[CQ-Contest] field day aux gear power source

[Steve London]

Good find. Carefully hidden on Page 15 of the 44 page FD packet in 
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2013/2013-FD-Packet-V3.pdf .

Was this a change for 2013 ?

Speaking of rules changes for 2013, QRX for another thread to be started 
by me.

73,
Steve, N2IC

On 05/16/2013 07:47 PM, Jack Brindle wrote:
> 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
> <mailto: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 <mailto: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 <mailto: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 <http://www.ac0c.com>
>>>> alpha-charlie-zero-charlie
>>>>
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