K7RK has a tutorial on how he made this box on is site
First off, let me say I’m a huge fan of “go boxes”. Not for the reason many would think. There is the obvious EmComm/public service benefits of having a station ready to go. Since I do almost a dozen and a half public service events a year, my kit fills that need nicely.
However, I also operate HF portable for about two weekends a month. I started using my go box purely for that purpose awhile back and find that this is a beautiful fit for my operating style.
I can offer some advice to the many links I’m going to give in this post. Think about your plan and put it on paper. Take your time with this process. Think about what you do for public service, field day, SET, etc. and think about what would make the perfect kit.
I would add another good idea (I’ve learned this recently) is to make a “mock” frame for your kit. Install your gear on this mock frame and use it for some nets and such. Be realistic and make sure your mock frame will fit in your chosen box. Use your temporary box in a portable operation. I operate from several state parks and have a lot of fun with that. Might I add, bring some brochures from your local club or ARRL with you. I’ve actually turned out a few new hams just from people observing my operation and wanting to get a license (an added bonus).
I’ll have pictures of my current setup hopefully within the next month or so. My new box has HF/VHF/UHF, packet and soundcard digital modes. Neat to have it all in one box. I’ll add “Go-Boxes” as a category for this site for future use. I can tell I’ll have many posts on the topic in the future.
First up this week is K7RK. His site (http://www.kr7rk.com/gobox.htm) has a good tutorial on how he built the box shown above. He uses a framing method I have used in the past that works. As you can see above, he has a good all band/all mode box. Neat!
More information on various kits on the website of Steve KB1DIG & Kim KB1GTR
Next, I’ll take you to the page of Steve KB1DIG & Kim KB1GTR located at http://home.comcast.net/~buck0/combox.htm
This is one of the most popular sites on the topic on the web. Many useful tips here on a few different go box styles. They have a tutorial you can download on the HVOB – Highly Versatile Orange Box.
The point I want to get across here is that there are as many gokit styles as there are hams! Make yours “your own”.
Three examples in this picture to the left illustrate this point. One box, three different kits.
Pay close attention to the writ-ups on many of these sites. Many of them give you detailed information on the boxes used, why they were chosen and where you can obtain them. I find Marine stores are a great resource for this sort of thing, but ebay is also a great alternative. There are many resources on the web.
The kit above is from Andy Palm, N1KSN and the Wisconisn ARES/RACES group. They can be found at http://www.wi-aresraces.org/projects_EO_VHF_Station.htm
They also have a good HF station at http://www.wi-aresraces.org/projects_EO_HF_Station.htm
And a good antenna project at http://www.wi-aresraces.org/projects_ares_boombox.htm You will have to scroll to the middle area of the page to get to the antenna, but the top of the page has a good go box as well that was featured in QST several years back.
From W4TI
W4TI has some really neat ideas and great craftsmanship on his site. This kit has a handle on the side and is easily transported wherever needed – great work! His site is located at http://w4ti.net/gokit.html
The details on this kit are available at http://www.geocities.com/kemays/hambox.htm. Not sure who the ham is, but the frame on this using threaded rod and plexiglass is neat!
And, please remember to pack the non-communications necessities like meds, clothes and such. A good example of that is found here http://www.thegallos.com/gobag.htm
