home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Ham Radio 2000
/
Ham Radio 2000.iso
/
ham2000
/
antenna
/
antennas
/
shack3.art
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1993-09-04
|
3KB
|
75 lines
SUBJECT: Shack Design, part 3, Ergonomics
Amateur-ergonomics. Just what is that? What it boils down to
ease of operation with ease of maintence in relation to the Ham
Shack. What would make your shack a whole lot easier on you? Maybe a
good chair? How about an easy way to get to you coax? Or maybe your
power connections? Just how easy is it to get to all these things?
Let's look at your rigs. How easy is it to operate from your
operating postion? Can you change antennas quickly? Do you need to
move position to operate another rig or a computer? Is you chair
comfortable? Is the lighting well enough?
=======================================================
Personally, I enjoy a centralized set-up with computer, HF, VHF,
and UHF rigs within easy reach. In my current shack design I have
made this so. Overhead lighting and operational lighting are a must.
Also, a handy RF patch panel for connection to alternate antennas.
Desk lamps help, and at this station I use an lamp with a 15w
bulb, which is bright enough for writing yet soft enough not to wash
out the display or cause glare.
How about your electrical power? Can you get to the breaker box
within 5 seconds?
Do you have a lightning detector receiver? A simple car radio,
with AM, will do. With a small whip (12-in), an AM radio makes a
good lightning detector, picking up lightning crashes in your area.
It will give you early warning to lightning storms when tuned between
stations.
========================================================
Do you have a Low Pass Filter (LPF) on your RF output? How about
an RF patch panel with a common ground?
If you have battery operation, do you have a power distribution
system and a way to monitor your battery voltage levels?
Do you have a telephone in your shack and how about a phone
patch? A telephone patch is an item I thought I would never use in a
shack until I started patching or troops home in the MARS program.
Before that I used the patch for a special purpose. This purpose
was to patch anyone that needed a patch in an emergency, was mobile
and needed to make a call, or to connect someone with a friend they
hadn't talked to in years. I made two of those patches. One from New
Mexico to Titusville, FL and another from Alaska to Mims, FL. Both
were mobiles, the NM mobile contacted an old school friend and the
AK station contacted her Mom whom she hadn't talked to in many years.
=========================================================
An spacious writing area is needed. If you have trouble finding
room for a keyboard and a writing tablet, you don't have enough
writing room.
How about a computer? Do you have RFI protection on your monitor
lines? Do you have a logging program?
=========================================================
All these items are personnal preferance. I have seen shacks
consisting of a radio parked on a pair of work horses in a garage to
a setup that would make the FCC green with envy.
It's up to you concerning ergonomics. If it's worth the time and
money to make your shack as easy as possible, I recommend it.
-WS