Watch the weather first

In southern Alberta the weather can turn in an hour. A chinook can take you from -25 to +5 in an afternoon, and a spring storm can close the highway just as fast. Before any field trip or emergency deployment:

• Check the forecast and any alerts from Environment Canada, or use the WeatherCAN app.
• Look at local conditions. West Lethbridge Weather shows live readings from right here in town.
• Watch the wind as much as the temperature. Wind chill is what causes frostbite, and wind is what brings antennas down.
• Tell someone where you’re going, which frequencies you’ll monitor and when you’ll check in.

Batteries in the cold

• Lead-acid and AGM batteries lose a large part of their capacity when cold. A battery that runs your station all evening in July may not last an hour at -20.
• Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries work in the cold but must not be charged below freezing unless they have a built-in heater. Most battery management systems simply block charging until they warm up.
• Handheld radio batteries fade quickly. Keep a spare in an inside pocket and swap them as the cold one drops.
• Insulate and elevate: keep batteries off frozen ground, in an insulated box if you can.

Gear in the cold

• Screens get slow or go blank in deep cold. They recover as they warm, but plan for it.
• Coax and wire get stiff and can crack if bent sharply. Uncoil them slowly, and warm them in the truck first if you can.
• Connectors can freeze in place. Keep caps on unused connectors and seal outdoor ones well.
• Condensation is the hidden danger. When you bring cold gear into a warm truck or house, moisture forms inside it. Leave it in a closed bag or case until it reaches room temperature before powering it on.
• Ice on antennas adds weight and changes tuning. Check SWR again after freezing rain.

Keeping yourself safe

• Dress in layers, keep your head, hands and feet covered, and stay dry. Sweat chills you fast once you stop moving.
• Use thin gloves for knobs and keys, with warm mitts over top.
• Know the signs of frostbite (white, waxy, numb skin) and hypothermia (shivering, confusion, clumsiness). Get warm at the first sign.
• Don’t run a generator or heater in an enclosed space. Carbon monoxide gives no warning.

Emergency blankets and the winter kit

A foil emergency blanket weighs almost nothing and reflects body heat back to you. Keep one in every radio kit and every vehicle. They tear easily, so carry a spare, and wrap them under an outer layer to block wind.

A basic winter vehicle kit includes: warm clothes and boots, blankets or a sleeping bag, food and water, a candle in a can, a shovel, a flashlight and a way to call for help. A charged handheld programmed with local repeaters, including the VE6DOK repeater, is a worthwhile addition.

Operating tips for winter

• Keep transmissions short and check in on a schedule so others know you’re fine.
• Low bands like 80 m and 160 m are at their best on long winter nights.
• Set up antennas before dark. Everything takes longer with cold hands.

Where to go next

• Emergency Radio Kit
• Field Setup Checklist
• Power & Wiring
• Portable Operations

Last updated October 2026.