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How to Build a Ham Radio Shed

Building a ham radio shed is more a matter of adding equipment than shed construction. A ham's shed is a dedicated area where the ham builds his station and communicates with the world. It can be as simple as an attic alcove or as complex as a drive-through garage for mobile rigs with rotating directional antennae systems on the roof. A scientist has a laboratory, a carpenter has a tool shop, and a ham has his shed. A place where he can build, test, experiment, converse with fellow hams, assist in emergencies, and relay messages and information to others around the world or out into the universe.

Things You'll Need

Ham radio kit(s) or components
Electrical tape
Philips head screwdrivers
Insulated needle-nose pliers
Slotted screwdrivers
Soldering tools
Wire cutters
Wire stripper
Nut driver set

Instructions

Setting up Your Shed
- 1
  Gather all your tools and organize your shed area with a defined work bench, storage, exterior access for antenna cables, adequate fused electrical power, and a comfortable chair.
- 2
  Choose a kit or from-scratch home brew (see references). A transceiver system gives you the advantage of an instant base station/portable mobile operation.
  
  Modern powerful solid-state miniature handheld transceivers with direct access to a relay net can fill your bill. They can be used for local and long-range communications as well as on a walk or in a vehicle. Also, they give you a chance to try a wide array of antenna systems, both at your base station and in the field, as you add equipment and power.
- 3
  Lay out all the parts and compare them to the parts list to be sure you have everything you need.
  
  Review the schematic and look at step-by-step instructions or devise your own assembly plan, starting by mounting larger components and completing interior wiring and soldering.
  
  Assemble your kit.
- 4
  Test it out. It never works the first time. Go over your whole wiring diagram and troubleshoot just like you would a failed radio. Use a colored pen to recheck wiring assignments.
  
  Once your kit is up and running, try a different antenna and check your match from transmitter to antenna with a field strength meter.
- 5
  Expand your shed.
  
  Make a list of what you would like to try. QRP Projects? HF power amplifiers? A diplexer project? Laser communications projects? Follow the satellites with a home brew spectrum analyzer.

Ham Radio