South County ARES: Equipment and Installations by City

Frequencies | Station Photos

Each city in the SCARES area has equipment to be used during practice and real emergency situations. Although the location may vary somewhat, the main communications station is usually at the police department or fire department. Equipment ranges from just an antenna drop to a station complete with multiple-band radio capability, packet radio, and computer/printer setup. The Emergency Coordinator (EC) for a particular city is responsible for equipment location and installation. For comments, suggestions, questions, or to report problems with a specific installation, contact the city's EC or leave a message on SCARES Voice Mail.

The following information shows some details about specific equipment locations in the cities serviced by SCARES. Special thanks to these communities for providing space and equipment!

A more complete source is the South County ARES Emergency Handbook. We strongly urge local mutual-aid ARES groups to download the South County ARES Handbook to have on hand for reference in a emergency.

Atherton See Menlo Park/Atherton below.

Belmont [Belmont EC] [Top]

This station was moved in 2006

The amateur radio station for Belmont was moved back to City Hall in 2006. [Map]

Belmont local repeater 147.09+ WB6CKT.

The amateur radio station consists of VHF and UHF voice radios and a VHF Packet station (computer to computer via radio modem). Hams wishing to do Monday night net using this stationshould call the Belmont EC for more information.

In an emergency, SCARES members will be stationed at the Belmont Emergency Operations Center (EOC) which will be set up at Station #14. Amateurs can be dispatched with mobile/portable radios to where they are needed in the area. An agreement with a Belmont amateur for the use of his VHF repeater in an emergency gives excellent local coverage using hand-held low power radios.

All South County Fire stations and 3 public schools plus the district office in Belmont have 2 meter J-Pole antennas with cable drops to a convenient location so that a SCARES member can attach his/her radio to the cable and get good coverage when located inside the buildings. This preparation also allows amateurs to easily provide emergency communications for the Red Cross who will operate the designated local emergency shelters.

There is an antenna drop (2m J-pole) at the California Department of Forestry (CDF) (Belmont Fire, North Division) building on 20 Tower Road.

East Palo Alto [East Palo Alto EC] [Top]

East Palo Alto Police
2415 University Ave at Bay Road (Behind MacDonald's)
Thomas Guide 38 B4
Large three story building. No antenna drop. No equipment is at this location. (See Menlo Park Fire Protection District.)

Foster City [Foster City EC] [Top]

Foster City Police
1030 East Hillsdale Blvd, Civic Center
Thomas Guide 29A C5
Foster City local 145.64 simplex

Dispatch Center is located on the ground floor, north-west corner of the building. Enter through the front door and make your way to the center cubical area. In the north-east end of this area is a white cabinet and desk containing a dual band (2-440) radio with dual band antennas. A separate 2 m radio and antenna and PK-88 installed in a 386/33 computer with printer is for packet. A two meter handheld is also available. Manuals forms and parer are in the desk. Foster City also has a fully equipped s tationary and mobile EOC.

Menlo Park/Atherton [Menlo Park/Atherton EC] [Top]

Menlo Park Surgical Hospital (formerly Recovery Inn Medical Center)
570 Willow Rd. (cross of Gilbert St.)
Menlo Park
Thomas Guide 37 F5

2M/440 XCVR and Diamond X-50. There are no batteries there yet (although the Astron power supplies have a battery circuit). Equipment is in a locked cabinet in Accounting Dept. There are two coax cables: one unused; one with a 2m/440 splitter to the Diamond X-50. Facility has local generator.

Note: The primary ARES tactical frequency for Atherton and Menlo Park is 147.555 MHz

Atherton Police Department [Station Photos]
83 Ashfield Road, across from the train station [map]

Atherton P.D. has a grab-and-go emergency radio system consisting of a Kenwood VM-V7A (dual band mobile), Astron Power Supply, and 33 A.H. gell cell battery, mounted in a Pelican case. Contact Communications Supervisor John Mattes (KF6UQN) at the Police Department for access (650-688-6500).

Menlo School [After 5/1/99]
Menlo School has a grab-and-go emergency radio system in the same configuration as Atherton P.D. Contact Mr. Robin McGlohn (KF6SRI) at Menlo School for access (650-330-2001 x2286).

Portola Valley See Woodside/Portola Valley below.

Redwood City [Redwood City EC] [Top]

Redwood City Police
1301 Maple St. (east side of 101)
Thomas Guide 36 F2
There is an amateur radio station in Redwood City PD headquarters which consists of VHF and UHF voice radios and a VHF Packet station (computer to computer via radio modem). An RS-232 serial line connects a computer in the EOC to the packet station.

SCARES owns and operates an amateur radio UHF repeater located on Kaiser Hospital (1150 Veterans Blvd, RWC; Thomas Guide 37 A2). The frequency is 444.5+ MHz CTCSS=100 Hz.

San Carlos [San Carlos EC] [Top]

Roll-around cart on 2nd floor of City Hall
600 Elm St (City Hall)
Thomas Guide 33 C5
There is an amateur radio station in San Carlos PD headquarters which consists of VHF and UHF voice radios and a VHF Packet station (computer to computer via radio modem). The station equipment was re-located in the fall of 1999 to a closet in room 208 (next to the San Carlos EOC in room 207).

San Mateo (City of) [San Mateo EC] [Top]

2000 S. Delaware (south of 92)
Thomas Guide New 749 B4, Old 29 E6
San Mateo-local 145.64 simplex
The EOC is located in the south side of the building. The site contains a (2) dual band 2/440 radios and (2) dual antenna drop. Each radio has it own power supply.

There is an antenna drop (2m J-pole) at the California Department of Forestry (CDF) (Belmont Fire, North Division) building on 20 Tower Road. There is a discone antenna drop at the Crystal Springs Rehabilitation Hospital at 35 Tower Road in San Mateo (near 92 and Ralston/Polhemus).

San Mateo County [San Mateo County DEC] [Top]

San Mateo County Area OES
401 Marshall St, Redwood City (near Winslow)
Thomas Guide 36 F2
An amateur station is located in the basement of the Hall of Justice in the SMAOES offices. The equipment consists of two 2-meter and 440MHz voice radios .

Woodside/Portola Valley [Woodside/Portola Valley EC] [Top]

Police services are provided by San Mateo County Sheriff. There is no amateur equipment at Woodside facilities.

Portola Valley Town Hall
765 Portola Road
Thomas Guide 47 A3
There is a 2 meter station there with battery power. There is a 2m antenna drop (Male UHF) in the south east corner of the main building.

SCARES area-wide frequencies: [Top]

The complete listing is in the South County ARES Emergency Handbook. We strongly urge local mutual-aid ARES groups to download the South County ARES Handbook to have on hand for reference in a emergency.



South County ARES
 
 


 
Primary
Resource/
444.500+100.0 
K6MPN


 
Secondary
Tactical
146.445s114.8
 


 

Alt. Tactical
144.450s114.8
 


Atherton
 
Tactical
147.555s114.8
 


Belmont
 
Tactical
147.090+
WB6CKT


Menlo Park
Tactical
147.555s114.8
 


Redwood City
Tactical
147.450s114.8
 


San Carlos
Tactical
146.895-110.9
KD6BXY


Portola Valley
Tactical
146.430s114.8
 


Woodside

Tactical
146.430s114.8

Simplex frequencies may use PL 114.8 to reduce out of area traffic.


SCARES Home \| Weekly Net \| Training \| Events \| Meetings \| Photos \| Articles \| Board of Directors Mission \| History \| How To Join SCARES \| ECs \| Equipment \| Be Prepared \| Ham Links \| e-News

Webmaster Page last modified August 26, 2006