Obsessive compulsive over-kill LOL, but great work. Good looking build, the best of DIY I have seen on you tube that did not cost $300 just for the case. My parts list: 1. Mounting plate/cover: $8 whiteboard-blackboard 2'x4' from Home Depot. You choose which side to use, the white or black side. Very sturdy, cuts and drills clean with tape and patience. The white actually looks very clean and lets you see things easier in the dark. It is a whiteboard so easy to remove smudges/dirt. 2. Storage box: plastic rectangle planter, small. Has edges to attach it to the mounting cover. Many sizes and colors available. 3. Support for mounting cover: 4 1/2" bolts using nylon locking nuts with washers adjusted to needed height for cover. Used acorn nuts to secure the cover. No sharp edges from wing nuts. 4. Laser replacement: spade and step bits. The switch mounting plates cover any imperfections. 5. Box: Apache 3800. Small is good but functionality over form.. Not as water/dust proof but the Apache cases are much less costly. The 2800 to 4800 cases will allow for larger battery, more storage, and more devices such as solar charge controller if desired. I have storage for goose neck light which has 3-levels of white light brightness and also one level of red light, two charging cables, USB Led lights, cigarette adapter for powering/charging devices that use that time of plug, such as my 300w Giandel power inverter I know you and others know about size of cases, just thought I would mention them.
Hats off to you sir. You are a man after my own heart... a true perfectionist! I suffer from the same illness. Yes its a cross to bear but I always enjoy the challenges it presents.
I have been looking at building one myself for a while now. I can't think you enough. Probably one of the best most informative videos I have seen for this. Good Job!
I really like the design and the honest walkthrough of how you made the decisions and what you would do differently in the next version. I have the same radio and a Miady LiFePo4 battery, so I am really excited to think about a build of my own from the solid work you have done here. I really liked the speaker with fan grill which gives it a nice look and lets you hear the radio with noise outside. If you wanted some more airflow through the box, you might be able to mount a fan on the side of the storage bin and put a few skinny slots on it to suck in some fresh air and use your existing holes on the panel for exhaust. You probably need a smaller battery to fit the fan inside the box so it doesn't reduce the space in the bin. Thanks for sharing the parts list and CAD files. Well done!
Looks great! Also you might look at a some self adhesive carbon fiber or some other material to put on the plate. It would look nice and hide your scratches that you are worried about that I don't think anyone else notices.
If you were tight on space, why not make a custom pack from 18650s? They have much better energy density than a SLAB. You could also do something like purchase batteries for power tools so you can have multiples that can be swapped easily for charging. 2Ah, 4Ah, 6Ah, 9Ah, and 12Ah can all be found easily in 12V packs.
I am working on planning out a UHF/VHF go box with battery. But first on my list is a portable box for my Icom 7300 and 2300 (soon to be replaced with a 4100) without having to sell my soul. On a side note, I have an Anytone 778 and it has taken a beating and still going strong. It had gear dropped on it and it actually broke the plastic face surround in 3 places and dented the case. Glued the face back together and it still works like new.....even though it looks like hell.
Nice build and inspiration to do something like this in DYI. Really big thank you mister. Especially for the PRO and CONS at the end. Very practical to have it directly from you before starting our own. Stay Safe! Cheers from Montréal!
Outstanding work my friend. I have 30 years in the aluminum extrusion business. Here’s another alternative to a real good finish that way cheaper than anodize. You may already have thought of it. I would consider farming out painting the aluminum faceplate using POWDER COAT PAINT. Lots of companies can work it into their lines inexpensively you. I’ve been retired for 20 years now so I don’t know who to recommend. Sorry.
I'm building a box for my boat. Will contain marine radio, fish finder and breaker switch panel for boats electrical system. Everything plugs in therefor can be removed for winter.
Great video. If I might suggest. Take the panel to a firearms place that does cerakoting. Might be a lot cheaper. Or you could LineX coat it and it would be super tough. I like your process and it's very easy to follow. Thanks!
One of the nicest boxes I've seen, Great Job !! Powder coating would be a durable finish option for your aluminum. It is also expensive to do for a small piece but if you have time to wait for the powder coating company to do yours at the same time as someone else's larger job (of the same/color and finish) it may only cost you $20. I will definitely refer back to your video and links as I hope to do a similar build soon. I am contemplating doing two cases the same size, one case for the radio and/or repeater and a second case for a larger battery with charger and power jacks. Again, congratulations on a job well done and very informative video !
This is one of the nicest boxes I've seen and I will surely use it as my spring point to build my own. Just a few suggestions. If your plastic top plate was sagging you could have glued on the bottom of it a set of stiffeners running both directions. Need to find out what the best glue is for that type of plastic. You could make it out of the same plastic as the top plate, maybe 1/2 an inch deep. As for the battery I think the bane of your existence was that metal shelf you got somewhere else. Toss that out. Just put the battery right on the bottom of your Box. Cut up some foam pool noodle and strap it to the corners with zip ties. As for fasteners through the outside of the box there's no shame in that and it can stay relatively water tight by putting a dab of silicone caulk in the hole and under the head of the bolt or screw. But you won't need that at all if you do away with the battery shelf. See if you can get a LiFePO4 battery rather than Lead Acid. It will hold a steady 12v charge till drained completely and can be recharged hundreds if not thousands of times. A lead battery will only maintain 12 V till it's 50% depleted. Plus it's 3 times as heavy!
Yep, it will fail eventually from squishing those wires down. I did the same thing using a standard battery box. I made a go box out of it for camping and I had the wires from the outlets squished ever so slightly to get the top on and they eventually shorted out and melted one by one. The problem are the outlets themselves. They aren't very sturdy and the prongs will eventually bend to the point of becoming damaged or in such a way that the wires detached. Luckily, I smelled the wires melting for each failure and was able to avoid a fire.
Man! Nicest one I've ever seen and I watched a lot of those same videos. Must be nice to have friends that can do that artwork for you. Finally, should you build a second one, take a look at the QYT KT-WP12... Very compact and all of the controls, display and speaker are in the microphone. Take the battery down to 7 amp and you could build it all in a much smaller box. Great job!
Very nice build despite the issues you mentioned!!! I need to do something for my ICOM 7200 - I’ve been mulling over this for some time. When I out shopping anywhere they have those boxes you mention, I always look to see if there is anything for my radio. Haven’t found anything suitable yet. Also don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a storage/carrying box for the radio.
Couple things....first, great job. Second, as an over analyzer with very real OCD, I can relate to the wiring comments about fixating on such things. Ive lived my whole like that. Just as you, I do in fact recognize that the effort, or cost, or even time is not likely worth some small issue that I just cant seem to ignore, so I usually end up making the correction anyway, Third....that small power switch is only rated for 15 amps, so you might consider looking into a “master” switch that can more than carry the potential load of the radio, amp meter, and whatever might be connected to the usb or powerpoles. Just my .02, and its only worth half of that 😁
I definitely felt it was comforting in a sense, I was diagnosed young, but honestly, as someone with OCD, I'm a smidge proud to say that this is the type of results it can yield. That extreme persistence to accomplish despite having already achieved something is what creates even greater. Knowing better can be done is what fosters such a degree of excellence. The stress, dread, and immense weight to carry pays off occasionally and helps make it all worth it.
A lot of those mics are speaker mics - so you wouldn't need that speaker in there. Those little 25w units made for ATV's are sealed so the fan might be of marginal use anyway - and you still need an air intake for that - so idk. These little boxes always have some compromises and trade-offs, so it is what it is! Ideally you'd want an antenna you could toss up in a tree, or you still won't get really any more range than using an HT with a good antenna. Really nice job though - clean install, and if you use the low power that thing will go forEVER on a charge. Not really much reason to use more than 5w anyway unless you pair it with an antenna in a tree, then you want to overcome transmisson losses in the cable.
Thanks for the feedback, Perry. Yea, my mic does have a speaker in it but it's not much good unless I hold it up to my ear like a phone. I like to just listen while doing work or whatever, and the little speaker I installed does the trick. I do have a wire antenna that I've tried (by hanging it from a tree) and I'm not convinced it did any better than the telescoping antenna. But, I also use the big antenna on my roof with this and that obviously works much better.
Really nice..i had built something out of coper pipe frame and still dont like thinking of mounting everything in a bigger box..thinking of a dewalt case and i think i will wont look good as yours im sure dont have the resorses as you had ve1 bhm
@@GreatLakesPrepping I'm getting ready to build a "go box" for a Xiegu G90. I have a 3D printer so I can print my own parts. Your video has been very helpful. Thanks for sharing. 73
@10:15 Dork Speaker - haha Very Nice Job! Maybe you can glue the original lid foam back in... that would keep you antenna, microphone and power cord from shifting and scratching your paint.
Cerakote, DuraCoat, and KG Gunkote are all a lot more ding resistant than spray paint. Or, since your buddy already has the file, you could laser cut a thin sheet of plastic, maybe 0.028" Kydex, and glue it like a veneer on your aluminum face plate.
Great job on your build. One comment was supposed to be an “EMP” Bomb. Not really a loss of life event. But knocks out the grid. If you line your case with copper screen or find a microwave to store it in. Also Cerakote is the toughest paint/coating out there. Works on wood, plastic, and metals.
I really like your video and design. I am interested in the files that you used to design the faceplate. It is funny as soon as I aw the faceplate I told my wife, I can use our Glowforge to cut it. We both laughed when you mentioned in your video you had your friend with the Glowforge cut it for you.
Thanks Greg! Yea the glowforge did a great job cutting the acrylic. Was just a tad bit too flexible for my liking, but it did a great job anyhow. Check out the video description for a link where you can download the faceplate design and see everything else I used for this build.
Really liked the video. I am looking at building my own and the AT-778UV is one of the radios I am considering. Kudos for sharing the cad files! I would of liked to hear the radio to see the performance of the speaker and I would of liked a bit more explanations on the electrical components: How do you recharge the battery? Dare I ask: What's the final price tag? ;-) Cheers!
Thanks! I recharge the battery with the small charger. It plugs into one of the powerpole outlets in the control panel. As for the price tag... well, there was a bit of trial and error and some wasted money. But I think I probably spent at least $1200 at the end of the day.
@@hikingfish3 It was definitely a costly experiment! I've had people ask me if I can build them one exactly like this, and I've had to break the news that it would be about a grand (which includes only a very small markup for the effort). Gets pricey to manufacturer only one of something.
Thank you. I considered that idea when I started building it, but it ended up being more expensive than what I figure anyone would want to pay for one! I'd probably have to charge $1500 to make it worthwhile, and that seems pretty steep for a radio in a box.
Very nice! I like keeping the integrity of the box and not drilling 15 holes through the sides like other designs. Has anyone found a storage solution like this for wires? Or even the technical name for it? I can't find one and don't have the ability to make my own....yet.
Very cool - thanks for sharing. Looks AMAZING - make any contacts yet ? Battery idea for you, I've been watching Miady LiFePo4 on Amazon, great price point at $30 for a 6 AH one and it is lighter and smaller than your sealed lead acid in the box today. They had a 12 AH one for like $45 but it has disappeared. Any way - great job on that one box. 73 PAp
Great video!! I actually saw a photo of my go-box!! It is great to see how everyone sets up their own boxes, that is where we get ideas! 73 - Juddie - WD8WV
i hope you didnt buy all your compnents form QSR LOL as they are way over priced from amazon.. few tips. disconnect radio from main power switch. run it straight to battery with fusing. This allows for the radio to still work without all the power sucking accessories you arent using to be on. put the mic in the holder box, keep the charger outside. (it looks smaller?) pet peeve of mine. if your going to use colored items in the box.. make sure they are all the same color.. im a big fan of blue but as you seen it brighter than the red.. i have not seen a red led dual usb port led. but they do make a blue led voltmeter... you didnt need to use the flange the accessories came on. you'll gain some space by directly panel mounting them. also would have allowed them to be placed closer together and provided a bigger storage box. there are panel mount 2.5mm plugs that are already pre made with lengths of cable and plugs. i would have kept the fan, but added a small speaker to mount out side the box... ditch the glass fuse holder. use something more "standard" that your fellow friends might have "in the field" mini ATC micro ATC could also have been mounted in the box and not panel mounted... what good is a radio in the field when the fuse blows and you cant power it anymore.. I do like the antenna solution, but id find a small "gum drop" antenna and keep it in there as well.. because do you really want to transmit 20 watts in your face? 90 degree or "flag" connectors on your wiring. it will help make the wires "bend" easier when inserting. also i may have missed it but looks like all you're wiring except the power poles is red? this is a no no... does it mean you have to buy a spool of black wire to fix it.. sure. but lets say another operator opened up your box to look in it and they would be like 'wheres your grounds?" i was told by some one time to draw a schematic for your wiring and keep it in the box for quick fixing if anything ever were to happen and you werent the to explain it to them... ditch the storage box.. it looks cool and was a neat factor but next time (since this was aluminum) tig a piece or aluminum at the point where your equipmet stops, and the rest of the box is storage, instead of limiting your self to that lil cubby.... great job.!
You could do without the volt meter and toggle switch as the radio has its own built in. I haven't dug through your videos to see if you built a 2nd version.
Amazing build! An idea to maybe get you some more space with the lid. If you designed the next face recessed into the box about 5/8” with a lip around the edge to attach to the box and changed to the 7Ah like you were thinking about. do you think that would help with the lid/space issue? Again, amazing build and gave me some inspiration for my own!
That's a cool idea. I've thought about something similar, but I'm sure it would require the whole face to be 3D printed (rather than just laser-cut out of a flat material).
Talk to youre local gunsmith and see if anyone local does the baked on dura coating. Even if not you can buy it in a spray can and bake it yourself and is considerably harder than paint
You mentioned the clearance for the mic in the case does the mic fit in the cup for the charger? that may be an option and then have the mesh on the lid like you intended or even mount the charger to the lid and maybe velcro loops for cable management while stored.
I really did want to do something like that, but it turned out that the lid was too "shallow". If the lid had an extra inch or even 1/2 inch of height, I think it all would have worked out.
I've thought of that a little. So far it hasn't seemed to be a problem... though I usually listen much more than I transmit. If it seems necessary at any point, I may swap out that speaker for the original fan.
Very nice build, but what advantage does this box offer over a HT? Sure, it can have a lot more power to transmit, but wouldn't the antenna be a greater set back?
Makes very little sense to build a 2M+70cm "Go Box for Preppers" since theese bands will demand near line-of-sight ( or lots of power ) in order to communicate long distance. If you want a reliable and portable rig for emergencies => Buy a QRP radio with HF bands as well = Long range with low power. Fx. Yaesu FT-818ND (Analog), LAB599 TX-500 (SDR), Icom IC-705 (SDR). Next step: Buy an antenna-tuner that will allow you to use a simple long-wire antenna on all bands. ) Btw. I noticed that your "emergency-rig" is meant to be charged from 110V AC only and you can charge your useless phone too. That's almost cute, but seems to be more suited for Glamping than actual Prepping. ( Power input should accept a wide range of AC+DC sources. ) + a vertical antenna normally requires a decent groundplane unless its an array of colinear dipoles. ;-)
Nice go-box. Put some epoxy/JB weld on your bolt hole to seal it. Did you put 110 cord into Anderson power pole connector? Be careful with that! Exploding batteries! If you need it that way at least set the colors to red-red or black-black on both sides. K8SHB
It's an off-the-shelf compact charger. You can see the one I'm using in the video at 12:43, if you're interested, and here is the link to the product: www.qsradio.com/shop-now.html#!/1-2A-12VDC-Wall-Charger-w-Powerpoles/p/58763603
I’m not even into HAM radio, but that box is VERY impressive, especially for a first attempt. I admire your skill.
Obsessive compulsive over-kill LOL, but great work. Good looking build, the best of DIY I have seen on you tube that did not cost $300 just for the case.
My parts list:
1. Mounting plate/cover: $8 whiteboard-blackboard 2'x4' from Home Depot. You choose which side to use, the white or black side. Very sturdy, cuts and drills clean with tape and patience. The white actually looks very clean and lets you see things easier in the dark. It is a whiteboard so easy to remove smudges/dirt.
2. Storage box: plastic rectangle planter, small. Has edges to attach it to the mounting cover. Many sizes and colors available.
3. Support for mounting cover: 4 1/2" bolts using nylon locking nuts with washers adjusted to needed height for cover. Used acorn nuts to secure the cover. No sharp edges from wing nuts.
4. Laser replacement: spade and step bits. The switch mounting plates cover any imperfections.
5. Box: Apache 3800. Small is good but functionality over form..
Not as water/dust proof but the Apache cases are much less costly. The 2800 to 4800 cases will allow for larger battery, more storage, and more devices such as solar charge controller if desired.
I have storage for goose neck light which has 3-levels of white light brightness and also one level of red light, two charging cables, USB Led lights, cigarette adapter for powering/charging devices that use that time of plug, such as my 300w Giandel power inverter
I know you and others know about size of cases, just thought I would mention them.
Hats off to you sir. You are a man after my own heart... a true perfectionist! I suffer from the same illness. Yes its a cross to bear but I always enjoy the challenges it presents.
agreed
I have been looking at building one myself for a while now. I can't think you enough. Probably one of the best most informative videos I have seen for this. Good Job!
Thanks Billy, I'm glad my video was helpful.
Fantastic work! Very impressive!
UK Ham licensed for last 23 years and a few weeks ago I bought a Baofeng, cracking radios, Mike G7 POG
I really like the design and the honest walkthrough of how you made the decisions and what you would do differently in the next version. I have the same radio and a Miady LiFePo4 battery, so I am really excited to think about a build of my own from the solid work you have done here. I really liked the speaker with fan grill which gives it a nice look and lets you hear the radio with noise outside. If you wanted some more airflow through the box, you might be able to mount a fan on the side of the storage bin and put a few skinny slots on it to suck in some fresh air and use your existing holes on the panel for exhaust. You probably need a smaller battery to fit the fan inside the box so it doesn't reduce the space in the bin. Thanks for sharing the parts list and CAD files. Well done!
Thanks Gregory, I'm glad you found it all helpful.
From a retired IT instructor you did a great job. A plus I will be using this design in a project. KF0MOE 73
Thanks Tom!
Looks great!
Also you might look at a some self adhesive carbon fiber or some other material to put on the plate. It would look nice and hide your scratches that you are worried about that I don't think anyone else notices.
If you were tight on space, why not make a custom pack from 18650s? They have much better energy density than a SLAB. You could also do something like purchase batteries for power tools so you can have multiples that can be swapped easily for charging. 2Ah, 4Ah, 6Ah, 9Ah, and 12Ah can all be found easily in 12V packs.
I am working on planning out a UHF/VHF go box with battery. But first on my list is a portable box for my Icom 7300 and 2300 (soon to be replaced with a 4100) without having to sell my soul.
On a side note, I have an Anytone 778 and it has taken a beating and still going strong. It had gear dropped on it and it actually broke the plastic face surround in 3 places and dented the case. Glued the face back together and it still works like new.....even though it looks like hell.
That is a great little box! Thanks for sharing!
Nice build and inspiration to do something like this in DYI. Really big thank you mister. Especially for the PRO and CONS at the end. Very practical to have it directly from you before starting our own. Stay Safe! Cheers from Montréal!
Thank you, Benoit. I appreciate your comment.
I'm new to Ham, but big on mobility an this would be awesome to add to my rig. Thanks for the details!
Well thought out! Very good problem solving and design. 👍
Outstanding work my friend. I have 30 years in the aluminum extrusion business. Here’s another alternative to a real good finish that way cheaper than anodize. You may already have thought of it. I would consider farming out painting the aluminum faceplate using POWDER COAT PAINT. Lots of companies can work it into their lines inexpensively you. I’ve been retired for 20 years now so I don’t know who to recommend. Sorry.
Thanks Wesley. I think if I do something like this again, I will try to find a powder coat place. I do like that idea.
I think you did a pretty outstanding job on it, I'd buy it, depending on cost. I don't have the patience to do that good a presentation.
Thanks Rick. It was definitely a little over-the-top. Sometimes I don't realize how deep I've gone into a project until I look back later!
.
Excellent build
& dedication
I'm at the hand held phase
so really do appreciate
your project
Looking good
...
Well done! Definitely very professional looking.
I'm building a box for my boat. Will contain marine radio, fish finder and breaker switch panel for boats electrical system. Everything plugs in therefor can be removed for winter.
Put back an old big blue switch. All you need is to put some resistor in to lower the voltage to a blue led. Use potenciometer for testing.
Great video. If I might suggest. Take the panel to a firearms place that does cerakoting. Might be a lot cheaper. Or you could LineX coat it and it would be super tough. I like your process and it's very easy to follow. Thanks!
Thanks Joe. If I make another one of these, I'm definitely going to look into cerakoting.
One of the nicest boxes I've seen, Great Job !!
Powder coating would be a durable finish option for your aluminum. It is also expensive to do for a small piece but if you have time to wait for the powder coating company to do yours at the same time as someone else's larger job (of the same/color and finish) it may only cost you $20.
I will definitely refer back to your video and links as I hope to do a similar build soon.
I am contemplating doing two cases the same size, one case for the radio and/or repeater and a second case for a larger battery with charger and power jacks.
Again, congratulations on a job well done and very informative video !
Thanks Rick! A separate case for the power sure would have given me more wiggle room to work with.
This is one of the nicest boxes I've seen and I will surely use it as my spring point to build my own. Just a few suggestions. If your plastic top plate was sagging you could have glued on the bottom of it a set of stiffeners running both directions. Need to find out what the best glue is for that type of plastic. You could make it out of the same plastic as the top plate, maybe 1/2 an inch deep. As for the battery I think the bane of your existence was that metal shelf you got somewhere else. Toss that out. Just put the battery right on the bottom of your Box. Cut up some foam pool noodle and strap it to the corners with zip ties. As for fasteners through the outside of the box there's no shame in that and it can stay relatively water tight by putting a dab of silicone caulk in the hole and under the head of the bolt or screw. But you won't need that at all if you do away with the battery shelf. See if you can get a LiFePO4 battery rather than Lead Acid. It will hold a steady 12v charge till drained completely and can be recharged hundreds if not thousands of times. A lead battery will only maintain 12 V till it's 50% depleted. Plus it's 3 times as heavy!
Very good video. While I won't be making a go box, I like the video.
Yep, it will fail eventually from squishing those wires down. I did the same thing using a standard battery box. I made a go box out of it for camping and I had the wires from the outlets squished ever so slightly to get the top on and they eventually shorted out and melted one by one. The problem are the outlets themselves. They aren't very sturdy and the prongs will eventually bend to the point of becoming damaged or in such a way that the wires detached. Luckily, I smelled the wires melting for each failure and was able to avoid a fire.
Man! Nicest one I've ever seen and I watched a lot of those same videos. Must be nice to have friends that can do that artwork for you. Finally, should you build a second one, take a look at the QYT KT-WP12... Very compact and all of the controls, display and speaker are in the microphone. Take the battery down to 7 amp and you could build it all in a much smaller box. Great job!
Very well done! I laughed out loud hard when you complained about that blue light and sunglasses!
Ha, thanks Camz. Sometimes I get a little fixated on small things!
Very nice build.
Very nice build despite the issues you mentioned!!! I need to do something for my ICOM 7200 - I’ve been mulling over this for some time. When I out shopping anywhere they have those boxes you mention, I always look to see if there is anything for my radio. Haven’t found anything suitable yet. Also don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a storage/carrying box for the radio.
Thank you Karis. Yea it's kind of crazy how expensive some of the storage/case solutions are.
Nice box! Great build
Thanks!
I’m extremely impressed with this.
Thanks Jason!
Great Job. Looks very cool. 73 from Düsseldorf
Very nice my friend. Hat's off to you.
Thank you, Jack
Love the design and your approach to building it. Thanks for the walk through and job well done!
Thanks Bobby!
Nice build!
Nice work! I completely sympathize with your desire for perfection, however unattainable.
Well done! Nice clean build
Good job.
It seems all us hams have a go box.
I wouldn't change a thing in your box, you did a really nice job, you just have to sit back and not over think it! It looks great!
Thanks Ed, I appreciate it. It's definitely a challenge of mine to not overthink things!
@@GreatLakesPrepping You're more than welcome!
Couple things....first, great job.
Second, as an over analyzer with very real OCD, I can relate to the wiring comments about fixating on such things. Ive lived my whole like that. Just as you, I do in fact recognize that the effort, or cost, or even time is not likely worth some small issue that I just cant seem to ignore, so I usually end up making the correction anyway,
Third....that small power switch is only rated for 15 amps, so you might consider looking into a “master” switch that can more than carry the potential load of the radio, amp meter, and whatever might be connected to the usb or powerpoles.
Just my .02, and its only worth half of that 😁
I definitely felt it was comforting in a sense, I was diagnosed young, but honestly, as someone with OCD, I'm a smidge proud to say that this is the type of results it can yield. That extreme persistence to accomplish despite having already achieved something is what creates even greater. Knowing better can be done is what fosters such a degree of excellence. The stress, dread, and immense weight to carry pays off occasionally and helps make it all worth it.
A lot of those mics are speaker mics - so you wouldn't need that speaker in there. Those little 25w units made for ATV's are sealed so the fan might be of marginal use anyway - and you still need an air intake for that - so idk. These little boxes always have some compromises and trade-offs, so it is what it is! Ideally you'd want an antenna you could toss up in a tree, or you still won't get really any more range than using an HT with a good antenna. Really nice job though - clean install, and if you use the low power that thing will go forEVER on a charge. Not really much reason to use more than 5w anyway unless you pair it with an antenna in a tree, then you want to overcome transmisson losses in the cable.
Thanks for the feedback, Perry. Yea, my mic does have a speaker in it but it's not much good unless I hold it up to my ear like a phone. I like to just listen while doing work or whatever, and the little speaker I installed does the trick.
I do have a wire antenna that I've tried (by hanging it from a tree) and I'm not convinced it did any better than the telescoping antenna. But, I also use the big antenna on my roof with this and that obviously works much better.
Really nice..i had built something out of coper pipe frame and still dont like thinking of mounting everything in a bigger box..thinking of a dewalt case and i think i will wont look good as yours im sure dont have the resorses as you had ve1 bhm
Nice job! Lotta good ideas here.
Thanks Steve
Good job ! Well though out .
Thank you Ron
Nice work!!
That's a very clean install.
Thanks!
@@GreatLakesPrepping I'm getting ready to build a "go box" for a Xiegu G90. I have a 3D printer so I can print my own parts. Your video has been very helpful. Thanks for sharing. 73
@@wfwtheradioguy3414 That's awesome. If I wish I had that capability at home. I would get one, but for the life of me I can't figure out CAD design.
Thanks For sharing. Hope it serves its purpose. Cheers
bed-liner paint its tough and it looks good.
I like the plain aluminum better than the black paint. cleaner and added contrast.
Nice project!
Just the info I needed! I’m running the same radio in my car but will eventually turn it it into a go-box style rig. Thanks for the info! KE8VKU
Nice job with your radio go box. Thanks for sharing it.
Beautiful build! Thanks for sharing the process!
@10:15 Dork Speaker - haha Very Nice Job! Maybe you can glue the original lid foam back in... that would keep you antenna, microphone and power cord from shifting and scratching your paint.
Cerakote, DuraCoat, and KG Gunkote are all a lot more ding resistant than spray paint. Or, since your buddy already has the file, you could laser cut a thin sheet of plastic, maybe 0.028" Kydex, and glue it like a veneer on your aluminum face plate.
I might go with a nice marble veneer, just for elegance!
Might want to consider a BNC connector for the antenna
Is there an advantage?
Thorough review.. thanks!
Wow super project and very well thought out!
Thank you Doug
I think you did a fantastic job! The first iteration is seldom perfect! Don’t worry about the scratches they give it character! Again fantastic job!
Might be a good idea to see if you can fit a handheld radio in the box aswell to give to someone if you split up, or just as a backup
Good idea, but there's no way it would fit the way this thing is set up.
that was a lot of fun!!
You could always have attached some aluminium reinforcement bars to the acrylic.
Great job on your build. One comment was supposed to be an “EMP” Bomb. Not really a loss of life event. But knocks out the grid. If you line your case with copper screen or find a microwave to store it in. Also Cerakote is the toughest paint/coating out there. Works on wood, plastic, and metals.
Thanks I’m going to try this
This is SWEET , Your rig is very organized and very good, but how do you keep your radio from getting hot, being it's all in closed,
I really like your video and design. I am interested in the files that you used to design the faceplate. It is funny as soon as I aw the faceplate I told my wife, I can use our Glowforge to cut it. We both laughed when you mentioned in your video you had your friend with the Glowforge cut it for you.
Thanks Greg! Yea the glowforge did a great job cutting the acrylic. Was just a tad bit too flexible for my liking, but it did a great job anyhow. Check out the video description for a link where you can download the faceplate design and see everything else I used for this build.
great job
Thank you Doug
Well done 🤙
Thank you Gary
Nice build. Did you test the range with that antenna?
Great job man!
Thanks William!
Really liked the video. I am looking at building my own and the AT-778UV is one of the radios I am considering. Kudos for sharing the cad files! I would of liked to hear the radio to see the performance of the speaker and I would of liked a bit more explanations on the electrical components: How do you recharge the battery? Dare I ask: What's the final price tag? ;-)
Cheers!
Thanks! I recharge the battery with the small charger. It plugs into one of the powerpole outlets in the control panel. As for the price tag... well, there was a bit of trial and error and some wasted money. But I think I probably spent at least $1200 at the end of the day.
@@GreatLakesPrepping Wow, really puts things into perspective. And here I am debating if I go with a 145$ radio or a 179$ radio ;-)
@@hikingfish3 It was definitely a costly experiment! I've had people ask me if I can build them one exactly like this, and I've had to break the news that it would be about a grand (which includes only a very small markup for the effort). Gets pricey to manufacturer only one of something.
Impressive!! Wish you sold this
Thank you. I considered that idea when I started building it, but it ended up being more expensive than what I figure anyone would want to pay for one! I'd probably have to charge $1500 to make it worthwhile, and that seems pretty steep for a radio in a box.
WOW, that is one of the cleanest builds I've ever seen! Fantastic job! de KJ7FAY
Thank you Isaac!
Wish make one theses fit all all my cb radios mobile rigs.
This is awesome!! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Elijah
Very nice! I like keeping the integrity of the box and not drilling 15 holes through the sides like other designs.
Has anyone found a storage solution like this for wires? Or even the technical name for it? I can't find one and don't have the ability to make my own....yet.
Very cool - thanks for sharing. Looks AMAZING - make any contacts yet ?
Battery idea for you, I've been watching Miady LiFePo4 on Amazon, great price point at $30 for a 6 AH one and it is lighter and smaller than your sealed lead acid in the box today. They had a 12 AH one for like $45 but it has disappeared.
Any way - great job on that one box. 73 PAp
Great video!! I actually saw a photo of my go-box!! It is great to see how everyone sets up their own boxes, that is where we get ideas! 73 - Juddie - WD8WV
Really nice job! One of the best I've seen. 73 George - W8DTN
Thank you, I appreciate it!
i hope you didnt buy all your compnents form QSR LOL as they are way over priced from amazon..
few tips.
disconnect radio from main power switch. run it straight to battery with fusing. This allows for the radio to still work without all the power sucking accessories you arent using to be on.
put the mic in the holder box, keep the charger outside. (it looks smaller?)
pet peeve of mine. if your going to use colored items in the box.. make sure they are all the same color.. im a big fan of blue but as you seen it brighter than the red.. i have not seen a red led dual usb port led. but they do make a blue led voltmeter...
you didnt need to use the flange the accessories came on. you'll gain some space by directly panel mounting them. also would have allowed them to be placed closer together and provided a bigger storage box.
there are panel mount 2.5mm plugs that are already pre made with lengths of cable and plugs. i would have kept the fan, but added a small speaker to mount out side the box...
ditch the glass fuse holder. use something more "standard" that your fellow friends might have "in the field" mini ATC micro ATC could also have been mounted in the box and not panel mounted... what good is a radio in the field when the fuse blows and you cant power it anymore..
I do like the antenna solution, but id find a small "gum drop" antenna and keep it in there as well.. because do you really want to transmit 20 watts in your face?
90 degree or "flag" connectors on your wiring. it will help make the wires "bend" easier when inserting. also i may have missed it but looks like all you're wiring except the power poles is red? this is a no no... does it mean you have to buy a spool of black wire to fix it.. sure. but lets say another operator opened up your box to look in it and they would be like
'wheres your grounds?" i was told by some one time to draw a schematic for your wiring and keep it in the box for quick fixing if anything ever were to happen and you werent the to explain it to them...
ditch the storage box.. it looks cool and was a neat factor but next time (since this was aluminum) tig a piece or aluminum at the point where your equipmet stops, and the rest of the box is storage, instead of limiting your self to that lil cubby....
great job.!
You could do without the volt meter and toggle switch as the radio has its own built in.
I haven't dug through your videos to see if you built a 2nd version.
Nice build, just wondering why you chose to use an HT antenna? Probably exposing yourself to RF being that close also
Very clever ! Well done sir.
Thanks Buddy!
Amazing build! An idea to maybe get you some more space with the lid. If you designed the next face recessed into the box about 5/8” with a lip around the edge to attach to the box and changed to the 7Ah like you were thinking about. do you think that would help with the lid/space issue? Again, amazing build and gave me some inspiration for my own!
That's a cool idea. I've thought about something similar, but I'm sure it would require the whole face to be 3D printed (rather than just laser-cut out of a flat material).
Talk to youre local gunsmith and see if anyone local does the baked on dura coating. Even if not you can buy it in a spray can and bake it yourself and is considerably harder than paint
You mentioned the clearance for the mic in the case does the mic fit in the cup for the charger? that may be an option and then have the mesh on the lid like you intended or even mount the charger to the lid and maybe velcro loops for cable management while stored.
I really did want to do something like that, but it turned out that the lid was too "shallow". If the lid had an extra inch or even 1/2 inch of height, I think it all would have worked out.
really nice but dunno how long the rig will last w/o fan --proper ventilation they do get hot
I've thought of that a little. So far it hasn't seemed to be a problem... though I usually listen much more than I transmit. If it seems necessary at any point, I may swap out that speaker for the original fan.
Have the panel cerakoated. Any local shop can do it for you
Working on my license, with that same hand held radio. Now this 19 virus has hit. But, I have time to study
Very nice build, but what advantage does this box offer over a HT? Sure, it can have a lot more power to transmit, but wouldn't the antenna be a greater set back?
Makes very little sense to build a 2M+70cm "Go Box for Preppers" since theese bands will demand near line-of-sight ( or lots of power ) in order to communicate long distance. If you want a reliable and portable rig for emergencies => Buy a QRP radio with HF bands as well = Long range with low power. Fx. Yaesu FT-818ND (Analog), LAB599 TX-500 (SDR), Icom IC-705 (SDR). Next step: Buy an antenna-tuner that will allow you to use a simple long-wire antenna on all bands. ) Btw. I noticed that your "emergency-rig" is meant to be charged from 110V AC only and you can charge your useless phone too. That's almost cute, but seems to be more suited for Glamping than actual Prepping. ( Power input should accept a wide range of AC+DC sources. ) + a vertical antenna normally requires a decent groundplane unless its an array of colinear dipoles. ;-)
Nice go-box. Put some epoxy/JB weld on your bolt hole to seal it. Did you put 110 cord into Anderson power pole connector? Be careful with that! Exploding batteries! If you need it that way at least set the colors to red-red or black-black on both sides. K8SHB
For charging the lead acid battery, did you build your own charging circuit or are you using some sort of off-the-shelf charger?
It's an off-the-shelf compact charger. You can see the one I'm using in the video at 12:43, if you're interested, and here is the link to the product:
www.qsradio.com/shop-now.html#!/1-2A-12VDC-Wall-Charger-w-Powerpoles/p/58763603
VERY NICE TKS
Ty
Nicks+scratches=battle wear
Maybe you can glue neodymium magnets to the top of the case to hold the antenna? Just a thought.
Outstanding job. Stay safe and stay healthy. AD8DU
This looks awesome! Great work.
excellent video well-done 73s KB7PPW
Thank you!