Post date: Oct 15, 2009 8:21:23 PM
Setup Instructions and Battery Usage
• Click "Yellow Box Setup and Operating" for instructions on setting up and using the AT&T Emergency Communications Radio. Used for communicating between a command post and the Walnut Creek Emergency Operations Center (CP-to-WCEOC), a Yellow Box at each command post includes a plywood platform, mast, antenna, coax, radio, and a yellow box, which contains a power source (internal battery or 120VAC).
• Click New Yellow Box Battery Anderson Powerpole Standard
• Click Yellow Box Band Plan Channel Assignments to view currently programmed channel information.
• Click "Yellow Box Battery Precautions" to view the precautions.
• Click Yellow Box Radio Manual (Yaesu FTM-10SR) to download the manual.
• Click Estimated battery usage for a full battery to see a spreadsheet showing estimated time before a recharge is required based on usage characteristics.
• Click See State of charge" at this website State of charge can be determined by measuring the voltage.
Yellow Box Batteries Exchange/Recharge Schedule
• Click ***OBSOLETE*** Yellow Box Battery Exchange Schedule to see a calendar that shows rotation of batteries amongst the yellow boxes. On the date shown, CERT Areas get a recharged battery, exchange with the battery in their Yellow Box within the next two weeks, and return the old battery at the next SHAMS meeting.
• The original Yellow Box batteries are SLA batteries ES17-12 (12V-18AH/20HR) purchased Dec, 2010 from
Bayland Battery Corp., 967 Stockton Avenue, San Jose, CA 95110 (408) 294-5611, $45 + tax
• One battery died in the Fall of 2014 and was replaced in Feb 2015 with Sealed Lead Acid (SLA), AGM, 12-Volt-18AH, Werker Battery with Nut and Bolt Terminal (WKA12--18NB) purchased at Batteries Plus Bulbs, 7429 Amador Valley Blvd, Dublin, CA 94568, 925.829.7587, $49.95
Cassani Yellow Box Test (September 25, 2011)
• Click "Cassani" Yellow Box Signal Strength Test
From Sydney drive, Officer Cassani (WCPD) will measure signal strength from each command post.
• The Test specification document is attached below. Everyone received a copy by email.
• Click to see "Cassani" Signal Strength Yellow Box Test Results
Yellow Box Field Day Test (June 25, 2011)
• Click Field Day Yellow Box Test Results to see the simplex test results for the Field Day yellow box drill.
There are some variables we need to control in the next test -
[a] learn how to turn off repeater shift in order to do plain SIMPLEX
[b] pay attention to the radio power level (10/3/0.5W or 7/3/0.5W)
History of the Yellow Box Project
• In Fall, 2010, Greg Karakashian (NV6Y) proposed and designed a radio kit for emergency communications between each CERT command post and the Walnut Creek Emergency Operations Center.
• A.T.&T. generously funded the project.
• In December 2010, the radio kits were built by the SHAMS and other Walnut Creek volunteers
• On February 26, 2011, the Yellow Boxes were tested during a Sugarloaf drill.
• Yaesu Dual Band Transceiver (FTM-10SR) @ $160.00. They were a discontinued model.