[WIQPmail] Rover Operation Tips??

[Larry Peterson]

Sounds like fun, Michael.  Here are a couple thoughts.   Last year we 
operated MMM for the very first time and we were in the far north & west 
of Wisconsin.  HF and VHF.  Turned out hardly anyone on 2m.  So we 
learned a lot from these experiences and have made major adjustments 
this season.

I'm sure your logging software is fine.  We use N3FJP.  We even made 
contact with Scott as one of our WIQP QSOs last year.

Last year we ran two laptops for logging and used a 12VDC-to-120VAC 
power inverter which worked fine.  That plus the cables for the two rigs 
were wired directly to the battery, of course, with fusing.

Since you operating QRP you could do very well with a LiFePO4 battery.  
That is what we use for SOTA operations during the summer, and that 
holds up well for shorter-term 100W SSB operations.

For your QRP use, you could run all day on CW QRP with a LiFePO4 
battery.  I like to use Battery Tender.  I add a gauge in line to 
monitor Watt-hour use.  It's much like watching the car gas gauge. I can 
get 96 W-h of use.

In addition, for my KX3 which I'll be using for digital operations in 
Orlando next month indoors with an AlexLoop magnetic loop antenna, I 
will use a Winbook table. These tiny 8" tablets are becoming popular for 
ham operations. I bought from Amazon a 12v-to-5v converter, so now all I 
need to do is also attach that with a splitter using Anderson PowerPoles 
to the LiFePO4 battery.

Hence, you could easily run your entire WIQP in those 5 counties with 
just that battery and a few accessories.

I hope that gives you another set of ideas to consider.

FYI, we will once again operate as KD9CSI.

73,

Larry WB9KMW

On 1/28/2016 11:45 AM, Michael Johnson wrote:
> I'm not sure exactly what I'm stirring up here, but here goes.  I'm 
> planning on doing a rover operation in the WIQP this year.  Never done 
> one before so I am literally starting at ground zero.  I am looking 
> for any sort of advice, counsel, warnings...whatever might be helpful.
>
> I've been working this out for a month or so now, and I've got a plan 
> in place, so at least that's a start.  I've got a route figured out 
> that will take me to 5 counties.  I am planning on running a CW QRP 
> operation and will be using N!MM for logging and keying the radio.  
> I'm a bit concerned about the laptop battery duration, so I will 
> incorporate a power inverter in the equipment.  For the radio, I will 
> be using battery power and have 4 battery packs which will provide 
> about 13 Ah of power.  I've also got a battery charger that I can 
> bring along to top off discharged units.
>
> I'll be running this solo and plan not to operate mobile. As mentioned 
> before, I've got the route planned with suitable stopping places to 
> allow me to set up an antenna.  The antenna will be an end fed wire 
> antenna supported with a "Wonderpole" and works on 20, 40 and 80.  Not 
> planning on finding trees. The pole and support stand set up and break 
> down very quickly.  The way the route works out, I've got 10-15 
> minutes driving time between setups and figure station setup will take 
> 5-10 minutes with another 5 minutes to break it down.  So each setup 
> burns roughly 30 minutes which takes up about 2 hours of the contest 
> time.  Puts me on the air for roughly 5 hours max.
>
> My goals are really simple:  Survive and have a good time. Worry about 
> the score another time.
>
> So what am I missing?  Does this have any chance of working per plan?
>
> Thanks.
>
> MJ, WO9B
>
>
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