ARES Trailer Information

  The Sherburne County Amateur Radio Emergency Service has been granted authority to use a privately owned travel trailer from Jeanette and Dan Shartle, of Elk River, Minnesota.  This travel trailer is a 2007 Rockwood, model 8313SS and is 33 foot long.

  The trailer has two separate living areas with sofa sleepers, a kitchen, full bath, a master bedroom, and a dining area.  Besides being heated and air conditioned, it carries 60 pounds of LP Gas, and 60 gallons of fresh water.  It has three LCD TVs with normal VHF/UHF capability and also cable TV hookup.  A phone line is preinstalled, and ready to use.  On-board ham radio systems include a Yaesu FT-8800R dual band VHF/UHF, a Yaesu FT-857D HF/VHF/UHF, a Yaesu FT-897D HF/VHF/UHF, a Yaesu VX-170 handheld VHF, a Yaesu VX-177 handheld UHF, and a Yaesu VX-7R handheld Tri-band radio.

  The FT-8800R is configured to operate both as a conventional VHF/UHF transceiver and also as as a packet radio system.  There is a Timewave PK-232MBX TNC pre-connected to a Toshiba Satellite Laptop computer to round out this system.  In the event of radio failure with the FT-8800R, the FT-857D or FT-897D can immediately be connected to the packet hardware and pick right up with packet operation.

  Both the FT-857D and the FT-897D are configured to operate primarily as HF/VHF/UHF conventional transceivers.  If needed, either one can be used to operate as a packet station as stated above.

  The trailer has a fully redundant power supply system for all of the amateur radio equipment.  This power supply system is designed around dual Samlex SEC-1223 13.8 volt power supplies, each hooked into separate West Mountain Powergate PG40s.  The standby batteries are designed to be located outside of the trailer, where hazardous gasses that may be generated during charging,  will not enter the trailer.  The battery hookups are pre-wired into a 4-pole waterproof junction box located under the rear slider.

External antenna connections are routed to the outside of the trailer via an MFJ-4602 antenna feed through panel located above the rear bumper.  The feed through panel is currently pre-wired to connect 3 coaxially fed antennas, 1-HF, and 2-VHF/UHF.  There are available connections for an additional balanced line, a long wire antenna, and an exterior ground connection for all of the amateur radio gear.

Antenna systems located in the trailer include two Comet GP-3 dual band antennas, an Alpha Delta DX-A Sloper, a G5RV, a homemade all-band dipole and a Yaesu ATAS-120 Micro HF antenna.  The trailer also has two 40 foot fiberglass antenna mast sets on board to enable appropriate elevation for any of the antennas.  The rear bumper of the trailer has two fold down antenna mount bases for the elevated installation of the VHF/UHF antennas.

  Additional equipment on board the trailer include a Radio Shack handheld Weather Radio with SAME, a digital 24 hour clock radio synced to the NIST radio station WWVB, a first aid kit, and a fire extinguisher.

  Future plans by the owners include the possible installation of; an Amateur TV system, capable of supporting county-wide amateur TV coverage, a CB Base Station transceiver, and a Public Service Band transceiver.

  AC Power is supplied to the trailer through either commercial AC supply or through the provided KIPOR KGE-3500Ti gasoline powered generator.  The DC power is supplied to the trailer via two Werker 12v. 100ah AGM deep cycle batteries.

  This trailer is able to be towed by any full-size 1/2 ton pickup truck, that has an electric brake controller and a 10,000lb receiver hitch.  It is already equipped with a weight distributing hitch/sway control system.