[RTTY] Point-and-click vs typing

Sun Oct 5 15:29:07 EDT 2014

Then  I have to ask: what size keyboards are being used, in two computer, two keyboard, one hand per keyboard operation?

I'm not disagreeing; I'm just trying to get a picture in my head so I can understand the arrangement...and consider whether it might be better for me than what I do today.

By way of background: I drive three computers (and five monitors) at least five days a week.  I use a single full-sized keyboard (with numeric keypad -- a must for work, and I like it for contests with serial number exchanges).

Two keyboards won't comfortably fit on my desk, at least not without eating space for other stuff (paper, files, CW paddle), but even if space weren't a concern, I have a hard time imagining moving back and forth among keyboards all day: too much back-and forth motion in the arms and back.

Now, I'll admit that I hadn't considered the possibility of one hand per keyboard operation; I'm too hardwired into using both hands, unless it's a hand-on-trackball/hand-on-keys operation.  But is it really possible to get two keyboards positioned so that they aren't stressfully far apart and comfortably angled?  If using non-keypaded keyboards, how do you find contests with serial exchanges?

Regarding the switching overhead -- my experience has been that it's not really a huge problem.  Now, I will admit that for SO2R I use a single computer, but in fast switching among spreadsheets/database/email usage, using hotkeys or a trackball, it's seamless (admittedly with decent computers and a fast wired network).

I could see, however, that in an environment where every keystroke counts, the incremental key presses for hotkey-switching would be undesirable, and that mouse users might find having to scroll the pointer from one machine to the next tedious (that's a factor in my using a trackball; moving from one machine to the next just requires a firm thumb motion on my trackball).
-- 
Michael Adams | N1EN | mda at n1en.org

> On Sat, Oct 4, 2014 at 11:59 PM, Don Hill AA5AU <aa5au at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> 
> > Ditto... Ed has it right and his scores prove it.
> >
> > Switching the same keyboard and/or mouse between two PCs is a huge
> > waste of time and effort. Running SO2R with separate keyboards is
> > actually ergonomic since you can relax your hands at the base of each
> > keyboard when no action is required at a particular time. It's this
> > small amount of "rest" that is actually particularly important,
> > especially when you start to age! A continuous effort of switching
> > between PCs or in the case of a single PC, switching the focus between
> > two radios is energy consuming and therefore counter-productive to
> > efficient SO2R or SO3R operation.
> >
> > 73, Don AA5AU
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: RTTY [mailto:rtty-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Ed Muns
> > Sent: Saturday, October 04, 2014 10:48 PM
> > To: rtty at contesting.com
> > Subject: Re: [RTTY] Point-and-click vs typing
> >
> > Multiplicity and other KVM switches are inadequate for one-PC/radio
> > contesting.  The context switching overhead kills the ability to run
> > multiple radios effectively, efficiently and fast in high-rate
> > contesting.
> > Yes, KVMs "work", but that's not nearly good enough for this application.
> >
> > In SO2R RTTY contesting, for example, I have one hand on the keyboard
> > associated with each radio.  I can time and synchronize runs on each
> > radio with a single key press.  There is no time available to also be
> > doing context switching for every key press, to move the UI from one
> > PC to another.  That effectively doubles the amount of key presses or
> > actions needed to accomplish the same results.
> > It is an unnecessary additional action that has to be made thousands
> > of times during a weekend's contest.
> > Furthermore, it is far too easy to inadvertently wind up on the wrong PC.
> > With distinct, separate keyboards/trackballs/LCDs, that seldom, if
> > ever, happens.
> >
> > If I wanted to run SO2R from a single UI (keyboard/mouse/monitor), I'd
> > simply use the native SO2R capability built into the contest logging
> > software.
> >
> > KVM make sense when the amount of typing or key presses on each PC is
> > far greater than the key presses, or other action, to switch between
> > PCs.  That is not the case in radio sport.
> >
> > Ed W0YK
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Michael N1EN wrote:
> >
> > If you're using one-computer-per-radio and are using Windows, take a
> > look at Multiplicity (http://edgerunner.com/multiplicity)
> >
> > Multiplicity is a virtual KVM switch.  You run it on two or more
> > computers, and it allows you to take mouse and keyboard input from one
> > computer to drive multiple computers connected via IP.  Properly set
> > up, the effect is similar to having multiple monitors on your desk.
> >
> > I've been using it for years.  It isn't necessarily intuitive to set
> > up, and I have had an occasional glitch, but it beats having multiple
> > keyboards and multiple mice/trackballs if you have to use multiple
> > computers.
> >
> > Warning: if using it for with shack computers that will be doing
> > digital modes, I recommend disabling audio-sharing between computers
> > in Multiplicity.
> >
> > There is (was?) also a free, multi-platform program called Synergy
> > that claims to do much the same thing.  I tried it several years ago;
> > at that time it had issues, but if it's still around and actively
> > maintained, I suspect it has improved.
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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