Shack

                           ┌────────────┐
     ┌─────────────────────┤ Main Power ├────────────────────────┐
     │             ┌───────┤  Filtered  ├─────────┐              │
     │             │       └──────┬─────┘         │              │
     │             │              │               │              │
┌────┴─────┐    ┌──┴──┐        ┌──┴──┐         ┌──┴──┐    ┌──────┴──────┐
│ Computer │    │ PSU │        │ PSU │         │ PSU │    │ HT charging │
└──────────┘    └──┬──┘        └──┬──┘         └──┬──┘    └─────────────┘
                   ├──USB         ├──USB          ├──USB
              ┌────┴────┐    ┌────┴─────┐    ┌────┴─────┐
              │  GMRS & │    │ Elecraft │    │  IC=705  │
              │ Scanner │    │          │    │   sBitz  │
              └─────────┘    └──────────┘    └──────────┘

As much as possible all coax is Messi and Paoloni.

GMRS & Scanner

Elecraft

  • Elecraft KX3 with the following installed options: KXAT3 20w Internal antenna tuner, KXBC3 NiMH battery-charger and real-time clock, and KXFL3 roofing filter.
    • KXPD2 precision keyer paddle.
    • Mini microphone by G1JKS, from Etsy.
    • Old Heathkit speaker.
  • PX3 Panadapter
  • KXPA100 100w power amplifier with the optional KXAT100 internal antenna tuner installed.

For mobile usage:

  • AX1 20, 17, and 15 meter antenna.
  • AXE1 loading coil for the AX1 for 40m use.
  • AXB1 small bipod mount when using the AX1 directly attached to the KX3.
  • AXT1 small adapter to mount AX1 on any camera trpod.
  • ES80 for the KX3, KXPD2, mic, AX1 (and accessories) as well as the following:
    • …
  • ES80 for the KXPA100.
  • ES60 for the PX3.

IC-705

  • Icom IC-705
    • Icom speaker
    • Bluetooth CIV and screen
  • Bencher CW Iambic Paddle

sBitz

Fixed Antenna

  • GMRS ground base
  • Discone scanner
  • 2M/70cm J-Pole
  • Arrow Antenna 2m/70cm J-Pole, mounted horizontally for digital modes.
  • Home-made 6M wire dipole
  • 10M Bazooka

Antenna patch panel:

A 6U 10” wall mounted rack with (currently) two 1u inserts each with seven D-series connector blanks. I add good quality 50Ω D-series BNC connectors to these so there is one row for the fixed antenna above, and one row for the shack radios. Radios and antennas are matched with 30cm RG58 BNC cables. For example, the IC-705 is often switched between the two 2m/70cm antenna as one is used for voice (the vertical) and one for data (the horizontal).

Common Usage:

# Radio # Antenna
1 GMRS 1 GMRS
2 Scanner 2 Scanner
3 IC-705 3 20/70 (v)
  └── 4 20/70 (h)
4 KX3 5 6m
5 sBitz 6 10m
    7 Front
7 Desk    

Port 7 in both inserts are special, for the antenna row it is connected to an external SO-239 connector on the front of the garage to hook up temporary large antenna, or the experimental gutter-tenna. On the radio front, the port connects to a BNC connector fixed to the shack desk so that any mobile or HT can be connected on the bench to any of the antenna for testing.

Additionally, another row provides 3 pairs of in/out connectors for meters allowing the meters to be patched in to any radio/antenna pair as needed.

Computer

Software

  • Logging
    • RUMlogNG (macos and ios)
    • HAMRS Pro (macos and ios)
    • QSO Upload Utility
    • tsql
  • Operating
    • SDR-Control – IC-705 remote control
    • KX3UI – KX3 remote control
    • WSPR Watch
    • MacDoppler
    • DX Toolbox
    • Ham Pulse
    • wfview
    • xCluster
    • CW Keyer
    • iDigi
    • QTH
    • QRV
    • Rotor
    • Multimode Cocoa
  • Radio Tools
    • Elecraft KX3 Utility
    • K3MemoryManager
    • SignalScope X
    • Serial
  • Antenna Tools
    • VNAmate
    • RF MatchMaker
    • MININEC Pro
    • SimNEC
    • RF Toolbox
    • Ham Toolbox

Mobile

Handhelds

  • Yaesu VX-6
  • Baofeng F8

Elecraft KX3 (Again)

Lab599 TX-500

  • Transceiver with battery box

Radio Box

  • zBitx HF/6m
  • GMRS
  • 2m/70cm

Boafeng Repeater Box

  • 2 Boafeng UV5R
  • Repeater
  • USB Power Bank

Antenna

  • Buddipole
  • Arrow Antenna

MeshCore

  • Everyday carry node, SenseCAP TR1000-E.
  • Travel carry node, Heltec MeshPocket.
  • Home repeater, SenseCAP Solar Node Pro.
  • Camping/mobile repeater, Heltec V4.