A simple tip that you may always use after reading this.
Often our shacks end up with cables everywhere. It can be a little hard to remember what cable goes where after a few years. It all starts well but as the equipment grows, so do the cables. I have trouble with the power cords in the power boards and what each plug is!
My shack originally only had one cable that went out that hole, “I’ll remember what it is” we all say years later. But sometimes we might upgrade an antenna or radio. In doing so, it is far easier to use the same cable if it is ok, especially if it goes down a wall or through a small hole. After a few changes, the whole thing can become a bit of a mess (not that anyone else needs to know).
Power cables are easier to manage, as I stick a sticker on each plug at the power board to remind me what they go to. So, if I need to change the power board, I know exactly which plug I am pulling out.
But antenna cables are a bit harder. I started writing on a post it notes what this cable was for and taped it to the cable near the plug, but if you swap it to something else, you must change the note. Maybe you forgot last time you changed something or ran out of time. Perhaps after the testing you got so excited about the positive test you never did update the note on your cable.
So, I now have a new system. I colour code each cable at each end with electrical tape as shown below in the photo.
Using the same colour code on each end, I can now be sure which cable goes to which end. One of my cables has two of the same colour, which is fine, whatever works for you.
If you do this just before the plug at each end, then you can see which antenna the cable goes into and which radio. You could also do it again at the bottom of the tower or window so you know halfway along the cable.
I then have a list of yellow 1 strip = HF 6m and Red = VHF/UHF etc. if I swap the antennas, I just must change the list. I can double check by going outside to see what the same colour code ends up. The electrical tape will stay the same and will last a lot longer than handwritten notes.
So, what do you do to keep your station in order? Do you just remember? Do you have a system? Why not share it in the comments below so we can all learn from you.
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I bought this wireless keyboard/mouse which was very cheap. It does come with a USB dongle. It has a fantastic range since it is 2.4GHz RF. The back also has good grip which apparently isn’t common on all models. You can select what colour you want the plastic to be also.
Setup
Setup couldn’t be easier. Make sure it has batteries installed, some come with a rechargeable, mine required triple A batteries. Make sure the switch on the top side of the keyboard it to the left position for it to turn on – it should light up when you do this. Then in the battery compartment will be the USB dongle. Just plug in the USB dongle before powering up (if it is into an Android box), then it will connect and work fine straight away. If your model came with the battery, there may be a cord to charge the unit also.
Touch Pad
The top part of the keyboard in the touch pad area controls your mouse position. Using two fingers will scroll up and down the scroll bars. Unfortunately two finger zooming does not work. Right click can be done by a simultaneous two finger tap. You can turn the touch pad on or off by pressing Fn + F8.
Changing the Touch Pad Tracking Speed
All you have to do is press the blue Fn (function) button down the bottom left corner, then press the space bar.
Shortcuts
The keyboard comes with the following shortcuts at the top of the keyboard.
Far left Shortcuts
Over the far left side are media buttons, including volume up and down, pause and play, next track
Middle shortcuts
Either side of the touch pad are shortcuts, then are the following from top to bottom in order
Left Side of Touch Pad
Right Side of Touch Pad
1. Open Music Player App
1. Open Google Search
2. Open Email App
2. Go home button
3. Mute button
3. Internet Browser
4. Mouse left button ( this is also on the far left of the letters below on the top)
4. Mouse right button (this is also on the far left of the letters below on the bottom)
Far right Shortcuts
Over the right side at the top are directional buttons with an OK button in the middle.
Sleep Mode
The Keyboard will auto sleep and wake-up to save the battery. When the keyboard is idle for 3 minutes, it will go into auto sleep mode, and all LED indicators will turn off.
Keyboard Glowing Colours
Some keyboards glow at night. Unfortunately mine foes not, but if yours does, you just press blue the Fn key down the bottom left and the F2 key to change the colours. Press Fn-F2 again to change to the next colour and so on. This will give you the three standard colours. However, if your feeling nerdy, you can press and hold down the Fn key, then using your thumb on the touch pad, move it left and right to get all the other colours. There are 7 different colours in total.
If you want to be a geek of all the nerds, you can do the RGB spectrum, but pressing and holding F2 and then scrolling your thumb across left to right on the touch pad, then let go. It will scroll through all the colours automatically. You can still use the touch pad as normal while it automatically changes colours. I guess not having this saves some power also, however it does turn off every 30 or so seconds. There is a switch up the top right on the side of the keyboard that will turn it off also.
Fuction Keys
Apart from what I have already mentioned, you can do the following functions using the blue function key (Fn) found down the bottom left corner.
Fn + Fn = Enter into pair mode
Fn + F7 = take a screen shot
Fn + F8 = turn on or off the touch pad
Fn + F9 = F11 key
Fn + F10 = F12 key
Fn + Back = Delete
Fn + Page Up = Home
Other Keyboards
Here is a review on several other keyboards of similar size. This is not my video, but thought it gave a good quick overview of several models available.
Conclusion
The size of the keyboard is just right, not to small so you can’t find it or use it easily, but not to big so it takes over the desk or armchair. It works well with my Android TV device, but understand it does work on other devices such as windows, Raspberry Pi etc.
If I was going to buy it again, I may get the one with the inbuilt battery installed that can be re-charged, however once the batter goes, you almost have to replace it. My model could be loaded up with rechargeable batteries you can buy from anywhere.
Before I was using this Keyboard, I used a USB mouse, and while in some ways that is easier than a touch pad, to have a full keyboard and the touch pad all cordless with a good range is fantastic.
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VK3TBS 