A couple of years ago my console was featured in World Radio and has since
been used for a lot of contests by myself and some very experienced guests
ops. A LOT of work went into the layout and it has remained the same now for
several years. It works
The purpose of the station is important. Contesting or casual. This should
be your 1st question.
For contesting...I have the Orion on the left at desk level, knobs reachable
with no unnatural arm extension...Monitor shelf is only 4" tall, straight at
eye level directly in front requiring no head movement up or down to view.
Keyboard at desk level, proper height for comfortable hand and wrist
location, Radio two on the right at desk level. This layout is much more
involved...there are four or five levels and an 8' spread but you get the
idea. If you are right handed you need the main radio on the left..type with
the right while continously tuning left. Once a station is located, do fine
tuning with left hand..... you are typing, adjusting antennas etc with the
right hand, ...once tuned, you are adjusting VERY few knobs for clarity of
reception with the left hand...you need to listen and there is no need to
see the frequency, read the display or know visual settings. Adjust with
your ears, not your eyes..Seldom do you you sit and look at the radio. Just
some thoughts for discussion...every single person and each use is
different..I am all for lack of any unnecessary eye, arm, hand or head
movements...these add up over a 48 hour period...why make it more difficult
on the ol' body...Vry 73, Tommy WD4K
-----Original Message-----
From: orion-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:orion-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of
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Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 11:01 AM
To: orion@contesting.com
Subject: Orion Digest, Vol 23, Issue 3
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Today's Topics:
1. Test (w8hl@sbcglobal.net)
2. Station Ergonomics / Radio Placement? (Eric Rosenberg)
3. Re: Station Ergonomics / Radio Placement? (Richard Detweiler)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 09:55:50 -0400
From: <w8hl@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: [Orion] Test
To: <orion@contesting.com>
Message-ID: <00ce01c59db3$37cb14d0$0597d145@eMachines>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Test 1
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 10:56:25 -0400
From: Eric Rosenberg <wd3q@starpower.net>
Subject: [Orion] Station Ergonomics / Radio Placement?
To: orion@contesting.com
Message-ID: <7b530ba5.29b06afb.819df00@mptest.mrf.mail.rcn.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I've come to realize that the location of my Orion on my operating table
isn't that good.
It replaced the Omni, which sat on my left. What I've found is that the
combination of the Orion's display/smart keys being lower relative to the
knobs to the right of the display which I use most frequently results in
to negative effects:
- The reach is long and far.
- I reach across the display to the knobs and block it.
The Omni was a smaller radio the display was higher relative to the knobs.
I've been thinking about moving the radio to the right side of the table,
but that's a serious paradigm and behavioral change I might not be able
to handle.
My present layout is:
monitor
-------------
/ \
Orion on bottom / \ 238 tuner on bottom shelf
shelf. / \ Herc II on top shelf
Rotor box on top/ \
shelf / keyboard \
One possibility:
monitor on articulated arm
Orion on tabletop
-------------
/ \
Rotor box et al / \
on bottom shelf / \ 238 tuner on bottom shelf
/ \ Herc II on top shelf
/ \
/ keyboard \
Another possibility:
monitor
-------------
/ \
Herc II on top / \
Rotor box et al / \ Orion on bottom shelf
on bottom shelf / \ 238 tuner on bottom shelf
shelf. / \
/ \
/ keyboard \
I'm curious to know how you fellow Orion users lay out your station and
where you put your radio.
Email me your pictures and/or drawings DIRECTLY and I'll summarize for
those wanting.
Thanks in advance,
Eric W3DQ
Washington, DC
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 10:33:40 -0500
From: "Richard Detweiler" <rdetweil@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Orion] Station Ergonomics / Radio Placement?
To: wd3q@starpower.net
Cc: orion@contesting.com
Message-ID: <BAY7-F1137E8189E641D5F5454FBDFBA0@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Hi Eric,
We've struggled with this too at the contesting positions, I find the the
Orion on the right very easy to adjust, it is at an angle and the left edge
winds up just in front of the right edge of the monitor. When I put my
hands on the VFO knobs it doesn't block Orion's the screen, the keyboard is
down on a tray and the Orion comes to the edge of the desk just above the
right hand side. While I had the Orion on the Left I used the remote
encoder. it's a bit more fussy if I have to do something else, but it
serves well. Ultimately the new OII will go to the right position and the
current one will go on the left then the amps will be on a shelf near the
antenna switches
Best wishes,
Rich
K5SF
>From: Eric Rosenberg <wd3q@starpower.net>
>To: orion@contesting.com
>Subject: [Orion] Station Ergonomics / Radio Placement?
>Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 10:56:25 -0400
>
>I've come to realize that the location of my Orion on my operating table
>isn't that good.
>
>It replaced the Omni, which sat on my left. What I've found is that the
>combination of the Orion's display/smart keys being lower relative to the
>knobs to the right of the display which I use most frequently results in
>to negative effects:
>
>- The reach is long and far.
>
>- I reach across the display to the knobs and block it.
>
>The Omni was a smaller radio the display was higher relative to the knobs.
>
>I've been thinking about moving the radio to the right side of the table,
>but that's a serious paradigm and behavioral change I might not be able
>to handle.
>
>
>My present layout is:
>
> monitor
> -------------
> / \
>Orion on bottom / \ 238 tuner on bottom shelf
>shelf. / \ Herc II on top shelf
>Rotor box on top/ \
>shelf / keyboard \
>
>
>
>One possibility:
> monitor on articulated arm
> Orion on tabletop
> -------------
> / \
>Rotor box et al / \
>on bottom shelf / \ 238 tuner on bottom shelf
> / \ Herc II on top shelf
> / \
> / keyboard \
>
>
>Another possibility:
> monitor
> -------------
> / \
>Herc II on top / \
>Rotor box et al / \ Orion on bottom shelf
>on bottom shelf / \ 238 tuner on bottom shelf
>shelf. / \
> / \
> / keyboard \
>
>I'm curious to know how you fellow Orion users lay out your station and
>where you put your radio.
>
>Email me your pictures and/or drawings DIRECTLY and I'll summarize for
>those wanting.
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>Eric W3DQ
>Washington, DC
>_______________________________________________
>Orion mailing list
>Orion@contesting.com
>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/orion
------------------------------
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