Jeff, KB7TJM, is quite the craftsman when it comes to getting antennas up in the field. Here he has another antenna mount. According to Jeff: “Total cost is around $35.00. Very easy to make, and it requires no welding! Just two holes, one tapped hole for tightening the mast nipple and the other hole is for mounting the floor flange to the hitch. The hitch part was $15 at the Washington Walmart in the automotive department, the floor flange is a 1″ $13.00 at Home Depot, and a 1″ pipe nipple 8″ long.”

If you’re looking for a fairly simple – and very inexpensive –  project to improve your ability to operate when portable, it looks like this might be just the ticket.

Thanks Jeff!

Jeff, KB7TJM, designed and built his own antenna stand for portable/emergency communications. He’s offered to build one for anyone in the group who is interested in one. You just have to supply the parts and he will weld it for you. If you’re interested, contact Jeff at [email protected]

On May 22nd, 5 members of the HVCCT attended the in-person training for CERT (Community Emergency Response Team). The training was put on by Washington County Emergency Services and instructed by Tiffany Martineau and Jason Bradley. The in-person training completes the hybrid program which requires approximately 8 hours of online training followed by 8 hours of in-person classroom training. Upon completion of the training, attendees are prepared to assist emergency services personnel in disaster response and public education activities. Tiffany and Jason did an excellent job of instructing and critiquing student performance. We very much appreciate their spending a Saturday to impart their knowledge and wisdom on us. All HVCCT members are encouraged to attend CERT training. Even if you don’t plan on being active in the CERT program, there are many great tips for you and your family in the event of a disaster. The online portion of CERT training can be found here. For a schedule of in-person training, you can contact Tiffany at [email protected].

The HVCCT group completed a VHF field comm test. Eleven stations participated and each station could hear all the others. NCS was at the city building, south parking lot, operating mobile. Stations as far as Old Hwy 91, the water treatment plant, Dixie Springs and LaVerkin had good comms. Most stations were assigned to various Ward buildings where shelters or staging areas could be set up.  An ICS-213 form was transmitted and copied by most stations.  All in all a good exercise. ~KI7L