2m/440 pelican go kit

[thallca]

I saw a you tube video from this ham in Hawaii who built this sweet "go-kit" in a Pelican 1450 case. You can view it here;
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmnnf0xUWNM&playnext_from=TL&videos=to_cQ12m-5g"]YouTube- Emergency Amateur Radio Communication Kit by KH7O[/ame]

And since I had an extra 1450 case laying around I thought I would try to build one for myself. I liked the idea of a complete, ready to go radio kit, installed in a water proof case.
The kit contains a Yaesu Ft-7900 2m/440 radio a Samlex 23 amp power supply, a 12 volt DC panel from Western Marine (which made life really easy,) a cut down rack panel from Digi-key (whatever you do use a really good jigsaw to cut that panel, trust me on this one!) a small computer cooling fan and switches from Radio Shack. And I added Anderson Powerpoles to the Kit. I installed powerpoles on the back of the radio, so if I happen to smoke check the power supply in the kit, I can still use the radio with another power source without having to open up the kit to unhook everything. I also got a UHF to BNC and UHF to SMA adapters so I can use a HT antenna on 5 watts.
This was the first time I ever tried to build anything like this, I've never wired anything together before in my life. I must say, I'm kind of surprised how everything turned out...

 

[Cabrito]

That is a slick kit.

 

[BriansFJ]

Nifty!:smiley_drive:

 

[bucketosudz]

I am not a HAM at this time, but I must say that is a Cool setup. I would like to look into that further. Yours turned out quite nice also! :victory:

 

[Wes Craiglow]

Love it. And now I'm thinking about a business....

I wonder what 1st responders, SARs, and other HAMs would pay for a turn-key emergency-response package such as this...

I bet there's a market for it.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Very clean set up.
What is the estimated cost for a similar set up?
What is the effect on performance with such small antennas?
I there a 12v power supply (battery) in the case for stand alone use?

 

[thallca]

Very clean set up.
What is the estimated cost for a similar set up?
What is the effect on performance with such small antennas?
I there a 12v power supply (battery) in the case for stand alone use?

Cost breakdown
Yaesu 7900 = $260
Pelican 1450 = $69 (Cases4Less)
Pelican panel frame kit = $14
Samlex 1223 power supply = $99
12 volt panel = $49 (West Marine)
Digi-Key rack panel = $30 (I can't find my invoice)
And maybe another $25-$30 for fan, switches, powerpoles, adapters etc.

All total I was able to put the kit together for around $550.

The small HT antenna works well, but you are limited to 5 watts out, any more and you have the possibility of smoking your antenna.

Mounted under the radio is a 23 amp Samlex power supply. I have one more item left to hook up and that's another switch to select between the onboard power supply and a aux 12 volt source. I already have a "12 volt in" powerpole mounted on the panel. There is also a "12 volt out" powerpole on the panel to power other equipment.

 

[sargeek]

I like it, but why mount the cooling fan on the outside? I think it would look much cleaner on the inside. Way cool set up!

I have an a VHF/UHF that was given to me, and a spare pelican I could use on the project.

Interesting....

 

[thallca]

I like it, but why mount the cooling fan on the outside? I think it would look much cleaner on the inside. Way cool set up!

I have an a VHF/UHF that was given to me, and a spare pelican I could use on the project.

Interesting....

Between the power supply and the 12 volt panel, there just wasn't enough room under the rack plate. If I had thought it through a little more BEFORE I started cutting on the rack panel, I am sure I could have found room for the fan. There is always next time...

 

[thallca]

I have an a VHF/UHF that was given to me, and a spare pelican I could use on the project.

One note on the selection of the radio you can use in the kit.
After you mount the Pelican frame kit into the case, and attach the rack panel to that, there is only about 1.7 inches of clearance between the top of the rack panel and inside of the case lid. You will also have to modify the mounting bracket that came with the radio, or just buy some 90 degree angle brackets at a hardware store and use them to attach the radio to the top of the rack panel.

I was thinking of using a Yaesu FT-350 radio for this project, but the body of the radio is a little to big to mount it on the top of the rack panel, and I didn't think I had enough room under the plate.

 

[sargeek]

Yes, I have a Kenwood TM-731A to play with.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

That is rad!

I built a far more low-buck setup using an old plastic case I had and a donated radio. We used it sucessfully on a week long Swell trip to call our attendees into the Cruise Moab overnighter base camp. I think I proved to myself that it would get used and that its worth packing. The idea started as a simple break down antenna (we were using a screw together j-pole made by a fellow club member), I posted up here on ExPo about antenna options and quickly my eyes were opened to the options for portable base units. Some neat options were shown:
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30327

 

[Deleted member 9101]

I have been thinking of doing something similar with a CD player and speakers to use while i am camping...but I never envisioned something that slick...great job man.

 

[thallca]

I have been thinking of doing something similar with a CD player and speakers to use while i am camping...but I never envisioned something that slick...great job man.

Thanks, It was a lot of fun to make.
Next project is to build a 12 volt potable power kit out of my other 1450 case. I can get one 18 amp hour battery or three of the smaller 12 amp hour batteries into a 1450 case.

Check out KH7O's other projects at
http://www.hawaiirepeaters.net/emergear/emergencyradiokit.html