Station Ergonomics

[KWIDELITZ at delphi.com]

Hi Rick,

One thing that I feel is VERY important to your planning is rear access. I
have an L shaped configuration. I wound up putting in an access closet
behind the right side of the L so I can get behind all the equipment easily
(I'm left handed so the transceivers on on my right.) The closet took out a
piece of the XYL's office, but she got credit for a major birthday present.
My shack is in the garage that has been converted to an office suite. I work
out of the shack (or ham out of the office.) I have removable panels that
are recessed 2" from the wall behind the L. That allows cables to drop from
the desktop level without having to look into an ugly closet. I have shelves
above the desktop level for the amps and tuners. Those cables run behind the
removable panels so they are not visable, but are easily accessable.

I have my tabletop at 29", which is pretty standard desktop height. I found
my forearms got sore after hours of contesting, so I modified football
forearm pads, which are held in place with velcro. Problem solved.

I built the station around the computer, as my hands are on the keyboard
and eyes on the monitor more than on the radio knobs and readouts. The
transceivers are just a few inches away to the right and sit where the L
makes its intersection. 

I also recommend drilling 3" access holes every few feet along the rear of
the L so cables can be dropped below the desktop. I believe cables should be
used but not seen. The only cables visable from the front of my station are
the mic and headphone plugs as they enter the transceivers.

73. Ken, AB6FO, KWIDELITZ at DELPHI.COM

>From wylie at cqm.co.uk (Tom Wylie)  Sat Mar 23 20:37:01 1996
From: wylie at cqm.co.uk (Tom Wylie) (Tom Wylie)
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 1996 20:37:01 GMT
Subject: County Hunting Help
Message-ID: <199603232037.UAA20624 at hippy.colloquium.co.uk>

Hi there and thanks for reading this.  I am a US County Hunter and after making
some 1900 QSOs in the recent AARL Contest would like to try to
boost my totals.    Now its a long wait for QSLs, so I though, when I saw
it at a local Rally I would purchase the CD Rom - QRZ.
Unfortunately this only gives ZIP Codes and not Counties.   Is there a CD
which includes Counties, or is there a programme lurking on the net which
would convert ZIPs to Counties.   
I think the US Posts and Telegraphs has a book of Zips and Counties, has this
been digitized?

73 to all and thanks for reading this plea for help.
Tom Wylie    =    WYLIE at Colloquium.co.uk


Colloquium Internet


>From Hans Brakob <71111.260 at compuserve.com>  Sat Mar 23 21:20:01 1996
From: Hans Brakob <71111.260 at compuserve.com> (Hans Brakob)
Date: 23 Mar 96 16:20:01 EST
Subject: Lost foot switch cure
Message-ID: <960323212001_71111.260_EHM157-1 at CompuServe.COM>

The better half of my multi-op contesting team, N0PGL, has found the
perfect way to "stabilize" your foot switch so you're not blindly
groping around with your toes under the desk every 15 minutes during
a contest.

The product, called "Pedal-Sta II", is available at most fabric 
stores.  (Turns out sewing machines do not operate VOX.)

It consists of a sheet of flexible but heavy clear plastic (like 
the mats you see under office chairs), about 12 inches wide and
18 inches long. Toward the "front" of the sheet (away from the
operator) is an 8"x8" area covered with Velcro, and the package
includes two more generous peices of the "opposite" velcro with
a sticky back which you attach to the bottom of your foot switch.

The manufacturer is:
 
  PEDAL-STA CO. Inc
  24520A Windsor Dr
  Valencia, CA 91355

Price was about 8.00 bucks.

73, de Hans, K0HB

PS: I have no connection with the producer of this product, but
their model certainly has shapely ankles!