Radio Cabinet

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KG5HHS

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Hello everyone,
I'm wanting to build a radio cabinet out of plywood that will have a QYT8900 Ham radio, Uniden BCD536HP Scanner, Motorola Astro W4 Spectra VHF, Motorola Astro Spectra W4 UHF, and an Ericsson orion 800mhz. Attached is how a rough drawing of how I want it to look. Inside the cabinet I will have all the power distibution stuff. All the radio's will have external antenna's out side of the house. (http://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/laird-technologies-mbc-1649.html)
Does anyone see any problems with this or have any suggestions? feel free to post.
 

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ampulman

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A few questions: what is the height of the cabinet. If seated at desk, is the top unit an easy reach? Have you considered a horizontal orientation with smaller units on a shelf (if space a consideration)?

Amp
 

sparklehorse

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I don't really see a problem with your idea. Some radios generate quite a bit of heat, especially while transmitting. I would want to be sure I had plenty of breathing room around each radio, and plenty of ventilation.

This item may or may not fit your needs. If so it could save some labor. I have one and really like it:

Desk Mount for Four Base Scanners

Also, your item you've linked to at Antenna Farm isn't actually an antenna. You probably realize that, but in case not, 'just sayin'.

.
 

N9JIG

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That desk stand that Sparklehorse suggested should work fine for you. You might also want to consider using faceplates from JottoDesk (http://jottopublicsafety.gojotto.com/console-accessories.html?Attribs=705&) or Troy (Face Plates - Products). You can put them on panels you make yourself or buy elsewhere. The nice thing about these faceplates is that they cover rough cut edges and look awesome.

I have dozens of radios mounted in them in my home shack and they really look professional.
 

KG5HHS

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Thanks for the replies guys. The height of the radio is roughly going to be 24 inches, with a width of roughly 12 inches. To address the heat/ventilation I plan on leaving the back open and maybe putting some computer fans for circulation (Haven't made up my mind yet). All I have are mobile antenna's so I'm considering the mobile antenna to base kits. and Yes, I definitely plan on using face plates.
 

KG5HHS

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It looks like I'm going to change a few things up with the radio's. Firstly, the QYT KT8900 is not going to be going in there. I'm wanting a cheap Dual band amateur radio so Ill do some research on there and the UHF radio, is going to be an Orion. I have a new issue though. I plan on having 4 50watt radio's hooked up. I will have all 4 of them on at a given time for monitoring but I want a power supply that can handle all for of them being on and transmitting on one of them. will a 50amp DC power supply be big enough or should I go larger?
 

N9JIG

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50 amps will be fine. A dual bander will draw about 15 to 20 amps on TX and about 1 or so on RX.
 

jim202

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It looks like I'm going to change a few things up with the radio's. Firstly, the QYT KT8900 is not going to be going in there. I'm wanting a cheap Dual band amateur radio so Ill do some research on there and the UHF radio, is going to be an Orion. I have a new issue though. I plan on having 4 50watt radio's hooked up. I will have all 4 of them on at a given time for monitoring but I want a power supply that can handle all for of them being on and transmitting on one of them. will a 50amp DC power supply be big enough or should I go larger?

You probably won't need a supply that big. Even a 100 watt radio is only going to pull about 22 to 25 amps max. In receive, non of the radios are pulling more than about 1.5 to 2 amps with full RX audio cranked up all the way. So you can probably get away with a 30 amp power supply. Your not going to TX on more than one radio at a time.
 

KG5HHS

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So it would be possible to get a 30amp power supply and connect it to a distribution block to connect 4 50watt radios (possibly one 100watt radio). transmit on one and still have the other 3 powered on & receiving?
 
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