--- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, Sholto Fisher <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Andy if you don't mind a little leg power you could try the Freeplay Weza: > > http://store.sundancesolar.com/frfrwe.html > > I bought one a while back and I can run the FT-897 on it for quite > sometime before needing to recharge. I limit the power to around 10-15W > out on the rig. If you use a CW QRP rig you could probably operate for > 24hrs without needing a recharge... > > Oh, and in order not to look too foolish and save some strain on the leg > muscles - get the kids to pedal it! > > 73, Sholto > KE7HPV. >
Sholto, that looks interesting . How much leg power does one need to get it initially ready for use? Hours and hours or what ? Andy K3UK > > > Andrew O'Brien wrote: > > I am usually attend regional Field Day efforts with serious > > operations, I'm often the "digital guy" that gets invited so the > > organization can get digital-related bonus points. > > > > This year, the combination of needing to remain close to home due to > > family health issues and my past views that I miss out on all the > > operating fun by giving lectures/demos, has caused be to think about > > doing Field Day at home. I figure that I really need to find some way > > of not depending on my mains power supply for all my amateur radio > > operating. So, Field Day looks like a good target date for trying to > > find some emergency power. > > > > I am not going to buy a generator, too much of a hassle and too much > > noise for my neighbours. I thought about battery power, still > > thinking about it, but recharging a battery has to be thought about > > since the ARRL has some limits on how they are recharged. Wind power > > and Solar panels are appealing but they looked to expensive to me. > > Seems to me that true emergency communications preparation ought to be > > simple and cheap so that many stations would be activated , if needed. > > > > So, assuming a battery powered laptop computer is part of the stations > > (and thus is not a problem) what inexpensive options are there to > > power a modern HF rig using digital modes at 5 watts or less ? > > Perhaps something that can be used to xmit and receive for 2-3 hours > > and then be re-charged without mains power in a reasonably quick > > manner ? I did think of pedal power , good exercise too, but that > > may be too difficult. > > > > > > > > > > > > >