[Elecraft] [OT] K3 Shack Pictures and iMacs

[Ross Primrose]

Another option that may fit in the budget is to buy a monitor and use it 
instead of the iMac display, that'd give you a lot more flexibility in 
monitor location....

73, Ross N4RP

On 5/2/2014 7:49 AM, Joel Black wrote:
> Shack layout is very personal. I get that. Laying out my shack is a 
> hobby within a hobby; however, I cannot seem to get it "just right." 
> My wife will walk by and just shake her head.
>
> I bought a late 2012 27" iMac. The thing is a beast! You cannot adjust 
> the height of the monitor, but you can adjust the tilt. Compounding 
> this problem is that I wear bifocals. Those of you who wear bifocals 
> know that keeping your head tilted back trying to read the monitor is 
> a PITA! Also, trying to get it the right distance so words are sharp 
> is a pain. I *really* wish I had either bought the 21.5" iMac or a 
> MBP. I am stuck with what I have for the next several years. Although 
> my wife has a MBP, I don't think she'd be willing to trade that 
> portability. I don't have the money for a new computer and I have twin 
> daughters graduating high school next year so I am saving my pennies 
> for a laptop for each of them.
>
> I have a very large desk at my operating position. It is 5' x 3'. It 
> is what I would call a wooden teacher's desk or a "not so fancy" 
> banker's desk. On the left side is a spring-loaded shelf for a 
> type-writer. I usually keep it inside in the down position and use it 
> as a bookshelf inside. The right side has three drawers. There is a 
> drawer in the middle. The left side is slightly larger than the right; 
> therefore, both the monitor and I sit a little off-center to the 
> right. I prefer to keep my monitor in the "center" to try and keep my 
> neck looking straight forward. I also have a two-drawer wooden file 
> cabinet that is the same height as my desk top. Although it is not as 
> deep, I can place it on either side of the desk to "extend" the length 
> of the desk.
>
> I am right-handed. My radios are on the left; my keys (a paddle and a 
> bug) and computer mouse are on the right. I usually tune the radio by 
> placing the four fingers of my left hand on top of the radio and tune 
> with my left thumb. Most of my radio operations are done with my left 
> thumb. I do use my right hand to tune my P3. You can see my shack 
> layout on my QRZ page. That layout has changed a bit to where my K3/P3 
> are on the middle shelf now with both of them on the right side of 
> that shelf. I find it better to see both the K3 and the P3. The rotor 
> controller is under them and I have an FT-847 which is to the left of 
> the rotor controller. The FT-847 sees very little use. I don't do much 
> VHF/UHF FM from home and I don't yet have my antennas built for 
> satellite operations.
>
> I have a somewhat minimal hamshack and I'd like to keep it that way. 
> iMac in the center of the desk and radios off to one side or the other 
> since the monitor is so large and raising it would put undue strain on 
> my neck. I love K5ND's layout (http://www.k5nd.net/), but putting that 
> monitor up is too much for me. There is no simple way to reduce the 
> *height* of the iMac either.
>
> Would anyone be willing to take pictures of their shacks and sending 
> them to me? Those who have large monitors would be especially 
> appreciated. What have you done that makes your operation easier? I 
> plan on buying a sheet of plywood and making a new set of shelves for 
> my operating position, but I want some ideas too.
>
> In the interest of list S/N ratio ;), please respond directly to me. 
> Thanks.
>
> 73,
> Joel - W4JBB
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