[VHFcontesting] Any other rovers running MSK144

[Mark Spencer]

Hi Sean.   I power my 300 watt 6 meter portable station and 300 watt 2M station from a very similar setup.   (Two separate 12 volt 100 AH AGM VLRA batteries, charged as needed with a 15 amp battery charger powered by an inverter which is in turn powered by the vehicle electrical system.)

I typically run the laptop for digi modes on it's own internal battery to keep noise to a minimum.   I also charge the laptop from an inverter as needed.   When operating the radios I like to have engine in the truck shut off and all the inverters turned off as well.   This contest I also discovered that charging my IPhone from a small portable battery pack also generated RF noise.  

My 6M amp is actually rated at 375 watts but in practice I'm ok with getting 300 watts when running from battery power.   I use one battery to run the amp and the other to run the radio.

 I find the batteries typically only last 5 to 7 years so in the long run a generator may be more cost effective, but for now I'm happy with the battery solution.   

Hope to work you on the air at some point.

73
Mark S
VE7AFZ


Sent from my iPhone

> On Jan 23, 2017, at 2:32 PM, Sean Waite <waisean at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Hi Don,
> 
> We've considered it. We're currently using a pair of 100AH SLABs for power, charged from the car while we're driving. I can fit a fair bit of stuff into the car, but it starts to get silly when we've got 4+ beams, masts, mast stands, radios, 2 operators...
> 
> I'm also a little unsure if generators are allowed in the parks we operate from, and at the very least they could be annoying to other park goers. 
> 
> It looks like the smaller inverter generators aren't terribly expensive, so it may be an option at some point.
> 
> Sean WA1TE
> 
> On Mon, Jan 23, 2017 at 5:22 PM <n12614 at aol.com> wrote:
> Hi Sean,
>  
> I carry a small generator with me.  It does get some interesting questions on the back roads of TX and OK!
>  
> Don, NL7CO
>  
>  
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sean Waite <waisean at gmail.com>
> To: n12614 <n12614 at aol.com>; mark <mark at alignedsolutions.com>; vhfcontesting <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>
> Sent: Mon, Jan 23, 2017 4:15 pm
> Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Any other rovers running MSK144
> 
> Color me also interested. My big hangup at the moment is power. I don't have 110VAC in the rover and even with an inverter, the laptop power draw and the 100% duty cycle of these modes is going to suck batteries. One thing we considered is possibly only running MSK144 at night once we're at our sleeping destination, we can pick a campground or something with street power. I'm not sure if this is legal under the rover rules, though.
> 
> Sean WA1TE
> 
> On Mon, Jan 23, 2017 at 4:34 PM n12614--- via VHFcontesting <vhfcontesting at contesting.com> wrote:
> 
> Mark,
> 
> I am really interested in adding this to a rove so please keep the comments on the reflector.  I have yet to use MSK144, so I am asking from ignorance.
> 
> Have you tried spelling out Rover as in VE7AFZ Rover?
> 
> Don, NL7CO
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark Spencer <mark at alignedsolutions.com>
> To: <vhfcontesting at contesting.com> <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>
> Sent: Mon, Jan 23, 2017 3:12 pm
> Subject: [VHFcontesting] Any other rovers running MSK144
> 
> Hi:
> 
> I confirmed basic MSK144 functionality before the contest at my home station.   That being said I encountered issues sending my full VE7AFZ/R call with WSJT-X during the contest.
> 
> Taking another look at WSJT-X this morning I can send CQ VE7AFZ/R CN89
> 
> But the default RRR message seems to truncate the /R
> 
> I was able to work around this during my single MSK144 qso during the contest by using the free message function but I would be curious in hearing from other rovers who are running WSJT-X.
> 
> I've also done some testing this morning with two sets of radios and computers this morning and it appears that a station responding to my CQ will also truncated the /R when replying by clicking on my CQ in the "band activity" window.
> 
> I'd also be curious in hearing from those who worked rover stations using MSK144 during the contest.
> 
> 73
> Mark S
> VE7AFZ
> 
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