Amateur Radio Retevis RT95 50 Cal Go Box

Mounts a Retevis RT95 25 watt Dual Band VHF/UHF radio in a metal 50 caliber ammo box with batteries and an antenna. It is a totally self-contained high watt go-kit. Features include:

Fits four 6Ah LiFePo batteries for a total of 24Ah of power.

Has a flip side lid that folds out during use to help direct the speaker output upwards and out.

Has easy access Anderson PowerPole connectors on the top for charging or running the radio from another power source.

Has a battery disconnect toggle switch so radio can be run without using the batteries from another power source.

Mag mount antenna mounts on the lid when open and the lid becomes the ground plane for it.

No modifications to the box so it still seals weather tight when closed.

In addition to the printed parts you will need (You can get all of these on Amazon):

1 - Retevis RT95 radio

1 - Retevis Ham Mobile Radio Antenna (18,5 inches)

1 - 50 cal metal ammo can

2 - Anderson PowerPole Connectors (Red/Black)

4 - 6Ah 12V LiFePo Batteries

1 - PL259 to SO239 Right angle connector

1 - Mini rocker switch

8 - Wire Terminal Crim Connectors

6 - 3mm x 10 wood/metal screws

2 - 5mm x 8 threaded screws

I print everything with PETG filament. Don't use PLA as it will not stand up to the heat. There is no need for supports or rafts on any pieces. Use 15% infill.

I use OpenSCAD for design. It is a free program to download and use. I am including the source file in case you want to tweak anything.

Everything just screws together from there as in the pictures. Leave the fuses and connectors on the power cable that came with the radio but shorten the cable and use it for the wires on the batteries. The batteries are connected in parallel and there is room for the wire to come in the side under the switch. There is also room there for the antenna wire.

The battery positive wire should go to the toggle switch. After the switch it connects to the Anderson positive and to the radio positive. The battery negative is connected straight to the Anderson PowerPole negative and the radio negative.

The model includes a plate to put on top of the batteries to ensure nothing gets in and shorts them out.

To make the antenna fit inside the box with everything else during transport do the following: Take the wire portion of the antenna and cut it in half (about 8-½ inches). Clean the black paint off from the cut ends about ½" in each. Take a small (¾") piece or steel or aluminum rod and drill a hole in it for the antenna rod. Place the tube halfway in on the lower section and hit it on the side with a hammer to squeeze it on permanently. There should be enough left to place the other part of the antenna into and it stays firmly but can be removed. 

Instead of the Mag mount vertical antenna from Retevis you could also build a J-Pole out of twin lead for it. That would roll up and fit easily in this box with coax lead line. That antenna could be raised up with string into a tree or such and get more distance for you.

The microphone stores inside next to the radio. When using the radio take the mic out and push the shelf next to the radio down. This will help project the speaker noise up and out of the box so you can hear it better.

When charging the batteries make sure you turn the rocker switch on. LiFePo batteries are great as they weight only ⅓ the weight of traditional lead-acid batteries and deliver more power.

With all that you should be good to go. I figure with the radio and everything I'm just under $300 on the investment and I have a great go-kit radio setup.

73 from KC7MAD