After 20 years in the army, I have assembled and re-assembled my station many times over. I have used radio equipment from a house, mobile in military and civilian vehicles, in tents out in the field, and even VHF handhelds from inside a foxhole. Antennae have varied from rubber ducks to long and random wires to auto-tuners and 35 foot verticals to beams. From all of this I have learned some basic points. The most important is: No matter what else you do, SAFETY is the number one priority.
#1. The antenna is the most important part of your station. The better it is, the better you talk AND hear. Saving on your antenna is false economy.
#2. Lay your equipment out in zones, the nearest radio being the one most used. The things least used should be the farthest away. No two stations are alike. You need to adapt your ideas to fit the situation. To learn about ZONES, click (HERE).
#3. Time spent setting up your station will pay back in operating pleasure and also help make it easier to deal with when it needs maintenance. Neatness counts.
#4. No matter where you are, you can get something on the air if you try.
#5. Sometimes "Good Enough" will have to do.
Setting up a station is easy if you give it some thought. Time spent at your station should be relaxing, not fatiguing. The more thought you put into setting up your station, the less tiring operating for long periods of time will be.
Of primary importance is the layout of your equipment. Before you can come up with a plan, you have to decide which radios and equipment require the greatest operator input. Keep in mind that the radio you use most is usually the one you will want right in front of you. The equipment you use least should be the farthest away from you. To see some ideas for station equipment layout, click (HERE).
Just as important, but seldom thought of is the back of the station. Someday you or someone else will need to get back there to make repairs. When that day comes, a little planning now will make it much easier to accomplish. If left alone, wires will naturally get themselves tangled together. Preventing this is easy with a little work. Time spent now will pay off when you go back there looking for trouble. To see my solution to wiring a station and keeping it neat, click (HERE).