[R-390] WHATS IN A BOX??

[wa4aos at aol.com]

 Recently, I bought an HP 8566B spectrum analyzer for my electronics lab. The seller shipped the unit to me in a box made by Thermadore called a SHOC-STOP Box.. These are VERY TOUGH Hard Plastic boxes that are UPS and FedEx Proof. They are lined with very hard and dense foam. They are expensive, new, $300 to $500 and up depending on size. I studied the info at the Thermadore Web site as well as it's competitors and settled on the dimensions of 25x 25 x 22 for shipping R 390(A) receivers as I often do. 
I checked with ebay and found a seller who has a huge inventory of these containers, most are OD green but that is fine with me.. His cost was $50 each and a little over $50 each to ship them. I bought two of them to send out to customers who want me to fetch their units in for repair and or restoration. I had been using a couple of large cardboard boxes, one inside the other with 2 inch Styrofoam panels we cut to line each box. Although, the receivers were NEVER damaged coming in or going out, however, the outside box would be fairly ragged after 7 to 10 trips; this should be a non issue now with these boxes. 
The panels in these boxes had been pre-cut for some other equipment in the past but there was plenty there to cut and glue, with silicone rubber. to completely and securely surround a 390(A) with 4 to 10 inches of padding, depending on which side.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360235174774

The pads had been spot glued together but with a little finesse, they were separated, then cut and glued to fit the 390's. We thought about allowing some wiggle room for bubble wrap but the  foam panels are just PERFECT for a large heave receiver. 

I know many of the readers of this list would probably do their own repairs but I was thinking this might be a great way to transport your 390 should you move or just take it out for a weekend of fun.. Well, stranger things do happen.

Should the seller be out of the cases listed in the above link, his ebay name is    WATERYCHASE    
The cases I received were in VERY GOOD Condition and are expected to last for years to come.  

A few notes... This physical size calls for UPS oversize size 2 which presently will cost about $50 to ship one way across country empty; figure $100 to $120 with the receiver inside. Shipping is expensive but the extra spent for a great container is worth the cost. These boxes are actually a little smaller than the double box arrangements I normally use. 

Some UPS locations my charge a $7 Non Corrugated fee, or RIP OFF fee or MAD BECAUSE THEY CAN"t DESTROY THE CONTENTS fee.
I had several plastic lined, steel cables made up with a loop in each end and with steel crimp on clamps to secure the ends. Next time I ship one out, I'll install a combination lock on the cable around the box and send  the combination number to the customer via email, I will allow the shipper to view the contents before locking the box, should they care to.

Perhaps some readers of this list may be interested in a decent way of transporting their receivers for whatever reason..

73,
Glenn Scott WA4AOS
DSM Labs
www.dsmlabs.com
864 684 2956