I decided to check out the effectiveness of the previous emergency
 preparedness articles I had written by using the general lists
 developed in my third article to make a net control station (NCS)
 GO-KIT for a recent walkathon.  Since I was going to be the
 alternate-NCS helping to train a new NCS operator, I placed the
 following items in the go-kit:

 A. GO-KIT (The BOX) (* The first four items are not stored in the box)

 1. * 2-meter 25W amplifier with BNC to BNC short coax-cable
 2. * Extra HT batteries
 3. * HT-microphones (one for each HT)
 4. * 7 AHr gel cell battery with plug for HT
 5. 2-meter mobile Magnetic Mount (Mag Mount)
 6. 2-meter J-pole antenna
 7. Bag of alligator clipped patch cords, three sizes
 8. Small VOM
 9. SWR meter for 2-meters
 10. Fuses (all sizes and values needed for the rigs and power boxes I use)
 11. My standard power cords
     a) two cords from car-lighter to HT
     b) two cords with my standard plug to HT
 12. Multiple connectors for PL-259 to BNC conversion (min of four each)
 13. Two short coax patch cords (PL-259 to PL-259), approx. 2 feet.
 14. Three longer coax patch cords (PL-259 to PL-259), approx. 12 feet.
 15. Extra pen, lead, and pencils
 16. Extra small rope
 17. Two ID holders
 18. Small ALL-IN-ONE tool for wire cutting etc.


 B. GO-KIT (The BAG) (These items are not stored in the bag)

 1. 12-V, 2Ahr gel cell with HT connector
 2. Power distribution center box with battery connector and fuse protection
 3. Two clip boards with paper and rubber bands
 4. Two 2-meter HT's and one 440 HT
 5. Hot/cold mug
 6. ARES ID and name badge


 C. GO-KIT (The BIG Stuff) (These items are not stored in the car)

 1. 12-V, 30Ahr deep cycle battery (mine)
 2. 12 V, 70 AHr deep cycle battery (ARES)
 3. 2-meter 5/8 wave antenna (to fit mag mount in BOX)



 With the above items we were able to set up a Net Control Station in less
 than 30 minutes using a 2-meter mobile radio with different connectors
 than I normally use.  The medium size alligator-clip patch cords were used
 for the power connection.  The mobile 5/8 wave antenna was used for the
 main net frequency, then a second mobile 5/8 wave antenna was placed on
 the trunk in order to monitor the second frequency with one of my 2-meter
 HT's.  My second HT was used to monitor the 145.41 repeater using the
 rubber-duck antenna.  One of the short coax patch cords was used to go to
 the SWR meter for a check of the antenna systems before use.  A PL-259 to
 BNC converter was used for the connection from the mobile antenna to the
 HT, and a BNC to PL-259 converter was used for the other mobile antenna to
 mobile 2-meter radio.  (I guess we could have switched these two and not
 used any converters at all!)

 We used the 30 AHr battery because I wanted to see if it would do the job
 for the entire time.  It supplied power to the 50W output mobile radio,
 and the two HT's for the entire time of four hours, with plenty of power
 left.  (Resting voltage at the beginning was about 12.78 and at the end of
 the net was 12.59.)

 It turned out that my fuse assortment also included fuses that would have
 fit the mobile 2-meter radio if needed.  I could have used all of my
 equipment for the net (one HT with power amp for the NCS frequency, one HT
 for second freq.) but the fun of it was to see if we could use another rig
 that I could not plan for.  The go-kit was stocked for any set-up needed
 at the walkathon.  It functioned well for the NCS and I could have used it
 to support a mobile station, or any of the rest-stops, or even a portable
 station.  In conclusion, I would say that I overstocked the kit for a
 small walkathon, but it was stocked just right for an
 I-don't-know-what-to-expect first response team.  This was a great way to
 test out my personal go-kit and I recommend that the next time you join a
 similar event, you try your hand at it.  Keep a list of the things you
 forgot.  (I thought I had forgotten the microphone for one of the HT's but
 when I got home I found it right there in the go-kit box where it was
 supposed to be.)

 The above equipment would need to be augmented for a true first response
 team since being part of such a team means I must also prepare for all my
 personal needs - food, clothing, toilet, etc.  I would also include a full
 tool kit, HF gear, and supporting equipment as well.