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Chapter 19
Station Layout and
Accessories
Although many hams never try to build a
major project, such as a transmitter, receiver
or amplifier, they do have to assemble the
various components into a working station.
There are many benefits to be derived from
assembling a safe, comfortable, easy-to­
operate collection of radio gear, whether the
shack is at home, in the car or in a field. This
chapter, written by Wally Blackburn,
AA8DX, covers the many aspects of setting
up an efficient station.
This chapter will detail some of the
“how tos” of setting up a station for fixed,
mobile and portable operation. Such top­
ics as station location, finding adequate
power sources, station layout and cable
routing are covered, along with some of
the practical aspects of antenna erection
and maintenance.
Regardless of the type of installation you
are attempting, good planning greatly in­
creases your chances of success. Take the
time to think the project all the way through,
consider alternatives, and make rough mea­
surements and sketches during your plan­
ning and along the way. You will save
headaches and time by avoiding “shortcuts.”
What might seem to save time now may
come back to haunt you with extra work
when you could be enjoying your shack.
One of the first considerations should
be to determine what type of operating you
intend to do. While you do not want to
strictly limit your options later, you need
to consider what you want to do, how much
you have to spend and what room you have
to work with. There is a big difference
between a casual operating position and a
“big gun” contest station, for example.
Fixed Stations
SELECTING A LOCATION
Selecting the right location for your sta­
tion is the first and perhaps the most impor­
tant step in assembling a safe, comfortable,
convenient station. The exact location will
depend on the type of home you have and
how much space can be devoted to your sta­
tion. Fortunate amateurs will have a spare
room to devote to housing the station; some
may even have a separate building for their
exclusive use. Most must make do with a
spot in the cellar or attic, or a corner of the
living room is pressed into service.
Examine the possibilities from several
angles. A station should be comfortable;
odds are good that you’ll be spending a lot
of time there over the years. Some unfin­
ished basements are damp and drafty—not
an ideal environment for several hours of
leisurely hamming. Attics have their draw­
backs, too; they can be stifling during
warmer months. If possible, locate your
station away from the heavy traffic areas of
your home. Operation of your station
should not interfere with family life. A
night of chasing DX on 80 m may be excit­
ing to you, but the other members of your
household may not share your enthusiasm.
Keep in mind that you must connect your
station to the outside world. The location
Fig 19.1—Danny, KD4HQV, appreciates
the simplicity that his operating
position affords. (Photo
courtesy
Conard Murray, WS4S)
Station Layout and Accessories
19.1
Fig 19.2—VE6AFO’s QSL card reveals an impressive array
of gear. Although many hams would appreciate having this
much space to devote to a station, most of us must make
do with less.
Fig 19.3—Scott, KA9FOX, operated this well laid out station,
W9UP, during a recent contest. (Photo
courtesy NØBSH)
you choose should be convenient to a good
power source and an adequate ground. If
you use a computer and modem, you may
need access to a telephone jack. There
should be a fairly direct route to the outside
for running antenna feed lines, rotator con­
trol cables and the like.
Although most homes will not have an
“ideal” space meeting all requirements,
the right location for you will be obvious
after you scout around. The amateurs
whose stations are depicted in
Figs 19.1
through
19.3
all found the right spot for
them. Weigh the trade-offs and decide
which features you can do without and
which are necessary for your style of op­
eration. If possible pick an area large
enough for future expansion.
THE STATION GROUND
Grounding is an important factor in
overall station safety, as detailed in the
Safety
chapter. An effective ground sys­
tem is necessary for every amateur station.
The mission of the ground system is two­
fold. First, it reduces the possibility of
electrical shock if something in a piece of
equipment should fail and the chassis or
cabinet becomes “hot.” If connected to a
properly grounded outlet, a three-wire
electrical system grounds the chassis.
Much amateur equipment still uses the
ungrounded two-wire system, however. A
ground system to prevent shock hazards is
generally referred to as
dc ground.
The second job the ground system must
perform is to provide a low-impedance
path to ground for any stray RF current
inside the station. Stray RF can cause
equipment to malfunction and contributes
to RFI problems. This low-impedance
path is usually called
RF ground.
In most
19.2
Chapter 19
stations, dc ground and RF ground are
provided by the same system.
Ground Noise
Noise in ground systems can affect our
sensitive radio equipment. It is usually
related to one of three problems:
1) Insufficient ground conductor size
2) Loose ground connections
3) Ground loops
These matters are treated in precise sci­
entific research equipment and certain
industrial instruments by attention to cer­
tain rules. The ground conductor should
be at least as large as the largest conductor
in the primary power circuit. Ground con­
ductors should provide a solid connection
to both ground and to the equipment being
grounded. Liberal use of lock washers and
star washers is highly recommended. A
loose ground connection is a tremendous
source of noise, particularly in a sensitive
receiving system.
Ground loops should be avoided at all
costs. A short discussion of what a ground
loop is and how to avoid them may lead you
down the proper path. A ground loop is
formed when more than one ground current
is flowing in a single conductor. This com­
monly occurs when grounds are “daisy­
chained” (series linked). The correct way
to ground equipment is to bring all ground
conductors out radially from a common
point to either a good driven earth ground
or a cold-water system. If one or more earth
grounds are used, they should be bonded
back to the service entrance panel. Details
appear in the
Safety
chapter.
Ground noise can affect transmitted and
received signals. With the low audio lev­
els required to drive amateur transmitters,
and the ever-increasing sensitivity of our
receivers, correct grounding is critical.
STATION POWER
Amateur Radio stations generally
require a 120-V ac power source. The
120-V ac is then converted to the proper
ac or dc levels required for the station
equipment. Power supply theory is cov­
ered in the
Power Supplies
chapter, and
safety issues are covered in the
Safety
chapter. If your station is located in a
room with electrical outlets, you’re in
luck. If your station is located in the base­
ment, an attic or another area without a
convenient 120-V source, you will have
to run a line to your operating position.
Surge Protection
Typically, the ac power lines provide an
adequate, well-regulated source of elec­
trical power for most uses. At the same
time, these lines are fraught with frequent
power surges that, while harmless to most
household equipment, may cause damage
to more sensitive devices such as comput­
ers or test equipment. A common method
of protecting these devices is through the
use of surge protectors. More information
on these and lightning protection is in the
Safety
chapter.
STATION LAYOUT
Station layout is largely a matter of per­
sonal taste and needs. It will depend
mostly on the amount of space available,
the equipment involved and the types of
operating to be done. With these factors in
mind, some basic design considerations
apply to all stations.
The Operating Table
The operating table may be an office or
computer desk, a kitchen table or a custom­
Fig 19.4—The basement makes a good
location if it is dry. A ready-to­
assemble computer desk makes an
ideal operating table at a reasonable
price. This setup belongs to WK8H.
(Photo
courtesy AA8DX)
Fig 19.5—A simple but strong equipment shelf can be built from readily available
materials. Use
3
/
4
-inch plywood along with glue and screws for the joints for
adequate strength.
made bench. What you use will depend on
space, materials at hand and cost. The two
most important considerations are height
and size of the top. Most commercial desks
are about 29 inches above the floor. This is
a comfortable height for most adults.
Heights much lower or higher than this may
cause an awkward operating position.
The dimensions of the top are an impor­
tant consideration. A deep (36 inches or
more) top will allow plenty of room for
equipment interconnections along the
back, equipment about midway and room
for writing toward the front. The length
of the top will depend on the amount of
equipment being used. An office or com­
puter desk makes a good operating table.
These are often about 36 inches deep and
60 inches wide. Drawers can be used for
storage of logbooks, headphones, writing
materials, and so on. Desks specifically de­
signed for computer use often have built-in
shelves that can be used for equipment
stacking. Desks of this type are available
ready-to-assemble at most discount and
home improvement stores. The low price
and adaptable design of these desks make
them an attractive option for an operating
position. An example is shown in
Fig 19.4.
Stacking Equipment
No matter how large your operating
table, some vertical stacking of equipment
may be necessary to allow you to reach
everything from your chair. Stacking
pieces of equipment directly on top of one
another is not a good idea because most
amateur equipment needs airflow around
it for cooling. A shelf like that shown in
Fig 19.5
can improve equipment layout in
many situations. Dimensions of the shelf
can be adjusted to fit the size of your op­
erating table.
Arranging the Equipment
When you have acquired the operating
table and shelving for your station, the next
task is arranging the equipment in a conve­
nient, orderly manner. The first step is to
provide power outlets and a good ground as
described in a previous section. Be conser­
vative in estimating the number of power
outlets for your installation; radio equip­
ment has a habit of multiplying with time,
so plan for the future at the outset.
Fig 19.6
illustrates a sample station lay­
out. The rear of the operating table is
spaced about 1
1
/
2
ft from the wall to allow
easy access to the rear of the equipment.
This installation incorporates two separate
operating positions, one for HF and one
for VHF. When the operator is seated at
the HF operating position, the keyer and
transceiver controls are within easy reach.
The keyer, keyer paddle and transceiver
are the most-often adjusted pieces of
equipment in the station. The speaker is
positioned right in front of the operator for
the best possible reception. Accessory
equipment not often adjusted, including
the amplifier, antenna switch and rotator
control box, is located on the shelf above
the transceiver. The SWR/power meter
and clock, often consulted but rarely
touched, are located where the operator
can view them without head movement.
All HF-related equipment can be reached
without moving the chair.
This layout assumes that the operator is
right-handed. The keyer paddle is oper­
ated with the right hand, and the keyer
speed and transceiver controls are oper­
ated with the left hand. This setup allows
the operator to write or send with the right
hand without having to cross hands to
adjust the controls. If the operator is left­
handed, some repositioning of equipment
is necessary, but the idea is the same. For
best results during CW operation, the
paddle should be weighted to keep it from
“walking” across the table. It should be
oriented such that the operator’s entire
arm from wrist to elbow rests on the table­
top to prevent fatigue.
Some operators prefer to place the sta­
tion transceiver on the shelf to leave the
table top clear for writing. This arrange­
ment leads to fatigue from having an un­
supported arm in the air most of the time. If
you rest your elbows on the tabletop, they
will quickly become sore. If you rarely
operate for prolonged periods, however,
you may not be inconvenienced by having
the transceiver on the shelf. The real secret
to having a clear table top for logging, and
so on, is to make the operating table deep
enough that your entire arm from elbow to
wrist rests on the table with the front panels
of the equipment at your fingertips. This
leaves plenty of room for paperwork, even
with a microphone and keyer paddle on the
table.
The VHF operating position in this sta-
19.3
Station Layout and Accessories
Fig 19.6—Example station layout as seen from the front (A) and the top (B). The equipment is spaced far enough apart that air
circulates on all sides of each cabinet.
tion is similar to the HF position. The
amplifier and power supply are located on
the shelf. The station triband beam and
VHF beam are on the same tower, so the
rotator control box is located where it can
be seen and reached from both operating
positions. This operator is active on packet
radio on a local VHF repeater, so the com­
puter, printer, terminal node controller and
modem are all clustered within easy reach
of the VHF transceiver.
This sample layout is intended to give
you ideas for designing your own station.
Study the photos of station layouts pre­
sented here, in other chapters of this
Hand­
book
and in
QST.
Visit the shacks of
amateur friends to view their ideas. Station
layout is always changing as you acquire
new gear, dispose of old gear, change oper­
ating habits and interests or become active
on different bands. Configure the station to
suit your interests, and keep thinking of
ways to refine the layout.
Figs 19.7
and
19.8
show station arrangements tailored for spe­
cific purposes.
Equipment that is adjusted frequently
sits on the tabletop, while equipment re­
quiring infrequent adjustment is perched
19.4
Chapter 19
on a shelf. All equipment is positioned so
the operator does not have to move the
chair to reach anything at the operating
position.
Aids for Hams with Disabilities
A station used by an amateur with physi­
cal disabilities or sensory impairments may
require adapted equipment or particular
layout considerations. The station may be
highly customized to meet the operator’s
needs or just require a bit of “tweaking.”
Fig 19.7—It was back to basics for
The myriad of individual needs makes
Elias, K4IX, during a recent Field Day.
describing all of the possible adaptive
methods impractical. Each situation must
be approached individually, with consid­
eration to the operator’s particular needs.
However, many types of situations have
already been encountered and worked
through by others, eliminating the need to
start from scratch in every case.
An excellent resource is the Courage
Handi-Ham System. The Courage Handi-
Ham System, a part of the Courage Center,
provides a number of services to hams (and
aspiring hams) with disabilities. These in­
Fig 19.8—Richard, WB5DGR, uses a
clude study materials, equipment loans,
homebrew 1.5-kW amplifier to seek EME
contacts from this nicely laid out station.
adapted equipment, a newsletter and much
more. Information needed to reach the
Courage Handi-Hams is in the
Component
Data and References
chapter.
INTERCONNECTING YOUR
EQUIPMENT
Once you have your equipment and get
it arranged, you will have to interconnect
it all. No matter how simple the station,
you will at least have antenna, power and
microphone or key connections. Equip­
ment such as amplifiers, computers, TNCs
and so on add complexity. By keeping
your equipment interconnections well
organized and of high quality, you will
avoid problems later on.
Often, ready-made cables will be avail­
able. But in many cases you will have to
make your own cables. A big advantage of
making your own cables is that you can
customize the length. This allows more
flexibility in arranging your equipment
and avoids unsightly extra cable all over
the place. Many manufacturers supply
connectors with their equipment along
with pinout information in the manual.
This allows you to make the necessary
cables in the lengths you need for your
particular installation.
Always use high quality wire, cables and
connectors in your shack. Take your time
and make good mechanical and electrical
connections on your cable ends. Sloppy
cables are often a source of trouble. Often
the problems they cause are intermittent
and difficult to track down. You can bet
that they will crop up right in the middle of
a contest or during a rare DX QSO! Even
worse, a poor quality connection could
cause RFI or even create a fire hazard. A
cable with a poor mechanical connection
could come loose and short a power supply
to ground or apply a voltage where it should
not be. Wire and cables should have good
quality insulation that is rated high enough
to prevent shock hazards.
Interconnections should be neatly
Fig 19.10—The back of this Ten-Tec Omni VI HF transceiver shows some of the
many types of connectors encountered in the amateur station. Note that this
variety is found on a single piece of equipment. (Photo
courtesy AA8DX)
bundled and labeled. Wire ties, masking
tape or paper labels with string work well.
See
Fig 19.9.
Whatever method you use,
proper labeling makes disconnecting and
reconnecting equipment much easier.
Fig 19.10
illustrates the number of poten­
tial interconnections in a modern, full-fea­
tured transceiver.
Wire and Cable
The type of wire or cable to use depends
on the job at hand. The wire must be of
sufficient size to carry the necessary cur­
rent. Use the tables in the
Component
Data and References
chapter to find this
information. Never use underrated wire; it
will be a fire hazard. Be sure to check the
insulation too. For high-voltage applica­
tions, the insulation must be rated at least
a bit higher than the intended voltage. A
good rule of thumb is to use a rating at
least twice what is needed.
Use good quality coaxial cable of suffi­
cient size for connecting transmitters,
transceivers, antenna switches, antenna
tuners and so on. RG-58 might be fine for
a short patch between your transceiver and
SWR bridge, but is too small to use between
your legal-limit amplifier and Transmatch.
Hookup wire may be stranded or
solid. Generally, stranded is a better
choice since it is less prone to break under
repeated flexing. Many applications re­
quire shielded wire to reduce the chances
of RF getting into the equipment. RG-174
is a good choice for control, audio and
some low-power applications. Shielded
microphone or computer cable can be used
where more conductors are necessary. For
more information, see the
Transmission
Lines
chapter.
Connectors
While the number of different types of
connectors is mind-boggling, many manu­
facturers of amateur equipment use a few
standard types. If you are involved in any
group activities such as public service or
emergency-preparedness work, check to
see what kinds of connectors others in the
group use and standardize connectors
wherever possible. Assume connectors are
not waterproof, unless you specifically
buy one clearly marked for outdoor use
(and assemble it correctly).
Audio, Power and Control Connectors
The simplest form of connector is found
on terminal blocks. Although it is possible
to strip the insulation from wire and wrap
it around the screw, this method is not
ideal. The wire tends to “squirm” out from
under the screw when tightening, allow­
ing strands to hang free, possibly shorting
to other screws.
Terminal lugs, such as those in
Fig 19.11,
solve the problem. These lugs
may be crimped (with the proper tool), sol­
dered or both. Terminal lugs are available
in different sizes. Use the appropriate size
for your wire to get the best results.
Some common multipin connectors are
Fig 19.9—Labels on the cables make it
much easier to rearrange things in the sta­
tion. Labeling ideas include masking tape,
card board labels attached with string and
labels attached to fasteners found on plas­
tic bags (such as bread bags).
Fig 19.11—The wires on one side of this
terminal block have connectors; the
others do not. The connectors make it
possible to secure different wire sizes
to the strip and also make it much
easier to change things around.
Station Layout and Accessories
19.5

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