OK, so I am calling this the "Reduced Desk Shack".
In actuality this is pretty much a Proof of Concept for me at this point. If I like it in practice I might look into a set of 3 3u single bay or a 2-bay and single bay combination cabinet to replace the existing monitor stands. This would require some custom made front panels but I have a couple sources I think can accommodate me on that.
I stripped down my computer desk and the small radio "Turret Cabinet" I have been using the last month or so after retiring the tall networking cabinet and the 3-bay desk cabinet. I then gathered the radios and arranged them so they fit under the monitor stands that I had. I raised the stands almost 2 inches by cutting down a piece of walnut 2x2 and putting in some 3/8 inch rubber feet to protect the desk and keep them from sliding.
While this is not tall enough for me to slant the scanners it is tall enough for the two Icoms to slant as well as the SDS200. I also did something I usually do not: I used external speakers for the scanners. There are to front-firing for the bottom 536's and two rear-firing behind them for the top 536's. The 996's have a similar front-rear arrangement.
From left to right are:
BCD536HP (x4)
SDS200
Icom R8600
Icom IC-705
HomePatrol-2
BCD996P2/BCD996XT
The main computer connected to the left and center displays is my M1Max MacBook Pro (seen between the monitors)
The right display is connected to an Intel Hades Canyon NUC mounted on the rear of the display. It runs Sentinel, Pro96Com, ProScan, ARC-XX and other Windows stuff.
My Kenwood TK8180 GMRS radio and a 4-port antenna switch is on a bookshelf behind me. The antenna switch and two-way radio there allows me to reduce by 4 the amount of coaxes running to the desk. They connect to the wall antenna patch panel directly to the right and rear of the bookshelf and I only need a single coax from that to my autotuner for the 705 and still have access to 4 different antennas easily.
I was worried that viewing the scanners without a tilt would be a problem, but they are easily viewed and the keypads have no problem being accessed.
I did notice that when I stacked the 4 536's the version difference are more easily noticed. The LL and UR ones are newer (2021 made) and the UL and LR ones are older ones dating from 2014. The newer ones have a brighter back light, especially on the keypads. The older ones keypad lighting is almost nonexistent. Those have had the display lighting fixed by Uniden but I suppose they did not fix the keypad lighting. The OCD in me wants to rearrange these so the newer ones are on the bottom and the older on top, next time I do some maintenance I probably will change that.
As an aside, I wouldn't mind hearing your thoughts on the LCD color on the 536's. I have one and love the radio, but never understood why Uniden chose such a bland color with no option to change it. I did change the color on my 436 (using the method posted on RR) and it is so much easier on the eyes IMO. Just curious...
