[Elecraft] Field Day

[Bill Frantz]

Back around 1960, when IBM was developing the 360 series, the 
people working on the architecture document adopted a policy of 
not answering questions. Instead they rewrote the appropriate 
section and asked if it now answered the question. The result 
was the best architectural description of a computer ever produced.

I basically agree with Jim about emergency planning. For me, FT 
modes are out (even if they could pass the necessary traffic) 
because they require accurate time. My MacBook Pro doesn't keep 
accurate time without a continuous connection to a NTP source. 
When I'm at home, that comes via Comcast, which requires mains 
power, and will probably fail for other reasons as well. In the 
field I use my cell phone, which has the same problems.

Power is also difficult. At field day, I've used an inverter 12V 
to 120V to power my laptop power adapter. I don't have to 
describe why this solution is bad in so many dimensions to this group.

To solve the laptop power problem, I built a computer using a 
single board computer and a 12V monitor from Adafruit. When 
running it draws 800 mA, but the computer really isn't fast 
enough for the FT modes. Faster single board computers are 
available, but they draw more power.

This computer still doesn't solve all the problems, I haven't 
found a good linux logging program, and it would be nice to have 
a short term internal battery backup to save the computer state 
when it gets accidentally unplugged. The backup battery should 
be relatively easy. One solution just powers the single board 
computer and not the monitor. Then the user knows power has dropped.

Does anyone know of good logging software for linux?

73 Bill AE6JV

On 5/24/20 at 2:02 AM, jim at audiosystemsgroup.com (Jim Brown) wrote:

>I understand the intent of the statement in the FAQ. My point 
>is that these clarifications should be part of the FD RULES, 
>not an FAQ. To me, an FAQ is answering questions raised because 
>the Rules are poorly written or incomplete. If I were running 
>things, I would ban all FAQs and tell the author(s) of the 
>basic document(s) to finish their job!

...

>The good thing about requiring true backup power for the computer causes us as hams to think more seriously about running in emergencies. The bad thing is that independent of the mains AND not powered by a generator is that most laptops now need 16-20V at their power socket, it's hard to find QUIET DC-DC converters, and it probably takes more power to run the laptop than to run a KX3.

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