[CQ-Contest] Rig placement and ergonomics

[Gary K9GS]

Hi Jim,

How about a picture??


73,

Gary K9GS
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
K9GS
Gary Schwartz           email: k9gs (at) arrl.net
Check out K9NS on the web: http://www.k9ns.com
Society of Midwest Contesters (SMC)     http://www.w9smc.com/
GMDXA http://www.eng.mu.edu/gmdxa/
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Smith" <jimsmith at shaw.ca>
To: "cq-contest reflector" <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 13, 2009 2:41 AM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Rig placement and ergonomics


> Hi John,
>
> I see lots of stations with:
> Keyboard on the desk
> Radio behind the keyboard
> Monitor on top of the radio.
>
> To tune the radio, as I often have to do, being a little pistol, you
> have to lean forward, reach over the keyboard and fiddle the knobs.  As
> you have discovered, this can be a real pain.  i.e. poor ergonomics.
> Probably not much of an issue, though, if all you do is run.
>
> To look at the monitor you have to take your eyes off the keyboard
> (that's right, I don't touch type but I can log 3-4 cw Qs per minute,
> sometimes 5) and tilt your head back a bit, thus putting a strain on
> your neck - another pain.
>
> My station:
> The op position is an L-shaped secretarial desk as was common in the
> days of typewriters.  One part of the L is the main desk surface with a
> height of 28-1/2".  The other part is called the "return".  It is 1-1/2"
> below the main desk surface.  This is where the typewriter used to be
> placed.
>
> So, my keyboard sits on the return which puts it at a better height for
> typing than the typical desk height.  The main desk surface is to my 
> right.
>
> The radio sits on the main desk surface to my right and is positioned in
> such a way that the radio is pretty well facing me and when I rest my
> right forearm on the main desk surface the tuning knob is about 3" away
> from my hand.   So all I have to do to reach it is pivot my arm slightly
> to the right using my elbow as the pivot point.  I don't even have to
> look at the radio to do this.
>
> The monitor, and to me this is really important, sits BEHIND (not on)
> the return and the bottom edge of the screen is about 2-3" BELOW the
> surface of the return.  This means that I never have to move my head to
> view either the keyboard or the monitor.  In addition, I find that this
> placement of the monitor results in a very comfortable position for my 
> body.
>
> I can op for 12 or more hours continuously and NEVER get a stiff neck or
> other discomfort, other than the normal stiffness for my age due to
> sitting for long periods.
>
> "And what age is that, pray tell?"  Well, I'm getting sensitive about it
> but I got my ticket in 1953.
>
> I have a second monitor mounted above the first on which I display
> things like DXAtlas, HamCAP, etc.  Looking at it does require raising
> the head but I'm not doing it all the time.
>
> Above the 2nd monitor I have a little scope, a phone patch, an AC VTVM
> and a frequency counter.  Above that I have an audio patch bay.
>
> Here's how this is all supported.
>
> The L shaped desk is shoved right up against two adjoining walls in the
> shack so the outside corner of the desk fits snugly into the inside
> corner of the two walls.
>
> I built an alcove (just like a closet but no door) right behind the
> keyboard.  It's about 22" wide and 36" deep and juts out into the
> basement.  It has adjustable shelves on which I can put all this gear
> (and a place at the bottom for power supplies and big battery) and it
> has a door at the back which gives me access to the back of the monitors
> etc. and makes it easy to move things in and out.  It also provides a
> convenient location for my Rig Runner DC distribution block and PWRGate
> auto switchover between AC and battery operation.
>
> The intent was that the door would normally be closed.  However, I found
> that, as one of the monitors is a CRT type, it got warmer than I liked
> in there so the door is normally open and, in summer time, I add a fan.
>
> I spent quite a bit of time thinking about how I wanted to set up the op
> position and I'm VERY happy with the result.  The only thing I would
> change would be to make the alcove a little wider to accommodate bigger
> monitors.
>
> Regarding your comment about clutter, remember the old design maxim,
> "Form follows function."
>
> Anyway, I don't for a moment suppose that you're going to tear your
> station apart and duplicate this.  I do hope that you found it to be of
> some interest.
>
> 73, Jim Smith VE7FO
>
>
> John Geiger wrote:
>> You can tell that the 10 meter contest has no propagation if I am sending 
>> out an email during it.
>>
>> Let me preface this question by saying that I don't want to computer 
>> control the rig.  I have tried that before with a TS-B2000 and didn't 
>> like it.  I say this because I am sure that it would be the answer many 
>> would reply with.
>>
>> Here is my situation.  On Thanksgiving day I hurt my right shoulder (I am 
>> right handed) and as it was getting better I reinjured it last weekend in 
>> the 160 contest by excessive tuning of the VFO dial.  The shack is set up 
>> on a computer center, and the rig is on the second shelf, right at eye 
>> level. This means I have to raise my arm to tune the VFO dial, and the 
>> excessive raising last weekend reirritated my shoulder.  This past week I 
>> would just use my left hand to tune the VFO and push buttons instead, but 
>> that was getting awkward, especially with the 10 meter contest coming up.
>>
>> Today I broke down and moved the rig to the desktop instead, so I don't 
>> have to raise my arm to turn the dial.  I really don't like it here as it 
>> looks a little more cluttered now with the rig, laptop, keyer paddles, 
>> and rotor control.  Plus is it closer to the line of fire when my 6 year 
>> old daughter is throwing things around the house.  However, this will 
>> have to do for now.
>>
>> Now here is my question:  Have others found that having the rig slightly 
>> lower than you is easier on the arms or shoulders over the long run than 
>> having to raise your arm to tune the rig?  I was hoping to eventually 
>> move it back to its original place, but if I run the risk of straining 
>> the shoulder more having it there, I might have to learn to live with it 
>> where it is.
>>
>> What has your experience taught you about rig placement?  Maybe there is 
>> a doctor or orthopeadist on the list who knows something about ergonomics 
>> and injury prevention.  I am using a Yaesu FT857D so I guess I could 
>> eventually remote mount the faceplate at a lower level and put the body 
>> of the rig where it used to be.
>>
>> Talk about a bummer way to start the 10 meter contest weekend.
>>
>> 73s John AA5JG
>>
>>
>>
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>>
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