Decent video cards with dual DVI support are quite common. There is no
reason to skimp here especially if you are doing other graphically
intense thing with the computer, like gaming or drafting etc. Both AMD
and NVIDIA have good chip sets pros and cons both ways.
24 inch monitors are not that expensive any more and 27's are coming
down. I used a 37 inch Vizio monitor for a long time on my desk and you
can open lots of windows and still have lots of free space.
I am not convinced you really need dual monitors anymore. When I was
dual monitors one was dedicated to a gray line map. N1MM on the other
and nothing else to distract from contesting.
Mike W0MU
On 3/17/2014 2:14 PM, Michael Clarson wrote:
There has been some discussion on the video interfaces. I've done some
research on these. My info may not be 100%, but it will make one aware of
the differences. There are four of concern. VGA, DVI, HDMI and Display
Port. There is Thunderbolt also, but that is an Apple interface. VGA is on
its way out. If purchasing new, I'd make sure my monitor has one of the
digital interfaces if it has VGA. The other interfaces are all digital. DVI
came first and is a video only interface. It can send VGA out the same
connector, if necessary, but that is not done often. HDMI is big for TVs,
and has the same signal lines ad DVI, but it can pass audio if the monitor
and computer support it. A simple interseries adapter can change between
DVI, HDMI and Mini-HDMI. 1920 x 1080 is highest HDMI resolution. Maximum
frames per second is 30, but that will rise to 60 when HDMI2 becomes
popular. 30 fps is just fine for what we normally do as well as HDTV. Now,
if you build a computer with an HDMI port, you have to pay someone money to
do that. Hence, the computer industry developed Display Port. The signal
lines are different and, since most monitors do not yet have Display Port,
a complex conversion adapter seems to be called for, HOWEVER, if you get an
interseries adapter, the computers today recognize that an HDMI monitor is
connected to the Display Port via an adapter, and send out HDMI signals
instead of Display Port. Dispaly Port does do audio also, and can do 60
frames per second. While the preceding may be somewhat confusing, just be
wary of the interfaces.
I discovered interfaces could be a problem. In my case, I hooked my laptop
to a monitor via HDMI. Worked great. Then I got a docking station. Went to
plug my HDMI cable into the back, and it wouldn't fit.The Dock had Display
Port. Looks like HDMI, but has a slightly different shape. After a "What
the...." moment, I started my research.
As to position of the monitor, I agree with others. Main one front and
center, having to look down a bit. Radio off to the side so one does not
have to reach over the keyboard to operate the radio. Putting the keyboard
below the desk is a good idea also, with maybe a remote tuning knob near
the keyboard. Hope you find a decent arrangement the first time. --Mike,
WV2ZOW
On Mon, Mar 17, 2014 at 1:55 PM, Ron Notarius W3WN <wn3vaw@verizon.net>wrote:
One correction... I should have said "DVI" not "HDMI" when referring to
the video types.
Sorry, was trying to do three things at once!
73, RON W3WN
On 03/17/14, Ron Notarius W3WN wrote:
Good morning Dick,
Well, I'm far from ever being a Master at anything, but FWIW...
I run dual monitors at work, have for years. I've used both "square" and
"rectangular/landscape" ("long & skinny"); at the moment, I have a pair of
22" diagonal monitors on my desk at work. (Part of my job in the IT
department is to evaluate new hardware, so we often get things to try out)
First and foremost... how much room do you have? You don't want to buy
monitors that simply won't fit.
Secondly, consider where you are sitting when you will be looking at them.
You don't want to be straining your neck, or constantly moving your head
around, to look at monitors. I've found that my best vantage point is to
have them right in front of my eyes, when I'm sitting straight in the
chair. I've also found that if I put the monitors in a corner, I can angle
them slightly to both conserve "real estate" and to maximize viewing area.
Also, while my shack computer at home is under the desk, my work machine,
a test Dell Ultra Small Form Factor, actually fits right under the
monitors... this may be of concern depending on what computer or computers
you end up with, and where you plan on putting them.
Although this may appear trivial, it?s not. If you don?t have the monitors
in a convenient place, and make it relatively easy to look at, they will
give you more aggravation than they are worth. And while ergonomics ARE
important, remember that what is comfortable for me is not necessarily
comfortable for you.
Third, make sure the PC of choice supports dual monitors. If it does not,
you should invest in a good quality card (doesn?t have to be TOP quality,
good by today?s standards is still VERY good), which you ought to be able
to get for under $100, possibly under $50.
Fourth? a small point, but most monitors & graphics cards today are HDMI,
not VGA. Many monitors support both; most graphic cards (but not all) come
with appropriate cables or adapters. I?ve found that the HDMI outputs are
easier on my eyes, for a large variety of reasons.
Fifth: Before investing in any monitor, go to a local electronics retailer
(such as a Best Buy, HH Gregg, or similar retailer) and see what?s actually
there. Bring a tape measure. Measure, measure, measure ? screen size,
footprint on the desk (ie stand) , whether or not you can wall mount if you
want. Ask questions. If you?re buying two, see if they?ll cut you a break;
they might, they might not. Even if you decide to buy elsewhere, at least
you?ll actually know what you?re getting, or what you should be getting.
Takes the guesswork out.
Now: Is one particular screen size better than another? Only you can
answer that question ? which is why you need to go look. Some of our users
prefer the older ?square? monitors, but most others prefer the ?landscape?
ones. I?m in the later camp, since I can put more ?stuff? on screen. My
personal preference is to have both monitors the same; some may do
otherwise.
My long-term plan for the shack is to have a single computer, dual
monitors, so that I can run logging software in one, cluster in another
(obviously not when I?m running in a non-Assisted mode, the cluster would
be off!).
That said, one thing I?m looking into is setting up a tiny computer (such
as the Raspberry Pi) with its own monitor. The idea will be to have a
?dedicated? system to routine tasks like monitoring the DX cluster, rather
than have a full blown system running 24/7 for just that one small task;
the main shack computer would only be on when I?m actually logging or
contesting, or (once I get the Omni VII set up correctly) for remote
operation. In short, automating what processes I can.
Good luck!
73, ron w3wn
On 03/17/14, Dick Flanagan wrote:
I need help from the Masters.
I am in the planning stages of a SO2R station. The center piece will be
the two radios and two LED computer displays above the radios. The
displays will be side-by-side and supporting all of the
contesting/logging/propagation windows driven by one central contesting
computer. I could be talked into having two computers--one for each
display--but I would appreciate if that discussion were held another day.
Today I am looking for assistance in choosing the proper LED display
terminals. What is the optimal size of these monitors? They can be long
and skinny or basically square. Has experience shown that one
particular screen size and/or aspect radio to be better than another in
this application? I am partial to Samsung, but I can be talked out of
that too if appropriate.
The displays will be mounted above the radios slightly above eye level
with their fronts basically even with the front panel of the radios. No
wall-mounted monitors here.
Once the displays are chosen, then possible we can wander off into the
one vs. two computer forest.
So those of you with two terminals displays, let us know what you hate
about them, what you love, what you would do different. Help me avoid
the mistakes I am destined to make without your help.
Needless to say, Thank YOU!
--
Dick Flanagan K7VC
dick@k7vc.com
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