This page has been put up at the request of some of the attendees at the 2014 National RAYNET AGM who wished to have access to the slide pack, photos and videos from my presentation on 'Grab Bags & Go Boxes' from the 2014 National RAYNET AGM. The slide pack has been uploaded in .pdf format as this should be compatible with all platforms.
Presentation Slide Pack
To open the file: 'Grab_Kits_&_Go_Boxes_Finish_Copy_pdf.pdf ' you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader or another .PDF reader installed on your computer. See: http://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/
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Example Grab Bag Contents list
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Laminated reminder cards:
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Vehicle FLOWER Checks
Fuel,
Lights, Oil, Water, Electrics and Rubber (5x Tyres). |
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Brightline Bags | Flex System
May I take this opportunity to say I have no connection to Brightline or Transair other than being a very happy customer.
These are the two videos in full from the presentation:
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USA Manufacturer: http://www.brightlinebags.com
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UK Supplier: http://www.transair.co.uk
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Examples of Go Boxes & Go Bags
Standardisation of connections
There are good reasons to standardise power and coaxial connections. Standardising within a group, area or nationally will help improve compatibility and reduce the need for interchanging system patch cables between users. Standardising also helps to reduce over all costs for everyone as there is less need to stock multiple connectors from different systems and less need for users to have interchanging system patch cables.
Anderson Powerpole® (APP) verses the 'RAYNET' / Icom / Kenwood connector, while the RAYNET connector comes as standard on most VHF Icom and Kenwood radios these days it is more difficult to pull apart, has male and female variations, and does not handle as much current as the Anderson Power Pole. The RAYNET connector is generally limited to 15 Amps while the Anderson Powerpole® (APP) most commonly in use by RAYNET and ARES groups is rated at 30 Amps. Anderson Powerpole® (APP) connectors are physically and electrically hermaphroditic, thus avoiding the need to worry about which end is the plug and which the socket, or which end has the correct polarity. For more info see Wikipedia.
Anderson Powerpole® (APP) verses the 'RAYNET' / Icom / Kenwood connector, while the RAYNET connector comes as standard on most VHF Icom and Kenwood radios these days it is more difficult to pull apart, has male and female variations, and does not handle as much current as the Anderson Power Pole. The RAYNET connector is generally limited to 15 Amps while the Anderson Powerpole® (APP) most commonly in use by RAYNET and ARES groups is rated at 30 Amps. Anderson Powerpole® (APP) connectors are physically and electrically hermaphroditic, thus avoiding the need to worry about which end is the plug and which the socket, or which end has the correct polarity. For more info see Wikipedia.
RIG Runners, Anderson Powerpole® & West Mountain Radio
The RIGrunner product line offers the most convenient and safest way to connect all your 12 VDC equipment to a power source. RIGrunner utilizes a 13.8 VDC power panel with simple-to-use Anderson Powerpole ® connectors. Standardize all of your 12 VDC connections using the amateur radio RAYNET, ARES & RACES, RSGB, ARRL Powerpole® system.
West Mountain Radio also offers network DC power controllers in the 4005i product line. West Mountain Radio offers RIGrunners for every station and every budget. The table below can assist you while determining which RIGrunner suits your needs. To learn more about specific models, click on the model name within the table. [LINK: West Mountain Radio] Three example products are shown below and there are many others available including remote controllable ones over TCP/IP.
UK Distributors
Radioworld Ltd
34, 38, 42, Brook Lane, Great Wyrley, Walsall, West Midlands WS6 6BQ
Phone: +44 (0)1922 414796
Email: sales@radioworld.co.uk
Web: http://www.radioworld.co.uk/
Waters & Stanton PLC
22 Main Road, Hockley SS5 4QS
Phone: +44 (0)8000 763 73 88
Email:sales@wsplc.com
Web: http://wsplc.com/
Aurorra Ltd
108 Wheel Lane, Grenoside, Sheffield S35 8RY
Phone: +44 (0)114 2570401
Email: info@aurorra.co.uk
Trade Web: http://www.aurorra.co.uk/
Retail Web: http://www.revolectrix.co.uk/
West Mountain Radio also offers network DC power controllers in the 4005i product line. West Mountain Radio offers RIGrunners for every station and every budget. The table below can assist you while determining which RIGrunner suits your needs. To learn more about specific models, click on the model name within the table. [LINK: West Mountain Radio] Three example products are shown below and there are many others available including remote controllable ones over TCP/IP.
UK Distributors
Radioworld Ltd
34, 38, 42, Brook Lane, Great Wyrley, Walsall, West Midlands WS6 6BQ
Phone: +44 (0)1922 414796
Email: sales@radioworld.co.uk
Web: http://www.radioworld.co.uk/
Waters & Stanton PLC
22 Main Road, Hockley SS5 4QS
Phone: +44 (0)8000 763 73 88
Email:sales@wsplc.com
Web: http://wsplc.com/
Aurorra Ltd
108 Wheel Lane, Grenoside, Sheffield S35 8RY
Phone: +44 (0)114 2570401
Email: info@aurorra.co.uk
Trade Web: http://www.aurorra.co.uk/
Retail Web: http://www.revolectrix.co.uk/
RIGrunner 4004 USB
Capabilities
Construction
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RIGrunner 4008
Capabilities
Construction
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RIGrunner 4005 Horizontal
Capabilities
Construction
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Super PWRgate PG40s
Super PWRgate PG40S
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Low Loss PWRgate by KI0BK
Here is a link to the manual, it needs some graphics added but the rest should be complete for now. Click here to download:
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Does the same job as the West Mountain Radio Super PWRgate PG40s but much cheaper and without the voltage drop.
The Low Loss PWRgate uses MOSFET power transistors to switch the load between the power sources with less than a 20 miliVolt drop, much smaller then similar systems that use Schottky diodes. This keeps the power losses to a minimum and delivers full battery power to the load. The Low Loss PWRgate transfers up to 25 amperes at up to 16 volts dc continuously. It is a safe way to connect both a 12 volt battery and a 13.8 volt power supply to a load, while electrically isolating both from each other. Whenever your power supply is on, the supply feeds the load while also charging the battery, keeping the battery healthy and ready for use when the power supply is off or loses AC power. Switching is instantaneous. Need more current capability? Maybe not, can you divide your load into two and use more then one LLPG? See our blog page for more ways to use the LLPG. What type of battery should I use? The Low Loss PWRgate has been designed to use Sealed Lead Acid batteries such as AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) or GelCell batteries from 7 Amp Hour to 70 Amp Hour capacity. Yes, there is a built in Float Charger that will keep your battery fully charged and ready. News Flash: The LLPG now has 3 output connectors! By using the latest low loss MOSFETs (< 0.002 ohms R(on)) available, we reduced the parts count and made room for the third output connector, now you get backup switching and power distribution in one! March 23rd, 2014 LLPG Specifications:
LINK: http://ki0bk.no-ip.com/~pwrgate/LLPG/Site/Welcome.html |
Keeping things safe for you and other users
Make sure you patch all the sockets in common use out to the rear of your go box. By doing this use negate the need for anyone to put their hands and arms inside the box thus reducing the chance of injury from any sharp edges or the risk of electrical shock.
Using a sacrificial patch cable will also reduce the risk of anyone damaging the connection ports on the radios, all risk is transferred to the inexpensive patch panel sockets which can be replaced quickly and cheaply without the need to visit a ham dealer.
Do not cut corners with electrical safety and earth bond where needed.
Using a sacrificial patch cable will also reduce the risk of anyone damaging the connection ports on the radios, all risk is transferred to the inexpensive patch panel sockets which can be replaced quickly and cheaply without the need to visit a ham dealer.
Do not cut corners with electrical safety and earth bond where needed.
More photos from inside the boxes during construction
Construction of a control vehicle suitable for RAYNET use
Please understand why I would wish to limit pictures of the inside of MAX and have therefore purposely NOT uploaded these to this public page. However I have put together a .PDF guide book for any group or anyone wishing to follow in my footsteps.
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