[NLRS] Rover advice needed

[Donn, WA2VOI]

A bunch of years ago, Radio Shack had "Universal Notebook DC Adapters."  They sold off the 
remaining stock and I picked up several.  Selectable 12 to 27 volts, with maximum output 
current of 8 amps.  (It's rated at 60 watts, but I know that they'er good for a bit more 
if you don't need the full-rating 27 volts.)  The output connector is also selectable, and 
"should" be able to match almost any laptop, etc.   If you'd like to borrow it, its 
available.

Another possibility is a cigarette-lighter plug-in inverter.  They typically run 70-80 
watts AC output.  You can use your AC supply that way, but its less efficient.

73 Donn
WA2VOI/0

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <dave.w0zf at gmail.com>
To: "W. S. Mitchell" <wsmitchell3 at gmail.com>
Cc: <nlrs at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, May 11, 2015 7:34 PM
Subject: Re: [NLRS] Rover advice needed


>
>
> Bill,
>
> I probably have a diplexer for you.
>
> After Dayton, you and Matt should plan a couple sessions at my place to get you set up. 
> I can help with tools and such to build a proper mast support, etc.
>
> Some great advice and ideas in this thread... Anybody have a source for those laptop 
> supplies that run from 12 volts?
>
>
>
> —
> Sent from Mailbox
>
> On Sun, May 10, 2015 at 11:20 PM, W. S. Mitchell <wsmitchell3 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Greetings,
>>   This June, I am planning to be a rover in the ARRL contest, heading
>> from Minneapolis (EN34) out to DN85 and back, in a two-rover pack with
>> the team of K0BBC and W0ZF.  I'm comfortable with SSB and CW, and feel
>> comfortable with using WSJT for FSK441 (haven't made a QSO with it
>> yet, though).  It will be my first rover operation, and among the
>> first few serious VHF contest efforts I've made.
>> I plan to borrow the parental car (no holes are or may be drilled),
>> and borrow a 1 kW generator (source needed!) so I can run a laptop and
>> my Yaesu FT-857d at full power (stop-and-shoot).  Bands will be 6m
>> (Moxon) and 2m (Arrow V/U satellite yagi).  While I would be a little
>> interested in 70 cm, it complicates the antenna switching/feedlines
>> and the polarization of the antenna (2m and 70cm are orthogonally
>> polarized).  For simplicity I think 6m and 2m will be enough.
>> My plans for a mast are not yet finalized.  When I use the 6m Moxon at
>> home, I have been using about 7' of 3/4" PVC lashed 4' up to the deck
>> railing for my mast.  For the rover I am thinking I would use a
>> Christmas tree stand to help support a sturdier mast of some sort (2"
>> or 3" black ABS tubing?), but would want to then have an adapter of
>> some sort to get to the 3/4" fitting needed for the Moxon.   Fittings
>> to get the 2m antenna attached to the mast haven't been determined;
>> lashing it to the mast with rope is an option, though not a very
>> fast-deploying one.  An Armstrong rotator will be used.
>> Apart from the logistics of mounting the antennas, I have some
>> additional questions:
>> * What if it rains?  Do you use some form of shelter for the generator
>> to keep it dry, or do most rovers have a vehicle with a beefy
>> inverter?
>> * What are the good ways to route the feedline out of the vehicle if
>> it is raining and having the window/door open isn't an option?
>> * During a contest, what is the typical FSK441 meteor scatter calling
>> procedure?  I expect to be without internet access, so online
>> skeds/spotting won't be of use to me.
>> I'm also open to other advice which would be useful for a first-time
>> rover.  This year my theme is going to be starting small and keeping
>> things simple.  Setup and tear-down times need to be fairly small (15
>> min?), because DN85 is a long drive away and there are a bunch of
>> grids in between.
>> For those of you in the Minneapolis area, I am interested in borrowing
>> the following items for the operation:
>> * 1 kW generator (+oil +gas can +rain shelter?)
>> * PL-259 feedlines.  I have a 50' and a 100' of LMR-240, but that's
>> longer than needed and more lossy than I like.
>> * Better portable mast than described above (note: I don't have a
>> trailer hitch on the parental vehicle)
>> If all goes well, and I return from my voyage in the Southern Ocean
>> with the VK0EK expedition (http://www.vk0ek.org), I will see about
>> putting together a presentation on being a first-time rover for the
>> Aurora conference next year.
>> Thanks and 73,
>>   Bill
>> AE0EE
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