I'm looking for an instrument case for the BITX20A 20m transceiver,
the choices in the regular UK outlets don't look too special. What
I'm looking for is something around 6 inches wide, 8 deep and around
3 inches high (150 x 200 x 70 approx). Something with extruded sides
would fit the bill but it has to be all metal.

I'd appreciate any URLs of suppliers in the UK or US, meanwhile back
to googling

Thanks,


Charlie.

--
M0WYM
www.radiowymsey.org

"charlie" wrote in message
...
I'm looking for an instrument case for the BITX20A 20m transceiver,
the choices in the regular UK outlets don't look too special. What
I'm looking for is something around 6 inches wide, 8 deep and around
3 inches high (150 x 200 x 70 approx). Something with extruded sides
would fit the bill but it has to be all metal.

I'd appreciate any URLs of suppliers in the UK or US, meanwhile back
to googling

Thanks,
Charlie.
--
M0WYM
www.radiowymsey.org

C -

I am going to use an old modem case (hopefully).
Hundreds of thousands of analog modems at retail office / stores across
world have hit the trash heap in past 20 years. Some are all plastic, but I
have retrieved one that may work for my future BIT20A kit.

w9gb

"charlie" wrote in message
...
I'm looking for an instrument case for the BITX20A 20m transceiver,
the choices in the regular UK outlets don't look too special. What
I'm looking for is something around 6 inches wide, 8 deep and around
3 inches high (150 x 200 x 70 approx). Something with extruded sides
would fit the bill but it has to be all metal.

I'd appreciate any URLs of suppliers in the UK or US, meanwhile back
to googling

Thanks,


Charlie.

--
M0WYM

Charlie, at the next boot sale coming near you, look for the A/B switch
boxes for switching between printers and serial ports and the like. Some are
roughly the size you're asking about and you just have to make a new front
and rear panel for them. (They ARE steel, and a bear to work with) As an
alternative, I have some extruded Aluminum boxes 1/8 th inch wall that are 6
wide by 8 deep by 1-3/4 high. Open front and back but internal ribs for
sliding in a couple PC boards and tapped on the ends for 4-40 bolts for
holding on front and rear panels. If you can live with the reduced height,
one is yours for the postage.

W4ZCB

I'm looking for an instrument case for the BITX20A 20m transceiver,
the choices in the regular UK outlets don't look too special. What
I'm looking for is something around 6 inches wide, 8 deep and around
3 inches high (150 x 200 x 70 approx). Something with extruded sides
would fit the bill but it has to be all metal.

I'd appreciate any URLs of suppliers in the UK or US, meanwhile back
to googling
===============================
Charlie , I have seen (simple) aluminium enclosures of the approx size
you need at Maplin (Inverness). Including one with a black plasticised
cover. You can finish those yourself with Hammarite paint from a spray can.
Good luck with homebrewing the BITX20A

Frank GM0CSZ / KN6WH

Highland Ham wrote:

===============================
Charlie , I have seen (simple) aluminium enclosures of the approx size
you need at Maplin (Inverness). Including one with a black plasticised
cover. You can finish those yourself with Hammarite paint from a spray can.
Good luck with homebrewing the BITX20A

Frank GM0CSZ / KN6WH

Frank,

I've looked at the aluminium boxes which look great for most
projects but I want something a bit stronger and professional
looking for the transceiver. Maplin also sell the Hammond range of
enclosures but their biggest is too small. Since posting I have
found a bigger range of the same style at Rapid Electronics and I
may go for one of these.

I'm pretty excited about building the BITX20A, my plan is to use an
LCD display using a 10 turn pot/varicap diode instead of a tuning
cap and I aim to bring the cost in at under £100.


Charlie.

--
M0WYM
www.radiowymsey.org

Harold E. Johnson wrote:

SNIP

Charlie, at the next boot sale coming near you, look for the A/B switch
boxes for switching between printers and serial ports and the like. Some are
roughly the size you're asking about and you just have to make a new front
and rear panel for them. (They ARE steel, and a bear to work with) As an
alternative, I have some extruded Aluminum boxes 1/8 th inch wall that are 6
wide by 8 deep by 1-3/4 high. Open front and back but internal ribs for
sliding in a couple PC boards and tapped on the ends for 4-40 bolts for
holding on front and rear panels. If you can live with the reduced height,
one is yours for the postage.

W4ZCB



Harold,

I know the steel boxes you refer to, similar new ones are quite
cheap in the UK. Thank you very much for your kind offer! I think
that your box would be hard to work with as the height is much the
same as the LCD counter I want to use! In fact I have located some
enclosures very similar to the ones you have.


Thanks again!


Charlie.

--
M0WYM
www.radiowymsey.org

I know the steel boxes you refer to, similar new ones are quite
cheap in the UK. Thank you very much for your kind offer! I think
that your box would be hard to work with as the height is much the
same as the LCD counter I want to use! In fact I have located some
enclosures very similar to the ones you have.


Thanks again!


Charlie.

No problem Charlie, and wish you well in your search. The length and width
of these were exactly your specs and I have, after seeing someone else do a
similar trick with a A/B box, slit the two sides and expanded the height
with nothing more than a pair of pieces of Aluminum to bolt top and bottom
together. The 1/8 inch wall allows countersinking the bolts and looks quite
professional.

W4ZCB

gb wrote:
SNIP

I am going to use an old modem case (hopefully).
Hundreds of thousands of analog modems at retail office / stores across
world have hit the trash heap in past 20 years. Some are all plastic, but I
have retrieved one that may work for my future BIT20A kit.

w9gb


gb,

Thanks for responding, that's a good idea for homebrewing. I think
that I have found what I want at a reasonable price.
(see http://www.hammondmfg.com/1455.htm )


Charlie.

--
M0WYM
www.radiowymsey.org

I've looked at the aluminium boxes which look great for most
projects but I want something a bit stronger and professional
looking for the transceiver. Maplin also sell the Hammond range of
enclosures but their biggest is too small. Since posting I have
found a bigger range of the same style at Rapid Electronics and I
may go for one of these.

I'm pretty excited about building the BITX20A, my plan is to use an
LCD display using a 10 turn pot/varicap diode instead of a tuning
cap and I aim to bring the cost in at under £100.
==========================
Charlie , When replacing a variable aircap by a 10turn potmeter +
varicap , I would suggest you pay much attention to the stabilised
voltage feeding the potmeter/varicap ,to ensure acceptable frequency
stability

"Highland Ham" wrote in message
...

I've looked at the aluminium boxes which look great for most
projects but I want something a bit stronger and professional
looking for the transceiver. Maplin also sell the Hammond range of
enclosures but their biggest is too small. Since posting I have
found a bigger range of the same style at Rapid Electronics and I
may go for one of these.

I'm pretty excited about building the BITX20A, my plan is to use an
LCD display using a 10 turn pot/varicap diode instead of a tuning
cap and I aim to bring the cost in at under £100.
==========================
Charlie , When replacing a variable aircap by a 10turn potmeter +
varicap , I would suggest you pay much attention to the stabilised
voltage feeding the potmeter/varicap ,to ensure acceptable frequency
stability

Better yet, the counter already has 95 percent of what's required for a Huff
n Puff stabilizer. Add that and the rig will stay put for months.

Charlie, my boxes are the same external dimensions as that 1455T2201.

Regards
W4ZCB