Ham Shack Major Upgrade

This is my little corner of the world. The new desk is almost finished. Key features:

1. about 7ft wide, 30" deep and 7ft high
2. 3 drawers on the left, room for 2 computers plus paraphernalia (UPS, ethernet switch, etc) on the right--I will add the second computer after I install AndysHamV21 on it
3. ~18" adjustable shelves on each side
4. top shelf holding misc items
5. middle shelf for stability and storage--and ultimately my on air sign 
6. 200mm computer case fan to cool the HF rig (Ten Tec Jupiter)
7. small, fixed shelf on the right to hold the 2M rig and power supply
8. my DIY 12V power strip (for the fan and sign)
9. pull-out keyboard shelf and pull out work/writing area
10. 8-outlet power strip (behid the monitors and radio)
11. 26" Samsung TV/monitor connected via HDMI cable
12. 21"  monitor connected via VGA cable through a KVM switch to both computers to facilitate sharing
13. pre-existing telephone jack now comes in through a wall plate in the desk side
14. 2" holes in several locations for wire management
15. notches in each of the 18" shelves to accommodate wires and cables

It took the equivalent of 4 4'x8' sheets of 3/4" plywood, plus some 2x4s for framing, some 1"x4" pine for trim, and some 1/2" plywood for the keyboard shelf. I put on 2 coats of stain plus 2 coats of polyurethane (8 coats on the desktop). We  used drawer slides from Rockler for the drawers and the pullouts

We also took the time to run the coax from the 2M and HF antennae across the ceiling and behind the wall. The desk is where the coax came into the shack anyway--it's just neater now, coming in through a wall plate and on to the radios,. We also ran the ethernet cables behind the walls. There had been cables all over the place. Now the ethernet runs:

• from the cable modem/wireless router into the wall across the ceiling to a dual wall plate
• from the dual wall plate an ethernet switch
• from the switch to the XYL's computer and another cable from the switch back into the wall plate
• from the wall plate across the ceiling to another wall plate under the desk
• from the wall plate to another switch that feeds each computer

Dual ethernet wall plate--cable comes from the cable modem/wireless router and into switch. One output from the switch goes to the XYL's desktop--the other goes back to the wall plate and on to the shack

I'm in heaven.  All credit goes to my brother-in law (the one with the skills). .This is a substantial piece of furniture. I can't get a clear shot to take a photo of the whole thing--it's too big. I still have a little work to do, but it's great!

12V DC Power Strip

Assembled and tested, ready for use

I have been busy with some projects lately, and have not been active on the blog. This effort is a small part of my desk project that will be on the blog soon (give or take...).  The desk will accommodate (among other things) my amateur radio equipment.  Amateur radio stuff generally runs off ~12V DC (actually closer to 13.8). There are DC power strips available commercially, but because they handle 30 Amps or more and are intended to be fed by a power supply designed for a radio, they are expensive. I just want to power a fan that cools the radio and a station "on air" sign, so I don't need that.

So, I got a Harbor Freight givaway 110VAC power strip, and took it apart.

I cut off the power cord (it will make an extension cord someday), removed the safety ground copper strip, and drilled out the slots for the prongs of AC plugs to accommodate DC binding posts.

Strip with holes drilled, and some posts installed. Note the mod to the red post on the right.

I cut off the threaded bottom parts to leave just the post (see photo).  Then I soldered the bare binding posts to the copper strips on the positive and negative rails, and screwed bottom back on.

Next I needed a 12V supply. I bought an old wall wart for US$2 at a "Hamfest" (that's basically a flea market for amateur radio people, although there can be some high priced stuff there). Since the jack on the wall wart was not standard, I cut it off and just soldered the wires to the wires to the power strip. It will handle 1250mA, which should be sufficient. As shown in the first photo, it worked. Next step: plug the 200mm computer case fan into the power strip.

Fan plugged into power strip

I'll add the On Air sign after Santa Claus brings it.

Preview of the desk. The blue light to the right of the monitor and behind the radio is the fan--it has 4 blues LEDs, powered by the wall wart through the power strip. My old desk is on the left. It will be removed soon.

I've been using the desk, although we have a couple of additions to make.  We'll add a slide-out drawer for the keyboard and mouse, and a pull-out work surface on the right, over the computers. We also have some trim to add. When I say "we" I mean my brother-in-law--the one with the skills--under my "supervision."