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WARC
October 11th, 2025
On a beautiful fall morning Jim VE1JBl & Borden VA1CBC spent (4 man-hours) assembling the two new work tables for the communications trailer. Also arriving in the morning was Brian VE1BSD who took measurements to take back home to make a counter top from birch plywood which will cover the batteries in the front "V" of the trailer.
October 4th, 2025
It was a very important and productive day for the new WARC Comms trailer as Chad VA1CS, Steve VE1OR and Jim VE1JBL spent (18 man-hours) installing the three solar panels on the roof. Besides the panels there were two holes drilled to install the wiring from the panels inside the trailer. The all in one solar converter/charger was also mounted and tested with the 48 volt battery.
There was also a hole drilled at the mid point of the trailer and a cover mounted which will be used to install the antenna cables to the radios inside.
October 3rd, 2025
Hi Folks
A short update for today - Friday. A few things checked off on the trailer project today. (5 man-hours)
Donated radio and equipment rack donated by Kevin - VE1KEV - has been stripped of paint and rust by Garrett - VA1OR and then repainted by Colleen - VE1CEO - tremclad black - two coats. Expected to be mounted in the trailer between the two operating positions and used to mount radio and other equipment.
Solar rails were removed - contact points with trailer roof racks buffed on rails and racks - no oxide grease applied and the rails re-installed. Want to ensure that the rails - racks and frame have good conductivity and have some protection from corrosion as they will form a grid that will be bonded to the trailer ground.
ALL parts have been gathered together today and some small stainless hardware acquired. Solar panels loaded onboard and they are to be mounted on the trailer and power cables run into the trailer tomorrow morning at Chad's - VA1CS.
Steve VE1OR
October 2nd, 2025
After 3 days, 3 coats of clear stain and (6 man-hours), Jim VE1JBL & Borden VA1CBC completed the staining of the interior walls of the new WARC trailer. Borden also completed alterations to the two new tables that will be our work stations.
Steve VE1OR reinforced the door hinges with some rivets while Garrett VA1OR is working on sanding and painting the proposed equipment rack.
Saturday October 4th will be a big day for the trailer project. We will be heading to Chad's VA1CS QTH to install the 3 solar panels on the roof and run wiring inside the trailer. This is a huge step in our project.
If time allows we will also install the solar "all in one converter /charger" 48 volt battery and (2) 12V 280amp batteries.
September 27th, 2025
Day 2 of working on the club trailer has come to an end with Jim VE1JBL & Frank VE1FSM working (10 man-hours) to measure, cut and install the solar racks to the ladder racks. Thanks to Frank (on his day off) and Go Glass for letting us use theor bay at the shop for the installation.
September 18th, 2025
Day one of building out the WestCumb ARC Comms Trailer went very well as Jim VE1JBL, Steve VE1OR and Brian VE1BSD installed the plywood on the walls.
The first slide that shows the empty trailer you will notice black marks from top to bottom on the walls. At every 16 inches we used a blowtorch to dull the finish of the shiny walls so that the PL construction adhesive would bond better. Once that was done Steve VE1OR and Brian VE1BSD started cutting the plywood to the proper sizes. After each panel was placed on the wall with glue, 1&1/4 inch wood screws were used to secure the 3/4 inch birch plywood to the walls. There were also two holes that needed to be put in the panels for the trailer's fresh air vents and thanks to Brian VE1BSD a router was used for different areas of the trailer.
After (18 man-hours) of cutting, gluing and screwing the panels are complete and now ready for day 2 of the build which will include staining of the interior walls.
September 17th, 2025
Jim VE1JBL, Steve VE1OR and BrianVE1BSD meet today to go over plans to install plywood on the inside of the trailer. After about an hour a plan was set and work will begin on September 18th.
September 10th, 2025
At the first general meeting of the new year for the WestCumb ARC a new committee was formed to oversee the trailer project with Jim VE1JBL, Steve VE1OR, Chad VA1CS, Frank VE1FSM, Mike VE1ZB, Borden VA1CBC and Kevin VE1KEV.
Earlier that same day, Steve VE1OR, Garrett VA1OR and Jim VE1JBL went to Moncton to pick up the trailer and bring it home and it was on display at the meeting.
Thanks to Frank VE1FSM and the owner of Go Glass we will be able to build out the trailer at their location.
The first build will be to mount the three solar panels on the roof, install plywood on the walls so we can mount the all in one solar converter/charger and install the 12 & 48 volt battery systems.
A reminder this is a club project so I will send out notices to all members when we will be heading out to work on the trailer and hopefully many of you will attend to help with this project.
One of three 445 watt solar panels.
September 5th, 2025
Our new Comms trailer arrived at Work & Play in Moncton on Wednesday September 3rd, 2025. We will be heading up there on Monday to bring plans on where to install the ladder racks which will be used to install the solar panels and also install several antennas. We added several options for our trailer including a RV door which includes a window and also a screen door, a step and handle to help get up into the trailer and outside rear lights to use when staying late in the evenings or overnight during contests and exercises.
The trailer will have all aspects of amateur radio installed and will be used to promote the hobby, train operators, take part in community events, contests, exercises and be ready to supply backup communications in a real emergency or disaster.
We hope to have it ready to deploy by May 2026 for SMART26.
June 11th, 2025
Greetings all members,
There was a special club meeting on June11th, 2025 to go over funding for the proposed communications trailer for the club.
We have secured the funds needed from the Municipality of Cumberland and the Town of Amherst
After much discussion a vote was taken to ask members YES or NO on the purchase of the trailer.
After 15 votes online and 13 proxy votes it was unanimous that the project would go ahead.
Jim VE1JBL and Steve VE1OR will be heading to Moncton in the morning to talk to Work & Play about ordering an IDEAL trailer (Made in Canada) for our club. It could take up to two months before we see the trailer but saying that we will have the trailer we want with the right options.
A reminder if you pledged funding for the project please honor those pledges as it will help with the build.
I mentioned at the first club meeting last September this will probably be a two year project. It has been 10 months since the seed was planted for this project and to get the funding. That gives up 14 months to get the project to the finish line and saying that I mentioned tonight that I would like to see the trailer finished and have its debut at SMART26. That would be 11 months. Time will tell. No pressure at all. LOL.
Thanks to everyone for the support of this project and again this will be a club project and will be looking for volunteers to help with the build out of the trailer.
June 18th, 2025
Here is a picture of Kevin Burke VE1KEV and Jim Langille VE1JBL from the WestCumb ARC accepting a cheque from Town of Amherst Mayor Robert Small to help with the club's project of building a Communications trailer for amateur radio.
The trailer will be used to promote the hobby and also to provide communications in times of need here in Cumberland County.
Others in the picture are town Councillors LtoR: Charlie Chambers, Hal Davidson, Terry McManaman, (Jim, Kevin, Robert), Nic Furlong and Dwayne Ripley.
Thanks to Steve VE1OR for the photo.
June 27th, 2025
At a special meeting with the Municipality of Cumberland, Rod Gilroy, Mayor of Cumberland County presents Jim Langille VE1JBL with a cheque from the county grants program towards the purchase and build of a communications trailer for the WestCumb ARC.
The trailer is expected to be here in mid September and we hope to have it completed and ready to show at SMART26.
Thanks to Steve VE1OR for the photo.
March 5th, 2025
On March 5th, 2025 members of the WestCumb ARC attending a special meeting of the Municipality of Cumberland to present a PP presentation of a Comms Trailer project the club was interested in pursuing.
Steve VE1OR and Mike VE1MWJ presented the proposal.
Here is the video.
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