Apartment To-Go Box

[N1SQB]

When you downsize from a house to an apartment setup, things change. Not having the man cave I used to have with all kinds of space, I had to come up with a way to condense my monitoring gear. So, I decided to rack mount my equipment. I had a different setup a few months ago but it was still not quite how I wanted it. Seeing some of the setups on here gave me the idea. I purchased an 8 space carpeted rack. Threw in the 4 speakers, my 2 SDS200s and my 2 BCT15Xs. My 200s are mainly used for digital monitoring. Besides Connecticut's' statewide P25-2 system, I monitor Long Island digital trunked systems. The 15Xs are mainly for analog local stuff plus civil and Mil-air monitoring. There are 4 BNC connectors in the rear for antennas. I am also running 2 aftermarket GPS units via an RJ45 jack in the rear. Not much use while in the shack, but perfect if I take the box out to another location. It is all powered by a single 8 outlet strip which is surge protected. Took me a while but it is finally done.😊 For daily on the go monitoring, I have my 2 workhorses, My SDS100 and my king supreme- my Motorola APX8000XE Quad band. ( TX/RX-136-174,380-512, 700-800 MHz digital P25-2 trunking). Not bad for an apartment dweller. LOL.

Manny

 

[lhillin]

Very Nice. What brand is the rack? Did you fabricate your own face plates? Do you have any pictures showing how the radios are mounted? If not, can you explain how you did that? Thank you.

Lonny Hillin, K5LON

 

[N1SQB]

Very Nice. What brand is the rack? Did you fabricate your own face plates? Do you have any pictures showing how the radios are mounted? If not, can you explain how you did that? Thank you.

Lonny Hillin, K5LON

Good morning!
The rack is a basic 8 space rack I picked up on eBay. The seller makes them himself.
The faceplates are from an eBay seller in Canada. Not that expensive. I don’t have a picture with me showing how they are mounted. I’ll get the one I have in my PC later and post it. Pretty basic stuff, nothing fancy. Basically you secure the radio to the faceplate and then mount.

 

[tunnelmot]

The faceplates are from an eBay seller in Canada.

Alberta Radio Supply maybe? Alberta Radio Supply Motorola 2-Way Radio Parts + Radio Accessories
Pretty cool stuff there. I also like the Novex rackmounts.
S L O W L Y planning my racked shack plans. One of these days

 

[N1SQB]

Alberta Radio Supply maybe? Alberta Radio Supply Motorola 2-Way Radio Parts + Radio Accessories
Pretty cool stuff there. I also like the Novex rackmounts.
S L O W L Y planning my racked shack plans. One of these days

Yes, that’s the seller. Novex is great too but more expensive. I have no problems with Alberta Radio Supply. Take your time. Plan it out. Took me a few months, but very well worth it.

 

[jeepsandradios]

Interested in the RACK also. If you have a seller I'd be curious.

 

[03msc]

Looks great! I can picture it now...you're staying with someone for the weekend and you walk in their place carrying this, set it on the table, plug it in, and start monitoring all while they're looking at you like umm is this a stake out or what are you doing? lol

Or, more realistically, you're traveling alone and enjoying monitoring things wherever you're staying. Either way, looks very handy!

 

[N1SQB]

Looks great! I can picture it now...you're staying with someone for the weekend and you walk in their place carrying this, set it on the table, plug it in, and start monitoring all while they're looking at you like umm is this a stake out or what are you doing? lol

Or, more realistically, you're traveling alone and enjoying monitoring things wherever you're staying. Either way, looks very handy!

I built it with the thought that when we go camping,as we often do as a family, I have a box to keep me entertained. Field day will be a lot more fun with a box like this. I may do this again with the Ham gear. Lots of uses. Furthermore, I’m an apartment dweller. When it comes time to move, I can just pick it up and go. No fussing with wires, mounting brackets, speakers etc. if I want to change the room around, I just move a box and not 5 or 6 different things. 🙂

 

[N1SQB]

Interested in the RACK also. If you have a seller I'd be curious.

Here ya go, the link is for a 12 space but look at his other items for sale to find the right box you want:

Custom Pearson 12 space simple rack Black | eBay

This new rack case has no fronts or backs. Outside, the rack is 21" wide, 22.5" tall and 12" deep. Edges are rounded over for better durability and feel. Black carpet is very tough and durable. Recessed thick grip handles on each side makes it easy and comfortable to move around.

www.ebay.com

 

[upstatesc]

I am also running 2 aftermarket GPS units via an RJ45 jack in the rear. Not much use while in the shack, but perfect if I take the box out to another location.

Are those aftermarket GPS units still available by any chance? I'd love to create something like this myself and I like how clean they look the way you have them versus Uniden's.

 

[N1SQB]

Are those aftermarket GPS units still available by any chance? I'd love to create something like this myself and I like how clean they look the way you have them versus Uniden's

Yes they are. I forget the name of the seller on ebay I got them from. Plug n play pretty much. They get plugged in via the phone type jack in the rear. All that is left is setting the correct seial port numbers ( 9600 )and thats it. They work great!

Manny