[Yaesu] ergonomics and rig placement

[James F. Boehner, MD]

John,

I am the furthest away from an orthopedist (OB/GYN), but can tell you 
personal preferences.

Anything that you will use repetitively (tuning knob, keyer, perhaps rotor 
control) should be at the desktop level.  Preferably, you should be able to 
rest your hand or upper arm on the desk while doing those motions.  Anything 
you do on a higher level will affect your shoulder.

My operating desk (picture on QRZ.COM) has keyer, paddle, rig and rotor 
control on the desk level.  On the second level (higher) is my auto-tune 
Amp, power meter and my auto-tuner (different than the above picture-I have 
a Palstar AT-AUTO now).

Sounds like you can remote the FT-857 control head, keep down the clutter, 
and protect your shoulder!

As the old joke:

Patient: Doc, it hurts when I do this.....
Doctor:  Well, don't do that!


'73 de Jim N2ZZ



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Geiger" <aa5jg at yahoo.com>
To: <icom at mailman.qth.net>; <yaesu at mailman.qth.net>; <ft857 at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 12, 2009 4:59 PM
Subject: [Yaesu] ergonomics and rig placement


> 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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