Amateur Radio Equipment
A guide to the radios, antennas, power systems, and software that keep Douglas County ARES ready to communicate when it matters most.
What We Use & Why
Every piece of equipment in the DC ARES inventory serves a specific role in our emergency communications mission.
HF Transceivers
High-frequency (HF) radios allow long-distance communications across Oregon and beyond — critical when local infrastructure fails. DC ARES uses HF for statewide nets and HF-SHARES coordination.
Primary HF frequency: 3.964 MHz (Oregon ARES) | Secondary: 7.248 MHz (Pacific Area)
- Base station HF transceivers (e.g., Icom IC-7300, Yaesu FT-991A)
- Portable/mobile HF rigs for field deployment
- HF-SHARES compatible equipment
- QRP (low-power) rigs for lightweight go-kits
- Antenna tuners (manual and automatic)
VHF / UHF Radios
VHF and UHF radios are the workhorses of local emergency communications — used for repeater operations, simplex tactical channels, and coordination with served agencies throughout Douglas County.
Primary repeater: 146.900 MHz (–600, PL 100.0 Hz) | Secondary: 147.180 MHz (+600, PL 100.0 Hz)
- VHF/UHF mobile radios (e.g., Kenwood TM-V71A, Yaesu FTM-400)
- Handheld transceivers (HTs) for portable use
- Dual-band and tri-band radios
- Cross-band repeat capable units
- Programmed for DC ARES repeater network
Antennas
A good antenna is often more valuable than a powerful radio. DC ARES maintains a variety of antennas for fixed stations, portable deployments, and emergency go-kits.
- HF wire antennas (dipoles, end-fed half-wave, EFHW)
- HF verticals (e.g., Hustler, Buddipole)
- VHF/UHF Yagi directional antennas
- Dual-band vertical base antennas
- Portable mast systems and push-up poles
- Magnetic mount mobile antennas
- J-pole and slim-jim antennas
Coaxial Cable & Connectors
Quality feedline is essential for getting RF from the radio to the antenna with minimal loss. We maintain a stock of coax and connectors for rapid field deployment.
- RG-8X, RG-213, and LMR-400 coaxial cable
- PL-259 / SO-239 connectors
- BNC, N-type, and SMA adapters
- Coax jumpers and patch cables
- Lightning arrestors and surge protectors
- Coax switches and splitters
Batteries & Power Supplies
Emergency communications must operate when the power grid is down. DC ARES maintains battery banks and power supplies capable of sustaining operations for extended periods.
All DC ARES equipment is designed to operate on 12V DC for grid-independent operation.
- Deep-cycle AGM and lithium (LiFePO4) batteries
- Portable power stations (e.g., Jackery, Goal Zero)
- 12V DC regulated power supplies (25–50A)
- Anderson Powerpole distribution systems
- Battery chargers and maintainers
- Voltage monitors and low-voltage cutoffs
Solar Panels & Charging
Solar power extends our operational capability during extended emergencies. Portable solar panels can recharge batteries and power radios indefinitely in the field.
- Portable folding solar panels (50W–200W)
- Solar charge controllers (PWM and MPPT)
- Solar-to-battery charging systems
- Portable solar generators
- Weatherproof solar panel mounts
Generators
When solar and battery power are insufficient, generators provide reliable AC power for extended activations at EOCs, shelters, and field sites.
Generators are used at fixed sites; battery and solar are preferred for portable field operations.
- Portable inverter generators (2000W–4000W)
- Quiet-running generators for indoor/shelter use
- Fuel storage and transfer equipment
- Transfer switches and power distribution
- Extension cords and power strips (heavy duty)
Digital Mode Equipment
Digital modes like Winlink allow email and data communications over radio — a vital capability when internet and phone systems are unavailable. DC ARES operates a Winlink gateway on 144.970 MHz.
Winlink VHF gateway: 144.970 MHz | Software: Winlink Express (free download)
- Winlink-capable computers and laptops
- Sound card interfaces (e.g., Signalink, Digirig)
- TNC (Terminal Node Controller) units
- Raspberry Pi-based Winlink nodes
- APRS trackers and digipeaters
- Packet radio modems
Amateur Radio Software
Modern emergency communications relies on a suite of software tools for logging, digital modes, mapping, and coordination. All software listed is free and open-source or freeware.
- Winlink Express — email over radio (winlink.org)
- CHIRP — radio programming software (chirp.danplanet.com)
- JS8Call — keyboard-to-keyboard HF messaging (js8call.com)
- Fldigi — digital mode suite (PSK31, RTTY, Olivia) (sourceforge.net)
- APRS.fi / Direwolf — APRS tracking and digipeating
- ICS Forms / Incident Commander — ICS paperwork (FEMA ICS Forms)
- Ham Radio Deluxe — logging and rig control (hamradiodeluxe.com)
- WSJT-X — FT8/FT4 weak signal modes (wsjt.sourceforge.io)
Designed to Operate When the Grid Goes Down
Every DC ARES station and go-kit is designed to operate independently of commercial power. Our layered power strategy — batteries first, solar for recharging, generators as backup — ensures we can sustain communications for days or weeks if needed.
- Battery banks sized for 24–72 hour operation
- Solar panels for indefinite field operation
- Quiet inverter generators for EOC and shelter use
- All equipment runs on 12V DC via Anderson Powerpole
Have Equipment to Donate?
Surplus ham radio gear — working or not — can be put to use protecting Douglas County. We accept donations of all the equipment types listed on this page.