With ham radio, portable operating can be a lot of fun, but trying to assemble the entire station on site can also be a big hassle. Having everything already set up and ready to go is a huge help. I had an old suitcase lying around that I was reluctant to get rid of. So here's how I got some more mileage out of it by converting it into a unique and convenient go-box.

Supplies

Suitcase

Plywood

Transceiver, battery, tuner, etc.

A variety of brackets and hardware

Step 1: Going Portable

The idea behind this Instructable is very simple. I just took an old Samsonite suitcase (circa late 50's) and converted it to a go-box for my ham station. In a way, it's in honor of my dad, to whom the suitcase originally belonged. I have fond memories of him coming through the front door with it in hand, after returning from another business trip. So, it does have sentimental value and I was glad to get a chance to repurpose it. In the last couple of years, my brother and I have discovered the joys of POTA (Parks on the Air) operations, and this setup should make that a little easier and more fun.

Step 2: The Suitcase

The suitcase was in pretty decent condition overall (especially considering that it's close to 65 years old). Underneath the fabric interior is just plain old plywood, as you'll see in the next step. What I found myself doing throughout the project was laying out the various components to make sure they would all fit. I've left out the dimensions because the arrangements of various rigs and accessories will be different, as will the sizes of repurposed suitcases.

The lineup in the pictures that follow includes an Icom IC-706MKIIG transceiver, an MFJ-901B antenna tuner, and a Bioenno LiFePO4 battery. I'm somewhat partial to using ladder line to feed a half-wave dipole for multiband operation, so that's the reason for the tuner.

Step 3: The Aluminum Shelf

This aluminum shelf had been sitting in a corner of my garage for years collecting dust. Funny how it turned out to be exactly the right size I needed. The plan was to make it removable with equipment attached because not all locations for portable radio ops (picnic tables, etc.) lend themselves to a bulky suitcase.

As with all the other steps in this project, there's lots of room for variations. Aluminum is obviously light and usually easy to work with, but wood or steel would work as well.

Step 4: The Plywood Base

First, I made sure the aluminum shelf was going to fit into the suitcase, and that there would be no problems in closing it up tight. Then I cut out the plywood so it would be a close fit to the shelf that would be attached on top. I used four 1/4" bolts in each corner to hold it secure. Wing nuts make it easier to remove the aluminum shelf.

Once I had dry fit everything, I cut out the fabric to make sure I had a clean solid surface to glue onto, and then I used heavy-duty construction adhesive to glue the plywood to the bottom of the suitcase.

Step 5: Making Room for the Radio

I positioned the transceiver front and center. It might have been easier to incorporate a mobile mount, but at around $30, it definitely would not have been cheaper than the corner brackets I decided to go with. Through trial and error, I discovered that the Icom takes metric hex cap screws in the mounting holes (M4-.70x12, to be exact). Once all three components were installed, I realized it was just a little tighter fit than I had expected, although it's still workable. In planning your own layout, don't overlook the room you'll need to reach in and install the fasteners, etc.

Step 6: Just Add Batteries

I'm still amazed at how small this thing is and how it still delivers the full 12 volts necessary to keep a 100W signal on the air. I used plumber's hanging tape to strap it down, as you can see. What you can't see is that I've also placed heavy duty Velcro (rated at 15 lbs.) underneath it as well. Obviously, it's extremely important to keep the copper tape well away from the battery terminals. The Velcro came in handy with the antenna tuner, too, because there wasn't much room left on the shelf to add brackets for it.

Step 7: Ready to Go

Here are two views of the finished go-box. I tried to leave enough room for comfortable operation of the knobs and switches. The Icom radio has an optional cable for the removable faceplate, and I could have designed the box to use that, and it might have given more flexibility that way. As it is, there is enough room to stash the cables and other necessary parts and tools. The antenna and feedline will go in a separate bag.

It's been a fun and easy project. I've laid out the steps here in hopes of inspiring similar setups for portable operations.

73!

John, N7AGN