When I setup my shack in our new home (one of the spare bedrooms), I built new shelves from 3/4-inch plywood to provide enough support. The radios are on a two level shelf while the computers on single level 6-foot long shelf about 8-inches high. I currently have three towers side by side and that is causing a little sag (one of the computers is headed for recycle after I pull the HD and install it in the other old tower (P3-1GHz). The two remaining towers sit either side of a riser support which takes the load.
In the old house I used pressboard shelving boards and they did a real "wow"!
The old CRT is gone and a 20-inch LCD display replaces it (shared by the two computers using a keyboard/mouse/monitor switch). Having a nice layout makes operating easier.
Ed
At 04:03 PM 2/13/2008, Dave Guimont wrote:
The pressboard that most of the less expensive computer "desks/cabinets" use will not even hold a monitor on a shelf without warping...I use a computer desk for some of my ham stuff and the larger lowband transceivers can't go in the middle of the unsupported top shelf without creating a tendency for it to bow downward.
If you have real wood...go for it!
Exactly, Roger, I built my shelves from 3/4 plywood over 20 years ago, sitting on a 4 X 8 cut out sheet of marine ply, sitting on a fabricated light weight angle iron steel frame, and it would take more than any computer or ham radio gear to bow it!!
And I've used computers sitting alongside the gear for over twenty years, and have had little interference except for the first two years or so of computers.
But I also use the best co-ax available, carefully installed premium N connectors on everything, and I don't "bundle" the coax to the outside...I use separate holes for every cable, 3/4 and 1 1/2 PVC, angled to keep out the rain, and plugged with rags, even tho San Diego is pretty temperate year around...
Colder climes may wish to use foam insulation....
But I guess HT users wouldn't have to bother like that!!
73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1@san.rr.com Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
participants (1)
-
Edward Cole