RE: [digitalradio] PC Monitors for ham use?
I'm using a Samsung SyncMaster 215TW LCD display which is 16X9 format, and 22 diagonal screen .. The nice thing about this monitor is that it has all of the inputs for component video, S-video, A/V video, digital TV, and SVGA computer video... Elaine / wa6ube -Original Message- From: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Andrew O'Brien Sent: Friday, August 31, 2007 9:42 PM To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Subject: [digitalradio] PC Monitors for ham use? Any thoughts on a wide screen PC monitor versus a standard screen? I'm thinking of adding a 21 inch wide screen. Andy K3UK
Re: [digitalradio] PC Monitors for ham use?
Andy, I got an Acer AL2016W 20 widescreen LCD monitor for $188. I expected junk, but have been pleasantly surprised. Very important to me is the fact that the interference I used to have from the CRT on HF completely disappeared - or at least moved out of the ham bands! Even more important is the fact that I can now fit all of my DXLab windows on one monitor! It also has inputs for analog or digital video, although it doesn't have built in speakers, or TV input. It was also the only one in my price range that had a 3-year warranty. If you do decide to get one, a couple of tips. Get the fastest refresh rate you can afford. This one is 5 ms, and I get no streaking or smearing with video or games. I hear that 8 ms refresh rate can do that, but haven't seen it for myself. Also, as soon as you get the monitor hooked up, download a pixel-checking program, such as Dead Pixel Buddy. Some LCD monitors will have dead pixels in varying quantities. A few scattered around the display may not be noticeable, but several clumped together can make an obvious hole in your display. Find out in advance what the return policy is for dead pixels! Some manufacturers hide the fact that they won't allow an exchange unless there is a certain number of dead ones! Lots of sizes and makes out there now, and prices keep dropping. Have fun shopping! 73 Dave KB3MOW Andrew O'Brien wrote: Any thoughts on a wide screen PC monitor versus a standard screen? I'm thinking of adding a 21 inch wide screen.
Re: [digitalradio] PC Monitors for ham use?
Thanks for the tips guys. Like Dave KB3MOW, having DX LAB suite nicely displayed is one of my goals.The one I am leaning toward has a 5MS rating. Andy K3UK On 9/1/07, Dave 'Doc' Corio [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Andy, I got an Acer AL2016W 20 widescreen LCD monitor for $188. I expected junk, but have been pleasantly surprised. Very important to me is the fact that the interference I used to have from the CRT on HF completely disappeared - or at least moved out of the ham bands! Even more important is the fact that I can now fit all of my DXLab windows on one monitor! It also has inputs for analog or digital video, although it doesn't have built in speakers, or TV input. It was also the only one in my price range that had a 3-year warranty. If you do decide to get one, a couple of tips. Get the fastest refresh rate you can afford. This one is 5 ms, and I get no streaking or smearing with video or games. I hear that 8 ms refresh rate can do that, but haven't seen it for myself. Also, as soon as you get the monitor hooked up, download a pixel-checking program, such as Dead Pixel Buddy. Some LCD monitors will have dead pixels in varying quantities. A few scattered around the display may not be noticeable, but several clumped together can make an obvious hole in your display. Find out in advance what the return policy is for dead pixels! Some manufacturers hide the fact that they won't allow an exchange unless there is a certain number of dead ones! Lots of sizes and makes out there now, and prices keep dropping. Have fun shopping! 73 Dave KB3MOW Andrew O'Brien wrote: Any thoughts on a wide screen PC monitor versus a standard screen? I'm thinking of adding a 21 inch wide screen.
Re: [digitalradio] PC Monitors for ham use?
I have seen some multi screen shacks. In fact, I think one ham has 5 screens for various functions, some of which are dual screens with one computer. My idea was to keep things a bit simpler so I wanted only one screen that was at the right distance for my limited eyesight accommodation. In fact, I have some computer glasses which have a large upper area set to the screen distance and the lower for reading distance. It makes a huge difference for me compared to trying to see the screen with the center of my trifocals. Progressive lenses have a very small sweet spot for a given distance so I have not gone that route either. My 22 Samsung 225BW works well with either Windows XP or Vista as long as you insure that the screen is connected to and turned on when you boot up the computer as it has to detect and set the screen parameters. Otherwise, it can look as bad as it does with Linux OS and that is completely unacceptable to me. Other advantages of a large widescreen is the ability to play widescreen movies to match the screen size (larger) and it makes it easier to bring up two documents you are working between and drag and drop as needed. The one downside is that you don't necessarily have more real estate to work with, it is just wider and because of that, you make not see as many lines of text in a document as you would with a 4:3 monitor. As you probably have noticed, almost all the monitors sold now are widescreen. Same trend with notebook computers. 73, Rick, KV9U Andrew O'Brien wrote: Any thoughts on a wide screen PC monitor versus a standard screen? I'm thinking of adding a 21 inch wide screen. Andy K3UK
Re: [digitalradio] PC Monitors for ham use?
Hi Rick and Andy: I have a Olevia 37 wide screen HD that I use in the shack. Res is wonderful and can watch HD tv and HD videos on it as well.. will work on xp and vista, and they have gotten very cheap ( compared to when I bought this one -- it was 1300 dollars now, I look around and can find same one for 699). Have never regretted the large HD screen New ones have HDMI input as well,, make sure if for the shack monitor has DVI input ( and computer has DVI out) or res will not be as good ( and can even be poor). Use mostly for Digital SSTV ( EZPal and MMSSTV) but these are just a few.. MixW and all the digital modes. If you get a large screen you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. Garrett / AA0OI - Original Message From: Rick [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, September 1, 2007 1:37:04 PM Subject: Re: [digitalradio] PC Monitors for ham use? I have seen some multi screen shacks. In fact, I think one ham has 5 screens for various functions, some of which are dual screens with one computer. My idea was to keep things a bit simpler so I wanted only one screen that was at the right distance for my limited eyesight accommodation. In fact, I have some computer glasses which have a large upper area set to the screen distance and the lower for reading distance. It makes a huge difference for me compared to trying to see the screen with the center of my trifocals. Progressive lenses have a very small sweet spot for a given distance so I have not gone that route either. My 22 Samsung 225BW works well with either Windows XP or Vista as long as you insure that the screen is connected to and turned on when you boot up the computer as it has to detect and set the screen parameters. Otherwise, it can look as bad as it does with Linux OS and that is completely unacceptable to me. Other advantages of a large widescreen is the ability to play widescreen movies to match the screen size (larger) and it makes it easier to bring up two documents you are working between and drag and drop as needed. The one downside is that you don't necessarily have more real estate to work with, it is just wider and because of that, you make not see as many lines of text in a document as you would with a 4:3 monitor. As you probably have noticed, almost all the monitors sold now are widescreen. Same trend with notebook computers. 73, Rick, KV9U Andrew O'Brien wrote: Any thoughts on a wide screen PC monitor versus a standard screen? I'm thinking of adding a 21 inch wide screen. Andy K3UK Ready for the edge of your seat? Check out tonight's top picks on Yahoo! TV. http://tv.yahoo.com/
Re: [digitalradio] PC Monitors for ham use?
and what about dual monitors for ham use versus a wide screen single system ? On 9/1/07, Andrew O'Brien [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Any thoughts on a wide screen PC monitor versus a standard screen? I'm thinking of adding a 21 inch wide screen. Andy K3UK __._,_._