My "Go Box" Project

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CommoFreq

Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2014
Messages
104
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140
Location
Neubeuern, Bayern, Germany
(WARNING: This is a work in progress!)

You're probably wondering what a "Go Box" . . . is. It's a radio installation in a box or boxes that make your equipment easy to transport. If you need to get the hell outta Dodge in a hurry, well, just grab your boxes and go! With this setup, I have communicated (from Germany) as far west as Argentina, and as far east as Japan. And as far south as Madagascar.



Anyhow, here's what I've done with a couple of aluminum boxes:



IMAG2779.jpg


I couldn't fit everything in just one of these boxes. So, I used two boxes that are connected together. In the left-hand box, an MFJ-993B tuner and an HLA-305V linear amp (300W). In the right-hand box, an Icom 7100, GZV-6000 power supply, and a Turnigy 130A meter.




IMAG2769.jpg

On the back sides, a 12v output from the main box supplies the tuner and amp via a 12v input. I'm using house wiring for this, but that's temporary. Additionally, there is an RF-out going to the tuner and amp, as well as the control cable for the tuner. On the main box, there's also a VHF/UHF input. Notice the AC input going to a wall-socket under the fan. It's the same as the one you plug into a computer tower. The connectors are inset, so that I can put a water-proof cover over the ends at a later time.





IMAG2775.jpg

Here's a closer look into the main box. Here in Europe, the plugs are a bit different, but you get the point. The main box here is the power supply, bolted down in the box. The power strip is switched at the switch panel, and the metal bridge was built out of iron bars. I just drilled 4mm holes for the banana clips.




IMAG2773.jpg

The radio itself is mounted to the inside of the lid. This keeps the radio and the power supply from banging against each other during transport. I've routed all of the cables through the radio and the radio mount now for a cleaner look and better organization.




IMAG2777.jpg

The same basic design follows into the second box, with the tuner and amp. Here, the switch panel is mounted inside, because there simply wasn't enough room to mount them as on the other box. The ladder line coming off the tuner goes straight to a dipole antenna.





IMAG2768.jpg

And that's it, in a nut-shell. In this pic, I had to cover-up the freq, for OPSEC reasons. And it's for the same reasons that I won't be disclosing the *rest* of my setup.



So. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to post them below. This thing has been a bitch to build, and I can't wait to be finished with it.
 
(WARNING: This is a work in progress!)

You're probably wondering what a "Go Box" . . . is. It's a radio installation in a box or boxes that make your equipment easy to transport. If you need to get the hell outta Dodge in a hurry, well, just grab your boxes and go! With this setup, I have communicated (from Germany) as far west as Argentina, and as far east as Japan. And as far south as Madagascar.



Anyhow, here's what I've done with a couple of aluminum boxes:



IMAG2779.jpg


I couldn't fit everything in just one of these boxes. So, I used two boxes that are connected together. In the left-hand box, an MFJ-993B tuner and an HLA-305V linear amp (300W). In the right-hand box, an Icom 7100, GZV-6000 power supply, and a Turnigy 130A meter.




IMAG2769.jpg

On the back sides, a 12v output from the main box supplies the tuner and amp via a 12v input. I'm using house wiring for this, but that's temporary. Additionally, there is an RF-out going to the tuner and amp, as well as the control cable for the tuner. On the main box, there's also a VHF/UHF input. Notice the AC input going to a wall-socket under the fan. It's the same as the one you plug into a computer tower. The connectors are inset, so that I can put a water-proof cover over the ends at a later time.





IMAG2775.jpg

Here's a closer look into the main box. Here in Europe, the plugs are a bit different, but you get the point. The main box here is the power supply, bolted down in the box. The power strip is switched at the switch panel, and the metal bridge was built out of iron bars. I just drilled 4mm holes for the banana clips.




IMAG2773.jpg

The radio itself is mounted to the inside of the lid. This keeps the radio and the power supply from banging against each other during transport. I've routed all of the cables through the radio and the radio mount now for a cleaner look and better organization.




IMAG2777.jpg

The same basic design follows into the second box, with the tuner and amp. Here, the switch panel is mounted inside, because there simply wasn't enough room to mount them as on the other box. The ladder line coming off the tuner goes straight to a dipole antenna.





IMAG2768.jpg

And that's it, in a nut-shell. In this pic, I had to cover-up the freq, for OPSEC reasons. And it's for the same reasons that I won't be disclosing the *rest* of my setup.



So. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to post them below. This thing has been a bitch to build, and I can't wait to be finished with it.
I have been wanting to build a Go Box that is both HF and 2m/440, and after seeing yours I now have a direction to go!
This is the coolest Go Box I have seen!
How do you like your IC-7100? I have an IC-7200, but would be a bit more cumbersome to use that in a go box as opposed to the IC-7100 or a Yaesu 857D, which I have in the car.
 
I always forget the serial numbers. If im correct a BR.S25.SA something moddel as far as i know it dates back to the 70`s used by our military during our border wars against the commies. It has an outo tuner for whip or wire wich can be disabled then 50 Ohm socket functioning seperately. It can run on 12 or 24 volt. Frekw range 00.001 Mhz up to 29.999 Mhz. If im not mistaken the french also used something simalar. Had to fix the handset myself, no spares available. I got it from a neighbour on my birthday 4 years ago, he wanted to chuck it in the dustbin. I reached a guy in Croatia from South Africa once. Not doing much with the radio`s lately tried to reach some of NR`s friends the other day, no luck but will try again, at this stage everything is packed ready to bug out, so its a bit of a shlep to get everything packed out and running again, so im just using the whip or wire.
http://www.greenradio.de/e_b25.htm
 
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I have been wanting to build a Go Box that is both HF and 2m/440, and after seeing yours I now have a direction to go!
This is the coolest Go Box I have seen!
How do you like your IC-7100? I have an IC-7200, but would be a bit more cumbersome to use that in a go box as opposed to the IC-7100 or a Yaesu 857D, which I have in the car.


I love the 7100. The touch screen makes navigating the menus really easy. It's basically built for newbies. Interfacing it is also for newbies - it's a straight USB connection from the radio to the computer. I've been waiting 15 years for that. That said, it does have some drawbacks too. The detached face is permanently detached. There's no way to mount it to the body. Voice transmission works great on AM, FM, and DV, but on SSB it's not nearly as good as the 7000 I have.

It's still my favorite radio, and yes, you can run it mobile, but I would consider this to be more of a base-station kind of radio. The control head is kinda bulky and it has some weight to it. They make suction cup mounts for it, but, you know, I wouldn't. That's just me.
 
I love the 7100. The touch screen makes navigating the menus really easy. It's basically built for newbies. Interfacing it is also for newbies - it's a straight USB connection from the radio to the computer. I've been waiting 15 years for that. That said, it does have some drawbacks too. The detached face is permanently detached. There's no way to mount it to the body. Voice transmission works great on AM, FM, and DV, but on SSB it's not nearly as good as the 7000 I have.

It's still my favorite radio, and yes, you can run it mobile, but I would consider this to be more of a base-station kind of radio. The control head is kinda bulky and it has some weight to it. They make suction cup mounts for it, but, you know, I wouldn't. That's just me.
I just spent the day at a Ham Convention in the Los Angeles area and spoke with Icom abut their newest radio.... So new it is still waiting on FCC approval. It is the Icom IC-7300. It has a real time spectrum scope! http://www.icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/hf/7300/default.aspx
 
Yeah, they had one on display at the ham fest here in Germany. That's a sexy radio too. If they would make a matching VHF-UHF rig, I'd give it a shot.
Where in Germany are you if I may ask?
I was stationed in Schweinfurt with 3rd Infantry Division and Mainz with 8th Infantry Division
 
Down about 30 minutes from the Eagle's Nest.
I have been there. A long time ago!
I would love to go back for a visit.

I see Germany has closed their borders down. I wish this country would have the balls to do that.
It won't be long beofre the terrorist groups partner up with the drug lords and work together to get stuff across the US border.... That's assuming they haven't already.
 
I have been there. A long time ago!
I would love to go back for a visit.

I see Germany has closed their borders down. I wish this country would have the balls to do that.
It won't be long beofre the terrorist groups partner up with the drug lords and work together to get stuff across the US border.... That's assuming they haven't already.


Heh, not really. They just increased police presence at the train stations, and are stopping 18-wheelers at random. Anyhow, I'm out. I'm sitting at the airport right now, flying home. I can't wait to get some effing Buffalo wings.
 
Heh, not really. They just increased police presence at the train stations, and are stopping 18-wheelers at random. Anyhow, I'm out. I'm sitting at the airport right now, flying home. I can't wait to get some effing Buffalo wings.
Sadly to say when I got out i couldn't wait to go to Del Taco & In n Out Burger.
Have a safe flight!
 
I am getting into a computer called a Raspberry Pi and I think it might be better as a Go Box if you have to get the hell out of dodge. Because it is the size of a credit card and you can actually turn it into a ham radio if you want. Here is a link I found that allows you to turn a Raspberry Pi into a ham radio: http://www.g0hwc.com/raspberry-pi-ham-radio.html
 
I am getting into a computer called a Raspberry Pi and I think it might be better as a Go Box if you have to get the hell out of dodge. Because it is the size of a credit card and you can actually turn it into a ham radio if you want. Here is a link I found that allows you to turn a Raspberry Pi into a ham radio: http://www.g0hwc.com/raspberry-pi-ham-radio.html


Not exactly. It allows you to run software that will control your ham radios.
 

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