[TowerTalk] Shielded shack

[Avery Davis]

Spencer,
Funny you should mention using a shipping container, the new club
station of the Catalina Radio Club is built out of a standard size steel
shipping container.  It is well grounded, and all antenna-related
cabling comes through a utility box on the outside via protection
devices bolted to a ground bus.  All feedlines have shields bonded to a
ground bus at the base of the tower.  All wiring and cabling to the
station is underground, and the electrical panel has a "whole house"
surge protector, plus the interior wiring is all in metal conduit.  This
station also houses the club repeaters, and it has been hit by lightning
recently: the repeaters stayed up, but the baluns on both HF beams were
fried.  After replacing the baluns, the beams work fine.  I think this
station would be a good shelter during an electrical storm, and here in
Tucson, Arizona,, we have some very impressive electrical storms!

73,
Avery, WB4RTP

On 9/30/2013 6:55 PM, towertalk-request at contesting.com wrote:
> Subject:
> [TowerTalk] Shielded shack
> From:
> Spencer <k5gak at powerc.net>
> Date:
> 9/30/2013 10:55 AM
>
> To:
> towertalk at contesting.com
>
>
> Get a used shipping container sized to suit your requirements or a box
> from a delivery van.
> I have seen a few R/V conversions, very nice. Probably survive a HEMP.