Posted: 7/1/2019 4:03:52 PM EDT
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Since I live in a population dense environment, HOA antenna restricted area and an RF nightmare of QRM from close living proximity among houses, I decided I make a Go Box that I can lug to remote areas that is ready to go for all my communications desires in lower noise environments. I wanted everything to be turn-key minus power and antenna setups. Buy once cry once.
Attached File What i built: - HF/VHF/UHF radios with Icom IC-7300 and Yaesu FTM-400xd - Alinco DM-430T 30amp power supply with front Powerpole connectors for added flexibility - RigRunner 4008 with 8 Powerpole connectors for power distribution. - West Mountain Radio Epic PWRGate for power source management. Includes connections for 13.8V power supply input, battery back-up input with moderate current charging(10amp), and a solar input for operation and charging. - An LDG RT-100 remote tuner that is stored in the rear and can be removed and placed at the antenna if needed. Power injector and control is mounted in the front. - Rear power strip 120v - I custom created a from panel out of 1/8” aluminum bar to place all the inputs from the rear of the radios to the front: CW key, FTM-400 mic, FTM-400 data USB connection, 7300 USB and ACC, a USB power connection, and an audio switch I created out of a 4PDT switch that can switch the audio between the two radios and the two speakers. I wanted the Kenwood speakers as their audio quality is great. Due to space considerations I placed them one behind the other both facing forward. But the rear speaker loses some treble so I added the switcher to flip which radio uses the from speaker for the better sound quality. - A 6U gator box with shortened depth - A 1U drawer for mics, CW key, cables, manuals and paper. - two steel shelves. The top shelf is inverted and the upper equipment is hanging from it. - A rear 1U panel blank that has the antenna and power connections - A 12v LED flexible lamp for night time use. Items were installed to the shelves with mounts and screws where available, large Velcro strips or large zip ties. The front panel is mounted with drilled and tapped holes in the two shelves. The FTM-400 main unit and display panel were mounted inverted and on drawer slides so I can slide out the FTM-400 to get access to the front connections as they would be blocked once all is installed. Things to do next: mic hooks, a 12v voltage and power meter to be inserted inline with the rigrunner, and a main power cutoff switch for the rigrunner. The system is paired up with a Buddipole system, roll-up dual band J pole, and a 33ft telescopic pole for holding a wire or be an apex of a inverted V dipole. Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Quoted:
https://proxy.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmemecrunch.com%2Fmeme%2F35NPT%2Fnerd-alert%2Fimage.png%3Fw%3D400%26c%3D1&f=1 seriously tho, that's pretty cool 
Thank you for the comment. It was damn fun to build. A month ago I had the idea and I’ve been on a mission mapping out my options and buying all the parts. Amazon was pretty good at getting all the case and rack components. Some trial and error in trying to see what fits here and there. |
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Quoted: Isn’t that what we all are here in the Ham Forum?
Thank you for the comment. It was damn fun to build. A month ago I had the idea and I’ve been on a mission mapping out my options and buying all the parts. Amazon was pretty good at getting all the case and rack components. Some trial and error in trying to see what fits here and there. |
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Quoted: I see your label-fu is strong grasshoper |
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I assume you'd have to remove both ends before use for airflow. how hot does that thing get? I’ve only done some lower power data and CW so far and haven’t noticed any heat build up. If I do notice heat build up, I’ll install a fan and internal thermometer to keep an eye on things. |
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Thank you to you and everyone. I didn’t know we had an emcomm sticky so I’m reading up to see what else I can do or update. I’ve been reading that some of the advice is not to have fuses. Why is that? For in the event of not having spares you can keep operating? If so, I can just throw in a Powerpole bus or extra fuses. Thanks. Also, I’ll add a few pics of my battery, solar and gen setup soon. |
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Quoted:
Very nice, and very professional looking! Well thought out, logical, all that. Two thumbs up! ~ Jup Quoted:
Very nice, and very professional looking! Well thought out, logical, all that. Two thumbs up! ~ Jup Quoted:
Very nice and neat job. 
How much does it weigh? |