The ARES(R) Letter
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Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE [ mailto:k1ce@arrl.net ] - January 23, 2026


In This Issue:
?-?ARES(R) Briefs, Links
?-?Converting Retired Construction Light Tower Trailers for Radio Use
?-?Are We Prepared?
?-?This Month in QST
?-?ARES(R) Resources
?-?Support ARES(R): Join ARRL

ARES(R) Briefs, Links

Winter Field Day is this weekend: January 24-25 [ https://winterfieldday.org/ ] . The WFD administrators recommend dressing for the cold: "Layering lets you adjust your body's thermostat by putting on and removing items to maintain an even comfort level as conditions and your exertion levels change." See REI's Layering Basics [ https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/layering-basics.html ] . For maximum warmth, the base layer is long underwear, which wicks sweat away from your body to keep your skin as dry as possible.
The middle layer, whether a fleece or puffy jacket, traps as much body heat as possible and protects it from the cold.
The outer layer is a jacket, which needs to protect you from rain/snow and wind. Avoid cotton!

The history of Winter Field Day is fascinating: In June, 2006, Charles Brabham, N5PVL, asked if SPAR (The Society for the Preservation of Amateur Radio) would be interested in sponsoring a Winter Field Day activity.
Discussions, proposed rules, and modifications followed, and in September, SPAR's board of directors voted to approve sponsoring a Winter Field Day.
Next came a flurry of activities to get the word out, and the first Winter Field Day was held just four months later, on January 13-14, 2007.

Orlando HamCation(R) [ https://www.hamcation.com/ ] , one of the largest ham radio conventions in the world, is February 13-15. It will host the ARRL Southeastern Division Convention. Forums include ARES, as well as other public service and emergency communications topics. Your ARES Letter editor will be in attendance to greet readers. See you there!

Net Control Station Tip: Give quick signal reports when checking in stations. For example, on a repeater net, say "N5CBP, you're DFQ," or "you're 50% quieting." On HF nets: "WA1VEI, you're S9." All radio amateurs love to know how strong their transmitted signals are. Net control stations: give a quick report, and watch your net roster grow!?-"K1CE

ARRL has launched a nationwide grassroots campaign aimed at securing the passage of federal legislation that would grant amateur radio operators the same rights to install antennas on their property as those enjoyed by users of TV antennas, wireless internet, and flagpoles.
The campaign follows the reintroduction of the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act [ https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1094 ] in February 2025. The bipartisan bills -- H.R.1094 in the House and S.459 in the Senate -- are designed to prevent restrictive homeowners' association (HOA) rules that currently prohibit or severely limit the installation of amateur radio antennas, even when such antennas are hidden in trees, placed in attics, mounted on vehicles, or look like flagpoles.
Send your letters now via send-a-letter.org/hoa [ http://send-a-letter.org/hoa ] or www.arrl.org/HOA [ http://www.arrl.org/HOA?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL ]

[https://ccrane.com/arrl?utm_source=ares&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=2025_1&utm_content=ssb2]


Converting Retired Construction Light Tower Trailers for Radio Use

In Minnesota and elsewhere, used construction light tower trailers have been adapted by hams to support radio antennas.
These are often sold with a 12 horsepower three-cylinder diesel engine, a 30-foot steel crank-up tower, and 6 kilowatt AC 120/240V single phase generator.
They are around $12,000 new, but used they can be down in the $1000 range in running condition, or $250 and up if not running.
They are most commonly found at construction equipment auction sites such as Iron Planet [ https://www.ironplanet.com/ ] or Equipment Facts [ https://www.equipmentfacts.com/ ] .

These units are not without hazards, as they were not designed or tested for consumer use.
Diesel fuel can spill; used diesel oil is hazardous, as an example.
The tower cables can snap and you can strike overhead power lines.
But, 30 feet is a lot of tower and with the included outriggers and removal of two of the usual four lights, they can accommodate a small antenna or two and can be guyed.
They usually have four metal halide lights and can illuminate 3-5 acres. The newest "vertical" units tend to have short vertical masts (24') and may include LED lights.

We like the fast setup time these towers offer - a few minutes. We have added more batteries and solar panels, mesh radios, and video cameras to ours. They are common in rental fleets and in government/emergency applications.

Repairs are often simple. The tires, wheels and other running gear are usually industry standard. The same is true for axles and wheel bearings. The stabilizer jacks are also standard. The retracting square tubes can be obtained locally (often 2'x2'x1/8"). (Metal Supermarket [ https://www.metalsupermarkets.com/ ] is one supplier). Clamp-on jacks can be purchased to replace missing or rusted ones.

Lift cables should be inspected and replaced if frayed. Winches are standard equipment. Some trailers have electric hoists. (I dislike those, however--you need power to operate them, and if you don't stop them in time you can snap the lift cable and the tower crashes down). Forklift pockets are standard for loading them on flatbed trucks or trailers.

It is common for these trailers to be equipped with 2-inch ball hitches or pintle hitches. Pintle hitch adapters to a standard 2x2 inch receiver are common. We have removed pintle hitches from all of our 16-plus purchased units. Trailer brake lights (usually 4 wire-flat) are not universal, and are often broken. We bring a magnetic light kit to all trailer auction purchases.

Tower trailer licensing varies widely by state. In our state, Minnesota, trailers are defined as "construction support equipment" and do not require titles or license plates. In our experience, insurance is inexpensive, in the $30/year range.

The generators are usually 6 kW, single phase. They run at 1800 RPM; the engine speed governs the voltage and frequency. Most older gensets have two 120V 60Hz windings and are 5% capacitor regulated - a 20 uF "motor run" electrolytic. We have seen several generator failure modes:

1. Bad bearings--the generator attaches on one side to the engine flywheel; the other side has a bearing that should be relaced regularly. If it fails it can spew metal bits into the windings and/or make a horrible noise.

2. Bad windings--one or both windings can burn out. This can easily be measured with a common VOM. Low impedance: an ohm or two and you are still good to go. They can be rewound for $1500 or so. If you have one bad winding-the good one is still 3 kW.

3. Bad capacitor on regulator board - these are eBay/Amazon items.

4. Off voltage--There is usually a screw adjustment to regulate motor speed. The idea is maybe you are a little high unloaded but you're right on at 1800 RPM, 60 Hz, loaded.

5. Need to be reflashed--the coil can lose charge and the windings can be intact but field less. Follow the manual--ours needed a bit of 12V DC applied. Once in a while there are stator diode issues.

The mercury/halide lights need 400V AC +/- to start, draw 1000-plus watts each, are reactive and use large ballast transformers that take 115V input.

Do not overload the generator coils--you can burn out the windings. We use a big transformer to put both 115V windings in parallel for more current and use the circuit breaker to help protect the windings.

Prolonged operation at minimal load will tend to "wet stack" the diesels. This gunks up the valves with carbon. 1500 watt electric "milkhouse" heaters are a good load bank.

The diesels are reliable and consume in the range of .5 gallons/hour. The oil/filter change interval is around 240 hours. Check the air, fuel and oil filters.

240V AC outlets @30 amps are semi-common - on older units (2014) they are three wire 120V/120V/ground which are harder to break out to 120V outlets as there is no neutral. Often, neutral is tied to ground but we use a 6 kW transformer here. Do not forget to ground the trailer.

Larger Generators

We have owned 6 kW, 8 kW, 15 kW and two 20 kW diesel gensets. They use an electronic voltage regulator board, which can be simple and generic. The 15KW and 20KW units have four-cylinder engines and use more fuel. Starting at 50A at 240VAC, you can use the "California" plug, which is in common use and has a neutral. This allows easy use of the often-yellow breakout boxes, yielding multiple banks of 115V AC 15/20 amp outlets. --Erik Westgard, NY9D, Assistant EC for Events, ARRL Minnesota Section

Are We Prepared?

During the "Basic Voice Communications Procedures" class conducted by Radio Relay International, we ask students to engage in a simple exercise. While traveling out of town, check into an ARES(R) or similar local EmComm net. Transmit your call sign slowly and carefully, using the standard ITU phonetic alphabet. Then wait to see if the NCS gets it right!

During 25 years of business travel, I conducted this experiment many times. In 95 percent or more cases, the typical NCS couldn't transcribe my call sign correctly despite two or three attempts. In many cases, the net sounded like a well-oiled machine, with stations checking in and being acknowledged without error - until a strange call sign appeared.

Now imagine that same NCS during an ARES(R) net operating under the stress of emergency conditions in which important messages are being conveyed on behalf of a served agency. Perhaps a request for medical supplies is being transmitted or someone is reporting the release of a hazardous chemical. If an ARES operator can't copy an unfamiliar call sign, will he or she be able to accurately transcribe and deliver a message containing a term such as "acute subdural hematoma" or "ethylene oxide?"

The example of the volunteer fire company applies well here.
When you dial 9-1-1 to report a fire, you have a reasonable expectation that the firefighters arriving on scene have been trained.
They should know how to ventilate the structure, attack the fire, operate the apparatus, or extricate victims, even if they are unpaid volunteers.
Likewise, when radio amateurs offer their "emergency communications" services to an agency, the agency has a similar expectation that those assisting have been trained in basic communications procedures and protocols.

Learning to convey tactical or record message traffic is an essential skill. It is NOT enough to simply establish connectivity. One must be able to communicate accurately and efficiently, keep a concise radio log, transcribe information without error, and perform the basic administrative functions required of a message center or EOC.

This is why participation in traffic nets is so important.
Traffic nets are the only place where one can check into a net any day of the week at your convenience and practice sending and receiving messages using standard prowords, proper ITU phonetic alphabet, and concise procedures.
Some dismiss traffic handling because they see the content of routine messages as "unimportant," but they are missing the point.
The real value proposition is in the practice of transmitting variable message content.
Every address is different.
Network management data varies from message to message.
One must transmit the message at a pace that allows transcription by the receiving operator.
Likewise, the receiving operator must be able to understand exactly what is being transmitted.
These same skills are also essential to an efficient emergency communications process, whether the content being conveyed is tactical in nature or served agency messages intended for delivery to an emergency services official.

Let's be honest! Many EmComm volunteers are not prepared to handle important agency traffic.
They have little training in the mechanics of message handling and too few participate in traffic nets.
For the first time in many years, we are beginning to see real cooperation between NTS and ARES.
This cooperation isn't just "nice," it's essential. Every EmComm volunteer should practice handling traffic because establishing connectivity is only a small piece of the overall communications process.
The time has come to bridge the gap between traffic operations and local EmComm.
Let's work together to the benefit of the Amateur Radio Service and our communities.

James Wades, WB8SIW, Board Chairman and Emergency Management Director of RRI. This piece is reprinted from the January 2026 issue of The NTS Letter, published by ARRL

This Month in QST

The February 2026 issue of QST has some good articles for ARES practitioners: "A Structured Simplex Exercise," by Mike Walters, W8ZY; and "Future Proofing ARES: A Focus on Training," by Scott Yonally, N8SY. Check them out!

ARES(R) Amateur Radio and Public Service
[https://tinyurl.com/2p8d5br2]


Buy 90 Years of ARES stickers!

[https://home.arrl.org/action/Store/Product-Details/productId/2036073263]


ARES(R) Resources

?-?ARES Field Resources Manual [PDF] [ http://www.arrl.org/files/file/ARES_FR_Manual.pdf?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL ]
?-?ARES Standardized Training Plan Task Book [Fillable PDF] [ https://arrl.informz.net/arrl/data/images/ARES Letter/ARES Taskbook July 2024.pdf ]
?-?ARES Standardized Training Plan Task Book [Word] [ https://arrl.informz.net/arrl/data/images/ARES Letter/ARES Taskbook July 2024.doc ]
?-?ARES Plan [ https://arrl.informz.net/arrl/data/images/ARES Letter/ARES PLAN 24(2).pdf ]
?-?ARES Group Registration [ https://www.arrl.org/register-an-ares-group?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL ]
?-?Emergency Communications Training [ http://www.arrl.org/emergency-communications-training?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL ]

The Amateur Radio Emergency Service(R) (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.
Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization is eligible to apply for membership in ARES.
Training may be required or desired to participate fully in ARES.
Please inquire at the local level for specific information.
Because ARES is an amateur radio program, only licensed radio amateurs are eligible for membership.
The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable, but is not a requirement for membership.

How to Get Involved in ARES: Fill out the ARES Registration form [ http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public Service/fsd98.pdf ] and submit it to your local Emergency Coordinator.

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Support ARES(R): Join ARRL

ARES(R) is a program of ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio(R) [ https://www.arrl.org/?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL ] . No other organization works harder than ARRL to promote and protect amateur radio! ARRL members enjoy many benefits and services including digital magazines, e-newsletters, online learning (learn.arrl.org [ https://learn.arrl.org/ ] ), and technical support.
Membership also supports programs for radio clubs, on-air contests, Logbook of The World(R), ARRL Field Day, and the all-volunteer ARRL Field Organization.

Join ARRL or renew today! www.arrl.org/join [ http://www.arrl.org/join?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL ]

The ARES Letter is free of charge to ARRL members. Subscribe: www.arrl.org/subscribe [ https://www.arrl.org/opt-in-out?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL ]

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The ARES Letter is published on the third Wednesday of each month. ARRL members may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their Member Data Page at www.arrl.org/opt-in-out [ http://www.arrl.org/opt-in-out?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL ] .

Copyright ?(c) 2026 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other purposes require written permission.

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