[CQ-Contest] field day aux gear power source

[Jack Brindle]

Keep reading. From the Field Day FAQ:

Q. What equipment at our Field Day site must be operated off of the emergency power in order to claim the 100- point per transmitter bonus?
A. You must operate all transmitting and receiving equipment from emergency power. If you use a computer to control or operate the radio, it also must use emergency power. If the computer is used only for logging and is not keying the transmitter, it does not need to be emergency powered. 

I doubt you used Computer logging and CQing for all of those 41 years, but if you use one for controlling (not just monitoring) the transmitter this year, it better be run from emergency power.

Jack B, W6FB


On May 16, 2013, at 3:21 PM, Steve London <n2icarrl at gmail.com> wrote:

> The wording of the rule, for Class A stations, from http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2013/2013%20Rules.pdf is :
> 
> "To be listed as Class A, all contacts must be
> made with transmitter(s) and receiver(s) operating independent of commercial power mains."
> 
> I have never interpreted this to mean that computers, lights and other non-transmitters and non-receivers must be operated independently from commercial power mains.
> 
> Looking forward to my 41st Field Day.
> 
> 73,
> Steve, N2IC
> 
> 
> On 05/15/2013 12:18 PM, Jack Brindle wrote:
>> Maybe not. If the computer is connected to the radio and directly controls it (such as telling it to send CQ or the exchange), then it becomes part of the radio and should be included on the radio power system. If you want to run the computer from mains power, do not connect it to the radio.
>> 
>> Power meters (output power and SWR) generally don't need power if you use the old-fashioned ones with meter. If they need dc power to run the display, then they, too, are part of the radio and should be powered from the radio supply.
>> 
>> In the WVARA AB efforts we are very careful as to what gets run from battery and what doesn't. Fans (during the day) are just about the only thing that doesn't get battery power. We operate from a nature preserve, and there is nothing but the batteries we provide between sundown and sunup (no generators allowed in the preserve during that time period). Non-radio items (normally just lighting at night, may also include a small fan) is generally run from non-radio batteries.
>> 
>> In general, though, if it is something that controls the radio, it runs on the battery supply. That includes the radio, auto tuners, power / SWR meters, control computers, antenna switchers, keyers, and the like. In a "real" emergency, these _would_ be powered by the emergency supply. And yes, a computer might be in use for these things at time. Keeping a record of passed emergency traffic is awfully important.
>> 
>> Jack Brindle, W6FB
>> 
>> Sent from my iPad
>> 
>> On May 15, 2013, at 4:40 AM, Aldewey at aol.com wrote:
>> 
>>> Technically, only the rigs need to be on emergency power in the Class A
>>> category.  All other items (i.e lights, computer, etc.) can be on  commercial
>>> mains.
>>> 
>>> 73,
>>> 
>>> AL, K0AD
>>> 
>>> 
>>> In a message dated 5/15/2013 6:04:42 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
>>> jeff at ac0c.com writes:
>>> 
>>> The FD  rules specify the rig must be run from a power source other than
>>> mains.
>>> 
>>> But how would station accessories (like a power meter used to ensure  QRP
>>> power compliance, for example) or non-station gear (lighting, computer,  etc)
>>> treated?
>>> 
>>> I can see it either way.  However, it seems  to me that in a real
>>> emergency, the only thing that counts is power to the  rig.  Anything a guy brings to
>>> facilitate contest scoring (computers),  personal comfort (electric seat
>>> warmer) or whatever would not be there in an  emergency and I expect is not
>>> considered  “rig”.
>>> 
>>> 73/jeff/ac0c
>>> www.ac0c.com
>>> alpha-charlie-zero-charlie
>>> 
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