[CQ-Contest] Station design and ergonomics

[Mike Ritz]

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 at gmail.com> 
To: "cq-contest at contesting.com" <CQ-contest at 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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