The Elements of Station Design Geoff Haines N

The Elements of Station Design Geoff Haines, N 1 GY ASM, WCF Section, ARRL TC, WCF Section, ARRL

Introduction u All amateur radio operators want to have an effective station, no matter how much or how little equipment they own. The effectiveness of the station is impacted by the layout and overall design of the station just as much as the output power at the antenna.

Areas to Consider Safety u. Operating Position u. Ergonomics u. The Room u

Safety Electrical o o o AC & DC Power RF Currents RF Radiation Mechanical o Physical Dangers o Security

AC and DC Power u Most modern equipment is well housed today. Make certain all plugs are fully inserted. Make sure there are no frayed wires. Make sure that the house wiring is properly grounded and that it meets applicable building codes. have a MASTER switch that can shut off ALL power to the station if needed.

RF Currents u The RF currents that are present within the equipment when transmitting can cause serious burns if not isolated from the operator and others. Keep equipment covers on when using and make certain that all RF within the room is safely shunted to ground.

RF Radiation u FCC requires an RF assessment of your station if certain power limits are exceeded. Make sure that your station is safe as it relates to the RF exposure of yourself and others. This is not difficult and for most stations will pose no change in operations at all. If you use linear amplifiers or indoor antennas, this may change.

Mechanical Safety u Physical Dangers • • • Tripping hazards Fire hazards Puncture hazards from tools, materials • Other miscellaneous hazards u Security • • Unauthorized Use Risk of Injury Theft Vandalism

Operating Position The arrangement of equipment and their supporting furniture. u Is the radio room in the garage? or in the living room? . The choice of furniture style will vary. A clean and neat operating position is much more fun to use and easier too. u

Ergonomics The primary radio you use should be properly at hand easy to use and adjust. u Establish priorities for each rig or accessory and place them accordingly. u You need 2 clocks, one on Local time and one on UTC or Greenwich Mean Time. u

Equipment Layout

Computers in the Shack Place ferrite chokes on all cables going to and coming from your PC. u Place the PC as far away from the RF generators as is feasible. u You do NOT want to delete that vital file when you key the PTT on your radio. u

The Paperwork Stuff: QSL cards, FCC rules, QST, CQ, Licenses, net logs, logbooks, maps, books, project plans, insurance lists, club papers, articles, u It all has to go somewhere. Store it neatly, so you can find it when you need it. Trust me, you will need it. u

N 1 GY QTH (a)

N 1 GY QTH (b)

N 1 GY current QTH (a)

N 1 GY current QTH (b)

Current QTH (c)

Seating u We Hams tend to spend a lot of time on our butts in the radio room. Use a good chair that will be comfortable. A swivel office chair is ideal for most people. Have a second chair for a visitor available. With attention to the details, every ham shack is a recruiting tool for new hams.

Lighting Task Lighting is vital to both enjoying the hobby and safety when engaged. u Of course, the operating position, but don’t forget the work bench, the book cases, storage areas and the like. The goal is good illumination and eye comfort. u

Ventilation Proper ventilation of the radio room is vital to the health of both the operator and the equipment. Keep both cool and comfortable at all times.

Amenities are limited only by your wallet and desires. Coffee machine, refrigerator, bathroom, snacks, a couch, pillows, the sky is the limit. Just remember, if it spills and could damage the station, keep it away from the operating position.

The Room Itself u When choosing a room for your station, there is an iron-clad rule: If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. Be prepared to compromise. This is where that nice furniture mentioned before can help. If the room still looks good with all the radio gear in place, things will go much easier.

The Design Planning: Where does the coax go through the wall? Where is the ground rod? How far away are the antennas? Electrical Outlets? HVAC ducts? AC switches? You will have to think about and plan for all of these things and more.

Paint: Does the room need a coat of paint before you start? How about the floor? This is your hobby, make the place where you do it pleasant to occupy. Other Stuff: Will you need book cases or other storage? Will you need a workbench for projects? What will the computer sit on? The possibilities are endless!

Maintenance u The most beautiful ham shack in the world still has to be maintained. A quick swipe with a dust rag will keep the outside of the radios clean, but sooner or later, you will have to get at the back of the radio to repair or replace something. Design the setup so that you can do this easily. It will be worth it in the long run.

The Human Factor As Hams, we should know, more than anyone else, that things change rapidly. As the modes and equipment changes, so will your radio room. Approach these changes the same way you designed the current station, and continue to enjoy the incredible hobby of Amateur Radio.

Thanks! Are there any questions or comments? 73 Geoff Haines, N 1 GY ASM, WCF Section, ARRL TC, WCF Section, ARRL My Web Site: www. n 1 gy. com