[ICOM] ergonomics and rig placement

[Phil Krichbaum]

John
    I've done a lot of contesting and would NEVER have the rig on the 
the shelf, or certainly not the main rig (maybe the 432 or 222 rig for a 
VHF contest). The stuff you use the most should be the easiest to reach 
and on the table top at ~28"  off the floor. Also as others have pointed 
out tilt the rig upwards so you can easily view it. I have a small shelf 
a few inches over the rig for stuff you need fairly often like rotors 
and antenna switches. We had a club station where we had a hefty 2nd 
shelf about 15" above the table where we put the KW amps and tuners, 
stuff you don't need to reach very often. The other alternative is to 
put that off on another table to the side but still within reach. In a 
multi situation I found that if rotors and antenna switches are 
difficult to reach, people won't use them and that costs you score wise! 
They need to be right in the operator's face and easy to reach.
    As for the shoulder injury, I've been there and done that and have 
had both rotor cuffs rebuilt, and would be very uncomfortable reaching 
to the a shelf to tune the rig even without the injuries. If you are 
ever at a convention and Bob North, KE0UI, is giving his ergonomics 
talk, go to it! Bob did this professionally laying out airplane cockpits 
to avoid landing with the flaps down and wheels up because the two 
levers were hard to see and next to each other! Also important is a 
decent office type chair with good back support that you can adjust to 
different heights and positions during the contest. You can find a 
decent one at Staples etc for less than $75. Some people find they like 
arms on the chair and others do not so get one where the arms can be 
removed. One guy liked a arm on only one side! With the aging ham 
population it is a good idea to use support stockings to reduce fluid 
buildup in the ankles with long stints in the chair. A foot stool is 
also useful under the table and do the exercises for airline travelers 
during the contest or other long sessions in the chair.
    73 Phil N0KE

John Geiger wrote:
> You can tell that the 10 meter contest has no propagation if I am sending out an email during it.
>
> Let me preface this question by saying that I don't want to computer control the rig.  I have tried that before with a TS-B2000 and didn't like it.  I say this because I am sure that it would be the answer many would reply with.
>
> Here is my situation.  On Thanksgiving day I hurt my right shoulder (I am right handed) and as it was getting better I reinjured it last weekend in the 160 contest by excessive tuning of the VFO dial.  The shack is set up on a computer center, and the rig is on the second shelf, right at eye level. This means I have to raise my arm to tune the VFO dial, and the excessive raising last weekend reirritated my shoulder.  This past week I would just use my left hand to tune the VFO and push buttons instead, but that was getting awkward, especially with the 10 meter contest coming up.
>
> Today I broke down and moved the rig to the desktop instead, so I don't have to raise my arm to turn the dial.  I really don't like it here as it looks a little more cluttered now with the rig, laptop, keyer paddles, and rotor control.  Plus is it closer to the line of fire when my 6 year old daughter is throwing things around the house.  However, this will have to do for now.
>
> Now here is my question:  Have others found that having the rig slightly lower than you is easier on the arms or shoulders over the long run than having to raise your arm to tune the rig?  I was hoping to eventually move it back to its original place, but if I run the risk of straining the shoulder more having it there, I might have to learn to live with it where it is.  
>
> What has your experience taught you about rig placement?  Maybe there is a doctor or orthopeadist on the list who knows something about ergonomics and injury prevention.  I am using a Yaesu FT857D so I guess I could eventually remote mount the faceplate at a lower level and put the body of the rig where it used to be.
>
> Talk about a bummer way to start the 10 meter contest weekend.
>
> 73s John AA5JG  
>
>
>       
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