TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY ARES MEMBERS (OFFICIAL)
ALL ARES AND NON-ARES AMATEURS ANYWHERE (INFORMATION)
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM ARRL DISTRICT 3 EMERGENCY COORDINATOR
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INC.
WOOD COUNTY ARES BULLETIN NR 21.33 DATE: August 15, 2021
SUBJECT: WHAT IS A COW?
A cow in the communications world is not an animal with four legs
a tail, and gives milk.
A C.O.W. is a common acronym used in the telecommunications industry to stand for Cell On Wheels. The C.O.W is a mobile cell site product that includes a tower and transceiver as well as all other necessary equipment, carefully constructed on a trailer or truck.
During major incidents where Cellular Telephone service has be disrupted because their towers have been destroyed, a C.O.W, can be brought in to help provide Cellular Telephone service. Unlike standard towers, Cell On Wheel towers are highly portable and can be used on a short-term basis.
These mobile towers are usually used to create, or boost a cellular network for a brief period, during an emergency, for a big event, or while a full tower is being built. There are many sizes of C.O.W, each designed for different needs, including easy access, more strength or more stability. The smallest versions sit on trailers that can be pulled by nearly any standard truck,
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV