[CQ-Contest] Size of Dual Monitors

[Bill Hider]

Hi Dick,

Almost exactly 1 year ago, I was where you are now in the SO2R planning
stages.

Two quick things:

1.  The monitor position you mention is too high.  Long-term neck, back,
head & eye fatigue, or worse, may set in for operators who must look upward
at monitors for extended periods of time.  My experience in corporate
America bears this out.  Long ago, corporate and OSHA research have
determined that PC monitors must be viewed "downward"; lowering the users'
look angle to where the head is physically pointing down at the monitors
will reduce such physical stress.

2. When I did the monitor size research you are asking for, I measured
dozens of monitors at local PC big-box stores.  I used the monitors' visible
screen area, in square inches, as my unit of measure.  I wanted to maximize
the visual (PC desktop) real estate and minimize the actual desktop
footprint since I was able to design my shack operating position from
scratch.  I learned that the square monitor did not provide optimal real
estate.  So, I went with the modern flat-screen format.  My process of
measuring monitors' visual screen area allowed me to more precisely simulate
my operating conditions for placement of my N1MM windows before I purchased
anything.  I ultimately selected LED screen technology.  

And after 9 months and 14 contests using my new shack, I am quite pleased
with these two decisions.

I recommend you take a look at my complete write-up on all this on my
website for further details.

My website: http://users.erols.com/n3rr
Click on any of the SO2R links.

I'll be glad to answer any further questions you may have.

73!

Bill, N3RR


-----Original Message-----
From: CQ-Contest [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
Dick Flanagan
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2014 4:29 AM
To: cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Size of Dual Monitors

I need help from the Masters.

I am in the planning stages of a SO2R station.  The center piece will be the
two radios and two LED computer displays above the radios.  The displays
will be side-by-side and supporting all of the
contesting/logging/propagation windows driven by one central contesting
computer.  I could be talked into having two computers--one for each
display--but I would appreciate if that discussion were held another day.

Today I am looking for assistance in choosing the proper LED display
terminals. What is the optimal size of these monitors?  They can be long and
skinny or basically square.  Has experience shown that one particular screen
size and/or aspect radio to be better than another in this application?  I
am partial to Samsung, but I can be talked out of that too if appropriate.

The displays will be mounted above the radios slightly above eye level with
their fronts basically even with the front panel of the radios.  No
wall-mounted monitors here.

Once the displays are chosen, then possible we can wander off into the one
vs. two computer forest.

So those of you with two terminals displays, let us know what you hate about
them, what you love, what you would do different.  Help me avoid the
mistakes I am destined to make without your help.

Needless to say, Thank YOU!

--
Dick Flanagan K7VC
dick at k7vc.com

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