Over the past few weeks, I’ve finally completed a long-awaited project: a comprehensive renovation and technical upgrade of my main shack in the attic. As many of you know, I operate two shacks – one in the conservatory, which I use mostly during the summer months for quick and easy access to local VHF/UHF nets, and my primary shack in the attic, which is ideal for focused operation during the colder half of the year. This attic shack has now received a much-needed overhaul – both technically and ergonomically.
More Space, Better Organization
The desk in the attic shack has been enlarged to comfortably fit all equipment. Cabling is now neatly routed along the back of the desk, creating a clean, organized look and making it easier to keep everything tidy. My classic FT-736R has also been moved upstairs and is now back in regular use, especially for 2m, 70cm, and 23cm.
Lighting, Comfort, and Smart Control
One of the highlights of the renovation is the new indirect ambient lighting, which can be color-adjusted to support concentration during long operating sessions. Naturally, it’s fully integrated into my smart home system and can be controlled via voice – perfect for contest weekends when your hands are full.
To improve comfort, I’ve added a new ergonomic chair, making long operating hours much easier on the back. I also added two new Lenovo monitors, which significantly improve the visibility and usability of logging software, SDR apps, and digital modes.
Networking and Connectivity
An old annoyance is now history: the network dropouts I experienced during digital modes (especially in the 80m band) are gone. Instead of relying on an unreliable Ethernet run, I’ve installed a Ubiquiti UniFi Access Point directly in the shack. The shack PC is now connected via fast and stable Wi-Fi, so I could get rid of my workaround installed fiber link with switches and its power supplies.
Antenna System Improvements
Alongside the shack renovation, I’ve also improved the antenna setup. One major convenience upgrade: I can now switch the HF antenna feed from the attic shack to the conservatory shack from the ground floor – no more plugging and unplugging or climbing stairs to re-route cables.
The Diamond X50 (for 2m, 70cm, and 23cm), which was previously mounted on the conservatory roof, has been relocated to the front roof section above the attic and now terminates directly in the attic shack. I also installed a coax switch allowing me to route the signal back down to the conservatory shack when needed.
Finally, I built a small but practical RF switch, allowing me to easily toggle between my modern FT-991A and the vintage FT-736R in the VHF/UHF range – perfect for A/B comparisons or for joining in on nostalgic.
Conclusion
With this renovation, my attic shack is now technically up-to-date, more comfortable, and future-proof. Winter can come – and with it, many exciting QSOs, DX evenings, and contest weekends.
And for quick contacts in summer, my smaller but practical conservatory shack remains ready to go.