FWIW, I have the monitor on the desk between the two radios. I'm
right-handed, so I keep the run radio on the left and the S&P radio on the
right. Most of the time when I'm running I hardly touch the run radio at all
(an FT-1000MP). My hands are mostly on the keyboard. When possible, I use my
right hand to tune the second radio, an FT-990, for S&P. It seems to me that
in this modern age, program ergonomics play a much larger role than radio
ergonomics. That said, when my run radio was a TS-950SDX, the two sets of
volume controls ended up right next to the monitor (Kenwood puts 'em on the
right and Yaesu puts 'em on the left.) That was nice.
73, Dick WC1M
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-na-user@contesting.com
[mailto:owner-na-user@contesting.com]On Behalf Of
dap14@daimlerchrysler.com
Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 1999 3:07 PM
To: na-user@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [na-user] 2nd Radio QSOs
The subject of ergonomics with regards to the computer (in reality, the
monitor
is the issue) and two radios has not been given much public discussion. I
have
always preferred to have the monitor above the radio so that I could operate
it
with both hands. When doing SO2R, the second radio winds up to the side of
the
first, which is less convenient because you can only run it with one hand.
A second keyboard and monitor makes it easier to operate the radio its in
front
of, but the ergonomics to the second radio are really horrible so you're not
likely to use it as much. This is the logic behind the SO2R functionality
included in NA and TRLog.
Although N6RT has an interlock when he operates at W6EEN, I'll bet that a
bunch
of the "two computer" guys are relying on their own discipline to not
simultaneously transmit. As some of us have learned the hard way, good
intentions aren't a guarantee. Its not that they're bad people.
I got really annoyed during this last SS CW with my setup. With my bifocals
(its a bitch getting old...), I had to wear my glasses down on my nose in
order
to see the radio clearly. As a result I had to tilt my head rearward to be
able
to read the CHECK PARTIAL window near the top of the screen. My main setup
has
a NEC 4FG 15" monitor parked on a shelf just above the FT-1000D. I really
need
a smaller monitor, or else at least remove the swivel base from the monitor.
Maybe we can fix this in software - make NA run in an optional 50 line mode
with
the program window in the lower half of the screen.
Bill, does anyone still sell the small VGAs like you have? What I really
need
is a desktop 12" LCD monitor.
I really wish I could adapt to a setup like I've seen in pictures of K1AR @
K1EA, with the two radios stacked one over the other and the monitor to the
side. This is probably a good setup when running when you can work the
radio
with one hand (the usual K1AR mode :-)) but less cool when tuning the radio
or
switching antennas when digging out mults.
For what its worth.
73,
Dave/K8CC
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