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Author Topic: Desk Layout  (Read 730 times)

ZL1BBW

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Desk Layout
« on: October 03, 2020, 10:11:38 PM »

relaltively simple station.

Mainly 99% CW
Contesting probably 60%.

L  shaped desk.

Equipment: IC7610, OM2000+, GH rotator controller, double paddle key, obviously a big monitor and a keyboard that slides out under desk.

I presently have the 7610 on my LH side the amp tucked up in the corner screen in front of me with GH controller in front /under that and the key on my RHS as I am RHanded.

Has anyone done any ergonomic designs on the best contest layout?

Just wondering before I move into the new shack and am thinking that it works OK, but sometimes I feel it is not great.

Thanks  Gavin ZM1M
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ex MN Radio Officer, Portishead Radio GKA, BT Radio Amateur Morse Tester.  Licensed as G3YCP ZL1DAB, now taken over my father (sk) call as ZL1BBW.

W9FIB

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Re: Desk Layout
« Reply #1 on: October 04, 2020, 03:53:19 AM »

You may get many answers and all of them are personal opinion based. The only real answer is what "works" for you. That may take some trial and error to find that perfect set up.

I have changed my set up many times over the years. Each time I try to incorporate new ideas and making serviceability the key goal, functionality a close second, and looks being a distant third.

But as said, its my opinion of what "works" for me.

Good luck and have fun!
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73, Stan
Travelling the world one signal at a time.

WA9AFM

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Re: Desk Layout
« Reply #2 on: October 04, 2020, 06:38:30 AM »

As mentioned, what works for you is the best setup.

Something I did at my previous QTH.  We lived there for 29 years, but every couple of years, I would take the station completely apart, mostly for a good clearing, but I would also try new configurations.  Despite the attempts at change, I usually ended up with all the goodies in about the same place.  You will find the best setup by operating on a day to day basis.
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K1KP

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Re: Desk Layout
« Reply #3 on: October 04, 2020, 12:46:40 PM »

Couple of suggestions:

1. Turn your PC (assuming its a tower) around backwards. I'm always plugging/unplugging stuff at the back of the PC, and never use the CD drive, so turning it around makes life easier.

2. Keyboard front and center, monitor over keyboard. Main radio to  right of keyboard (assuming you are right handed, on left if left handed). Amp on the other side.

3. If possible, mount the monitor on an adjustable arm on the wall behind the desk instead of using the supplied base. This frees up desktop space under the monitor for accessories.

-Tony, K1KP
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ZL1BBW

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Re: Desk Layout
« Reply #4 on: October 04, 2020, 02:29:13 PM »

Thanks folks.

I think a lot will be resolved in the clean up.

Monitor bracket, yes must do, present location is against a window so a bit difficult, new one will be against a wall so can do a bracket there, must get one.

I always have the radio on the left, then can keep sending while tuning up n down, also that is how it was commercially so spent too many years like that.

Looking at it and at others much more pristine stations, I have too much clutter, so will put the 3 spare keys away and put a bit of open channel to route the USB cords through and move the PC to the LH side to reduce the amount of over desk traffic.

Thanks, hopefully it will end up better.

Cheers  Gavin
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ex MN Radio Officer, Portishead Radio GKA, BT Radio Amateur Morse Tester.  Licensed as G3YCP ZL1DAB, now taken over my father (sk) call as ZL1BBW.

K1JRF

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Re: Desk Layout
« Reply #5 on: October 04, 2020, 09:52:35 PM »

Hi Gavin,
Curious post and I've sometimes wondered about someone's "handedness" when viewing pics of ops shacks. Myself I am "heavily" right handed in life. With the exception of playing my guitar neck with my left hand/fingers my left hand is pretty non functional in my life. That is reflected in any iteration of my main operating desk. The center is my keyboard and monitor, left is monitor two. My icom 7300, Heath amp, tuner and remote antenna switch are all solidly on the right. My desk Mic is slightly left of center but it's controlled by my right foot!
I never really thought of it until now but my electronics repair bench pretty much is also skewed to the right side. Equipment I need to fiddle with on the right, parts drawers stacked on the left.
My vintage table is evenly set up and I think it's more for display than function but I do position my chair to the left of the rig I am operating to give my right hand easy açess.
Never really thought to much about being this way until now but there ya go. And pa lese folks no right/left political jokes:)
John K1JRF
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ZL1BBW

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Re: Desk Layout
« Reply #6 on: October 05, 2020, 02:28:09 AM »

Hi John,  I had never really thought about this until recently, when looking at the general run of pics, its all pretty standard, but does that make it the best, or is there a best.

Have now concluded that I will reset some things and have a play around.

This is typical of where I spent many hours.  https://twitter.com/portisheadgka/status/1290724696003153922

As for the political jokes, we have a general election coming up here in 3 weeks or so, the sky is full of flying money machines and every tree you shake allows Billions of dollars to fall, luckily with MMP it is truly the will of the electoral majority that sorts out who wins and who if anyone they need to form a government with, last term it was Labour and NZ First with the greens on the sideline and the others all in opposition.
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ex MN Radio Officer, Portishead Radio GKA, BT Radio Amateur Morse Tester.  Licensed as G3YCP ZL1DAB, now taken over my father (sk) call as ZL1BBW.

PU2OZT

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Re: Desk Layout
« Reply #7 on: October 06, 2020, 10:42:35 AM »

No more insights? in the lack of propagation lust and while tinkering at my antenna, it's a topic I am watching. I personnally like the idea  https://www.qrz.com/db/DM2LI of sitting close to the rig, stacking everything, leaving space beneath for the keys (keyboard etc). How much of a radio-room is suitable for a contest station?
And, dare I, these GKA operating desks, how much uncomfortable were they?

Oliver
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ZL1BBW

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Re: Desk Layout
« Reply #8 on: October 06, 2020, 03:00:25 PM »

No more insights? in the lack of propagation lust and while tinkering at my antenna, it's a topic I am watching. I personnally like the idea  https://www.qrz.com/db/DM2LI of sitting close to the rig, stacking everything, leaving space beneath for the keys (keyboard etc). How much of a radio-room is suitable for a contest station?
And, dare I, these GKA operating desks, how much uncomfortable were they?

Oliver

Well they weren't too bad I suppose, at least the place didn't rock n roll around like at sea.

It was set up LH for the RX and using the round RX aerial direction selector just by the RX.  RH hand for keying and selecting which TX you could grab for sending outgoing tfc on, if it was just receiving tfc  u juts piled onto GKC or GKD like everyone else,  conveyor belt down the middle to drop the rcvd tfc into, and a log book, that was yr lot.

The chairs were ok, better than the new rollaround ones that tipped over if you nodded off in them at night.

Oh, and enough space for the morning cuppa and bacon roll, afternoon cuppa and cake.

Have now finished painting the new shack, so let that dry off real well and maybe move in later in the week.

See Ya
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ex MN Radio Officer, Portishead Radio GKA, BT Radio Amateur Morse Tester.  Licensed as G3YCP ZL1DAB, now taken over my father (sk) call as ZL1BBW.
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