CB Go Box Project

[NF822WNY]

I decided to start a CB go box project. I would like a unit i could take camping away from my mobile but be able to make some contacts have some fun in the field. I know Go box's are big with the Ham community but i haven't really seen much as far as someone doing it with a CB radio. I have an extra Uniden 980SSB that i was planning on using for the radio as well as an extra RM KL203P amplifer that i was going to use with it as well.
I am planning on using LiFePo4 batteries but I am running into math problems when trying to figure out how much battery i will need. I wont be constantly transmitting but would like to be able to get like 12 hours of regular usage time. Any thoughts on this would be great. The uniden drains 2.2 amps on am and 4 on ssb
the KL203P drain shows 10amps power input per their individual manuals.
From there i am planning on putting a solar panel hook up to it for recharge/running power. I would suspect i need a charge controller as well as a distribution block for the power going from the battery to the equipment.
Other things i have thought about adding into the box:
SWR meter
Cooling Fan
Speaker

I posted questions on the antenna side forum and have concluded i will most likely be using a portable dipole antenna for this project

Any and all suggestions and comments are welcome. I would like to get input from people here while i build this project and continue to update with pics as i go to see what this may evolve into.

Thanks

 

[Robb]

The antenna and its location will prove to be pivotal for your goal.

Using a horizontal dipole will be counter-productive - since most AM operators use vertical antennas. That will prove to be a loss at your end in both RX and TX. You can still use the dipole idea, so long as you orient it vertically and not horizontally.

Having the best location for this scenario will be important for success, you will also want to be on the highest ground, such as he highest hill/mountain area above ground that still has trees to support your vertical dipole.

If you do it right you won't really need to use the amp, and this will prolong battery consumption considerably.

 

[codeman]

Is this go box something you are going to put in a back pack or will you go camping within reach of your car? I would think a painter's pole would work for you. I have a painter's pole that is six feet tall and extends to 12 feet. I have my dipole in an inverted V. It works fairly well when dx is rolling and I have talked about 40 miles ssb to some base stations. You would just need a way to mount the painter's pole. I have mine in a five gallon bucket with pvc pipe cemented to hold it tight.

Then again if you can just mount that dipole horizontally. Even at 8 ft. off the ground I've talked skip so that may be a good idea for you.

You might be able to make some contacts with a barefoot 980 but adding an RM Italy 203 definitely helps to make more contacts.

 

[NF822WNY]

Is this go box something you are going to put in a back pack or will you go camping within reach of your car? I would think a painter's pole would work for you. I have a painter's pole that is six feet tall and extends to 12 feet. I have my dipole in an inverted V. It works fairly well when dx is rolling and I have talked about 40 miles ssb to some base stations. You would just need a way to mount the painter's pole. I have mine in a five gallon bucket with pvc pipe cemented to hold it tight.

Then again if you can just mount that dipole horizontally. Even at 8 ft. off the ground I've talked skip so that may be a good idea for you.

You might be able to make some contacts with a barefoot 980 but adding an RM Italy 203 definitely helps to make more contacts.

Codeman, thank you for the comment. My plan is to have this away from the car so a painters pole will not be the best idea. I plan on stringing the dipole with para cord which should allow me some flexibility as to what configuration i use (horizontal, inverted v, slope etc.)

 

[codeman]

I think it's like Robb says probably would be better to run vertical as that's what's most people use but I have had luck running horizontally as well as a sloper. I've tried different things and basically just got to try it and see what happens.
I guess it kind of depends on who you're trying to talk to you whether you're trying to do some DX or local but I know for local talk horizontal dipoles are not going to work very well that's why I run mine as an inverted V at my townhouse. I don't have to take up too much space and I'm still able to make a pretty good distance locally and then I still get to talk DX so it's kinda the best of both worlds for a limited space/hoa restricted area.

 

[sp5it]

You gonna carry that in a backpack or...?

 

[Sarasota Slim]

I used to carry a CB in a briefcase, and powered it with 2 6v lantern batteries, run in series. (I was about 11 or 12, at the time, I think. )

I had no amp, though, in that set up.
*********************

Camping means different things to different people. Some people sleep in $300k moterized mansion, and call it camping. Others swear that it's not really camping, unless your 30 miles away from the nearest place accessible by vehicle, and you have nothing that won't fit in your pockets, except a walking stick.

What I'm getting at, I guess, is how far from your car do you expect to be? What is the expected terrain? Do you expect multiple trips between car and campsite, or do you want to be able to carry 100% of your gear from car to site, in one trip?

I could suggest a box on wheels that contains 2 6v golf cart batteries, but if you're going to have to drag it 10 miles up a mountain, that's not exactly feasible. And, bringing it back down in the morning, that could prove to be worse, lol.

Also, if you do plan on carrying everything in one trip, it would be useful to have an idea of weight and size limits. Total weight you can carry, minus the weight of everything else that you know you'll be carrying.

 

[vkrules]

The math isn't hard. LiFePo4 are rated in capacity and discharge rate. IE 4000 mah (4amp hour or 4 amp draw for 1 hr) Discharge 20 c or in other words 20 x 4amps, So you can pull 80 amps discharge.

Now if your total draw is 14 amps on tx ,And we will assume you draw no more than 1 amp on RX.and you talk 50% of the time you would need a 90 amp hr battery for 12 hours ,(thats a bloody big LiFePo4)

As for the antenna I would go with a vertical dipole as well and would suggest buying a telescopic fishing pole to support it .They come in sizes up to 12.5 meters ,41.5 feet , in old terms.

An 18 ft version can be purchased for under 10 dollars on ebay They are very light and telescope down to about 2 ft ,small enough to fit in a back pack.

Got a T2LT style vert dipole ,I built some time ago,Will see if I can find it and post a few pics

 

[NF822WNY]

The math isn't hard. LiFePo4 are rated in capacity and discharge rate. IE 4000 mah (4amp hour or 4 amp draw for 1 hr) Discharge 20 c or in other words 20 x 4amps, So you can pull 80 amps discharge.

Now if your total draw is 14 amps on tx ,And we will assume you draw no more than 1 amp on RX.and you talk 50% of the time you would need a 90 amp hr battery for 12 hours ,(thats a bloody big LiFePo4)

As for the antenna I would go with a vertical dipole as well and would suggest buying a telescopic fishing pole to support it .They come in sizes up to 12.5 meters ,41.5 feet , in old terms.

An 18 ft version can be purchased for under 10 dollars on ebay They are very light and telescope down to about 2 ft ,small enough to fit in a back pack.

Got a T2LT style vert dipole ,I built some time ago,Will see if I can find it and post a few pics

Wow, 90 Ah LiFePo4 batteries are expensive!! if i went to a 20 or 30 Ah how long do you think this set up could run?

 

[NF822WNY]

I settled on a 40ah Bioenno Power LiFePo4 with AC charger for my go box, should be in this week. I will just need to power pole all the power connections and should be good to go.

 

[2RT307]

I used to carry a CB in a briefcase, and powered it with 2 6v lantern batteries, run in series. (I was about 11 or 12, at the time, I think. )

I had no amp, though, in that set up.
*********************

Camping means different things to different people. Some people sleep in $300k moterized mansion, and call it camping. Others swear that it's not really camping, unless your 30 miles away from the nearest place accessible by vehicle, and you have nothing that won't fit in your pockets, except a walking stick.

What I'm getting at, I guess, is how far from your car do you expect to be? What is the expected terrain? Do you expect multiple trips between car and campsite, or do you want to be able to carry 100% of your gear from car to site, in one trip?

I could suggest a box on wheels that contains 2 6v golf cart batteries, but if you're going to have to drag it 10 miles up a mountain, that's not exactly feasible. And, bringing it back down in the morning, that could prove to be worse, lol.

Also, if you do plan on carrying everything in one trip, it would be useful to have an idea of weight and size limits. Total weight you can carry, minus the weight of everything else that you know you'll be carrying.

I'm doing a ham go box, but may add a CB just for the extra coverage. I have an old Uniden Pro 520XL that is nice and compact. Also have my FT-891, MFJ power supply, LDG Z-11 Pro tuner, and TYT 8900 vhf/uhf. Went with this box for the rigs:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-22-in-Pro-Organizer-Black-222571/205440492

And going with this box for antennas, cables, batteries, etc:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-22-in-Pro-Gear-Cart-Black-222573/205441921

You can stack the small box on top of the one with wheels, and lock it in place.

I'm debating on the Anderson power poles, since I don't have any (or the wrench to put them together), and this setup is kind of permanent in that the power cables will stay installed... I have additional power cables for the rigs to run in my mobile. I'm thinking of going with this box from Blue Sea:
https://powerwerx.com/blue-sea-5032-12-circuit-split-fuse-block

Don't want to hijack the thread, but thought it would be nice to exchange ideas.

73,
Brett

 

[Road Squawker]

Brett, you confused me, talkin about a "wrench"......... finally figured out that you were talking about the crimping tool.

you don't really need it, just solder the connections.

I have been using PP's for many years.

BTW, MFJ makes a fused connector box with PP connections for just a few $ more, the West Mtn stuff is a little overpriced IMO.

 

[Sonar]

I decided to start a CB go box project. I would like a unit i could take camping away from my mobile but be able to make some contacts have some fun in the field. I know Go box's are big with the Ham community but i haven't really seen much as far as someone doing it with a CB radio. I have an extra Uniden 980SSB that i was planning on using for the radio as well as an extra RM KL203P amplifer that i was going to use with it as well.
I am planning on using LiFePo4 batteries but I am running into math problems when trying to figure out how much battery i will need. I wont be constantly transmitting but would like to be able to get like 12 hours of regular usage time. Any thoughts on this would be great. The uniden drains 2.2 amps on am and 4 on ssb
the KL203P drain shows 10amps power input per their individual manuals.
From there i am planning on putting a solar panel hook up to it for recharge/running power. I would suspect i need a charge controller as well as a distribution block for the power going from the battery to the equipment.
Other things i have thought about adding into the box:
SWR meter
Cooling Fan
Speaker

I posted questions on the antenna side forum and have concluded i will most likely be using a portable dipole antenna for this project

Any and all suggestions and comments are welcome. I would like to get input from people here while i build this project and continue to update with pics as i go to see what this may evolve into.

Thanks

Just to share a memory

I'm doing a ham go box, but may add a CB just for the extra coverage. I have an old Uniden Pro 520XL that is nice and compact. Also have my FT-891, MFJ power supply, LDG Z-11 Pro tuner, and TYT 8900 vhf/uhf. Went with this box for the rigs:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-22-in-Pro-Organizer-Black-222571/205440492

And going with this box for antennas, cables, batteries, etc:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-22-in-Pro-Gear-Cart-Black-222573/205441921

You can stack the small box on top of the one with wheels, and lock it in place.

I'm debating on the Anderson power poles, since I don't have any (or the wrench to put them together), and this setup is kind of permanent in that the power cables will stay installed... I have additional power cables for the rigs to run in my mobile. I'm thinking of going with this box from Blue Sea:
https://powerwerx.com/blue-sea-5032-12-circuit-split-fuse-block

Don't want to hijack the thread, but thought it would be nice to exchange ideas.

73,
Brett

When I was a kid my uncle who worked for Grainger gave me and my brother a plastic portable mobile CB radio carrier. It had an so-239, a large Eveready 12 volt battery, and the Midland Radio slid into the slot that was about the size of a medium mobile rig. I looked online for a photo of that type of device but I don't think they were very popular and would probably fairly rare. My uncle was very Thrifty and I'm sure that he got them for free from Grainger. I did see this one online. It's obviously homemade, but looks well-constructed and might give you an idea of where to start.

 

[rabbiporkchop]

I don't quite understand the purpose of the box. Is it for temporary storage or is it for permanently mounting radios in?

 

[NF822WNY]

I don't quite understand the purpose of the box. Is it for temporary storage or is it for permanently mounting radios in?

The idea is a field portable, self contained radio in a box.