Another option that may fit in the budget is to buy a monitor and use it
instead of the iMac display, that'd give you a lot more flexibility in
monitor location....
73, Ross N4RP
On 5/2/2014 7:49 AM, Joel Black wrote:
Shack layout is very personal. I get that. Laying out my shack is a
hobby within a hobby; however, I cannot seem to get it "just right."
My wife will walk by and just shake her head.
I bought a late 2012 27" iMac. The thing is a beast! You cannot adjust
the height of the monitor, but you can adjust the tilt. Compounding
this problem is that I wear bifocals. Those of you who wear bifocals
know that keeping your head tilted back trying to read the monitor is
a PITA! Also, trying to get it the right distance so words are sharp
is a pain. I *really* wish I had either bought the 21.5" iMac or a
MBP. I am stuck with what I have for the next several years. Although
my wife has a MBP, I don't think she'd be willing to trade that
portability. I don't have the money for a new computer and I have twin
daughters graduating high school next year so I am saving my pennies
for a laptop for each of them.
I have a very large desk at my operating position. It is 5' x 3'. It
is what I would call a wooden teacher's desk or a "not so fancy"
banker's desk. On the left side is a spring-loaded shelf for a
type-writer. I usually keep it inside in the down position and use it
as a bookshelf inside. The right side has three drawers. There is a
drawer in the middle. The left side is slightly larger than the right;
therefore, both the monitor and I sit a little off-center to the
right. I prefer to keep my monitor in the "center" to try and keep my
neck looking straight forward. I also have a two-drawer wooden file
cabinet that is the same height as my desk top. Although it is not as
deep, I can place it on either side of the desk to "extend" the length
of the desk.
I am right-handed. My radios are on the left; my keys (a paddle and a
bug) and computer mouse are on the right. I usually tune the radio by
placing the four fingers of my left hand on top of the radio and tune
with my left thumb. Most of my radio operations are done with my left
thumb. I do use my right hand to tune my P3. You can see my shack
layout on my QRZ page. That layout has changed a bit to where my K3/P3
are on the middle shelf now with both of them on the right side of
that shelf. I find it better to see both the K3 and the P3. The rotor
controller is under them and I have an FT-847 which is to the left of
the rotor controller. The FT-847 sees very little use. I don't do much
VHF/UHF FM from home and I don't yet have my antennas built for
satellite operations.
I have a somewhat minimal hamshack and I'd like to keep it that way.
iMac in the center of the desk and radios off to one side or the other
since the monitor is so large and raising it would put undue strain on
my neck. I love K5ND's layout (http://www.k5nd.net/), but putting that
monitor up is too much for me. There is no simple way to reduce the
*height* of the iMac either.
Would anyone be willing to take pictures of their shacks and sending
them to me? Those who have large monitors would be especially
appreciated. What have you done that makes your operation easier? I
plan on buying a sheet of plywood and making a new set of shelves for
my operating position, but I want some ideas too.
In the interest of list S/N ratio ;), please respond directly to me.
Thanks.
73,
Joel - W4JBB
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to n...@n4rp.com
--
FCC Section 97.313(a) “At all times, an amateur station must use the minimum
transmitter power necessary to carry out the desired communications.”
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
