Mike,

That was an excellent description of your go box.  I've been thinking about 
putting one together for a long time, but your article just might get me 
going!  I'm looking forward to part 2.

73

Bob, K8LR, [log in to unmask]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Duke, K5XU" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, March 22, 2013 8:56 PM
Subject: Part 1 of My Radio Box


The radio box I am assembling uses a milk crate style plastic bin.
Therefore, it is not a "dry box". It is simply a way of securing
equipment into a container so that it can be easily carried, connected
to antenna and power sources, then be fully operational with little or
no removal of anything from the box.



The setup takes full advantage of the slots that are part of the milk
crate construction style. This means no drilling of holes or cutting
of the crate is necessary.



In use, the box stands on one of its sides. In this position, the
opening which would normally be the top of the box becomes the front,
and the slotted bottom becomes the back panel. Equipment is installed
in the box with front panels facing the opening, but recessed far
enough from the front to keep knobs and displays from extending beyond
the rim, and to allow full access for at least two of the handle
slots.



Everything mounted in the box is held in place either by heavy duty
zip type cable ties, or by Velcro cable tie straps. The zip ties are
used for the equipment, and the Velcro straps are used to confine the
excess length of power cables, line cords, and other wires. Although
some of these cables could be shortened, doing so would limit the
usefulness of the equipment should it become necessary to remove it
from the box.



The box that was shown at our club meeting has an Icom duel band rig
hanging from the top in its mounting bracket. This bracket is held
firmly against the top of the box by several zip ties that pass
through the slots of the bracket, over one of the ribs of a slot in
the top of the box, and are pulled tight. All of the slots of the
bracket are thus tied in order to keep the radio from sliding from
side to side, or from front to back.



An MFJ 25 amp power supply sits on the bottom of the crate. It too is
held in place by several zip ties which cross it from left to right,
and others that run from front to back. The supply is positioned so
that its rear panel is about two inches or so away from the back of
the crate. This location provides some protection for the back of the
supply, while leaving enough room to easily reach the connectors
through one of the slots, and to route the power cord out through
another.



The mounting bracket for a "Motorola type" external speaker is
attached to the rear panel of the crate near the left side, with the
bottom of the front edge of the speaker just above the top rear edge
of the power supply.



A microphone hanger is fastened to one side of the crate. It is near
the front, and about halfway down the vertical height of the box. When
it is on the hanger, the microphone is completely inside the box.


In use, the antenna feed line simply passes through a slot on the back
of the crate and is then connected to the radio. The AC cord for the
power supply exits in a similar manner. The DC cable from the radio
can easily be brought out for connection to a battery.

Stay tuned for more in Part 2, which will come your way later this
weekend.

Mike Duke, K5XU
American Council of Blind Radio Amateurs