Customer Reviews

Middle Atlantic UTR1 - Rack shelf - black powder coat - 1U - 19"

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love the UTR1; it's the perfect size for small non-rack-mount devices, such as modems, routers, power packs, etc. They're the perfect depth to fit behind my Cisco 6500 switches in my enclosures, making the rear rack space actually useful. They come with two strips of double-sided velcro tape which you can use on your devices to secure them better to the shelf so they don't slide around. The design of the vented bottom also lets you easily tie down cables and such.

I'm using the shelf to mount (2) half-width mic preamps in a standard 2-high portable electronics enclosure. The Middle Atlantic unit is well made and well finished. It's fine for a fixed (non-mobile) situation. It's strong enough not to warp when used to support almost any possible equipment. However, it is heavy steel, and is overkill for my (2) 2lb preamps. For portable use, an aluminium version would be much preferable.

Even with the elaborate slot pattern punched through the shelf, none of the holes lined up with the mounting bolts on the (2) small chassis I was mounting. It was no problem drilling a few holes with a drill press to allow the chassis to be positioned properly. Middle Atlantic does supply some adhesive backed hook and loop strips to use, but if the item you're mounting is a full rack space height, the hook and loop fastener takes up too much space to be used.

This is very high quality shelf. It is a very good size for small non-rack networking devices. The short depth and vented design provides excellent air flow. The only improvement I would of liked is vents on the sides because many devices use side venting. I really like the fact that there are no lips on the front and back that can block lights and interfere with cables. It comes with double sided tape if you are worried about equipment moving. One other small issue is that because there are no lips for reinforcement, the shelf tends to flex very slightly and may not be level in the center. This is not really a problem unless you were going to put something very heavy on it.

This thing seems ok at first blush, but it is quite small and not all that rugged when you know what other 1U shelves are out there. This was confirmed when I ordered a deeper 1U shelf from Gator Cases:

http://www.amazon.com/Gator-Cases-Utility-Elongated-15-Inch/dp/B001ECQQ9C/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1302551342&sr=8-2

This is a seriously stout piece that is much larger and makes the UTR1 look flimsy in comparison. Throw in the fact that the Gator Cases unit is only $10 more and the UTR1 looks overpriced as well.

So, If you need "small and light" over "durable and spacious", then the UTR1 may be fine. However, I would plan on buying Velcro to secure anything you place on the shelf. Otherwise, it will not take much tilting to have your expensive gear sliding onto the floor because there is no lip on this shelf either.