Whole RF electronics LAB inside a suitcase, possible?

Has anyone tried to fit a whole electronics LAB inside a suitcase?
I mean the soldering and measuring equipment, the components (at least the most used ones) etc.

I find it really hard, to decide what and how to squeeze it. In some cases I have to rebuild, or buy more compact equipment.
But I also find that it is incredible of how some things could be squeezed, if some lab conveniences are to be forgotten.
Abother interesting part, is that the portability that the suitcase-lab offers, could also be more heald-friendy. I refer to the fumes and other chemicals, where when such tasks are performed outside, it is much healthier. Well you can only get backbone pains from carrying the suitcase, or colds, when the wheather is bad. But that is another story

Miniaturization and portability at one place and that too with the sensitive RF measurement equipment. It would be amazing if this could become reality I am sure it will be but to this point of technology it seems a distant dream.
I have used many portable hand held many on one type of packages which claim to have Spectrum Analyzer, OS, RF Power meter, RF signal Generator etc in a small compatible rugged device but results were unfortunately not promising rather disappointing when compared to table top bulky equellent of them. So they are good if accuracy is not prime concerned and all you want is some rough estimate of things but if you want accurate quotable data they fail miserably. So apart from pain to carry such box to this point they are not compact enough to fit many in transportable suitcase. But no doubt concept is amazing

nomigoraya said:

So they are good if accuracy is not prime concerned and all you want is some rough estimate of things but if you want accurate quotable data they fail miserably.

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I agree. I mainly consider HF RF projects, you know, what these QRP hobbyists people do. Designing and building prototypes on top of copper unetched PCB boards



[found at: www .cliftonlaboratories .com/ images/ Amplifiers.jpg]

Since this is for hobby and experimenting, I think these 250MHz Chinese Hantek all-in-one usb DSO/SA/Sig-gen will be ok, since the applications are not critical. I do not even own a real SA, my HP54520A is FFT enabled, so I do not think I would be much dissapointed, given this fact?

nomigoraya said:

So apart from pain to carry such box to this point they are not compact enough to fit many in transportable suitcase. But no doubt concept is amazing.

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Weight is an issue, probably more than size. It is weight that causes pain, not size. These aluminum-plastic square cases



[found at www .mycasebuilder .com /images /detailed /1/AL-1860-front-angle]

are too heavy by themselves, they weight 2Kg or so. So I think a case design, is the most important.
However it is the most difficult part, as you do not know exactly what will be needed to be placed inside. And it has to have some short of flexibility to change things inside, as your needs change.

nomigoraya said:

Miniaturization and portability at one place and that too with the sensitive RF measurement equipment. It would be amazing if this could become reality I am sure it will be but to this point of technology it seems a distant dream.

Click to expand...

It would be an interesting thing for many, if someone does this, I believe. A real full lab inside a compact case. Saying so, I am really amazed how I could fit all of my TO-92 transistors into a plastic drawer of 1x1x2inches. There were about 2-4 pieces of each transistor. The list has about 30-40 common types of transistors.

Of course they all exist inside the same drawer filled up to the top, so you have to pull everything out to look for one. The very important thing here is to keep a list of your components and erase the ones you use, or replace them with new ones. Else, such storage method is not practical. Imagine to have all the transistors out of the drawer, try to find one among 100's and then realize that you do not have it! The updated list is very important.

While creating this list, I found transistors that I did not know I had, even in my lab. So this is double the good, when you create the list and update it regularly.

For the ceramic resonators, I included one of each frequency I had. About 20 of them. For the crystals, I could not of course include all the frequencies I have, but I included 1-2 crystals for each MHz. This has been done in the idea of experimenting with circuits (oscillators etc.). If a circuit operates with a crystal, it will usually operate with all crystals close to the frequency or that first crystal. Then if I need a specific frequency crystal for the final circuit, I could go in the stock and take it. But there is no need to carry all the frequencies with me all the time.

For the resistors, I found less space to be consumed when bending one of their pins like this



[found at wb5rvz .com /sdr /common /images /resistor_hairpinning3 ]

cutting the very excess leads and removing them of course from the paper reel. 5 pieces from each value should be enough for a prototype I believe.

I haven't decided for the rest of the components yet, but I think you would be interested of seeing a photo of this storage. I will post one when I go back home.

nomigoraya said:

Miniaturization and portability at one place and that too with the sensitive RF measurement equipment. It would be amazing if this could become reality I am sure it will be but to this point of technology it seems a distant dream.
I have used many portable hand held many on one type of packages which claim to have Spectrum Analyzer, OS, RF Power meter, RF signal Generator etc in a small compatible rugged device but results were unfortunately not promising rather disappointing when compared to table top bulky equellent of them. So they are good if accuracy is not prime concerned and all you want is some rough estimate of things but if you want accurate quotable data they fail miserably. So apart from pain to carry such box to this point they are not compact enough to fit many in transportable suitcase. But no doubt concept is amazing

Click to expand...

Here is the picture as promised...

neazoi said:

Here is the picture as promised...

Click to expand...

That is real nice one and thanks for honoring your commitment
Any ways for me the best part of your detailed post was

neazoi said:

Imagine to have all the transistors out of the drawer, try to find one among 100's and then realize that you do not have it! The updated list is very important.

Click to expand...

You pointed to very right issue but at the same time this is very elaborated job to keep the record of all inventory and keep it updated but you seems very passionate about your hobby.
I was actually referring to VNA, OS, SA etc of high frequency and high accuracy RF devices

nomigoraya said:

You pointed to very right issue but at the same time this is very elaborated job to keep the record of all inventory and keep it updated but you seems very passionate about your hobby.

Click to expand...

I believe, keeping the list updated, is only a matter of good organisation. Think of it that way. Every time you start a new project, you first have to have all the components in front of you. Well, you search them in your list and if they are there, you find them from the drawer and you mark how many have left ot each component.
You do not even have to seach and pull out one by one the components. Because your list will be updated, you just look at the list and mark all the components at once, that will be used. When you finish, you then go and open the drawer.

List updating is being done automatically and accurately this way. You just have to be used to the procedure.

The small occupying space benefit, is of no match I think. Only if if SMD components were used, it would be smaller.