yep, I have thought of exactly the same thing.
Actually, a 10 or 12U road rack isn't really all that much if you go with 
some of the newer chinese manufactured brands.
Yeh, obviously far more than a milk crate, but under $200 for sure.
Probably about the same, or less than a pelicon case of the same size.
Of course you would have to get rack shelves as well which can get a little 
costly per each shelf...but at the end of the day you've got a rock solid, 
impact resistent, fairly weather proof box with wheels and handles for 
transport.
Other instrument cases could also work for mounting equipment inside...the 
newer hard plastic flight cases that are square or rectangular shaped could 
work well enough.  And then you've got something you can cary with one hand, 
and that will lock as well.
Anyway, there are lots of possibilities.


73
Colin, V A6BKX
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Gillen zl1chm" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, March 25, 2013 1:50 AM
Subject: Re: Radio Box, Part 3, Final Considerations, I Think.


>I was thinking about doing something like this but in a 19 inch rack rode 
>ca=
> se. Sure it will cost some money, but win you think about it, it is 
> protecti=
> ng hundreds or even thousands of dollars if you go for an HF setup. It's 
> not=
> worth being stingy.=20
>
> Scott
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On 25/03/2013, at 7:02 PM, Colin McDonald <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> if it's a regular milk crate size, you could easily mount a dual band=20
>> VHF/UHF radio in there, along with something like an IC718, or 706, or 
>> 700=
> 0.=20
>> Use a single  30 amp power supply like an alinco which is small and 
>> very=20=
>
>> reliable...and you'd be cooking with gas I think.
>> The only down side I can really see with this particular set up, is that 
>> t=
> he=20
>> box is more or less completely open on all sides to the elements...that 
>> is=
> ,=20
>> there are large holes if you will, on all the closed sides.  This 
>> allows=20=
>
>> water, dust, mud, whatever else into the box.  So, if you set it down on 
>> t=
> he=20
>> ground, and the ground is muddy, and you don't happen to have a tarp 
>> or=20=
>
>> other ground cover immediately available, then the mud will get inside 
>> ver=
> y=20
>> easily.
>> Also, if it's raining, water will come in the top directly onto the=20
>> electronics without the suggested disposable rain slicker.
>> And guys, those disposable rain slickers are very flimsey indeed and if 
>> yo=
> u=20
>> bump it, or move it in anyway shape or form if it's wet, that water is 
>> goi=
> ng=20
>> to pour inside the box.
>> Now here is what I would do.  Go to a discount auto parts store, or 
>> any=20=
>
>> place that has some auto parts.  Find some plain regular rubber car 
>> floor=20=
>
>> matts.  They're always really really cheap, like a few bucks.
>> Make sure the matts are as big as, or slightly bigger or just bigger 
>> than=20=
>
>> the inside sides and bottom of the crate.
>> Yes, at this point, your going to have to nuckle down and probably use 
>> a=20=
>
>> utility knife.  But secure the rubber matts to the insides of the=20
>> crate...easy enough to do by cutting or driving some holes through the=20
>> rubber and using zip ties to keep them secure...then use some coax 
>> sealer=20=
>
>> puddy, or some kind of sealant to seal the holes where you ran the zip 
>> tie=
> s.
>> You will have to also seal any holes you put in the rubber for the zip 
>> tie=
> s=20
>> that mount the equipment inside as well.
>> So, now you have a box that can sit out in the rain, as long as it's 
>> not=20=
>
>> raining sideways lol, and be relatively safe from water getting into it.
>> Also, the box can be set on the ground without fear of mud or dirt 
>> getting=
> =20
>> inside to get into the electronics.
>> I suggest car floor matts because they're cheap and plentiful and easy 
>> to=20=
>
>> modify for this use.
>> You could use any sort of heavy duty rubber matting though.  Allot of=20
>> hardware stores, and even craft stores will have rubber sheets that could 
>> b=
> e=20
>> cut to size for this kind of project.
>> I know this adds some cost, and some additional assembly and time, but 
>> I=20=
>
>> think one would rather keep equipment in working order out in the field 
>> th=
> an=20
>> have it go dead on you because of water or mud or copious amounts of dust 
>> o=
> r=20
>> dirt building up.
>>=20
>> The whole point of having a field kit like this is to be able to deploy 
>> it=
> =20
>> in almost any situation...and as we all know, most of these major 
>> emergenc=
> y=20
>> situations involve the natural elements in one form or another.
>>=20
>> Hope these suggestions are some help.  I like the whole idea of the 
>> crate=20=
>
>> for all the reasons stated.
>>=20
>> 73
>> Colin, V A6BKX
>>=20
>>=20
>>=20
>>=20
>> approach is by
>>>> far the most simplistic I have encountered. While the open structure
>>>> is usually a big advantage, it does mean that you must pay a bit more
>>>> attention to the environment in which the box will be used. It can
>>>> usually be quite functional for public service events, radio
>>>> demonstrations, and Field Day.
>>>>=20
>>>>=20
>>>>=20
>>>> If you put one together, please share your thoughts about its
>>>> performance and practicality.
>>>>=20
>>>>=20
>>>>=20
>>>>=20
>>>>=20
>>>>=20
>>>>=20
>>>> Mike Duke, K5XU
>>>> American Council of Blind Radio Amateurs
>>=20