Shack pix thread

[n6hcm]

two things from most shack photos amaze me. the stacks of stuff *so high* ... clearly most of you don't live in an earthquake zone. also, no easy way to get behind stuff to rejigger connections when required. (i have my stuff on a heavy-duty cart--roll it out and everything in the back is accessible).

[NQ6U]

two things from most shack photos amaze me. the stacks of stuff *so high* ... clearly most of you don't live in an earthquake zone.

I do, although not one as prone to severe earthquakes as you do. Most of my gear is fastened down in some way.

also, no easy way to get behind stuff to rejigger connections when required. (i have my stuff on a heavy-duty cart--roll it out and everything in the back is accessible).

This is an issue I've had with my set-up, which is one of the reasons for my recent shuffling of gear; it's still not as good as I'd like it to be in that respect but it's better than it was. The cart is a great idea but it wouldn't work in my shack because there's not enough room to pull it forward to get behind it. I do have a plan, though. Sometime this year, I hope to turn the garage which lies behind the wall that my gear faces into a workshop. Once I do that, I'm going to put a door in that wall, then build a rack and move my gear so the back faces towards what's currently the laundry room. That way I'll have access to the back of the gear without even having to move anything.

[N8YX]

two things from most shack photos amaze me. the stacks of stuff *so high* ... clearly most of you don't live in an earthquake zone.

Heavy stuff on bottom; lighter stuff on top - and the peripherals for a certain piece of gear placed on top of it. No double or triple stacking - each large item sits on its own shelf level.

also, no easy way to get behind stuff to rejigger connections when required. (i have my stuff on a heavy-duty cart--roll it out and everything in the back is accessible).

That's a good idea. I can get to any of mine pretty easily just by sliding the equipment forward on its shelf. When we get a house with a full basement (think ranch-plus) I am going to set the gear up in such a fashion that there's an access corridor behind each desk.

[W3WN]

two things from most shack photos amaze me. the stacks of stuff *so high* ... clearly most of you don't live in an earthquake zone. also, no easy way to get behind stuff to rejigger connections when required. (i have my stuff on a heavy-duty cart--roll it out and everything in the back is accessible).

I've noticed that too, in way too many installations.

I try to use shelving rather than stack gear on top of gear. I think it looks more presentable, is safer, and causes less mechanical stress on gear.

WRT cabling, well, it's not always possible to leave space behind things. I prefer to drill strategic feed-through holes in the shelving, and otherwise careful cable placement -- so that I can get to things, so that they don't get tangled, and so that they don't stick out like a sore thumb.

[VE3FMC]

Some photos of my shack.
Main rig is the FT-950, Heil GM5 mic, SP-2000 speaker and the AL-80A amp. An Alinco DM-330V supplies the power for the radio and the LED lights under the shelf which illuminate the rigs etc. Wattmeter is an Autek WM-1.
IMG_2042.jpgIMG_2043.jpgIMG_2044.jpgIMG_2045.jpgIMG_2046.jpg

The Icom 7000 is currently being used on 2 meters and 440.
Tuner is a Palstar AT1500.
Two Ameritron remote coax switches handle the antennas.
There is a SignaLink USB and a K1EL Winkeyer connected to the FT-950.

[N8YX]

That's far too neat. Ye must not have much fun operating...

[VE3FMC]

That's far too neat. Ye must not have much fun operating...

You don't want to see what is behind me!

Plus I have 3 golf bags in this room, it is tightly packed in here!

I really want to rebuild the operating desk, but I hate the thoughts of unhooking everything, moving the old desk out, new one in and putting it all back together.

I retired in May 2007, and that winter I said to myself "Rebuild this desk" Now here I am 5 winters later and the desk is still the same Maybe this winter!

I saw the photos of your shack and operating desk. It is as neat as mine.

[N7YA]

I like the call display, the nice blue glow is always an inviting feature of a shack.

[VE3FMC]

I like the call display, the nice blue glow is always an inviting feature of a shack.

This is where I purchased the call sign display from.
http://www.projectgm.com/

[N7YA]

Thats pretty slick. I am in the process of getting rid of about 90% of my personal possessions right now, so adding more things is not on the agenda. However, it looks really cool.