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EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS TRAILER

The Sumter County ARES Emergency Communications Trailer is courtesy Integrated Data And Communications Systems (IDACS).  Sumter ARES makes this trailer available to local, county, and state government agencies in Florida upon request to provide temporary emergency communications in times of disaster or other emergencies.  In addition to its state-of-the-art communications capabilities, the trailer provides a self-contained mobile facility from where emergency response and support activities can be coordinated.  Sumter ARES also makes this trailer available to any civilian EmComm organization and its affiliates for sanctioned events.  Some of the features of the trailer include:

Infrastructure

 

  • 50amp, 220v electrical system

  • 7500 watt gasoline or LP generator

  • 300 watt solar panel charging the batteries

  • TrueCharge system with remote monitoring that charges the batteries whenever the trailer is connected to shore power or generator

  • 120v AC outlets and 12v DC Anderson Power Pole connections throughout the trailer

  • 4 deep cycle marine batteries that power all 12v devices

  • 3500 watt inverter with remote control that provides uninterrupted 120v AC power to all AC power outlets and their connected devices

  • Air conditioning and heating

  • Refrigerator

  •  Variable interior light settings for comfortable reading and operation

  • LED work lights at each station

  • Exterior LED lighting

  • Green LED beacon that is illuminated on the trailer's roof when it is used as an Incident Command Post

  • Ladder to access the roof and antennas

  • Roller desk chairs at each work station, and a padded bench for visitors

  • "L" shaped desk with 3 work stations, with an additional popup folding table for a 4th station

  • High intensity portable light stands

  • Roof-mounted spotlight with wireless control

  • Roof-mounted public address speaker

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IT Equipment

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  • Connection to the internet is accomplished by a WiFi Ranger with external antenna.  This allows connection to WiFi signals up to 1 mile away. If no available WiFi connection is available, the Ranger will connect to the trailer's Verizon "hotspot".  Once a connection is established, the WiFi Ranger then passes internet to a router/switch affixed to a network rack, which feeds all the Cat5 Ethernet connections.  The router also  provides password protected WiFi throughout the trailer.

  • A micro computer, monitor, and wireless keyboard and mouse are located at all three work stations

  • HP Mobile 200 AC / DC printer is shared across the network

  • (2) 32-inch Roku televisions are mounted on the back wall.  One television is capable of receiving over-the-air programming.  With an internet connection, these televisions can play streaming programs, including news and weather. They can also display any work station's computer screen, as well as the mapping programs that show roads and the locations of radios and mobile phones that are beaconing APRS. 

  • FLDigi and associated applications are installed on all computers, and are connected for contest logging.

  • WinLink client software for sending and receiving emails by Telnet or over the air

  • Zoom application is installed for remote conferencing and training.

  • RasberryPi

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Communications Equipment

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  • Yaesu FTM-400 radio, 2m / 70cm, cross-band capable, analog FM or C4FM digital, Wires-X

  • TYT TH-9800 radio, Quad-band, 6m / 10m / 2m / 70cm analog FM

  • Icom ID-5100 radio, 2m / 70cm, analog FM or DStar

  • Yaeus FT-991A radio, all bands, all modes, analog FM or C4FM digital.  This radio is used primarily for long range  HF communications.

  • Marine radio

  • Citizen's Band radio

  • Midland GMRS radio

  • Westcom radio, 2m / 70cm, DMR digital

  • Uniden TrunkTracker V scanner with external antenna

  • Android network radio, which uses the trailer's network.  EchoLink and DV Switch Mobile apps installed for use by licensed amateur operators.  This device also has the Zello app which allows the trailer's operators to communicate with volunteers who are unlicensed or who do not possess radio equipment, but who have the app on their phone.

  • Yaesu DR-2X repeater, Uplink Frequency: 446.900 MHz, Downlink Frequency 441.900 MHz, TSQ: 123.0 Hz

  • (6) hand-held portable radios in chargers

  • Portable "Go-Kit" with TYT TH-9800 radio, Quad-band, 6m / 10m / 2m / 70cm analog FM

  • Byonics MicroTrak APRS / Digipeater

  • Conventional landline telephone

  • SignaLink connected to an HF / 2m / 70cm transceiver to send and receive emails over the air

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Antenna Array

 

  • All antennas are mounted on (3) square, aluminum tubes that runs horizontally across the metal roof of the trailer.

  • 2m / 70cm radios are directly connected to either Tram or Comet dual-band antennas  The trailer's metal roof and frame provides an excellent ground plane.  4  radials are affixed to the base of some antennas as needed.

  • Marine radio is connected directly to a Tram antenna specific for marine applications without a ground plane.

  • Citizen band radio is connected to a ThunderStick for 27MHz

  • TrunkTracker Scanner is connected to a multi-band external antenna, providing excellent reception.

  • External GPS antennas provide location information for various radios and computer applications

  • A GPS antenna and a 2m / 70cm antenna are both connected to Byonics APRS/Digipeater

  • Tarheel Mini II antenna is connected to the Yaesu FT-991A for HF and WinLink operation

  • Diamond X50A 2m / 70cm dual band antenna is stowed to affix to the top of the 30 foot extendable push-up pole

  • All feed lines are RG8X

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