CAP Gear Readiness

[GTCommando]

This poll came around a few years back, but I'm curious, so I thought I'd bring it back to life. I keep mine in (on) the bedroom closet, but I'm going to move it to the truck once we get some lockable containers, as gear can get pricey. How do you guys do things?

[tsrup]

This poll came around a few years back, but I'm curious, so I thought I'd bring it back to life. I keep mine in (on) the bedroom closet, but I'm going to move it to the truck once we get some lockable containers, as gear can get pricey. How do you guys do things?

so now you're trying a thread resurrect without the thread...

[GTCommando]

^I figured a thread not posted in since '08 wouldn't be seen all that much. Besides, I've taken a lot of heat for my recent spurt of necro posting (Can someone explain that term?).

[IceNine]

Posting to dead threads.

The statistics posted in that thread aren't going to provide valuable data for any conceivable purpose.  This is another thread for the purpose of a thread.

Just to not be a total rectal sphincter.  Garage if I plan to be near my home, truck if not.

[SarDragon]

necro-, the Greek prefix meaning death

[a2capt]

Same thing.. I have a half height cabinet near the front door, the L-Per, pilot bag, HT's, for airband and capband are there, SQTRs, papers, etc. If I'm in the local area, and available - it's close enough to go get what I need. If I'm elsewhere and think I'm going to be available, I'll put what I need in the car otherwise - no missions. 

[CommGeek]

Ive got all my gear packed in my 2008 Ford police interceptor ex-cop car with my red lights and siren ready to go.... oh yea, i have my polo shirt, and my Glock in the center console too...     ....Sarcasm....

[Spaceman3750]

2008 Ford police interceptor ex-cop car

Except there's no such thing as a 2008 EX-cop car . At least not where I'm from. 98, maybe 

[Al Sayre]

I keep our GT stuff in a big plastic trunk in the garage.  I can throw it in the truck and go if I need it, just need to fill the camelbacks.  As an IC & MP, I generally don't do much GT stuff anymore, although I maintain my quals.  My vehicle has a CAP Radio and a 1500W inverter, so I can use it as a mobile/remote Mission Base.  I also keep a hand held CAP radio, an L-Per, and a Sat phone and my flight gear in the vehicle.  All I need to run a mission is my laptop and cell phone which are always with me.  I usually end up giving someone the L-per, hand held & Sat phone while I sit at home, mission base, or in the truck and run it.

[Krapenhoeffer]

ES-types store their gear in lockers at the Armory where the squadron meets.

My uniforms live in my landlord's pathetic idea of a bedroom closet.

Laptop lives in a black backpack that I keep with me.

[manfredvonrichthofen]

Mine lives in a dedicated small room (mud room) at the back door ready to go. Currently I am the squadron ES Officer training for my GTM3 and soon GTL. The family only has one vehicle and my wife would kill me (Horrifically slaughter is more of the term) if I were to mount a CAP radio in it.

[Hawk200]

Mine lives in a dedicated small room (mud room) at the back door ready to go. Currently I am the squadron ES Officer training for my GTM3 and soon GTL. The family only has one vehicle and my wife would kill me (Horrifically slaughter is more of the term) if I were to mount a CAP radio in it.

Time to invest in on one that uses the car's "power port", and a magnetic base antenna. 

[manfredvonrichthofen]

I can hear it now (demonic looming voice from the sky as it turns blood red) "Your magnetic antenna scratched my van, blood will flow forth" Hahaha.

I would still have to put in a mount for the radio though wouldn't I?

[arajca]

I would still have to put in a mount for the radio though wouldn't I?

No. Just wedge it between the seats, between the seat and console, or place on seat or console. The speaker on the EFJs is front firing.

I'd recommend using the lighter port rather than a power port. The light ports generally have a higher amp rating. You'll also need to operate the radio on low power - high power through either port tends to shut the radio down due to lack of power available. If you can, an alternative would be to wire in a power lead from the battery that can be tucked away in the glove box when not in use - fuse it for 15a and you're set. (Bonus - when the boss needs to run something, the power is available...)

[N Harmon]

ES-types store their gear in lockers at the Armory where the squadron meets.

My uniforms live in my landlord's pathetic idea of a bedroom closet.

Laptop lives in a black backpack that I keep with me.

I was wondering how many people kept their gear at the squadron HQ. I have been considering that since any possible call out will have me going straight there anyway.

[manfredvonrichthofen]

I would still have to put in a mount for the radio though wouldn't I?

No. Just wedge it between the seats, between the seat and console, or place on seat or console. The speaker on the EFJs is front firing.

I'd recommend using the lighter port rather than a power port. The light ports generally have a higher amp rating. You'll also need to operate the radio on low power - high power through either port tends to shut the radio down due to lack of power available. If you can, an alternative would be to wire in a power lead from the battery that can be tucked away in the glove box when not in use - fuse it for 15a and you're set. (Bonus - when the boss needs to run something, the power is available...)

What about one of those power converters that go from the cigarette lighter and and amplifies the power to that of a wall outlet? I know alot of the radios come with the cigarette lighter plug on them already, but some do have the outlet plug. Would that take care of the low power setting and not make me have to run a line direct to the battery? Also, does anyone have the material for the ACUT course? I would like to start looking over it soon before the squadron does an ACUT course so that I have an understanding already.

[arajca]

You're talking about an inverter. It does not amplify the power, it changes it from DC (Direct Current) to AC (Alternating Current). The radios run on DC power. A power suppy, needed when operating a mobile radio as a base station does the opposite.

The direct line is optional. If your radio has a cigarette plug adapter on it, try it. You may be able to use high power, depending on the age of the vehicle. My cigarette lighter jack puts out 18 amps, my friend's puts out 10 amps. Changing between hi and low power on the radio is a matter of pushing the button located above the mic jack.

To prepare for A-CUT, take the Communications Technician Test online. An updated A-CUT test was just released yesterday to the wing DCs.

[manfredvonrichthofen]

Thank you very much.

[SarDragon]

I would still have to put in a mount for the radio though wouldn't I?

No. Just wedge it between the seats, between the seat and console, or place on seat or console. The speaker on the EFJs is front firing.

I'd recommend using the lighter port rather than a power port. The light ports generally have a higher amp rating. You'll also need to operate the radio on low power - high power through either port tends to shut the radio down due to lack of power available. If you can, an alternative would be to wire in a power lead from the battery that can be tucked away in the glove box when not in use - fuse it for 15a and you're set. (Bonus - when the boss needs to run something, the power is available...)

I have been largely unsuccessful using a properly fused cig lighter outlet for EFJs. The fuse value (15A) is usually too close to the max power draw of the radio (12A) to last very long. The fuse elements degrade after getting temp cycled a few times, then just give out.

[arajca]

I would still have to put in a mount for the radio though wouldn't I?

No. Just wedge it between the seats, between the seat and console, or place on seat or console. The speaker on the EFJs is front firing.

I'd recommend using the lighter port rather than a power port. The light ports generally have a higher amp rating. You'll also need to operate the radio on low power - high power through either port tends to shut the radio down due to lack of power available. If you can, an alternative would be to wire in a power lead from the battery that can be tucked away in the glove box when not in use - fuse it for 15a and you're set. (Bonus - when the boss needs to run something, the power is available...)

I have been largely unsuccessful using a properly fused cig lighter outlet for EFJs. The fuse value (15A) is usually too close to the max power draw of the radio (12A) to last very long. The fuse elements degrade after getting temp cycled a few times, then just give out.

Hence the low power recommendation - draw 8A.

[manfredvonrichthofen]

If the fuse blows from over usage on high, will it do any damage to the EFJ? If I were just to carry a bunch of 15A fuzzes would that be ok and take care of the problem?

[Major Lord]

The EFJ is pretty tough to blow out, the finals are temperature protected. If you are popping fuses, the radio should be checked out. BTW, you don't see many CIB's on CAP Uniforms. On behalf of a grateful nation, thank you.

Major Lord

[SarDragon]

If the fuse blows from over usage on high, will it do any damage to the EFJ? If I were just to carry a bunch of 15A fuzzes would that be ok and take care of the problem?

The ideal fix would be to tap power from a place that will provide at least 20A, and put a quick disconnect on it to keep the wife happy. You might need to dig into the car schematics to find the roight source. I found a place in my Suburban that works great.

Continually swapping fuses in the middle of a mission is a real PITA, depending on where the fuse is located, and what's happening on the mission.

[a2capt]

I tend to run a fused line directly from the battery through the firewall to a terminal block under something and then hook my inverter, 5 and 12V regulator block, and radio directly to that.

With the 5 and 12V regulators, I can hook up USB stuff to charge, directly to a USB connector, and 12V stuff directly to chosen connector.

[SarDragon]

I have mine hooked to an unused connector position in one of my under-dash terminal blocks. Got the mating connector off eBay, and wired it right in. It's fused at 40A up in the master power panel, and 20A inside the truck.

[manfredvonrichthofen]

Well, so far as the fuse swapping PITA I got lucky and my cigarette lighter has its fuse right next to it. So far as adapting to run straight through the battery, I am rather nervous about drilling into the firewall.

[SarDragon]

Well, so far as the fuse swapping PITA I got lucky and my cigarette lighter has its fuse right next to it. So far as adapting to run straight through the battery, I am rather nervous about drilling into the firewall.

That was my problem, too. There's just nowhere to drill w/o hitting something on the other side.

See if you can talk to your mechanic and get a hold of schematics for your car (My bro works for a Chevy dealer, so it was easy for me.) There are always unused connector positions in the terminal blocks, and they frequently have a power line available.

Another option is finding an existing through point, and snaking another wire through, but that has its own issues regarding difficulty. I opted to spend a little money instead of a lot of time.

[Slim]

So far as adapting to run straight through the battery, I am rather nervous about drilling into the firewall.

Pretty much every vehicle made has at least one grommet in the firewall to run wiring through.  Look up underneath the dashboard, and you should find one.  They're sealed fairly well, but you should be able to run a fishtape or wire hanger through it.  Just tape the wire end to the hanger or fishtape, then pull it back through.

Another option is to find the fuse panel inside your vehicle, and tap into a 20 amp or higher fuse, use a 12v test light, and you can find one that is switched off with the ignition.  You can find fuse taps at most auto parts stores; they have a short length of wire that you connect to with a butt connector or a soldered splice.  Then just remove the fuse from the panel, plug the tap into it's place, then the removed fuse will fit into the top of the tap.  All you'd need to do then is find a good ground source, and put some quick disconnects on the wiring harness for the radio.

[a2capt]

I've pretty much always been able to shove two or three 10 gauge wires through the usual "main" grommet with the wires already there, or find a smaller one. If you're concerned about passage, put follow the last inch or so of the wire with silicone and let it pull some of that through.

[IceNine]

^ Exactly what I did.

2002 Silverado.  Mine was just above the emergency brake of course you need to pull back the carpet.  I ran mine under the plastic kick plate that transitions the metal to carpet in the door frame.  Under the seat and up near the console.

I ran the antenna cable down the passenger side to separate the coax from the power line, up the plastic runner around the windshield, through the header to the dome light.  You could easily run a cable to one window and mount a pass through antenna.  It wont cause any damage, and the antenna itself is easily removable.  Won't go completely away but certainly a fair compromise.

The ideal situation is to build a jump pack setup that you can connect the radio in and then pull it out for base ops.

I posted pictures here a a while ago of a modified version I borrowed from someone else.