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A go kit (also called a grab-and-go kit or deployment kit) is a pre-packed, portable amateur radio station designed to be picked up and deployed on short notice during an emergency. When an ARES, RACES, or other emergency communication group is activated, members are expected to arrive at their assigned location with the ability to get on the air quickly using their own equipment.
A well-organized go kit means you can go from notification to operational in minutes, not hours. This page covers what to include, how to organize it, and how to keep it ready.
The core principle is simple: everything you need to set up a functional radio station at an arbitrary location should be packed, tested, and ready to carry out the door. When an activation call comes at 2 AM during a storm, you should not need to gather cables from one room, dig a power supply out of a closet, and search for an antenna you haven't used in months.
A go kit should be:
Many emergency communicators maintain multiple levels of readiness:
The absolute minimum — a kit you can carry in a backpack or shoulder bag. This is what you grab when you need to get out the door in under five minutes.
Typical contents:
A more capable station, typically packed in a medium-sized case or rugged bag. Suitable for operating from an EOC, shelter, or staging area for an extended period.
Adds to Level 1:
A complete multi-band station for extended deployment, including long-distance HF capability. This is typically vehicle-transported.
Adds to Level 2:
Power is often the weakest link in emergency deployment. A radio is useless without power, and emergency deployments frequently occur where mains power is unavailable.
Sealed Lead-Acid (SLA): Affordable and widely available. Heavy for their capacity. A 12V 7Ah SLA battery will run a 5W HT for many hours but is marginal for a 50W mobile transceiver. Common sizes: 7Ah (about 2.5 kg / 5.5 lb), 12Ah, 18Ah, 35Ah.
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4): The preferred choice for serious go kits. LiFePO4 batteries are roughly one-third the weight of equivalent SLA batteries, maintain stable voltage throughout discharge, tolerate deep discharge better, and last for thousands of charge cycles. They cost more upfront but are superior in every performance measure. Common sizes: 6Ah, 12Ah, 20Ah, 50Ah, 100Ah.
USB power banks: Useful for charging handhelds, phones, and tablets. Not suitable for powering transceivers directly.
A rough calculation: divide the battery capacity (in amp-hours) by the average current draw (in amps) to get approximate run time in hours. A VHF mobile transceiver drawing an average of 3A on a 20Ah battery will run for roughly 6–7 hours. Keep a safety margin — plan for 60–70% of the theoretical capacity.
A portable solar panel (50–100W) with a charge controller can extend battery life significantly during multi-day deployments. Foldable solar panels designed for camping are portable enough for go kits. They won't fully power a station in real-time, but they can maintain or slowly recharge batteries during daylight hours.
For extended operations or high-power HF work, a small portable generator (1000–2000W inverter generator) may be necessary. Generators add noise (both acoustic and electrical), require fuel logistics, and need proper grounding. They are typically part of a team-level deployment rather than an individual go kit.
The antenna is as important as the radio. A well-chosen antenna for a go kit balances portability, ease of setup, and effectiveness.
A go kit that hasn't been tested recently is unreliable. Establish a regular maintenance schedule:
Monthly:
Quarterly:
After every deployment or exercise:
Untested equipment. Buying gear and putting it in a bag is not preparation. Every component must be tested together.
Dead batteries. The most common failure mode. Maintain a charging schedule.
Missing adapters or cables. That one adapter you need to connect the radio to the antenna. If you don't have it in the kit, you don't have it.
No documentation. Operating from memory under stress is unreliable. Written frequencies, procedures, and checklists prevent errors.
Too much stuff. A go kit you can't carry alone is a go kit that stays in the car. Be selective — pack what you need, not everything you own.
No personal supplies. During an extended deployment, you need water, food, medications, weather-appropriate clothing, and personal comfort items. Many operators maintain a separate personal readiness bag alongside their radio go kit.