Posted: 2/4/2014 11:29:10 PM EDT
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Alcon,
Now that I'm finally able to start working on setting up my station here in VA. I'm looking on building a desk for it. I've browsed through ham radio desk images on Google, but images can only tell me so much. For those of you who have designed/built your own desk, would you mind sharing pictures of them. Specifically I want to know: What you like about the design? What you dislike? What you would want in the desk if you were building it again, or could design your own (for those who just bought something)? Thanks in advance, Zach |
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I dont' have a current set up, but my previous one had the HF radios on the table, so you could tune 'em and operate a key (very important)
a shelf over them had my computer monitor and over the top of the monitor was another shelf with my VHF/UHF rigs, etc.. the computer keyboard was in a drawer under the table everything was in reach I sure do miss that set up. make sure you have grounding for your rigs and your RF cables (including surge suppression (polyphaser type)) keep your RF, Power and data lines separate, when routing them in your shack. |
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HF radio near the desktop surface so you can rest your arm on the desk while tuning across the bands.
External speakers at ear level. Something comfortable and ergonomic cause you will be sitting there for many hours. Placement of equipment is operator preference. Items you use often in front of you or to the side opposite your dexterity ( right or left handed). You may want or need to write while operating the radio. |
Here's one of the setups I used a few years ago. It's just a regular desk.
Here's what I'm using now. This is an old computer desk. 
I've added a couple of shelves and rearranged things, but the layout works pretty well with the smaller radios mounted under the shelves. Same desk: Different layout... 
ETA: As stated above, you'll most likely want to keep your HF rig down at the bottom so you aren't having to hold your arm in the air to turn the dial. Have room for a notepad to copy down calls, times, etc... for your log. Think about the backside of the desk and how you will organize cables. Mine is currently a disorganized cluster of wires, cables, and cords that makes it a royal PITA to find or move anything. Desk space - Go Deep. You'll need room for the radio, 6 inches or so of space behind it for coax, wires, etc..., a keyboard, mouse, and writing surface. Some of this will be offset to the side, but you'll NOT want your keyboard right up against the radio if you can help it. Also remember that your keyboard is usually about 4 inches from the edge of the desk to give you wrist a place to rest. Going vertical with meters, clocks, switches, and smaller radios keeps everything within reach without cluttering up the desktop. |
Present station.
Couple of years ago. 
Old stations circa 1992-3 
You'll see a pattern of a deep desk/table with a shelf above for equipment. ETA- I am using a server enclosure for equipment I'm always messing with. It allows me to roll the enclosure away from the wall to access the backside of things. The Yaesu equipment on the main desk is pretty much permanent. I hate crawling under a desk to plug things in. 
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Quoted:
What you would want in the desk if you were building it again, or could design your own (for those who just bought something)? I like a double decker design. That is, something with a shelf. It's about the only way to keep everything within arms reach. Plus, I want it to be totally open behind the shelf, and underneath the desk. You are going to have a metric shit ton of wires to hook up (radio(s), power supply, coax, panadapter, computer, speakers, signalink, paddle, keyer, etc.), and if there is a solid back on the desk/shelf, it will be a pain to connect everything. I purposely bought this desk for that reason. The open design also helps with air flow for cooling. I knew I would eventually build some type of a shelf for it. The open design has made it much easier to hook everything up. Also, there is quite a bit of room underneath this desk for neatly wrapping up wires, and securing them out of sight. It's not perfect, but it is reasonably functional. 
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Quoted:
Plus, I want it to be totally open behind the shelf, and underneath the desk. You are going to have a metric shit ton of wires to hook up (radio(s), power supply, coax, panadapter, computer, speakers, signalink, paddle, keyer, etc.), 
Cable management is the biggest pain of the whole thing. |
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I have been lusting after one of these: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51SIqHrV%2BdL.jpg Alas it is now discontinued and available only ugly maple. I was lusting after one of those myself back when I had a lot of rackmount audio gear now I don't have that gear.. good thing too, that desk was freaking pricey, IIRC |
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Most commercially made desks are too small and too low for my liking. Being 6'4" is a major handicap. Regular "knee high desks are very uncomfortable. I even had my desk at work raised by 4 inches. So I gave up looking for a suitable HAM shack desk and made my own. Total cost was around $250 which included paying a cabinet shop to trim and glue a formica sheet to a piece of 3/4 plywood. The are four 2x4s under the plywood to make it rigid.
Here are a few pictures of the desk partially filled with some of my toys. Sorry, I don't have the latest picture but there is very little space left on the desk. 
Temporary setup with FT-857 to try out new temporary dipole antenna: 
Populated with some of the bigger toys: 
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Here's the latest version of my shack. The flared leg maple topped bench is very sturdy and has held up great. http://images.drillspot.com/pimages/23454/2345432_300.jpg http://files.qrz.com/x/kc9pfx/Shack_Overview_05Feb2014.jpg http://files.qrz.com/x/kc9pfx/KX3_RH_Side_05Feb2014.jpg Where did you get your bench? I can find them at Grainger but wanted to see if I could find it cheaper elsewhere. |
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Try here
http://www.globalindustrial.com/ Quoted:
Where did you get your bench? I can find them at Grainger but wanted to see if I could find it cheaper elsewhere. Quoted:
Quoted:
Here's the latest version of my shack. The flared leg maple topped bench is very sturdy and has held up great. http://images.drillspot.com/pimages/23454/2345432_300.jpg http://files.qrz.com/x/kc9pfx/Shack_Overview_05Feb2014.jpg http://files.qrz.com/x/kc9pfx/KX3_RH_Side_05Feb2014.jpg Where did you get your bench? I can find them at Grainger but wanted to see if I could find it cheaper elsewhere. |
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Quoted:
Where did you get your bench? I can find them at Grainger but wanted to see if I could find it cheaper elsewhere. Quoted:
Quoted:
Here's the latest version of my shack. The flared leg maple topped bench is very sturdy and has held up great. http://images.drillspot.com/pimages/23454/2345432_300.jpg http://files.qrz.com/x/kc9pfx/Shack_Overview_05Feb2014.jpg http://files.qrz.com/x/kc9pfx/KX3_RH_Side_05Feb2014.jpg Where did you get your bench? I can find them at Grainger but wanted to see if I could find it cheaper elsewhere. That's exactly where mine came from in Indy. Grainger. We use these same benches all over my workplace. Flared Leg Workbench, 72W x 30D x 33-3/4H. 
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I'm not a computer geek. How do you run three monitors on the same computer? BTW, nice IC7600! 
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Quoted:
I'm not a computer geek. How do you run three monitors on the same computer? BTW, nice IC7600! Quoted:
I'm not a computer geek. How do you run three monitors on the same computer? BTW, nice IC7600! Thanks Most cards will do dual monitors these days, but I have two video cards in my PC that helps. Some of the new cards can do triple monitors alone.
I use this PC throughout the day for software development, else I wouldn't have more than two (ok I'd still probably have three). |
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Quoted:
Thanks Most cards will do dual monitors these days, but I have two video cards in my PC that helps. Some of the new cards can do triple monitors alone.
I use this PC throughout the day for software development, else I wouldn't have more than two (ok I'd still probably have three). Quoted:
Quoted:
I'm not a computer geek. How do you run three monitors on the same computer? BTW, nice IC7600! Thanks Most cards will do dual monitors these days, but I have two video cards in my PC that helps. Some of the new cards can do triple monitors alone.
I use this PC throughout the day for software development, else I wouldn't have more than two (ok I'd still probably have three). I have three monitors as well, but two computers. my main computer runs the 2, but there is a higher end card i've thought about adding another video card, pair the two up and run 3, maybe 4 (time and $$$, like everything else in this world worth doing right) |
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Quoted:
I'm not a computer geek. How do you run three monitors on the same computer? BTW, nice IC7600! Quoted:
I'm not a computer geek. How do you run three monitors on the same computer? BTW, nice IC7600! Yeah, baby! 
I used a 2 monitor card and tricked my motherboard into also running its onboard video for the third monitor. You can do this by either re-enabling the onboard video in the BIOS after you install the video card, or, as in my case, finding the PCI slot for the video card that allowed things to run that way. |