If you've read the posts in the Bushmoot section, you probably know that I'll be setting up and running a special event amaterur radio station for the duration, as well as carrying out extensive field tests just to see what I can do with the gear I've built.
So, I've been a busy boy for the last few weeks. Here's some of the stuff I've done.
I wanted a grab and go manpack frame for my radio, antenna tuner and a decent battery, so I could just grab it, do away someplace wild, plug in the antenna and use it without fiddling around connectiong wires etc.
![](http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n617/Eric_Methven/Amateur%20radio%20issues/10342572_10202819467422299_1238157595_n.jpg)
I bought some 15mm copper pipe, some angle bends and some T pieces and cut them all to size.
![](http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n617/Eric_Methven/Amateur%20radio%20issues/10327195_10202822087847808_590740571_n.jpg)
Then I started the build.
![](http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n617/Eric_Methven/Amateur%20radio%20issues/7c0f00f3-7389-4024-8778-1ea26cc689cc.jpg)
It started coming together nicely.
![](http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n617/Eric_Methven/Amateur%20radio%20issues/10357808_10202829296908030_1239475003_n.jpg)
Then I added a shelf and back board made from cheap plastic chopping boards (Face Value - £1.99) and mounted the radio and tuner.
![](http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n617/Eric_Methven/Amateur%20radio%20issues/2edbb4da-5ae8-4145-b0cd-b64ef2af26ee.jpg)
Stripped it all down again and painted the frame olive drab.
![](http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n617/Eric_Methven/Amateur%20radio%20issues/10335846_10202842497198029_1854538209_n.jpg)
It all fits perfectly in the small bergen I got from Mr Fenna two moots ago. Now I can lug it around and get set up within minutes.
![](http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n617/Eric_Methven/Amateur%20radio%20issues/10366248_10202974762144570_8171154080451164590_n.jpg)
I also put a canvas cover round it to give a little added protection, and it lives quite comfortably in my man cave.
![](http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n617/Eric_Methven/Amateur%20radio%20issues/d6efe76d-81b1-43c4-ab9b-52dfa245be1e.jpg)
For the moot, because we'll be there two weeks, I used another chopping board and mounted a couple of solar panels to help keep the batteries topped up.
![](http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n617/Eric_Methven/Amateur%20radio%20issues/10428783_10202973809040743_863393974_n.jpg)
Charge controller mounted on the back.
![](http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n617/Eric_Methven/Amateur%20radio%20issues/batterybox2.jpg)
And also, because we'll be there a while, with more than one radio, I built a power pack battery box. I can run four appliances from this, as well as charge my tablet, iPhone, e-cigarette etc.
![](http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n617/Eric_Methven/Amateur%20radio%20issues/batterybox3.jpg)
Before the wiring is done.
![](http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n617/Eric_Methven/Amateur%20radio%20issues/10453215_10203007227116174_1375601747_n.jpg)
All wired up and working perfectly.
I've also made a ton of antennas. But more about those another time.
Ask questions as always,
Eric
So, I've been a busy boy for the last few weeks. Here's some of the stuff I've done.
I wanted a grab and go manpack frame for my radio, antenna tuner and a decent battery, so I could just grab it, do away someplace wild, plug in the antenna and use it without fiddling around connectiong wires etc.
![](http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n617/Eric_Methven/Amateur%20radio%20issues/10342572_10202819467422299_1238157595_n.jpg)
I bought some 15mm copper pipe, some angle bends and some T pieces and cut them all to size.
![](http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n617/Eric_Methven/Amateur%20radio%20issues/10327195_10202822087847808_590740571_n.jpg)
Then I started the build.
![](http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n617/Eric_Methven/Amateur%20radio%20issues/7c0f00f3-7389-4024-8778-1ea26cc689cc.jpg)
It started coming together nicely.
![](http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n617/Eric_Methven/Amateur%20radio%20issues/10357808_10202829296908030_1239475003_n.jpg)
Then I added a shelf and back board made from cheap plastic chopping boards (Face Value - £1.99) and mounted the radio and tuner.
![](http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n617/Eric_Methven/Amateur%20radio%20issues/2edbb4da-5ae8-4145-b0cd-b64ef2af26ee.jpg)
Stripped it all down again and painted the frame olive drab.
![](http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n617/Eric_Methven/Amateur%20radio%20issues/10335846_10202842497198029_1854538209_n.jpg)
It all fits perfectly in the small bergen I got from Mr Fenna two moots ago. Now I can lug it around and get set up within minutes.
![](http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n617/Eric_Methven/Amateur%20radio%20issues/10366248_10202974762144570_8171154080451164590_n.jpg)
I also put a canvas cover round it to give a little added protection, and it lives quite comfortably in my man cave.
![](http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n617/Eric_Methven/Amateur%20radio%20issues/d6efe76d-81b1-43c4-ab9b-52dfa245be1e.jpg)
For the moot, because we'll be there two weeks, I used another chopping board and mounted a couple of solar panels to help keep the batteries topped up.
![](http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n617/Eric_Methven/Amateur%20radio%20issues/10428783_10202973809040743_863393974_n.jpg)
Charge controller mounted on the back.
![](http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n617/Eric_Methven/Amateur%20radio%20issues/batterybox2.jpg)
And also, because we'll be there a while, with more than one radio, I built a power pack battery box. I can run four appliances from this, as well as charge my tablet, iPhone, e-cigarette etc.
![](http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n617/Eric_Methven/Amateur%20radio%20issues/batterybox3.jpg)
Before the wiring is done.
![](http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n617/Eric_Methven/Amateur%20radio%20issues/10453215_10203007227116174_1375601747_n.jpg)
All wired up and working perfectly.
I've also made a ton of antennas. But more about those another time.
Ask questions as always,
Eric