so ive been meaning to do this for like two years and i finally just sat down and started pulling stuff together for a proper go-kit. got a pelican case, my FT-857D, a few rolls of coax, some misc adapters, power cables, that kind of thing. threw in a cheap notebook and some pens because i kept reading that you really want paper logging capability when everything else goes sideways.

my question is basically what do people always forget until they actually need it. like the obvious stuff i think i have covered but i know theres always something. i was doing a ARES activation last spring for a local marathon and somebody didnt have the right PL tone written down anywhere and spent 20 minutes trying different ones before they found it. so now i keep a laminated card with all the local repeater info in the case lid.

what else falls into that category of stuff you dont think about until you really need it

the antenna situation always bites people. you pack the radio, you pack the coax, and then you show up somewhere and realize your only antenna is a mag mount that needs a metal roof and youre in a parking lot or a field somewhere. i keep a cheap roll-up jpole and a telescoping whip in mine just for that reason, takes up almost no space.

also and this sounds dumb but bring snacks and a water bottle. ive been at activations where we sat there for 6 hours with nothing because everyone assumed someone else handled food. not exactly radio gear but its part of being operational. oh and a phone charger, external battery bank, that kind of thing. your radio might be all set but your phone dies and now you cant look anything up or coordinate with the served agency folks.

headphones. seriously. i never thought about it until i was trying to copy traffic in a noisy EOC with people talking on phones all around me and the speaker on my radio was basically useless. a basic pair of headphones or even earbuds with the right adapter made a huge difference. i think i paid like 8 bucks for a little 1/4 inch adapter at the hardware store and it changed everything.