I'm looking for a solid desktop (either pizza-box or mini-tower)
computer case that has an all-metal exterior for shielding RFI. This
is for use around radios etc. I realize that SVGA monitors, mice, and
keyboard leak too, but right now I'm looking mainly at the PC box.

Most of the cheaper cases come pretty close to good shielding, but they
have these plastic filler panels in the drive bays that offer no
shielding and let a lot of RF leak out.

Most of the fancier cases in the computer stores around here have
humongous plastic pieces on the side. I'm looking for all-metal.

Rack-mount server cases seem to be pretty good in terms of metal
shielding all around but I need something for desktop use.

Any suggestions? If all else fails I can just put some perforated
metal over the holes in a cheap case, but I'd rather just buy a good
case to begin with.

Tim.

They make 'em:
http://www.directron.com/pc75.html

I have even seen an all stainless steel case which is used around food
production plants... can't find anything close with google though...

Son has an all aluminum case, $175.00 is what he paid for it!--OUCH!!!!

Warmest regards,
John
--
If "God"--expecting an angel... if evolution--expecting an alien... just
wondering if I will be able to tell the difference!

wrote in message
oups.com...
| I'm looking for a solid desktop (either pizza-box or mini-tower)
| computer case that has an all-metal exterior for shielding RFI. This
| is for use around radios etc. I realize that SVGA monitors, mice, and
| keyboard leak too, but right now I'm looking mainly at the PC box.
|
| Most of the cheaper cases come pretty close to good shielding, but they
| have these plastic filler panels in the drive bays that offer no
| shielding and let a lot of RF leak out.
|
| Most of the fancier cases in the computer stores around here have
| humongous plastic pieces on the side. I'm looking for all-metal.
|
| Rack-mount server cases seem to be pretty good in terms of metal
| shielding all around but I need something for desktop use.
|
| Any suggestions? If all else fails I can just put some perforated
| metal over the holes in a cheap case, but I'd rather just buy a good
| case to begin with.
|
| Tim.
|

You could always shield the plastic panels with copper or aluminum foil or
screen--etc... (on the inside--out of sight)

Warmest regards,
John
--
If "God"--expecting an angel... if evolution--expecting an alien... just
wondering if I will be able to tell the difference!

"John Smith" wrote in message
...
| They make 'em:
| http://www.directron.com/pc75.html
|
| I have even seen an all stainless steel case which is used around food
| production plants... can't find anything close with google though...
|
| Son has an all aluminum case, $175.00 is what he paid for it!--OUCH!!!!
|
| Warmest regards,
| John
| --
| If "God"--expecting an angel... if evolution--expecting an alien... just
| wondering if I will be able to tell the difference!
|
| wrote in message
| oups.com...
|| I'm looking for a solid desktop (either pizza-box or mini-tower)
|| computer case that has an all-metal exterior for shielding RFI. This
|| is for use around radios etc. I realize that SVGA monitors, mice, and
|| keyboard leak too, but right now I'm looking mainly at the PC box.
||
|| Most of the cheaper cases come pretty close to good shielding, but they
|| have these plastic filler panels in the drive bays that offer no
|| shielding and let a lot of RF leak out.
||
|| Most of the fancier cases in the computer stores around here have
|| humongous plastic pieces on the side. I'm looking for all-metal.
||
|| Rack-mount server cases seem to be pretty good in terms of metal
|| shielding all around but I need something for desktop use.
||
|| Any suggestions? If all else fails I can just put some perforated
|| metal over the holes in a cheap case, but I'd rather just buy a good
|| case to begin with.
||
|| Tim.
||
|
|

They make 'em: http://www.directron.com/pc75.html

What about that gaping big square-foot hole in the side?

I have even seen an all stainless steel case which is used around
food

The old "PC Power and Cooling" all-metal-tower used to be good (I think
it was available in chrome!), but they don't sell them anymore
(probably because they cost several hundred $).

I'm not looking for anything particularly stylish. Just a case without
big holes covered by plastic.

Tim.

Personally, I'd place a sheet of aluminum window screen between the acrylic
sheet and the case--that way I could still get the effect of looking into
the case, and still be shielded...

Other than that, I'd pick the one from their catalog which DOESN'T have the
"big gaping hole" in the side... grin

Warmest regards,
John
--
If "God"--expecting an angel... if evolution--expecting an alien... just
wondering if I will be able to tell the difference!

"Tim Shoppa" wrote in message
oups.com...
| They make 'em: http://www.directron.com/pc75.html
|
| What about that gaping big square-foot hole in the side?
|
| I have even seen an all stainless steel case which is used around
| food
|
| The old "PC Power and Cooling" all-metal-tower used to be good (I think
| it was available in chrome!), but they don't sell them anymore
| (probably because they cost several hundred $).
|
| I'm not looking for anything particularly stylish. Just a case without
| big holes covered by plastic.
|
| Tim.
|

On Sun, 15 May 2005 12:28:21 -0700, "John Smith"
wrote:

Personally, I'd place a sheet of aluminum window screen between the acrylic
sheet and the case--that way I could still get the effect of looking into
the case, and still be shielded...

Other than that, I'd pick the one from their catalog which DOESN'T have the
"big gaping hole" in the side... grin

FYI:

Some plastic used in cases has a "flash" coating of aluminum
(sputtered in a vacuum chamber). While the metal is extremely thin,
just a few microns, it is enough to provide RFI shielding.

Obviously not as good as solid metal for shielding, but good enough
for many uses. Check out what sort of plastic before assuming it will
not shield.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
--
At the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

In article .com,
Tim Shoppa wrote:
They make 'em: http://www.directron.com/pc75.html

What about that gaping big square-foot hole in the side?

I have even seen an all stainless steel case which is used around
food

The old "PC Power and Cooling" all-metal-tower used to be good (I think
it was available in chrome!), but they don't sell them anymore
(probably because they cost several hundred $).

I'm not looking for anything particularly stylish. Just a case without
big holes covered by plastic.

Tim.



If you buy a brand name computer it meets some prety good FCC specs
for emission. IMO if you are carefull any good all-metal case will
produce an EMI-tight case.






--
a d y k e s @ p a n i x . c o m

Don't blame me. I voted for Gore.

In message .com,
writes
I'm looking for a solid desktop (either pizza-box or mini-tower)
computer case that has an all-metal exterior for shielding RFI. This
is for use around radios etc. I realize that SVGA monitors, mice, and
keyboard leak too, but right now I'm looking mainly at the PC box.

Most of the cheaper cases come pretty close to good shielding, but they
have these plastic filler panels in the drive bays that offer no
shielding and let a lot of RF leak out.

Most of the fancier cases in the computer stores around here have
humongous plastic pieces on the side. I'm looking for all-metal.

Rack-mount server cases seem to be pretty good in terms of metal
shielding all around but I need something for desktop use.

Any suggestions? If all else fails I can just put some perforated
metal over the holes in a cheap case, but I'd rather just buy a good
case to begin with.

Tim.

What band does a PC broadcast on?

--
Jeremy Boden

Jeremy Boden wrote:

In message .com,
writes
I'm looking for a solid desktop (either pizza-box or mini-tower)
computer case that has an all-metal exterior for shielding RFI. This
is for use around radios etc. I realize that SVGA monitors, mice, and
keyboard leak too, but right now I'm looking mainly at the PC box.

Most of the cheaper cases come pretty close to good shielding, but they
have these plastic filler panels in the drive bays that offer no
shielding and let a lot of RF leak out.

Most of the fancier cases in the computer stores around here have
humongous plastic pieces on the side. I'm looking for all-metal.

Rack-mount server cases seem to be pretty good in terms of metal
shielding all around but I need something for desktop use.

Any suggestions? If all else fails I can just put some perforated
metal over the holes in a cheap case, but I'd rather just buy a good
case to begin with.

Tim.

What band does a PC broadcast on?

--
Jeremy Boden


It depends on the computer.

--
Former professional electron wrangler.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

In (rec.radio.amateur.homebrew), Michael A. Terrell wrote:
Jeremy Boden wrote:

In message .com,
writes
I'm looking for a solid desktop (either pizza-box or mini-tower)
computer case that has an all-metal exterior for shielding RFI. This
is for use around radios etc. I realize that SVGA monitors, mice, and
keyboard leak too, but right now I'm looking mainly at the PC box.

Most of the cheaper cases come pretty close to good shielding, but they
have these plastic filler panels in the drive bays that offer no
shielding and let a lot of RF leak out.

Most of the fancier cases in the computer stores around here have
humongous plastic pieces on the side. I'm looking for all-metal.

Rack-mount server cases seem to be pretty good in terms of metal
shielding all around but I need something for desktop use.

Any suggestions? If all else fails I can just put some perforated
metal over the holes in a cheap case, but I'd rather just buy a good
case to begin with.

Tim.

What band does a PC broadcast on?

--
Jeremy Boden

It depends on the computer.

What he said. Usually on all harmonics of each clock in the box, from ~1.8
MHz on up to near daylight -- or at least well past 70 cm., in the case
of the boxes here at home and at work. Add in all their cross-modulation
products as well, and it starts to look pretty gross. One of these days
I'll borrow a spectrum analyzer and see what's coming from where. I know
that the bedroom TV puts out a lot of stuff around 3.5-4.0 MHz. and the
cable box is pretty noisy, too. Hard to hear DX over all the in-house QRM.

--
Mike Andrews W5EGO 5WPM
Extra
Tired old sysadmin working on his code speed