[ILQSO] Driving and logging

[Jim Funk]

That really is amazing, and a bit scary.  Though no worse than a lot of what one sees on the road in terms of "distracted driving".  

For my own part, I have two or three times done QSO parties while driving and computer logging and I don't think I will attempt it again.  Of the last three parties (not ILQP) I have done, one required a QSO number.  I just checked of the consecutive numbers I gave on a sheet of paper, gave out the contacts and didn't keep a log otherwise.  I did the same for the other two even though a QSO number was not required.  I did them simply to help cover the state (TX and IN) and did not have a log to submit.  Not a great idea but safer than some of the alternatives.

It would be great if someone would step up and offer to drive for Mel...but I don't suggest your enlist your spouse again....

73, Jim N9JF

-----Original Message-----
From: ilqso-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:ilqso-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Craig Thompson
Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 2:12 PM
To: Illinois QSO Party
Subject: Re: [ILQSO] Driving and logging

Mel

Wow...you are an amazing person to do all of that by yourself. You would never know it to listen to you.

73, Craig K9CT


On Wed, Oct 23, 2013 at 7:37 AM, Mel Crichton <kj9c at iquest.net> wrote:

> K9CT asked "Anyhow, I was curious how do you log when you are driving 
> and operating?"
>
> I keep telling myself that I should be the driver and somebody else 
> should operate... but so far nobody around here has jumped at the 
> opportunity. It doesn't work with me as the operator.... ask the XYL. 
> The one and only time we tried that we were talking to a marriage counselor the next week.
>
> So I log and drive... very carefully. I rarely hit the speed limit 
> except when trying to pass thru (no contacts). The Netbook (miniature 
> laptop) is right in front of the car radio just below the windshield 
> level so I can look forward and still see where the screen is... It 
> blocks heater controls but it's safer and easier to see at that level. I bought a "laptop in bed"
> folding table for it to raise it above the gearshift.....
>
> Thus the keyboard is just to the right of the steering wheel, and I 
> touch type.... So sometimes I make a mistake. At night there's a small 
> lamp above the keyboard if I need to see to correct errors.
>
> The K3 is down on the passenger seat, but I don't touch it... TR4W 
> does all the control (except audio) from the keyboard. If I need a 
> fill the miniature paddel is on the console, and I don't have to look 
> to know where it is.
>
> It's that simple.... there is some visual distraction but not as bad 
> as texting, as I am watching the road most all of the time... probably 
> more than if I was talking to another person in the car. The mental 
> distraction is probably no worse than listening to books on tape. I 
> use a single earbud for headphones. When on SSB I use VOX. And I 
> always try to route through back roads to minimize other traffic and 
> to allow for pull-offs if needed to correct problems. I pulled off a 
> lot in this ILQP later in the day.
>
> Even trying to be this safe bothers me, as late in the day fatigue 
> sets in and typing errors increase...There's less typing with SSB but 
> a lot more yelling with only 100 watts and a puny antenna....It's a 
> bit safer if I don't have to do CW while driving (in Indiana QSO party 
> I can sit on a county line to hand out CW and then do SSB while 
> driving, but there was just too much ground to cover in this ILQP)...
>
> but I want to quit solo mobile efforts while I am ahead. Just like 
> when I rode motorcycles thousands of miles in a month.... one day my 
> number will be up.... so I quit riding after 100,000 miles and before 
> I could have my first accident.
>
> Mel KJ9C
>
>
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