[UK-CONTEST] CQ WW CW GM0F SOAB HP

[Ian White, G3SEK]

Stewart Wrote:

>This year, the big thing to 'sort' is a decent chair.


>This year, the big thing to 'sort' is a decent chair.

The Office World high-back chair with arms is a good buy at about £47. 
Seat height, backrest height and backrest angle are all adjustable.

I've worked comfortably in one all day long for several years, and it 
spins round to become the operating seat.

Another big problems for operating is the keyboard position. If the 
table is the right height (relative to the chair seat) for comfortable 
radio/key operating, then it's way too high for a keyboard. Having to 
sit bolt upright to peck at the keyboard will really kill your back. A 
laptop keyboard is even worse - old laptops are even higher off the 
table, and modern ones make you reach even further to get at the keys. 
Also laptop keyboards are flat, but they really need to be tilted - 
especially when you're reaching for the F-keys so often.

Some kind of lower-level keyboard shelf in front of the operating table 
is a must for long sessions. Alternatively the keyboard can be hung over 
the edge of the table at a fairly steep angle. (I use the former for 
work, the latter for radio, and both are OK for me.)

It's also good to have the screen somewhere fairly low in your natural 
relaxed line of sight, in other words down on the table and not stacked 
on a shelf that makes you crick your neck back. If you're not a 
touch-typist and need to look at both the screen and the keyboard, 
that's even more important.

However, other people's comfort zone may vary!


[Too shy to report my contest results...]

-- 
73 from Ian G3SEK         'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)
                            Editor, 'The VHF/UHF DX Book'
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek