Monday, Aug. 1, 2011 — I spent time in the shack last this weekend continuing work with the new-to-me PC, and its coming along very well.
For starters, I have it networked (using a cat5 cable); I have added Google Chrome, my browser of choice, as well as other software I need for the shack side of the room (PSK 31, the N3FJP logging software package, etc.). My only real complaint is the monitor I’m using — its top resolution is 1024 x whatever, and I’m used to a higher res monitor. Granted, this is also likely a video card issue; yeah, I’m going to look and see what my options are for that.
I’m thinking of a larger monitor for my office PC, which would free up this one to use over on the radio side of the room (though I think a new video card is probably a must-have item too).
My “old” View Sonic monitor that I recently mounted in the shack is working OK as my Yaesu FT-2000 DMU display; the resolution of the DMU is 1024 x whatever, and the native resolution of the View Sonic is larger, so the the DMU display does not fill the monitor like it did on the old one. But I’m not inclined to swap them; the View Sonic is mounted on an arm that is installed at the same height as the other monitor; however due to how the mount is designed, the View Sonic sits nearly 5 in. higher — it would be neck-craning (at best) to try to use it for the PC monitor.
My nephew says he has an old LCD monitor w/o a stand he salvaged from work; if he comes through with that I’ll give that a shot.
CABLE STRETCHING AFTERMATH. I’m not sure of the integrity of the feedline that ran from my IC-706MkIIG to my trusty j-pole out on the fence post after I yanked it with my tractor; there was a lot of slack in the cable, and I judging from how stuff moved in the shack, I think its probably OK. I need to repair the j-pole feedpoint and give it a try.
Yesterday I repaired part of the damage inside the shack from the radio being yanked so hard. It was on its way to the window, though the shelving would have prevented it from going out … it would have eventually pulled the coax loose or pulled the antenna down.
I have more work to do to get the shack fixed, but that’ll have to wait. At least the PC is up and running, and operating on the air with digital modes. To my Wisconsin eBay seller who sold me the PC, I thank you and my eyesight thanks you.
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