Got me thinking after last weekend's ARES drill - I realized I hadn't actually powered up my complete go-kit in almost 6 months. The battery was dead, one of my BNC connectors was corroded, and I couldn't remember the frequency for our local emergency net. Pretty embarrassing when we're supposed to be the backup communications! How do you all stay on top of go-kit maintenance and practice?

I do a monthly "gear check" on the first Saturday - power everything up, check all connections, verify my frequency list is current, and actually make a few contacts. It's saved me from several potential failures during real activations.

Same thing happened to me! Now I have a calendar reminder every 3 months to do a full deployment test in my backyard. I set up the antenna, run on battery power, and check into at least two nets. Also rotate through different digital modes to keep those skills sharp.

Our local ARES group does quarterly go-kit exercises where we all meet at a park and set up from scratch. Really helps identify weak points in your setup and keeps the muscle memory fresh. Maybe suggest something similar to your EC?