Water-cooled 6500 watt generator!



L-R: Nell Whitaker, VEC Shares Board Member; David Fridley, KG4FZR, MCARC President; Buck Sneed, WB4DQH; John Fridley, KF4PVQ, MCARC Members; Max Ross, VEC Shares Board Member


Well, we now have our generator, and thanks to David, KG4FZR, we also have 4000 watts of heat!


Click HERE to see the full construction story. Lots of pics, may load a little slow, but worth it!