I like how you reused that track-pad like that, I didn't know something like that could be done, Cool build! Thanks for making the tear down and explanation of how it works. Its helpful for anyone attempting a similar build :)
Nice build and thanks for heads-up on the QRP guys digital only transceiver. What a cool device. I also want to build a pi based rig for JS8call and other digital modes. You also got me thinking about a few of the 12v monitors I have lying around that have USB output. Currently trying out a pi zero w on one of them. All around, great video!
Nice build, I have a Pi400 and a bright yellow 'Pelican' Be good on a radio field day, when the heavens open up, just slam the lid shut, then worry no more.
You talked about "waterproofing" it... Well it already was waterproof/water resistant right up till you drilled holes in it to put in the cigarette lighter plug and the voltage display along with the keyboard holder. In order to having waterproof you'd have to put it in a whole new case without drilling the holes in the sides. Other than that it's pretty nice project.
It reminds me of the windows 98 military laptop that looked like a ammunition box. It could be disassembled to be like a desktop, or just be like a clamshell design laptop as far as I can remember.
New ham looking at working portable, island expedition, post-hurricane on emergency power. This rig is similar to what I envisioned, I found your videos today after discovering the QRP Labs QDX last night. I plan to go with a slightly larger Apache case but include a uhf/vhf dual band and a G-90. I like the way you mounted the monitor, I use dual monitors at work and find myself struggling to work a single screen now. I was going to make a power box with that size case and connect the two with Anderson power poles. I believe having two similar weighted boxes would make it easier to transport over sand and terrain as not to cause a lean to one side or the other. I enjoyed your build videos and look forward to the kit challenge. I am sure my build will take much longer, but will definitely watch you again before I dive in. Having knowledge about the capacitor between the power jack and the usb will make my life easier, especially since I am an electronics noob. Your soldering skills are much better than mine. I can’t wait to see you put the QDX on the air.
Which VHF/UHF radio are you thinking? I went with the Kenwood TM-V71A, which I'll be honest was a tough price to pay. But the radio is everything I wanted it to be. I will be looking to use it with APRS in the future. I think your idea is perfect - power case and radio case. I also have the Apache case that's one size up and it looks perfect for a radio box. You could probably get away with the smaller case for the battery unless you want a LOT of power. If I were to do it I might leave room for a solar charge controller. And maybe one day when I don't want the kenwood mounted on my dash I'll build a mobile box just like that. OH, another thing that mobile setup would be great for is a cross-band repeater. Not all radios can do it though. Good luck with the build! I'll shoot a video soon of it in action.
@@WhatDennisDoes Either a TYT 7800/9800 or Radioddity DB-25-D mini mobile. The TYT radios are dual/quad band 50 Watt mobiles w/ cross-band repeater function while the DB-25-D is a 25 Watt dual band WITH APRS/SMS/GPS functionality. I am leaning toward the Radioddity for the go box due to the lower power and sms capability, I think it would be a better choice for solar power in a long-term power outage scenario that I have experienced after hurricanes. A charge controller space/weight reservation is in the grey matter design. So many options, I ordered a pi 4-B yesterday, will probably get a pi 400 for the slick integration when I get serious about putting it all together.
Id suggest that you be careful of the EMI coming from inside the case. You don't want to climb a mountain for a SOTA session to find out that something inside the case is RF hot and raising the noise floor across the band you are using.
Nice video! You have great, clear presentation and good production quality too! Loved the intro and I also enjoyed the amount of detail you went into. Keep it up dude! 👍
I absolutely love your rugged idea! I'm making one of these but more for retro gamers and multiple os systems emulation such as Pimiga. Another reason is because I wanted a portable Music tracker studio, so Rpi linux systems and pimiga can run this for me. MUSIC AND GAMING! 😁
Question for anyone building these raspberry pi builds? How do I solder my motherboard to the case. I don't to use screws as that will increase overall size and I just want to get into soldering in general. I have a beginner's idea of how it works. Soldering is when you use an alloy to fuse metal together to cause an electrical connection at least that's how I define it. My question is how do you solder the motherboard directly to the plastic case. Wouldn't it melt the plastic from the heat? Also is it really as simple as just "glueing" the motherboard together. I understand not all projects use soldering, but I personally want to try one with it.
If you wanted a comfortable typing angle - invert the case and use the lid for the cpu and the base for the screen. And sorry, not sorry, but the stripey tape is oh so cringe. Still, it's the first 400 I've seen in a cyberdeck format, so congrats.
Where do you get the software for raspberry pi cos I've just bought one to do that kind of case like that I can't find a shop in every software I've tried every program I've downloaded off the raspberry pi website
PS I thought you wanted easily edited video's and suddenly there are multiple versions of Dennis on the screen. Looks really cool...but I bet that wasn't easy. You seem to have your MoJo back!!
LOL I was thinking exactly that as I was editing this. I did make some improvements to my workflow that let me get this done faster though. But yeah still trying to figure out the quick content video.
If I am interpreting correctly, you put a pair of bolts in opposite corners of the pi 400 - Perhaps one through the front right heatsink hole? I'm part way through a similar setup and wow they could have made mounting this easier
That's right. Unfortunately I had to take it apart and drill two holes through the plastic back. If I was mounting it to anything other than wood I would have used 3M VHB tape.
Just wants an in-built coffee maker.....a versatile bit of kit. Spy kids everywhere will want one! Your daughter - the clever one - wants an ipad.....no you have something better!!
don't worry, your mum and dad will talk the security staff through your fisher price toys. Adults don't have a problem travelling with this kind of gear.
@@WhatDennisDoes Not exactly. Just you remind me of the astronaut who was stranded on Mars....he had a series of problems and he solved them with science, scavanging & a few mistakes along the way (the book is better than the film IMO). The astronaut needed to communicate with Earth/NASA. He drove hundreds to KM to scavange an old mission that had a transmitter. He got it working and - with NASA's help - he improved how it worked by hacking into the computer code in his 'Rover' vehicle so that he could type & receive text messages....a really clever book. I got the idea that you are going out into the wilderness and send text messages back home using your black box....one of your project ideas.
