[FLARES] Portable Antennas for Shelters

[Buck (N4PGW)]

Maybe instead of antennas at shelters, you can talk them into running a few
coax jumpers from the inside to the outside so you can setup the rigs and
antennas near the jumpers or at least you will have access to the outside
without having to drill holes or compromise heating/cooling to run them
through windows, doors, etc.

Around these parts, most shelters are school gymnasiums.  The cost of a
little coax and a couple of so-239 connectors might be a more affordable
option to the county.  Likewise, if the county doesn't provide antennas, the
volunteers will know what they need to bring with them when they work those
shelters.  The local radio clubs will probably be able to furnish and stock
the antennas that may be usable other than just at the shelters.

Three jumpers/connectors to each area should be sufficient for most
emergencies.  This will provide a VHF, UHF and an HF connection or more than
one antenna to choose from.  I believe that in most cases a 20 foot pole
with a j-pole or vertical dipole for 2 meters will be sufficient for most
needs. 

Buck
N4PGW



-----Original Message-----
From: flares-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:flares-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of Ron Wetjen
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2005 11:01 AM
To: Florida ARES/RACES list
Subject: Re: [FLARES] Portable Antennas for Shelters

Didn't want to get into too much detail, since the "reasons" we can't 
put up permanent antennas doesn't really matter.  But several have 
asked, so here goes.

We are on a "tiered" shelter system.  This means we open 3 shelters 
(north, mid, and south county), as opposed to all the shelters at once. 
  When these shelters reach 50% capacity, a second "tier" of 3 
additional shelters is opened, and then on to a third "tier.  This helps 
us with planning, since we know what shelters are going to be opened and 
in what order they are needed.

The difficult part, is that these shelters may change from year to year. 
  What may be a shelter with a permanent antenna this year, may not be a 
shelter next year.  I already know there will be changes to shelters 
this year in order to become "pet friendly" shelters, so any permanent 
antenna at a shelter used last year, would now be useless.  We also have 
several new or remodeled schools that are coming on-line, so that keeps 
changing the shelter situation.  New schools (built to better Hurricane 
standards) are added and others are dropped down the list.

Also, during Hurricane Charley, several schools suffered antenna damage 
on their towers.  If an amateur antenna suffers damage during a storm, 
without a backup, they'd be off the air.

I also suspect, there may be "politics" involved ... but would hope that 
politics doesn't play too big a part when it comes to the safety of the 
community.

So, what's needed is something that might be part of a jump kit, which 
is a compromise between a permanent or temporary antenna outside (which 
may become damaged during a storm), and an HT and rubber duck inside 
(which we all know doesn't work).

Ron


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