I’m currently designing a portable radio case with batteries, an electronic control panel, multiple power options, and storage space for small portable wire antennas, mics, cables, and gear. I’ll post pictures of progress as I go.
I’m wondering if anyone else here has made a “ham in a box.” What features did you put in it (or not put in it that you wish you would have) that were helpful, or that made setup easier out in “the wild?” I’m trying to make sure there wasn’t a feature that I overlooked or didn’t think about before I cut into materials.
Hi. This is what i made. The lead acid battery died so now I have a same size lifpo battery(lithium iron) i put a 12v outlet that has usb plugs i have cutouts for antennal and my baofeng iv8
Doug kk7kpc
@N4BFR Great video! Definitely gave me some good ideas of how I want to move forward. I ended up going with a Condition 1 14x22" case. It’s small enough to keep my weight down, but large enough to have a bit of extra storage space for a wire antenna, accessory cables, and spare fuses. I"m including a small 30A MPPT from Powerwerks, a small AC to DC power converter, and a 10A LiFePO4 AC charger so I can tackle power needs wherever I end up. I found some LED strip lights that run on very little power to light up the box when needed; white and red. A 30AH battery, for weight considerations, will power the whole thing. Still no pictures. I’ve got a couple more components on the way until I will begin piecing it all together.
@KK7KPC How do you like those particular battery posts? I considered going with a battery that had the flat 1/4" posts, but decided against it in favor of the bolt-ons due to power flow restrictions. Have you tried transmitting on a larger radio with it?
I’ve been trying to decide how I want to solve a similar problem. The equipment I use when traveling for work is a Xiegu G90 (actually a fairly good little radio), a Bioenno 3A or 4.5A LiFePO4 battery, and a CHA LEFS 4010 antenna. All of that goes into a backpack with some 550 cordage and a couple of aluminum tent stakes. This works okay when I am able to drive to my work destination. I would like to solve this for traveling by plane.
What does your operating time look like with a smaller 3-4.5ah battery? TSA allows you to bring lifepo4 batteries on planes, so long as it is in your carry-on, and are fine with suitcase rigs. Most hams I’ve talked to say they don’t really get hassled by security, even with larger batteries (I think you can’t bring one larger than 100ah).
With my G90 and the 3Ah I can operate on Phone for more than 4.5-5 hours. Often I will not need to recharge it while on the rode for a week. In that time I will set up and operate a couple of times for an hour or more. I have never ran the the 4.5Ah battery until the radio shut down. My guess is 6-7 hours.
I have heard the same from other operators that they carry their rigs on flights. I just feel like I should have a more secure solution before doing so… like a bag that has straps or some method to secure the radio inside.
Finally got around to taking the picture! All components minus the radio and ABS panels. The case is big enough for a bunch of extra cables and wires/ antennas, but small enough to be carry-on for flights. I don’t have a good weight yet, but I’d imagine this whole setup will weigh in the neighborhood of 15-18lbs when finished. A bit more hefty than most people’s I’ve seen, but this one is built for extended outings in a rugged environment. Think “South African wilderness expedition” for the build.
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