We are about to have the basement remodeled. The contest shack will be moved from the first floor to the basement. I am interested in how your basement contest shack is setup. What do you like? What
Sheetrock walls and dropped ceiling. 4 inch PVC pipe from underground enters the house just above the concrete of the basement wall. As they enter, all cables (rotor too) go thru ICE or Polyphaser li
Hi Jim, The things I like about the shack being below grade is a lack of exterior noise and a lack of exterior light. The things I don't like about the basement is a lack of exterior noise and a lack
Hello All Some really good thoughts out there already. I have done it three time and each one is a little better. Walls: Sheet Rock and Drop ceiling tiles, I also insulate wall and ceiling for sound
I am in the throes of building a basement shack and auxiliary playroom (studs are up, rough wiring run). Some observations... I put in a raised floor consisting of a plastic vapor barrier against the
Just a few comments on Kelly's message. 10/3 is really too large for the 240 line, unless you have a California QRP rig somewhere. This is good idea, but I would not recommend a duct. It's more time,
That's funny when I told a friend that I was thinking of running 8/3 or 6/3 to my shack, he scoffed and asked why I was bothering with such small wire. He recommened that I go with at least #1AWG co
With a raised floor you can run the cables under the floor, leaving strategic floor panels removable for maintenance, adding cables, etc. This is how many commercial installations are set up and it i
I've done that at K8CC. The shack is approximately 12'x18' with four main operating tables. At each corner of the room, I drilled completely through the concrete floor and installed an 8' guy rod. Ea
Hi, As many have pointed out, there are some advantages to having your shack in the basement. But I used a basement shack for many years and I'm very happy to have finally escaped. I won't do it agai
Hello All Hal brought up a really good point. My last two basements, I intentionally scooped out so I have exposed windows and now even walk out. I also treated the room as a normal room with heat an
_________________________________________________________ Another consideration for any shack, not just a contest shack, is making it convenient. I've found that if I have to go into a separate place
This is the most interesting thread to appear on this reflector in a LONG time (thanks Jim!). Hal's issue with cold feet is well noted. A concrete floor is a massive thermal mass that will eventually
Hi Folks: I may have missed this suggestion in one of the postings, but NEVER (let me repeat, "NEVER")... EVER... locate your shack beneath the master bedroom!!! My ears still ring from hearing my XY
My station is in one of the carpeted bedrooms of my one-story house. Even so, I still get cold feet during contests (maybe I should stand a bit more often). My solution is wear socks and throw a bat
One more note about ground rods. I had the foresight to have the builder install two ground rods just where I wanted them, before the concrete was poured for the basement. I had the shack all figured
I have a small building beside my home build for Multi-op radio which is really nice during a contest but really inconvenient for casual Dxing. Just getting it up to temp in the winter requires plann
Glenn, et al: At my last QTH I had an elevated floor. I used rough cut 2"x4" 's over tar paper followed by std wood flooring (shack had 1/2" plywood followed by carpet) on the concrete basement floor
My titan PS on the floor is wonderful on the toes on our chilly 50 degree FL winter nights. Don't wiggle the toes under the red wire though. Blake N4GI