I've ordered a uBitx V5 and my project is to make a small go box to be portable with no risk of breaking something on the move.

The goal of this go box is :

• to be not so big to be carriable easily in a backpak
• to have it's own energy to last about a day
• to be also ergonomic and fun to use in the QRA (so, I'll keep some comfortable knobs)
• to have a connection for a RTL SDR when used at the QRA
• to be installed in a box with no holes (so you need to open the cap to use the radio, like SOTA boxes for example)
• if possible and if it's not to big, to be able to carry also small materials like earplugs, mic, notebook + pencil, etc.
• with an internal speaker which can be switched on or off to be able to share the contacts with my family or friend
• with USB panel connector to connect CAT on computer a clean way

I'll use this radio at the QRA, but also for SOTA or SOTA like activations (on hills around my QRA for example) and when moving for work (that I do often) to use in hotel rooms for examples.

At first, I wanted to put the whole project in a cookie metal box, because :

• it's cheap
• it can be small (or you can find lot of different sizes at the supermarket)
• it's lightweight
• you can eat the cookies inside before
• it's open source friendly, to keep the philosophy of the global project
• it can be watertight quite easily (if there are no holes, you can use electrician tape all around the cap to have it protected from water)
• with a metal box, you can shield the whole radio

I've in first thought thinked about a Pelicase or something like that. It's so badass and look like terrific !

But the main problem is the size of the global case (could be difficult to fit in a bag for a 25x25cm box), heavy (beetween 800g and 1200g for the size I speak about) and could be quite expensive.

After some designs and research, I've found that it will be difficult to put everything in a cookie box. The boxes I've at home are not the good size (too small or way to big).

Finally, I decided to go with a box made from scratch, based on 3D printed parts and also Dibond (PE + aluminium) sheets). You'll find more informations about the enclosure in the right page.

I've some experience with 18650 lithium cells (I've already built several e bikes with lot of them). It's quite cheap, very reliable, and easy to solder (with a point to point soldering unit that I've built).

Also, you can configure the battery pack shape as you to fit in tiny spaces.

As the ubitx is about 10W output, I think the global power should not exceed 25W when transmitting.

I'll make a 3S battery pack (3x 4.2V fully charged, so 12.6V), and I've ordered 3300 mAh cells. I'm thinking about making a 3S4P battery pack, so the capacity will be 13200 mAh.

It will give about 8 hours of transmitting time with that very simple calculations. It could be maybe a bit overkill but with that you can last a whole WE if needed. Also, you don't have to check everytime before you go if the battery is still OK.

Sous Cura, on ne peut avoir qu'un seul diamètre global pour les deux buses, qui sera pris en compte. C'est à dire que si vous mettez deux buses de diamètre différent, seul le premier réglage sera pris en compte. As the idea is to have something to use at the QRA as my main rig, and also as a go box, it needs to be quite versatile on the things you can connect.

At the QRA I'll often use I think a CB mic with a 6 pins connector with the PTT, so the rig should have a 6 pins CB socket As I won't have some weight limitations, I'll use an aircraft headset I already have, with 6.35mm and 5.23mm jacks. I'll certainly use adapters to fit the 3.5mm standard jack sockets to avoid overloading the panel with too much sorts of sockets. That kind of headset should give a good audio quality for the ears If I use the mic of the headset instead of the CB mic, I'll also need a PTT button directly on the panel to transmit

When moving I'll also have the 2x 3.5mm jacks on the panel, to connect maybe a very light and small mic made from the supplied electret mic of the kit and not having to carry the CB mic if it can't fit inside the box (I don't really want to choose a bigger box just to carry that mic) The internal speaker could be used outside (I've salvaged a 8ohms 5W something like 60x60mm speaker from an old CB radio) Or I can connect earplugs on the 3.5mm jack and switch the internal speaker of if needed Antenna The main panel will have a PL259 socket to install all sort of cables or antenna.

At the QRA

I'll certainly use an endfed antenna system, connected with a coax cable like the QRPguys end fed system which is simple : https://qrpguys.com/qrpguys-end-fed-wire-antenna

When moving

I've ordered a Watson ATX Walkabout MK2 which should give me (even it's not the best efficiency) a simple way to connect directly the antenna on the PL259 socket and have it attached to the rig maybe a small tuner for wire antenna like this one if I can deploy wire antenna : https://qrpguys.com/multi-tuner