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Started my rack

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wesm1957

wesm1957

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Otsego, MI
I started my rack tonight. Ok more like mobile shelves. I am using a 16 inch wide shelf unit made by CLOSETMAID. The is 83 1/2 inches high. I got the white set and I am planning on using chalkboard paint to make it black. The top half is held on with 4 wooden dowels. On the bottom half I drilled holes through so the bottom shelf is at the bottom. My computers will go there. I have some more shelves to put in. I am making due with a drawer kit. Later I will put a back on it with some cooling fans for my power supplies. I also put casters on.

here is a picture of the start.

The shelf unit is W9 and the drawer kit is W10, and got them at Lowes.
 
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I

iMONITOR

Silent Key
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Looks great! If you're laying those shelves on the metal pegs, you might want to put screws through the sides into at least one shelf (if not two), near the middle, so the sides don't bow out causing a shelf to drop someday. Just a suggestion.
 
wesm1957

wesm1957

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biglaz said:
Looks nice.

Chalkboard paint? What's the reason for that?
Click to expand...

Easy to paint on and it will stick to anything. I wanted black and living in an apartment spray paint is out of the question. It will also be somewhat of a flat finish.
 
wesm1957

wesm1957

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I had a chance to work on the shelves some today. I still have a ways to go. I was a little dissapointed that both computers would not fit side by side on the bottom shelf. I did put the battery backup for the upper computer on the bottom shelf. I am still working on which scanner will go where. I still have the 2052 to fit in. The hand held scanners are on a bracket that has a ball mount on each end and I am going to mount that in the left side. I have to get some rubber feet for the tow Icoms, and I am going to put a fan behind them. I noticed that they do get quite warm. Here is a picture of my progress so far.
 
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iMONITOR

Silent Key
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wesm1957 said:
I had a chance to work on the shelves some today. I still have a ways to go. I was a little dissapointed that both computers would not fit side by side on the bottom shelf. I did put the battery backup for the upper computer on the bottom shelf. I am still working on which scanner will go where. I still have the 2052 to fit in. The hand held scanners are on a bracket that has a ball mount on each end and I am going to mount that in the left side. I have to get some rubber feet for the tow Icoms, and I am going to put a fan behind them. I noticed that they do get quite warm. Here is a picture of my progress so far.
Click to expand...


It's coming along great! Check Radio Shack for some stick-on rubber feet. They make small round ones, and big square ones. I used the big square ones on my PCR-100's. They hold it up a good 1/4" off the surface, give it plenty of circulation for cooling. You probably won't need the fan.
 
wesm1957

wesm1957

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Otsego, MI
GreatLakes said:
It's coming along great! Check Radio Shack for some stick-on rubber feet. They make small round ones, and big square ones. I used the big square ones on my PCR-100's. They hold it up a good 1/4" off the surface, give it plenty of circulation for cooling. You probably won't need the fan.
Click to expand...

I checked my local Radio Shack and they don't carry them any more. I have some other places to check for them. I know I can probably get them through Digi-Key too. I probably won't get to do much more work on this thing until Wednesday. I am going to see about getting some scrap plywood from work to make the back sections.
 
wesm1957

wesm1957

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I have had a chance today to get more done. I had a piece of tempered masonite at work that came with my tool box. It ended up being extra when I put on the hutch that came with the box. It made a perfect back for my set up. I used a solid section that fits down to the middle shelf in the bottom section and that really made the whole set up ridged. Here are 2 more pictures. I will have the radios and computers back in place tonight. I am working on a master power setup for the radios.
 
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wesm1957

wesm1957

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Otsego, MI
Radios are in place. I have a few more access holes to cut in the back, and then get the paint out. I also have speakers to get wired and mounted. That will come along with wiring a computer power supply to power everything but the 2055 and the 996t. Here are some more pictures. Now it's time to get something to eat!!!!
 
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N3LLO

N3LLO

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May 17, 2005
Messages
44
Location
New Ipswich, NH
Great setup!

Two ideas for potential upgrade...

1) A good, sine-wave UPS like an APC SmartUps 1000/1500 for the PC as well as all the radio gear.
http://www.apcc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=SUA1000&total_watts=50

For the wall-warts you can use a coule Power strip savers:
http://www.powerstripsaver.com/


2) Replacing your splitter (which seems to be a regular CATV splitter?) with a true, no-loss multicoupler w/isolation:
(4 port) http://www.scannermaster.com/4_Port_Multicoupler_p/02-530557.htm
(8 port) http://www.scannermaster.com/8_Port_Multicoupler_p/02-530558.htm
 
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k9rzz

k9rzz

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Dec 12, 2005
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3,162
Location
Milwaukee, WI
Initially I thought your coax switch and cables were mounted on the far wall. I thought WOW !!

But now I see where they really are.
icq6_smilies_2_11499_4237_thumb.gif


Looking good.
ph3.png
 
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