Embedded Files
WARC
November 18th, 2025
Following the club breakfast Saturday Jim and I did a little more work on the trailer.
Installed 4 of the 6 NMO antenna mounts - one on each corner - and ran the cables through the water tight grommets on the cable entrance box located behind the radio rack.
Also did some preliminary RF Sweeps on the antennas with good results for UHF. Some antenna tweaking (to be expected) may be required for VHF to get the match perfect.
Need to roll it outside from under the metal roof to test / tweak more once all of the weatherproof connections are made and we're sealed up on the roof.
November 16th, 2025
Attached is the dual monitors in action... have them set as extended. There will be two monitors at each work station. Notice the mini computer in the middle.
More computer tweaks and all updates complete.... whew !
Have also requested WinLink and High-speed VARA licenses and IDs so that we can get those apps installed.
Found a mount - here in stock - for the ATAS HF antenna and may try and install and test that sometime this week.
November 14th, 2025
Today's work continued with Steve VE1OR and Jim VE1JBL putting in more outlets that will be used to supply main power to both work stations. At the end of the day all outlets are working and we now have UPS in the trailer. More lines will be added to supply the fridge, microwave, coffee pot, printer, heater and outside plug once Brian VE1BSD builds the back cabinet for the trailer. You may also notice that each work station has it own power bar built into the table frame which includes four outlets and two USB ports each. (8 man-hours)
November 13th, 2025
Hi Jim et. al.
A lot of progress today - the triad of - (1) shore power / gen panel - (2) 5K inverter - (3) main panel are now wired together with #8 Teck cable.
A weatherproof external twist lock 30A / 120 V shore power / generator plug also installed forward on the port side.
One duplex outlet installed near the forward work surface will be used to supply heat to the trailer. Other outlets will be installed soon to supply power to the trailer.
Brian - VE1BSD - also completed the final fitting and installed the forward work surface located over the battery rack. Great looking and Thanks for that ! (7 man-hours)
The two busbars (red-black) you see in the center of the picture will be used to supply DC power to the trailer.
November 8th, 2025
It was a rainy Saturday but Steve VE1OR moved the trailer inside his barn and and he and Jim VE1JBL spent the next (8 man-hours) installing the two electrical panels on the wall, mounting the radio rack to the floor and bolting the two work stations to the wall.
November 5th, 2025
Update for today.
Installed most all of the final DC wiring for the 48 VDC (Inverter) system and the 12 VDC System. One additional DC switch is required and has been ordered.
The 48 VDC system is on the right
solar panel DC breaker - Victron solar charge controller - terminal blocks
The 12 VDC system is on the left
solar panel DC breaker - Victron battery switch - solar charge controller - terminal blocks - DC fuses - DC shunt
The shunt - small blue box on the negative lead to the 12 VDC terminal block - allows for the state of charge and power flow to be monitored using the Victron Energy app
The 48 VDC is wired to the 5 K inverter - top left - and from here it will go into the AC breaker / distribution panel to distribute house power.
Next step is to install the the AC panels and start the house circuit and shore power wiring.
The table - work surface - that is to be installed over the battery rack can now also be put in place whenever Brian is ready.
The team today was - Chad - VA1CS - Garrett - VA1OR and myself VE1 Ocean Radio - total man hours today for the three of us was about (10 man-hours).
October 24th, 2025
On this morning we took the trailer to Carter's and Acadian Printing to get quotes about putting logos on the side and back of the trailer. We also went to Eddy group to price electrical panels. After that we returned to Steve's home and proceeded with installing the battery rack and testing out the new table top from Brian VE1BSD which will be on top of the battery rack. At the end of the day the rack was bolted to the floor, batteries installed and testing of the batteries.
(12 man-hours) during the day.
October 18th, 2025
The trailer project continued on Saturday with Frank VE1FSM bending the deflector donated by Go Glass to the dimensions supplied by Steve VE1OR that will be used in front of the solar panels. Steve attached the panel to the roof using stainless screws and rivets. The deflector is the same color as the trailer so it blended right in. Overall this project went very smooth.
Later the same day Steve and Barry VA3LLT (visiting from Ontario) moulded PVC pipe using a heat gun to run the solar panel cables inside the trailer across the ceiling to the breakers and then to the charge controllers.
Overall throughout the day (6 man-hours) were used.
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. Earlier in the week, Borden finished the alternations to the two tables.
Also arriving in the morning was Brian VE1BSD who took measurements to take back home to draw up plans and make a counter top from birch plywood which will cover the batteries in the front "V" of the trailer.
Colleen VE1CEO & Garrett VA1OR spent 4 man-hours stripping and painting both communications racks. The tall one will be used to install most radios and the shorter one will be used to mount the (2) 12v and one 48v batteries.
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.
Thanks to Chad for suppling all the cable we needed to run from the panels inside the trailer. He is also donating several other items to make this project come to life.
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 their 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.
September 2024
At the club's first meeting of the 2024-25 year Jim VE1JBL talked about all that the club has accomplished over the past years including formation of CANWARN Atlantic, installing amateur radio stations in eleven fire halls and all five health care centers in Cumberland County, setting up of Exercise Handshake and the annual SMART symposium in Springhill NS.
The question was were do we go from here. A proposal was brought up that maybe we should consider looking into purchasing an enclosed trailer that we could use to install all aspects of amateur radio to use to promote the hobby, train operators and to have it available if needed in a real emergency or disaster. The members seem to like the idea so I would find out more information on how to make this happen and bring it to the next meeting in October.
At the October meeting I mentioned I had drawn up a letter to the county Mayor to see if there is any funding we could get to help us with the purchase of the trailer. I also ask for input from all the members at the meeting . After everyone had an opportunity to speak, it was clear we should go ahead with the project.
At the November meeting it was mentioned a letter had been sent to the county Mayor in regards to available funding for the trailer. It was also mentioned to let the county know we are serious about this project that club members have the opportunity to donate funding towards the trailer. This would help in securing funding from the county. Profits from SMART could also be available to use for the project.
There wasn't much info at the December meeting except there seem to be interest from members about donating funds towards the project. Will look more closely into this in the new year. Steve VE1OR mentioned he will draw up a document outlining the goals and objectives about our project including a budget that we can share with people who may be able to help us out with funding.
At the January 2025 meeting Steve VE1OR showed the document he made up to share the county and to other people that may be able to help us out with funding.
At the February meeting it was brought forward that Mike VE1MWJ and Steve VE1OR were making a PowerPoint presentation that we can send to the county to see if we can be put on the agenda to present to them our project and budget to see if funding or a grant is available. Mike VE1ZB mentioned to contact Tory Rushton's office to see if provincial funding could be available.
At the March meeting it was mentioned that the slide deck and the write up for the trailer has been finalize by Steve VE1OR and will be presented to the county the next day.
See above for continuing information about the club project.
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