Building and Deploying Ham Radio Go Kits
Find resources and guides for constructing portable amateur radio stations designed for emergency communications, field operations, and rapid deployment.
Ham radio go kits are self-contained, portable amateur radio stations designed for rapid deployment. Operators build these kits for emergency communications (EMCOMM), Field Day events, or portable operations like Parks on the Air (POTA). A well-designed go kit allows hams to quickly set up a functional station, often including a transceiver, power source, and antenna, in various environments.
This category features numerous examples of go kit designs, from compact setups built around transceivers like the Elecraft KX3 or Yaesu FT-891, to more elaborate systems integrating a Raspberry Pi for digital modes. Hams can find detailed guides on building these portable stations, often using rugged cases like "50-cal ammo cases," along with parts lists and ideas for power management and antenna projects suitable for rapid deployment and reliable QSOs.
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The best way to describe a go-box is a complete amateur radio station in a box. An example is described in this article. The project describes building a portable amateur (ham) radio station, known as a "go-box," housed in a durable orange Pelican case. The go-box contains all necessary radio equipment except for external power and antennae, which are carried separately. It includes items like a Yaesu transceiver, power supply, antenna tuner, speaker, and a clock. The case is designed for mobility and visibility, with a vertical layout to allow in-vehicle operation. Future upgrades might include cooling fans, an LED lamp, and built-in antennae for better functionality in various conditions. -
A portable amateur radio station which the radio amateur can take when asked to go to an event which needs support with radio communication. -
Radio Incident Command Kit project is described in this article loaded with many pictures and go-kit composition. -
Intended for portable long-term usage and also good for Field Day Events article by By Steve KB1DIG & Kim KB1GTR -
An interesting Elecraft KX3 go box, for a total of 1,6 Kg 3,5 lbs with list of needed parts to build your own box by OE2ATN -
A Portable 100 watt radio station setup composed by a 706MKII transceiver, Z-100 antenna tuner and power supply by N1GY -
List of Ham Radio Emergency Items. A list developed to give a starting point that the user can develop his or her own list if items from -
This article documents the author's latest go-box build for outdoor ham radio operations using a Yaesu FT-891 transceiver. The go-box is constructed from a plastic "50-cal ammo case" and contains various components, including the transceiver, LDG Z11 Pro autotuner, DIY Yaesu FH-2 remote control keypad, and an external battery. The author details the design considerations, the mounting of components inside the box, and addresses issues related to ventilation and cable management. The go-box is geared for CW operations and POTA activations, with further modifications planned for a microphone and DATA jack. This project allows for rugged, environmentally protected outdoor radio operations while maintaining portability. -
This KX3 go-box weights 1,6 kg including the components and the KX3 with its ATU and filter-option installed (no internal batteries) and a light-weight headset -
A very compact and multifunctional digital amateur radio station for the radio operation at home, on the way or in the emergency radio implemented with a Raspberry Pi 4, an Elecraft KX2, a Kenwood TH-D74 and a USB GPS. -
A complete EmComm portable station article on eham.net by K9RFZ -
An article about building home made Go Kits also using Tac-Comm tactical radio carriers -
Amateur radio setups for portable and emergency situations. -
This project details the creation of a portable GoBox housing an IC705, Windows 11 PC, and Bluetooth microphone. The robust setup, enclosed in a weatherproof Hofbauer Explorer Case, ensures stability and functionality for QRP and emergency radio activities. The aluminum-mounted devices minimize RF interference, and a built-in LifePO4 battery powers the 10.1 TFT touch LED monitor, providing approximately 12 hours of use in receive mode. With a focus on grab-and-go versatility, this GoBox stands as an efficient solution for outdoor ham radio operations. -
This page documents how KR7RK built a Go-Box portable amateur radio station -
This is a page designed to help the EMCOMM operator thinking of going portable. It will describe a way of having VHF UHF HF voice and digital in one box -
Learn how VE6LK built a comprehensive radio go-kit for emergency communication purposes. The kit includes Yaesu FT-8800, Yaesu FT-857, LDG FT-Meter, Powerwerx SS-30 power supply, SignaLink USB interface, and more. The author shares details on the equipment, organization, and practical tips for setting up the kit. Discover how to stay prepared for public service events, disaster responses, and general ham radio activities with a well-equipped go-kit.