Recently Modified Shack Layout

I recently made some changes to my monitoring/amateur radio shack. I had several goals in mind: 1) reduce RFI and heat from the old CRT monitor, 2) facilitate dual monitoring/use of the 2 Meters and HF amateur bands, and 3) make use of the radio controls more convenient. All three of the goals were accomplished with minimal effort.


The photo above shows the full station layout. To the left is a new 15" Acer LCD monitor for the computer. The LCD takes up less space, generates far less heat, and is much lighter than the old CRT. It has taken stress off of the desk, reduced the temperature around the radios, and has allowed me to move the radios closer to my seating position. I've angled the radios toward me to allow for easier viewing. The first bank of scanners next to the LCD are (top to bottom) 2 Uniden BC780XLTs and a Uniden BC796D. The second bank of scanners are a Radio Shack Pro-2050, a Radio Shack Pro-2052, and a Radio Shack Pro-2005. On the far right end of the desk is a Yaesu FT-897D with an LDG AT-897 tuner and a Yaesu FT-2800 (the speaker goes to the 897, I'm using the internal speaker for the 2800).

The two BC780XLTs scan military aviation. One is programmed with unit frequencies, the other is programmed with operating area, range, and aerial refueling frequencies. The BC796D is programmed with the Chatham-Effingham TRS, the Fort Stewart-Hunter AAF TRS, and various conventional VHF/UHF frequencies. The Pro-2050 is more or less a reserve radio that gets pressed into occaisonal use for finding new analog TGs or scanning VHF/UHF public safety conventional frequencies. The Pro-2052 is used to scan military low band frequencies and some UHF military airband frequencies.


The Yaesu FT-897D is fed from a G5RV inverted vee for HF. It shares a Jetstream JTB4 triband vertical with the FT-2800 for the 6 Meter, 2 Meter, and 70cm bands. Under normal operating conditions, the triband vertical stays connected to the FT-2800. I use the FT-897D for both amateur radio operations and utility monitoring. The FT-2800 also has marine VHF frequencies programmed in for monitoring the Coast Guard. Despite being at the far end of the desk, my long arms are able to work all of the controls on both radios. Many of the FT-897s functions can also be controlled by the computer with Ham Radio Deluxe (HRD). I usually have HRD running, but I generally use it only for logging purposes; there is still something fun about touching the radio and spinning the dial.


Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net