I have my monitors (two) at the same plane as the radio, with the radio set to
the left so I can move the VFO knob with the left hand while using the right
hand to key the keyboard. I've operated at stations with elevated monitors and
found that with my bifocal glasses I ended up with a sore neck. Better to keep
things you need to look at down low, where the close-up part of the glasses
are. Within easy eye reach is also the SWR meter, and within easy left hand
reach is the noise phase cancelling box for the lowbands. which often needs to
be re-adjusted as I move within the bands.
Things that I don't need to get to on a continual basis are on higher shelves
(antenna tuner, antenna switches, etc., but still within reach while seated).
These are things I only need when changing bands, so they can be more
out-of-reach.
Having comfortable headsets surely helps. Make sure they are adjusted as to not
squish your ears. I take a few minute break ever couple of hours to get up and
move around. Just like in an airline on a long flight, it's unhealthy to stay
seated for long periods.
I have a pretty narrow SSB filter in my FT-2000 that can be selected. I don't
like using it unless I have to, as sometimes on weak signals they are easier to
understand when you have the full spectrum of their voice. Of course, when you
are on 20M and there are wall-to-wall signals it's a different matter! If you
are going to use the radio mostly for contesting the 1.9kHz filter will help!
Good luck, and see you in the next contest....
73;
Mike
W7VO
----- Original Message -----
From: "Timothy Holmes" <taholmes160@gmail.com>
To: "cq-contest@contesting.com" <CQ-contest@contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 7, 2017 5:32:00 AM
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Station design and ergonomics
Hi Folks:
Got to work the ARRL SSB DX INTERNATIONAL contest this weekend, and really
had a great time, made some amazing contacts on Saturday, (Tonga, Pitcairn,
Australia and New Zealand) and finished up with a score of about 32,000
points on 139 Qs.
While I was operating, I did notice some things that I have questions
about. Im currently operating on a desk that is 43 inches long, 23 inches
wide, and 26 inches high. I have an old office chair with an adjustable
height that I sit in. My computer monitor is elevated 9 ½ inches over the
desk top, putting it right at eye level. The problem is that I find myself
getting sore as I am contesting, and need to get up and move every so
often. I am curious to know how your stations are laid out and if there is
anything I can do to reduce fatigue and soreness as I contesting
likewise, I am also curious about how to avoid ear fatigue over the hours
of the contest – I try to keep my volume as low as possible, yet be able to
hear faint contacts, likewise, I use the phase reverse on my headphones
pretty often to change the sounds a bit and keep my hearing as sharp as
possible.
When it comes to preparing for the contest, what do you all do as far as
food, drink, sleep, supplements etc to give yourself stamina for the
contest and allow you to be able to functional the day after.
Lastly, I have found a 1.9 MHz SSB filter for my 706, I am wondering if
that will help in the crowded band conditions to cut down the noise and
allow me to narrow in on the signals that I am trying to hear.
Thanks in advance
TIM
W8TAH
--
Tim Holmes - W8TAH
Sent from my LG Stylo
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