Expand the trailer refurbishment to emergency radio assistance
Text: Cindy Hval
How can he better help the community in emergency situations such as natural disasters?
"I am the Assistant Emergency Coordinator for spokane County's Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES)/Auxiliary Communication Systems (ACS)," Hutchison said. "In this role, I need devices that can be deployed to any location and provide emergency communications."
For example, two years ago during a wild wildfire in Oregon, a radio operator made an appeal. If there is a place to sleep, eat or operate his UHF/VHF (Ultra High Frequency/Very High Frequency) and HF (High Frequency, formerly known as Shortwave) radio stations, he feels he can take on a much bigger mission.
The 71-year-old retired Navy commander and former Boy Scout leader said it was clear that camping in tents and sleeping on the streets was no longer a wise move. He decided to look for a trailer to meet his specific needs.
Three years ago, Hutcheson Hutchison's son, Richard Richard, introduced him to the amateur radio world.
"My son said he was coming to Spokane for the annual Hamfest Amateur Radio Bazaar, and he was going to pay me to take the amateur radio license exam," Hutchison explained.
He passed it and went on to take and pass two of the most advanced radio grade exams. However, he still does not have a radio.
"Richard helped me out with this," he said. "As soon as I passed the exam, he gave me a radio."
But soon, the hobby became addictive.
Hutcheson Hutchison grinned.
"I now have 14 radio stations."
Not content to become an amateur, he soon became involved in the Amateur Radio Relay Alliance, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (through the Spokane County Emergency Management Department), and the communications system of the local church. All told, he's completed 220 hours of training in the last three years.
"I have a terrible habit of being a leader every time I'm involved in something," he says. ”
After months of searching, finally in October 2020, his daughter found a trailer on social media that would fit into a communications car.
"This is a 1961 151/2 foot Santa Fe camping trailer that has been demolished by the previous owner," he said. "It's a blank slate for me."
He wrote a spec list and used it, and he started working on it in February. His naval experience came in handy.
"My last course in the Navy was submarine design," Hutcheson said.
He pointed to the trailer parked at his home in Spokane Valley.
"I use a lot of this knowledge in this regard."
Frank Hutchison installed emergency radiocommunications equipment in his Santa Fe camping trailer to conduct radio inspections of the outside world. Behind him are his granddaughter Lorelei Hartley (left) and his wife, Mary Lynn, who is responsible for the roof and interior curtains of the trailer. (Dan Perle/spokesman)
The first thing he created was a built-in three radiocommunication centers. He neatly tucked them under a cabinet with supplies and installed a slide-out tabletop. Two heavy-duty rechargeable batteries, each rechargeable for 100 amp hours, are stored in a cupboard above the file drawer. Two 200-watt solar panels on the roof power the lights inside the trailer. When there is power, a convenient USB port can charge phones and computers.
Hutchison Hutson's wife, Mary Lynn, likes to help decorate the interior of the car.
"She insisted on a flush toilet," he said with a laugh.
These amenities coupled with compact kitchenettes meant they could also use a trailer to visit their grandchildren.
Their 13-year-old granddaughter, Lorelei Hartley, did all the roof work for her grandfather, including replacing the vents.
For Hutchison Hutchison, the importance of amateur radio is simple.
"It works when everything else fails," he said. "These radios keep us connected when cell towers and power lines fail in a natural disaster."
The huge network of repeaters, coupled with satellites, makes global communication possible.
"I can even connect my computer to a radio station and send emails," he said.
The emergency drill test run through his church in October proved instructive.
"I came up with a long list of issues that needed to be solved, but I did it about six weeks ago."
Hutcheson Hutchison paused.
"It's not done yet — it's kind of like owning a ship."
While he was not concerned about natural disasters that would render the Spokane region incapacitated, he was happy to be able to help when needed.
"It gives me the ability to help others. I can support local and statewide emergency communications for a week without any external support. Hutcheson Hutchison said. This is one of those things you hope you never have to use. ”
source: spokesman.com