Portable radio/repeater system in a box

[savageagle]

I have been working on my 3rd radio system in a box. Actually, many have been done in ammo cans but this one is a bit larger made in a HD plastic case that was originally made for an Aqua-View camera system. I wanted to share this one because it is larger and incorporates much more. Others consisted of a radio and battery. This one is made up of a radio (ALinco DR-635T), a 20ah battery, an amplified speaker, a charge controller and a 25 watt solar panel. I used to make these up for communications for walks, runs and bike races that were in area where handheld just wasn't enough. Through ARES and RACES, and with CARP (clovis amateur radio pioneers) does communications for several events throughout the year, about 15 I do. We set up systems at rest stops, water stops and start/finish lines as a command center. My job was to help with doing a system that would work as a repeater, thats the reason for the alinco, it does cross-band and with this I can setup cross band on the radio and be free to walk around and use my HT to communicate through the radio system to base or other systems in the event chain. The is one incorporates a solar panel to keep the battery charged fully and having a charge controller protects the battery making sure it gets the proper charge all the time. The amplified speaker does very well even from 40-50 feet away.
Anyway, just about finished with this one with some unique connectors from marine outlets to keep everything water proof and professional looking. I'll get some photo's added soon.
THis is something I find useful in many ways. My smaller one with Yeasu 8900 goes just about everywhere I go in kings and sequoia Nat'l parks up to 9k feet and in most cases allows me to wonder quite away and still communicate via my HT to the base to a repeater somewhere. The only thing that is not mobile and contained in the box is the antenna. For the events I use a cushcraft vertical arx 2/440 with 2 6 foot poles and the smaller box has a dual band hi-gain mobile mounted to the lid.
Anyway, this is something that if I do bug out I will most likely have this with me so I can stash it somewhere hidden and just work through my HT.
Add some pictures in a few days and I hope it is something that others may consider doing as the more radios out there the better the communications between communities and people. What you can't hear cannot help you. Being in communications or just listening to radio traffic may be the difference between staying alive and not walking into a bad situation.

 

[user 6789]

I have been working on my 3rd radio system in a box. Actually, many have been done in ammo cans but this one is a bit larger made in a HD plastic case that was originally made for an Aqua-View camera system. I wanted to share this one because it is larger and incorporates much more. Others consisted of a radio and battery. This one is made up of a radio (ALinco DR-635T), a 20ah battery, an amplified speaker, a charge controller and a 25 watt solar panel. I used to make these up for communications for walks, runs and bike races that were in area where handheld just wasn't enough. Through ARES and RACES, and with CARP (clovis amateur radio pioneers) does communications for several events throughout the year, about 15 I do. We set up systems at rest stops, water stops and start/finish lines as a command center. My job was to help with doing a system that would work as a repeater, thats the reason for the alinco, it does cross-band and with this I can setup cross band on the radio and be free to walk around and use my HT to communicate through the radio system to base or other systems in the event chain. The is one incorporates a solar panel to keep the battery charged fully and having a charge controller protects the battery making sure it gets the proper charge all the time. The amplified speaker does very well even from 40-50 feet away.
Anyway, just about finished with this one with some unique connectors from marine outlets to keep everything water proof and professional looking. I'll get some photo's added soon.
THis is something I find useful in many ways. My smaller one with Yeasu 8900 goes just about everywhere I go in kings and sequoia Nat'l parks up to 9k feet and in most cases allows me to wonder quite away and still communicate via my HT to the base to a repeater somewhere. The only thing that is not mobile and contained in the box is the antenna. For the events I use a cushcraft vertical arx 2/440 with 2 6 foot poles and the smaller box has a dual band hi-gain mobile mounted to the lid.
Anyway, this is something that if I do bug out I will most likely have this with me so I can stash it somewhere hidden and just work through my HT.
Add some pictures in a few days and I hope it is something that others may consider doing as the more radios out there the better the communications between communities and people. What you can't hear cannot help you. Being in communications or just listening to radio traffic may be the difference between staying alive and not walking into a bad situation.

I know this is an old post but would be nice to see pics

 

[savageagle]

Working on getting a few pictures up soon............05-06-2018

 

[savageagle]

Here are the pictures...............

This is not an ammo can but a case for an Aqua-View underwater camera system with a 6" B&W
monitor. The red switch is on/off for the charge controller which does pull current from the battery.

The case opened.

This is the charge controller. Easier to mount in the lid.

Battery sits in the rear.

A Radio Shack amplified speaker.

The radio with it's hinged platform to sit on. I used sliding gate latches on both sides at the rear which extend
through holes in the box. This metal one was a temp until I finished the plexiglass one.

These are the feed-through connectors. One for the power-in from the solar panel, the other is for
the remote antenna. Both are water proof.

Outside view of the same connectors. The one on the right is a marine water proof bulkhead connector.
The remote antenna used for this one is a dual band cushcraft vertical for 2mtr and 440 with 2 8' poles.
ARX-270 i think. This system was left in Kings canyon at 9'200 with cushcraft 2 mtr vertical and solar panel
for 9 days in Aug 2017 and then again in Feb 2018 at 7400' . snow was 4 feet but box was inside a plastic garbage can. Left for 5 days. It has also been a comms unit for over 21 race events where I was assigned a position
usually above 5K and 25 to 100 miles away from command base.
There are so many ways to make these. It's up to the maker. I've seen these smaller with the arrival of these micro radios and with hand-held radios. They all work great. If I had to bug out with one it would not be this one. Next I think is going to be a micro system built inside a container as small as a gl milk jug, maybe.
The micro equipment is out there and too something that may be incorporated into a back pack. sure, solar panel
antenna, radio and charge as you go/walk/hike.
Anyway, hope you like the pictures and i'm really liking the back-pack comms system idea. . . . . Be good.

 

[user 6789]

Very cool setup I like it. Hope those bullet holes didn't go thru the radio LOL Looks like a nice setup and easy to carry around.

 

[savageagle]

Glad you like it. your a general, congrats. Had my chance in 97, passed the code but suffered a divorce before I could do the written. Never tried again.
I've been thinking about researching equipment including the mini type radios and build something small and affordable for others to afford. It could be done for less that $250 I think.
And welcome aboard....Hope you enjoy all the data and members. If you have questions just ask and members will come forward to help you. Clyde is owner and also a ham. Take care.

 

[sethmattox]

I had this idea also. Built on a tight budget. Works very well and pretty inexpensive and my power source is either the 12V car power or the onboard 3S 8000mah lipo. Will build another and they will be in my truck and the wife’s car just in case!! Very small foot print and gets out 4 miles on simplex and hits the many repeaters in the Seattle area so it should work great in an emergency situation!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Clyde]

I have been working on my 3rd radio system in a box. Actually, many have been done in ammo cans but this one is a bit larger made in a HD plastic case that was originally made for an Aqua-View camera system. I wanted to share this one because it is larger and incorporates much more. Others consisted of a radio and battery. This one is made up of a radio (ALinco DR-635T), a 20ah battery, an amplified speaker, a charge controller and a 25 watt solar panel. I used to make these up for communications for walks, runs and bike races that were in area where handheld just wasn't enough. Through ARES and RACES, and with CARP (clovis amateur radio pioneers) does communications for several events throughout the year, about 15 I do. We set up systems at rest stops, water stops and start/finish lines as a command center. My job was to help with doing a system that would work as a repeater, thats the reason for the alinco, it does cross-band and with this I can setup cross band on the radio and be free to walk around and use my HT to communicate through the radio system to base or other systems in the event chain. The is one incorporates a solar panel to keep the battery charged fully and having a charge controller protects the battery making sure it gets the proper charge all the time. The amplified speaker does very well even from 40-50 feet away.
Anyway, just about finished with this one with some unique connectors from marine outlets to keep everything water proof and professional looking. I'll get some photo's added soon.
THis is something I find useful in many ways. My smaller one with Yeasu 8900 goes just about everywhere I go in kings and sequoia Nat'l parks up to 9k feet and in most cases allows me to wonder quite away and still communicate via my HT to the base to a repeater somewhere. The only thing that is not mobile and contained in the box is the antenna. For the events I use a cushcraft vertical arx 2/440 with 2 6 foot poles and the smaller box has a dual band hi-gain mobile mounted to the lid.
Anyway, this is something that if I do bug out I will most likely have this with me so I can stash it somewhere hidden and just work through my HT.
Add some pictures in a few days and I hope it is something that others may consider doing as the more radios out there the better the communications between communities and people. What you can't hear cannot help you. Being in communications or just listening to radio traffic may be the difference between staying alive and not walking into a bad situation.

Here are the pictures...............

This is not an ammo can but a case for an Aqua-View underwater camera system with a 6" B&W
monitor. The red switch is on/off for the charge controller which does pull current from the battery.

The case opened.

This is the charge controller. Easier to mount in the lid.

Battery sits in the rear.

A Radio Shack amplified speaker.

The radio with it's hinged platform to sit on. I used sliding gate latches on both sides at the rear which extend
through holes in the box. This metal one was a temp until I finished the plexiglass one.

These are the feed-through connectors. One for the power-in from the solar panel, the other is for
the remote antenna. Both are water proof.

Outside view of the same connectors. The one on the right is a marine water proof bulkhead connector.
The remote antenna used for this one is a dual band cushcraft vertical for 2mtr and 440 with 2 8' poles.
ARX-270 i think. This system was left in Kings canyon at 9'200 with cushcraft 2 mtr vertical and solar panel
for 9 days in Aug 2017 and then again in Feb 2018 at 7400' . snow was 4 feet but box was inside a plastic garbage can. Left for 5 days. It has also been a comms unit for over 21 race events where I was assigned a position
usually above 5K and 25 to 100 miles away from command base.
There are so many ways to make these. It's up to the maker. I've seen these smaller with the arrival of these micro radios and with hand-held radios. They all work great. If I had to bug out with one it would not be this one. Next I think is going to be a micro system built inside a container as small as a gl milk jug, maybe.
The micro equipment is out there and too something that may be incorporated into a back pack. sure, solar panel
antenna, radio and charge as you go/walk/hike.
Anyway, hope you like the pictures and i'm really liking the back-pack comms system idea. . . . . Be good.

That is a kick ass "Go Box!" Way to go! How do you like the Alinco? What antenna do you use? For my "Go Box" I use the N9TAX antenna.

 

[Proud Prepper]

Clyde, I have 2 Ham radios I inherited. AlincoDR-620, Alinco DX-70. Also a Z100 autotuner. Are either of these good to setup as a GO Box unit? And what would you suggest?

 

[savageagle]

Hey Clyde, Sorry for the delay. Thyroid is on the frits and causing me lot's of crappy days, weeks etc.
The Alinco works well for this and the antenna is a diamond 2m/440 and works great. The poles (2x8ft) fit into a bit larger 6" piece that's attached to the front bumper.
I'm ready to go from there and so is my "boxed-comms". 73's...……..

 

[savageagle]

and, Rellgar, the system is usually designed around portability, weight and the purpose it's going to be used for. In my case our club and the racing organizations choose club and other local repeater systems using mostly VHF (2 meters). Not familiar with the radios you mentioned.
Just figure you want to build it with ONLY what is needed. Single-band requires at least a single-band antenna which is good, dual-band would be better but requires maybe a bigger antenna.
Your "boxed-comms" unit will have to be carried by YOU so the lighter it is the better.
I have "twice" had to hike for 1.4 hours to transport this unit from 4500ft to 6500 on FOOT.
The smaller your components (battery, radio, speaker (opt), charge controller etc) the better.
My first box was redone many times before I was happy with the end result. I ended up designing the unit on paper and PC and a ruler to make sure all would fit. Again, you may have to re-arrange things a few times before your satisfied with it.
Have a strong desire to make one and patience to get-r-done til the end. You can do it i'm sure.
Have any questions message me and i'll try to help. Take care.