[CQ-Contest] Contesting from the basement
Walt K
k2wk at patmedia.net
Thu Jul 24 17:24:12 EDT 2003
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. If anyone decides to do this, I'd
reccomend using underlayment as the subfloor material. It usually is 5/8"
to
3/4" thick. The 1/2" ply just doesn't hold up well on chairs with casters.
All in all, the floor worked out real nice - feet were always warm. As for
mass to hold heat, I had 2.5 tons of GA/TN marble surrounding the wood
stove. It acted like a big heat capacitor. When the fire went out at 2AM
the massive stone walls reradiated the heat the remainder of the night.
Due to unforseen circumstances my X lives there now :) and I live in
suburbia.
73 de Walt - K2WK
----- Original Message -----
From: "Glenn O'Donnell, K3PP" <k3pp at ptd.net>
To: "CQ-Contest Post" <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2003 10:56 AM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Contesting from the basement
> 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 overcome all of the insulation you can
put
> on your feet. I have raw concrete underfoot. Of course, in the summer, it
> works out pretty well (my dog and I LOVE the basement in the summer!). I
> like the raised floor idea and will likely try that in my next QTH that we
> are currently trying to get built. I have a relatively small operating
room.
> It gets quite warm from all the hot air (both from the amp and the op!),
but
> my feet still get cold. Despite the cool floor, A/C is still needed in the
> summer for the same hot-air reason. Carpet is warm and attractive, but
awful
> when you drop small parts (as has been noted).
>
> This "aesthetic vs functional" issue applies to several aspects of this
> topic. My operating desk is homebrew and big (3' x 8') and my best
decision
> was to position it about 3 ft from the wall. It doesn't look good (the
XYL
> hates it), but it has saved me SO much time when I change things around. I
> grew frustrated with the desk up against the wall. I highly recommend the
> "ugly but functional" approach if you can clear it with the "family zoning
> officer". I'm lucky enough to have one that could care less what I do
with
> my basement retreat, as long as I don't burn the house down (like I almost
> did during the 2001 PA QSO Party! - see
> http://www.qsl.net/w3ha/illuminator/archive/2001-11/, also in the Sep/Oct
> 2001 NCJ).
>
> Wiring also works more flexibly when you don't try to tidy it up too much.
> I've managed to keep the wiring (both electrical and coax/rotor/switching)
> neat enough without embedding it into the walls. Power via external
conduit
> is both easy and safe. For other cabling, find some D-rings or cable tray
> (if you're lucky enough to find some) that is commonly used in computer
data
> centers or communications rooms. It makes cabling neat, yet flexible, but
> it's generally not going to meet commonly accepted aesthetic standards.
> Cabling run overhead or along the wall (outside, not inside) is my
personal
> preference. Anything under a raised floor is more trouble. I learned this
> when I ran some data centers. Under the floor looks better, but it's a
pain
> in the butt. A funny anecdote about wiring: My hero K3II blurted when we
> were once rearranging his M/M station, "Wireless, my ass!" How true!
>
> I run my cables into the house through a 4" PVC pipe with a 45 degree
elbow
> outside and drip loops to keep the rain outside. Inside, I have the SPG
> panel with all cables running through PolyPhaser arrestors. I REALLY like
> the idea raised in this thread about the ground rods through the floor.
The
> next QTH will have these installed BEFORE the floor is poured. Great
> concept, guys!
>
> On the topic of looking outside, I agree that it's good to have a view,
but
> I also want to minimize the distraction sometimes. K3II has a big picture
> window right next to his main operating position (obviously a walk-out
> basement). It is gorgeous to operate there. I must admit, though, that
I've
> been distracted by the weather (both good and bad) and wildlife frolocking
> outside his place. VE4XT already noted the double-edged sword of the
outside
> view (or lack thereof). One truly positive aspect of a view is actually
> seeing the weather conditions. My basement has a limited view outside and
it
> helps to drive the decision to shut down if a storm gets too bad. The
> static crashes tell you it's out there, but the eyes tell you it's too
darn
> close. One good thing about no view out is that there is no view in. When
> unwelcome people drop by to visit (i.e., to interrupt the rate), they
can't
> see you. You just keep running, oblivious to their presence (and better
> yet, them to yours). :-)
>
> I agree with the consensus on lighting. Indirect, soft, incandescent
> lighting is best for long operating.
>
> VY 73 de Glenn K3PP
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Hal Offutt" <Hal at japancorporateresearch.com>
> To: "Jim Idelson" <k1ir at designet.com>; "CQ-Contest Post"
> <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2003 6:06 AM
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Contesting from the basement
>
>
> > 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 again if I can help it. There
> were
> > two things that I really disliked: cold feet and no view of the
outside.
> I
> > don't know if my place was unique, but after a few hours my feet would
> > really get cold, and this is not a nice thing to have during a 48-hour
> > contest. I tried all sorts of things - special slippers, boots, thick
> sox,
> > heaters, raised platform, etc. but nothing completely solved the
problem.
> > N2MG's idea of putting in a raised floor sounds like it would be worth
the
> > trouble if you have enough overhead.
> >
> > With respect to the view, you just don't realize how nice it is to be
able
> > to look outside and see trees, grass, rain, sky, snow, autumn leaves,
etc.
> > until you can't do it any longer.
> >
> > Just a couple of things to think about. Good luck with your project.
> >
> > 73,
> >
> > Hal W1NN
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Jim Idelson" <k1ir at designet.com>
> > To: "CQ-Contest Post" <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> > Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2003 8:35 AM
> > Subject: [CQ-Contest] Contesting from the basement
> >
> >
> > > 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 don't you like?
> > >
> > > Here are a few questions I'm considering:
> > > - Are your walls sheetrock or just framed or even less?
> > > - How do you get your cables in from the outside - and how do you
> keep
> > them
> > > neat?
> > > - What do you use for operating position furniture?
> > > - What kind of floor covering should we install?
> > > - What kind of lighting should we use?
> > > - How many outlets do we really need [110 and 240]?
> > > - What about heat/AC?
> > >
> > > If this is interesting to you, and you'd like to look at the
specifics,
> > please
> > > ask me for the floor plan and a shot of how the cables are coming in
> now.
> > >
> > > Please copy me and the reflector with your suggestions - I suspect
there
> > is
> > > probably sufficient interest for people to want to read your replies!
> > >
> > > 73,
> > >
> > > Jim Idelson K1IR
> > > email k1ir at designet.com
> > > web http://www.designet.com/k1ir
> > > ---------------------------------------------------------------
> > > The world's top contesters battle it out in Finland!
> > > THE OFFICIAL FILM of WRTC 2002 now on professional DVD and VHS!
> > > http://home1.pacific.net.sg/~jamesb/
> > > ---------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > CQ-Contest mailing list
> > > CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> > > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
> > >
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------
> > The world's top contesters battle it out in Finland!
> > THE OFFICIAL FILM of WRTC 2002 now on professional DVD and VHS!
> > http://home1.pacific.net.sg/~jamesb/
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > CQ-Contest mailing list
> > CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
> >
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> The world's top contesters battle it out in Finland!
> THE OFFICIAL FILM of WRTC 2002 now on professional DVD and VHS!
> http://home1.pacific.net.sg/~jamesb/
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
More information about the CQ-Contest
mailing list