The SEPAR Report: November - December 2025

 As we were wrapping up the year SARC/SEPAR had the opportunity to provide parade communications for the Surrey Santa Parade of Lights in Cloverdale (Surrey) in December. We had 10 volunteers stationed around the parade route, in the staging area and our net control. The event ran on two simplex channels, one primary for the net control and the second in the staging area.

It was a very busy time in the staging area and then around the parade route as it began. The SEPAR trailer was decorated and towed as part of the parade as well. Fortunately, the weather, while cold, cooperated and it did not rain. The parade was a huge success and very well attended. We provided feedback to the organizers was to help improve things for coming years.

No major issues happened, and it was a great exercise to practice and improve skills. After the event we began discussing go kits, and what SEPAR members should have in preparation for deployment should we be needed. This also led to a discussion on what we should do if something happens in our community. 

Deployment

Each week on our practice net we remind everyone that during an emergency or disaster all SEPAR members are asked to check into the repeater and if it is not operating then to go to a primary simplex frequency. We remind everyone they can start a net and with the new protocol can take check ins and note the general area where people are, their report re: power, internet, road possibility etc. Are they deployable and by what mode of transportation; foot, bike, car/truck or even transit? As we gather this information, one of the SEPAR Team will determine if they are going to the radio room at the Fire Hall and make a report to the city with the information provided by our members. We discussed if each of us knew who the other amateur operators are who live close to us. Do we have their contact details and if they have not been reached via phone/radio could we contact them? This includes going and knocking on their door to check on them. Of course, for planned call outs, phone and email are used when available.

Go Kits

A basic portable kit should include the handheld radio of choice, a spare battery, and a means to charge the battery while away from home. It should have a good antenna and possibly a J-Pole or other gain antenna to help improve the portables performance. The radio should be programmed with the minimum SEPAR frequencies, properly named. The owner should prepare a cheat sheet with some basic how to functions on it. This would include programming a frequency, repeater with tones via the keypad, how to adjust the power level, how to go to reverse or the repeater input. Earphones should also be considered.

We have been very fortunate as SARC includes in its radio licensing class an antenna workshop. This has the students coming to the Operations and Training Center (OTC) on a Saturday and making a ladder line roll up J-Pole for the actual radio they have. They get the correct SMA (Male or Female) or BNC end on the antenna. They tune the antenna and get some practical understanding of the antenna theory in the training class. This often results in the newly licensed student then trying this antenna to check into one of our nets. We have noticed a substantial improvement in many signals when compared to the regular antenna which came with the portable radio. 

The students also get to meet some of the other local amateurs and often get a brief introduction to SEPAR and how they can join us. This has helped with encouraging newly licensed hams to become active members in the club and SEPAR program. It helps build community. 

Mobile Kit

The second type of go kit we discussed was the mobile kit. This typically is a higher-powered mobile radio, has a larger battery (with a means to charge the battery), the same “cheat sheet” for this radio, and a much better antenna. This could be a mag mount base with a suitable antenna. These radios might also be able to cross band repeat. If you are deployed to a location where it is hard to communicate via a hand-held radio the extra power may be what is needed to improve the communication. 

Both kits can have added capability for digital communications, including Winlink, APRS and other modes. As we explore the development of “basic” kits, encouraging SEPAR members to build a kit, or “go-bag” with the minimum capabilities I will welcome input on helping define what a kit might look like. One other consideration is of course the size and weight. Depending on the task and location to which someone is assigned, there may be some variations. It was also noted that depending on how the kit is built it may also be the home base station that is transportable. This can be achieved by building the mobile kit in a hard case that you simply disconnect from your home antenna and power and take with you.

The goal is to know that SEPAR members have some basic radio preparedness, and they will arrive prepared to support communications. This discussion focuses on radio preparedness and not personal preparedness. Everyone, whether a licensed amateur or not, should be personally prepared for the minimum of 72 hours to several weeks.

We will continue to evaluate and improve our program and will welcome feedback and comments.

As always if you have any questions or want further information on the SEPAR program please reach out.

~ Gord Kirk, VA7GK
   Volunteer SEPAR Coordinator

   coordinator@separ.ca