Wake County AUXCOMM

Emergency Deployment or “Go Kit” Contents Suggestions

For the radio side of the “go kit”, we suggest it have:

• A handheld radio, preferably true dual band (able to receive two stations simultaneously on the same or different bands – VHF/UHF), with a minimum power output of 5 watts.
• Photocopy of the radio’s manual
• DC “car” adapter or AC adapter/charger for the handheld radio(s)
• Extra batteries and/or dry cell converter with extra dry cell batteries
• Photocopy of your current FCC Amateur license
• List of the area repeaters with their offsets and PL / CTCSS tones
• Higher gain “rubber duck” antenna(s) for your handheld radio(s)
• Counterpoise for handheld radio long enough for the lowest frequency that you can transmit on, made of small gauge wire
• Expedient/Expendable J-pole (300 ohm twin lead) or other antenna, and support hardware
• Reasonable length good quality coax cable with connectors already installed
• Barrel connectors for mating PL-259 (the “standard”UHF type) connectors together
• BNC to SO-239 or SMA to SO-239 adapters, depending upon the handheld radio(s)
• Combination speaker/mic for the handheld radio
• Headset, headphones, or earphone for the radio(s) to be used
• Small assortment of hand tools
• Soldering iron and rosin core solder
• Electrical tape
• Pair of work gloves
• Flashlight and/or small battery powered lantern.  (extra batteries, too)
• AM/FM radio with additional batteries
• Notepads and writing equipment
• ARRL Radiogram forms

For the personal side of the “go kit”, the kit should have:

• Canned or bottled water, one meal’s worth of ready to eat food, and snacks, preferably stored in a resealable plastic bag
• Instant coffee, coffee mix, or tea bags, sugar, and creamer, in a resealable plastic bag
• Cutlery, preferably stored in a resealable plastic bag
• Aspirin and/or other pain reliever
• Several doses of any prescribed medication you may need
• One or more folded area maps
• A small first aid kit
• A moderate amount of money in small bills and a bit of change. (for the vending machines, canteen, or convenience store)
• Personal care items
• One flattened roll of toilet paper (in resealable plastic bag)
• One change of clothing (Optional, in resealable plastic bag)

Dan O’Connor KE7HLR’s presentation on GO KITs.   ARES_Go_Kit