Jim: > On May 24, 2020, at 6:41 PM, Jim Brown <j...@audiosystemsgroup.com> wrote: > > Thanks Frank. IMO, this sort of clarification ought to be in the FD RULES, > not in an FAQ. We've done 1AB QRP for at least 8 years using N1MM on a > laptop running on a generator. > > A few of the slower NUCs will run on 12V and are adequate for logging. Would > this ruling mean that its monitor must not run on a generator or mains power? > > What if the transmitter is being keyed by a WinKeyer which is controlled from > a computer running on a generator?
I’m not a lawyer nor do I play one on television, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night…. ;-) It seems to me that the ’spirit’ of the FD rules is that anything that impacts the transmission/reception/interpretation of RF communications cannot be on a commercial power source if the site is going to claim ‘emergency power’ as the power source. So if a Local Area Network is installed to pass data between stations at the site for logging purposes or coordination of transmissions, or is involved with digital signal modes, or if there is computer equipment, monitors, or ancillary equipment is used as part of the system to process information as part of the overall operation, then they all must be off commercial power if ‘emergency power’ is to be claimed as the power source. A Flex system that uses the LAN to communicate between Maestro, Antenna Genius, PGXL Amplifier,etc. may only be running CW and SSB without a PC would have to have that LAN on emergency power as the LAN is integral to the setup/operation of their communications equipment. If a laptop is running SSDR and has an external monitor, both devices would need to be off commercial power. If a laptop is logging contacts or being used for digital modes, it and anything else attached to it would also need to be “off the grid” to claim emergency power status. The bottom line is that those that are involved with the design/installation of a field day site shouldn’t be looking for ‘exceptions’ to the rules but ask themselves whether their site setup meets the ‘intent’ of the rules. Or, to put it another way, if the site did have a commercial feed available and that feed was lost due to a power outage, would the site be able to continue operating regardless on the existing sources of power that they’ve installed at the site? If the answer is “no” (e.g. they need to rewire/reconfigure to accommodate the loss of commercial power to keep operating as intended), then that site doesn’t qualify as running on emergency power until such time as they can indeed operate from start to finish without interruption. FWIW, Barry Baines, WD4ASW Keller, TX > > 73, Jim K9YC > > On 5/24/2020 4:16 PM, donov...@starpower.net wrote: >> From the ARRL Field Day FAQ: >> www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2019/2019-FD-FAQ-RevA.pdf >> <http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2019/2019-FD-FAQ-RevA.pdf> >> 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 for digital modes/, and/or to control or operate the >> radio, /it also must use emergency power. > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to bbai...@mac.com ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
