While many amateur radio operators set up their stations in their house, I decided to take a more portable approach. My mobile “GoBox” system is built to be compact, rugged, and efficient, allowing me to operate from anywhere—whether it’s for emergency communications, field days, or casual outdoor ops. However, my current setup is too bulky and fragile, so I’m in the process of rebuilding it for better durability and portability.
My “Go-Box” setup in the Mountains to Beach marathon
While many operators focus on HF (High Frequency) bands for long-distance communication, my setup is specifically designed to operate on VHF bands. VHF is widely used for event coordination, emergency response, and local communications due to its reliability in urban and rural environments.
Whats different about my go Box then the usual the two computes inside: one to monitor the voltage and temperature of the radios, and one to track APRS systems and other digital logic.
A Test of the Display for the Voltage & Temperature Sensor
My Ideal GoBox Setup will contain:
- Case: A sturdy 6u Gatorworks case that can take a beating and protect my gear from the elements.
- Radio: My primary radio is a Yaesu FTM-3165RASP for 2-meter communications. I chose this radio for its power and reliability—two key factors in any field setup. For digital communications, I have the Yaesu FTM-3100R, which is almost identical but connected to a digirig interface. As a backup, I have a Radioddity QB25, which covers 2 meters, 220, and 440 MHz at 25 watts.
- Power: My GoBox is designed to run on either a battery 12 Volt source, or a 120 Volt AC Input. A built in charger is also included in the box, which makes power hassle-free. Also in my box is a ESP32, which monitors and logs the voltage and temperature of the equipment. This ESP32 drives to I2C Displays, which are programmable. I can also connect to the device through WiFi and view more diagnostics.
- Antenna System: For VHF/UHF, I use simple mag-mount antennas attached to my car—they’re effective, easy to deploy, and require minimal setup.
- Accessories & Extras:
- An Arduino to monitor voltage and temperature across the system.
- A logbook, spare coax, adapters, and a small toolkit for field repairs.
A 3D CAD Mock up of the Internals
Everything is wired up so I can deploy in under 10 minutes—just connect an antenna and power, and I’m ready to communicate. Whether I’m calling in supplies for local marathons, coordinating technicians in the desert, or assisting in disaster response, my GoBox ensures I stay connected when it matters most.