Hello All,
The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter as I complete my shack renovations. Soon I will be at the all important stage of figuring out the best way to locate radios, computers, logbooks etc.
This brings to mind a couple of questions.
1) Apart from the extra rotator controllers, the computer running a tracking program and the pre-dominance of VHF and UHF radios, are there any other accessories etc that distinguish a satellite operator from a 'normal' operator?
2) Given that you really find out how good you are when the PC crashes halfway during a QSO and you then have to manually operate two radios for Doppler shift and two rotator controllers as well as mic/key, what controls do you operate with each hand? Would a footswitch for PTT be worthwhile?
3) My planned layout is (from left to right): 19" rack holding various bits of equipment that I don't generally need to touch, TS-811 for 70cm, K3 for 2m, rotator control box, and computer. Eventually I will build a switchbox to use one headset between the two radios and place this between them. Though I have a TNC, I rarely do any digital work. Does this seem a logical layout for a right handed person? I will have the luxury of using a larger desk than before and the layout will be more horizontal than vertical.
Contesters spend some effort on the ergonomics of their station. Any advice on how I could get mine right would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
73 de David VK5DG (who is looking forward to getting back on the air).
David,
I find that a headset/mic and a footswitch are a must. I did spend a large portion of my life using a footswitch in my work as a train dispatcher though so maybe I'm predisposed to that, but it sure frees up the hands for whatever else you might want to do. As for the manual operation, being right handed I always did the tuning with my right hand and the antennas with my left because the antennas are a bit more forgiving whereas the tuning requires a bit more accuracy. And so, even though it's all PC controlled now, my rotator controller and radio are still positioned for such.
73, Jerry N0JY
Hello All,
The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter as I complete my shack renovations. Soon I will be at the all important stage of figuring out the best way to locate radios, computers, logbooks etc.
This brings to mind a couple of questions.
- Given that you really find out how good you are when the PC crashes
halfway during a QSO and you then have to manually operate two radios for Doppler shift and two rotator controllers as well as mic/key, what controls do you operate with each hand? Would a footswitch for PTT be worthwhile?
On 10/07/2010 09:47 AM, David Giles wrote:
Hello All,
The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter as I complete my shack renovations. Soon I will be at the all important stage of figuring out the best way to locate radios, computers, logbooks etc.
This brings to mind a couple of questions.
- Apart from the extra rotator controllers, the computer running a
tracking program and the pre-dominance of VHF and UHF radios, are there any other accessories etc that distinguish a satellite operator from a 'normal' operator?
- Given that you really find out how good you are when the PC crashes
halfway during a QSO and you then have to manually operate two radios for Doppler shift and two rotator controllers as well as mic/key, what controls do you operate with each hand? Would a footswitch for PTT be worthwhile?
- My planned layout is (from left to right): 19" rack holding various
bits of equipment that I don't generally need to touch, TS-811 for 70cm, K3 for 2m, rotator control box, and computer. Eventually I will build a switchbox to use one headset between the two radios and place this between them. Though I have a TNC, I rarely do any digital work. Does this seem a logical layout for a right handed person? I will have the luxury of using a larger desk than before and the layout will be more horizontal than vertical.
Contesters spend some effort on the ergonomics of their station. Any advice on how I could get mine right would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
73 de David VK5DG (who is looking forward to getting back on the air). _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Hi, David I've found a boom-mounted mic using a foot switch for PTT frees up some table space *and* my hands for doing things like logging QSOs and messing with the computer. 73, Jim KQ6EA
----- Original Message ----- From: "David Giles" [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2010 11:47 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] I'd like your shack ideas
Hello All,
- Apart from the extra rotator controllers, the computer running a
tracking program and the pre-dominance of VHF and UHF radios, are there any other accessories etc that distinguish a satellite operator from a 'normal' operator?
Hi David, VK5DG
The only accessory that distinguish a satellite operator from a "normal" operator is " THE BRAIN"
- Given that you really find out how good you are when the PC crashes
halfway during a QSO and you then have to manually operate two radios for Doppler shift and two rotator controllers as well as mic/key, what controls do you operate with each hand?
Always "THE BRAIN WITH ARMSTRONG ARMS "
Would a footswitch for PTT be worthwhile?
YES !
73 de David VK5DG (who is looking forward to getting back on the air).
73" de
i8CVS Domenico
Hello All,
Thankyou to those who replied. It looks like I will be getting a footswitch as well as experimenting with mics and layout in general. Looking forward to it.
73 de David VK5DG
participants (4)
-
David Giles -
i8cvs -
Jim Jerzycke -
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