Friday, Aug. 5, 2011 — My new-to-me cheap eBay-special 17-inch LCD monitor arrived yesterday via USPS. This was a deal — it came with no stand, but that was exactly what I wanted; I have my monitors on the shack desk mounted on arms that attach to the shelving.
I started to install the monitor — first I had to take down my dinky 15-inch one — and then I was hit with a problem: To make the mount fit that 15-inch monitor, I had cut off the extra set of holes — which I needed now to mount the larger monitor! ARRGGHH!
If you look at the mount at right, there are two sets of holes in the plate that mounts to the back of the LCD monitor — and I had cut off the outer pair to make the mount fit my smaller monitor, and now I needed the larger set of mounting holes.
I have two monitors now in the shack — one for the PC, the other for the Yaesu FT-2000 DMU display; my plan was to use the larger monitor on my PC, but the problem was that the mount wouldn’t take the monitor. So I went ahead and put the big monitor in place for the Yaesu display — I wanted to be sure it worked, and it did.
Then it hit me — why not simply swap the mounts? Move the left side to the right and vice-versa?? I had the mounts bolted with some pretty massive lag screws, so it took a little time to get them lose from the shelves, but I did. I swapped them and then hooked up the monitors — with the “correct” one in the “correct” place. It works great and looks very good. I can move the monitors as needed to access the things behind them (one monitor is in front of my Heathkit HW-16, the other partly blocks my antenna tuner).
The 17-inch monitor also supports some nice resolutions, too — much better than the 800 x 600 of the old one. I had purchased a new video card for the PC, but I realize now I didn’t need it. The monitor made all the difference I needed.
I’ll probably put it back on eBay, but I think my next purchase will be additional memory. The PC will support 4GB and has like 2 Gig installed now. I have an extra drive bay too, maybe I should add a second drive while I’m at it??
It’s nice to operate digital modes now and not have to deal with a tiny keyboard or monitor. I’m super pleased with this PC, it a few years old but its all I need in the shack.
I still have to repair my 6-meter j-pole and check that feedline for damage. Always something to do … but I want to get that done before I lose out on all the openings on six meters!
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