{"id":60729,"date":"2024-09-22T08:20:52","date_gmt":"2024-09-22T12:20:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=60729"},"modified":"2024-09-22T08:20:52","modified_gmt":"2024-09-22T12:20:52","slug":"bob-talks-ergonomics-and-radio-buttons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/09\/bob-talks-ergonomics-and-radio-buttons\/","title":{"rendered":"Bob talks ergonomics and radio buttons…"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

XHDATA D-808 on a 5\u201d \u00d7 9\u201d neoprene pad.<\/p><\/div>\n

Ergonomics and Radio Buttons<\/h1>\n

By Bob Colegrove<\/strong><\/p>\n

Am I being too picky?\u00a0 Are the buttons on some newer portable radios hard to press?\u00a0 I\u2019ve read many reviews and watched as many videos, but haven\u2019t encountered many complaints about this.\u00a0 Perhaps it\u2019s an age-related affliction.<\/p>\n

The most succinct description of the problem was expressed in the review of the Tecsun PL-660 way back in the 2012 edition of the WRTH<\/i>.\u00a0 In referring to the buttons, \u201cAll are in our view rather too small for comfort and have breakout forces which are out of all proportion to their size; the combination of this with excessively long travel and weak tactile feedback does not give much pleasure to the user.\u201d\u00a0 The problem has only gotten worse with some newer portable radios.<\/p>\n

I see two problems here.\u00a0 First, too much pressure is required; what the WRTH<\/i> called \u201cbreakout force.\u201d\u00a0 Designers may say, \u201cthat\u2019s so you won\u2019t accidentally turn the radio on and run down the battery.\u201d\u00a0 Well, I reply, \u201cisn\u2019t that what the ubiquitous lock button is for?\u00a0 They all have one.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve ever taken one of these radios apart, you\u2019ve likely seen a pliable membrane between the buttons and the switches or traces on the PC board.\u00a0 This provides some spring action necessary to return the buttons to the upright position.\u00a0 Couldn\u2019t this be thinner or more elastic?<\/p>\n

Second, some radios have flat buttons that don\u2019t protrude very far above the case.\u00a0 By the time the fleshy part of your finger bottoms out on the surface of the case, still more pressure and button travel is required to activate the function.\u00a0 Couldn\u2019t the buttons be slightly higher?<\/p>\n

The result, if you operate the radio on a desk or table and apply the requisite walnut-cracking pressure on a button, the radio might well rocket off its foundation.<\/i><\/p>\n

Pads for Portables<\/h2>\n

A partial solution without violating the integrity of the radio is a stable foundation.\u00a0 In today\u2019s euphemistic world the term counterpoise<\/i> is use when referring to what we used to simply call an electrical ground.\u00a0 It seems some sort of mechanical counterpoise would be useful to better anchor a portable radio for operation.<\/p>\n

Neoprene is a synthetic rubber developed by a DuPont scientist in 1930.\u00a0 It is tougher than natural rubber and relatively impervious to solvents.\u00a0 This stuff is virtually skidproof.\u00a0 There are perhaps other materials suitable for this application, which is simply to get the radio to stand its ground while you operate it.\u00a0 After some thought and experimentation, I bought a 1\/16\u201d-thick neoprene pad.\u00a0 A 12\u201d \u00d7 12\u201d pad is more than enough.\u00a0 Mine came from https:\/\/amzn.to\/3XsmQDe<\/a>\u00a0[Note Affiliate link supports the SWLing Post].<\/em>\u00a0 I cut this into three smaller pads as follows:<\/p>\n

7\u201d \u00d7 12\u201d for a Sony ICF-2010, which has nice easy-touch buttons and really doesn\u2019t need a pad except to anchor the radio in place.<\/p>\n

5\u201d \u00d7 9\u201d for a Tecsun PL-990 and many other similar size radios.<\/p>\n

3\u201d \u00d7 5\u201d, the scrap piece can be used for a C.Crane Skywave, which already has nice raised buttons;\u00a0 a Tecsun PL-330, which needs a pad most of all; and an XHDATA D-220, which doesn\u2019t even have buttons.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

A Tecsun PL-330 lying flat covers a 3\u201d \u00d7 5\u201d pad.\u00a0 But that\u2019s OK.<\/p><\/div>\n

There are a couple of alternatives:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. You can leave a large pad uncut to accommodate various sizes of radios; or<\/li>\n
  2. You can cut bits of neoprene and apply them as feet to the bottom rear corners of the radio and bottom of the stand.\u00a0 There might be some difficulty getting them to stay in place or allowing the stand to fully collapse.\u00a0 Some portables already have rubber feet.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    It\u2019s probably apparent that neoprene will adhere best to a smooth surface such as glass or Formica.\u00a0 However, I have tested it on a cloth-covered, memory foam chair cushion, and it works just fine.\u00a0 Pressing down the material will make it adhere to a surface even more.\u00a0 I would estimate that a lateral force of at least 10 or 15 pounds is required to make a small radio break loose from three or four points of contact with the material.<\/p>\n

    Besides holding the radio in place while you operate it, much like a large table radio, neoprene offers the radio some cosmetic protection against abrasion from rough surfaces.\u00a0 However, the material is so sticky it will pick up every bit of dust or dirt.\u00a0 This can somewhat compromise its adherence requiring an occasional rinse in water.<\/p>\n

    Admittedly, the neoprene pad isn\u2019t going to be very useful while you\u2019re sitting in a beach chair using the radio in the handheld posture.\u00a0 However, in the shack, a suitable pad has a purpose.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>

    XHDATA D-220 sans buttons on a 3\u201d \u00d7 5\u201d pad.<\/p><\/div>\n

    Caps for Buttons<\/h2>\n

    In the case of buttons which are too low, some additional help is desired.\u00a0 On the Tecsun PL-330, I glued plastic caps on top of the STEP and ETM buttons, which raises them about 1\/16\u201d and helps considerably.\u00a0 I am still looking for some transparent material to use as caps on the numbered buttons.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a>

    STEP and ETM buttons with caps on a Tecsun PL-330.<\/p><\/div>\n

    Further validated suggestions are solicited.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Ergonomics and Radio Buttons By Bob Colegrove Am I being too picky?\u00a0 Are the buttons on some newer portable radios hard to press?\u00a0 I\u2019ve read many reviews and watched as many videos, but haven\u2019t encountered many complaints about this.\u00a0 Perhaps it\u2019s an age-related affliction. The most succinct description of the problem was expressed in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[8,3194,43],"tags":[7988,4342,9284,25],"class_list":["post-60729","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","category-guest-posts","category-shortwave-radio","tag-bob-colegrove","tag-guest-posts","tag-radio-mods","tag-shortwave-radios"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-fNv","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":62518,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/04\/bobs-radio-corner-buttons-knobs-and-switches\/","url_meta":{"origin":60729,"position":0},"title":"Bob\u2019s Radio Corner: Buttons, Knobs, and Switches","author":"Thomas","date":"April 6, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Pressing Buttons. Twirling Knobs and Throwing Switches By Bob Colegrove Move along.\u00a0 Nothing informative to read here, just the wandering of an idle mind scheming with meandering fingers on a keyboard.\u00a0 On the other hand, if your curiosity can\u2019t be controlled, consider that a significant amount of enjoyment in this\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/image6.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/image6.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/image6.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/image6.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49864,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/08\/bob-colegrove-on-the-joys-and-challenges-of-tuning-analog-radios\/","url_meta":{"origin":60729,"position":1},"title":"Bob Colegrove on “The Joys and Challenges of Tuning Analog Radios”","author":"Thomas","date":"August 1, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bob Colegrove, who recently shared this excellent article and has kindly allowed me to share it here in the the Post. Bob prefaced it by saying, \"Being a retired technical writer, I started the attached article some time ago for my own amusement, but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Books"","block_context":{"text":"Books","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/books\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Bob-Colegrove-Book-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Bob-Colegrove-Book-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Bob-Colegrove-Book-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Bob-Colegrove-Book-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":64316,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/10\/bobs-radio-corner-shortwave-multiplex\/","url_meta":{"origin":60729,"position":2},"title":"Bob’s Radio Corner: Shortwave Multiplex?","author":"Thomas","date":"October 19, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Reported by Bob Colegrove Incurable DXers are always looking for new challenges.\u00a0 So it was, I recently did some scanning between 42 and 45 meters (~6600 to 7000 kHz).\u00a0 Trenton Military on 6754 kHz and the MARS net on 6913 kHz are regulars here, as are a selection of pirates\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Fig.-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Fig.-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Fig.-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Fig.-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Fig.-1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":60370,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/08\/a-band-aid-for-the-xhdata-d-220\/","url_meta":{"origin":60729,"position":3},"title":"A Band Aid for the XHDATA D-220","author":"Thomas","date":"August 11, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor, Bob Colegrove, who shares the following guest post: A Band Aid for the XHDATA D-220 By Bob Colegrove In the olden days of analog radios, we would have generated a graph plotting frequency against a 0 to 100 linear bandspread scale. That permitted determination of a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Fig-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Fig-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Fig-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Fig-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Fig-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":56447,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/04\/bobs-bespoke-rack-of-radios\/","url_meta":{"origin":60729,"position":4},"title":"Bob’s Bespoke “Rack of Radios”","author":"Thomas","date":"April 24, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bob Colegrove, who shares the following: A Rack of Radios by Bob Colegrove You simply cannot have enough radios \u2013 a principle I learned a long time ago.\u00a0 The difficulty occurs when it comes to storing them and yet having them at the ready\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image1-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image1-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image1-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image1-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image1-1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":58269,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/11\/if-memory-serves-me-right\/","url_meta":{"origin":60729,"position":5},"title":"“If Memory Serves Me Right, . . .”","author":"Thomas","date":"November 26, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor,\u00a0Bob Colegrove, who shares the following guest post: If Memory Serves Me Right, . . . By Bob Colegrove Memory features on portable radios have become increasingly popular in recent years.\u00a0 I would say the subject ranks up there with antennas and batteries in many discussion groups.\u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Fig.-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Fig.-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Fig.-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Fig.-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60729","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60729"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60729\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60734,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60729\/revisions\/60734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60729"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60729"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60729"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}