Managing Multiple Keys/Paddles More Easily

[Edward R Cole]

Having struggled with cable changes to connectors on the back of
radios for years, my solution, when I built my current ham shack, was
to space my radio table out from the wall 2 feet to allow access
behind the equipment.  My radio cabinet is now three shelves above
the table top.  I bought some ordinary peg board (with all the holes)
attached to behind the table to floor level and attach wiring runs
with tywraps thru the holes.  Photos:
http://www.kl7uw.com/station%20layout.htm

It is still a mess of cables but an accessible mess.  In time I
expect the configuration will reach some level of maturity so I can
make the cable layout a little neater.  One thing I would do if the
room were larger is allow at least 3-feet space behind the radio
table as it is a tight fit when I need to kneel down to make
connections or test something.

My wife tells me that she will build me a whole new ham shack
attached to the garage if we ever "win the lottery" or other such
windfall.  Still I keep fit running between the workbench in the
garage to the ham shack to the two towers outside.  Having the ham
shack adjacent to the workshop and direct outside entrance would save
some shoe-leather!  My wife would have the third bedroom for normal
use and the noise would be gone!  The question is whether the radios
are the noise or am I? Ha!

73, Ed - KL7UW

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Sun, 19 Jun 2011 13:09:37 -0400 (EDT)
From: stan levandowski <[hidden email]>
Subject: [Elecraft] Managing Multiple Keys/Paddles More Easily
To: [hidden email]

I have multiple radios and every one of them has the key/paddle jack on
the rear apron.  Because I built a custom 'cubby' for my station it's
become annoying to change keys/paddles.  I have to reach behind or
around the radios and "feel" for the right place, or move the radio.
=====snipped========


73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45
======================================
BP40IQ   500 KHz - 10-GHz   www.kl7uw.com
EME: 50-1.1kw?, 144-1.4kw, 432-100w, 1296-60w, 3400-?
DUBUS Magazine USA Rep [hidden email]
======================================
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[Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy]

Ed,

An approach which I have used for many years which keeps me sane (?) is to
use a homebrewed box containing rotary switches to select which rig or which
connector of a rig should be connected to the key (or which key), mic,
phones, loudspeaker or whatever. IIRC the generic term for such a device is
a 'breakout box', which I believe is usually associated with audio circuits.
It can also be used to control coax relays to select which TX or RX is
connected to an antenna's feeder, or which feeder if more than one leaves
the shack, also control remote antenna selectors (coax relays). The
possibilities are endless :-)

I find that such a 'box' helps greatly when hopping between HF and UHF for
example, and it removes the need to struggle with connectors.

73,
Geoff
GM4ESD


On June 20, 2011 at 18:12 Z, Edward R. Cole wrote:


> Having struggled with cable changes to connectors on the back of
> radios for years, my solution, when I built my current ham shack, was
> to space my radio table out from the wall 2 feet to allow access
> behind the equipment.  My radio cabinet is now three shelves above
> the table top.  I bought some ordinary peg board (with all the holes)
> attached to behind the table to floor level and attach wiring runs
> with tywraps thru the holes.

<snip>





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[Mike Markowski-2]

Ed,

Here is a link to simple such box, just as Geoff describes, that I use:

  http://udel.edu/~mm/ham/

and click on the link named "CW Key Switch Project".  (I took photos
before putting labels on the front.)

73,
Mike ab3ap

On 06/20/11 15:16, Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy wrote:
> Ed,
>
> An approach which I have used for many years which keeps me sane (?) is to
> use a homebrewed box containing rotary switches to select which rig or which
> connector of a rig should be connected to the key (or which key), mic,
> phones, loudspeaker or whatever.  [...]
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[Brendan Minish]

My approach ash been to use an old audio patch-bay, you can pick these
up pretty cheaply on ebay

I wrote it up here
http://ei6iz.com/?p=67

I have expanded the number of inputs in use a bit since and fills up the
now vacant Icom 7800 sized hole in my my shack nicely..

It also allows me to do things like plug in a second headset for a shack
visitor, Great for K3 diversity demos.

On Mon, 2011-06-20 at 09:12 -0800, Edward R. Cole wrote:

> Having struggled with cable changes to connectors on the back of
> radios for years, my solution, when I built my current ham shack, was
> to space my radio table out from the wall 2 feet to allow access
> behind the equipment.  My radio cabinet is now three shelves above
> the table top.  I bought some ordinary peg board (with all the holes)
> attached to behind the table to floor level and attach wiring runs
> with tywraps thru the holes.  Photos:
> http://www.kl7uw.com/station%20layout.htm
>
> It is still a mess of cables but an accessible mess.  In time I
> expect the configuration will reach some level of maturity so I can
> make the cable layout a little neater.  One thing I would do if the
> room were larger is allow at least 3-feet space behind the radio
> table as it is a tight fit when I need to kneel down to make
> connections or test something.
>
> My wife tells me that she will build me a whole new ham shack
> attached to the garage if we ever "win the lottery" or other such
> windfall.  Still I keep fit running between the workbench in the
> garage to the ham shack to the two towers outside.  Having the ham
> shack adjacent to the workshop and direct outside entrance would save
> some shoe-leather!  My wife would have the third bedroom for normal
> use and the noise would be gone!  The question is whether the radios
> are the noise or am I? Ha!
>
> 73, Ed - KL7UW
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Sun, 19 Jun 2011 13:09:37 -0400 (EDT)
> From: stan levandowski <[hidden email]>
> Subject: [Elecraft] Managing Multiple Keys/Paddles More Easily
> To: [hidden email]
>
> I have multiple radios and every one of them has the key/paddle jack on
> the rear apron.  Because I built a custom 'cubby' for my station it's
> become annoying to change keys/paddles.  I have to reach behind or
> around the radios and "feel" for the right place, or move the radio.
> =====snipped========
>
>
> 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45
> ======================================
> BP40IQ   500 KHz - 10-GHz   www.kl7uw.com
> EME: 50-1.1kw?, 144-1.4kw, 432-100w, 1296-60w, 3400-?
> DUBUS Magazine USA Rep [hidden email]
> ======================================
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

--
73
Brendan EI6IZ

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