So, a few notes about WFD.
The WFD rules cover some basic items:
· Class: this is the number of transmitters that can transmit at the same time. We will figure that out before we go on the air.
· Categories: Since Cindy and I will be in a cabin the group will be operating under the INDOOR category.
That’s really about it.
WFD has what they call “Additional Objectives”. There are no extra points for these “Additional Objectives”, they are just things you might want to consider to do to prove to yourself that you can to it. These include 100% alternative power, operate away from home, deploy multiple antennas and other items, you can read the WFD rules yourself to see.
For the summer Field Day we normally operate off of “emergency power”, using the gasoline powered generator.
WFD has an Additional Objective of “Operate 100% on Alternative Power”. When they say 100% they seem to mean it because all station equipment must be run from battery power including radios, accessories, lights, HEATERS, etc.
There is no way we can run heaters from battery power and as there are no extra points for doing so Cindy and I will not be operating from battery power only. We will have our radio connected to our 12V 100AH battery with the charger connected to the battery and charging while we operate. I know that we could run the station from the battery for a few hours and can run the inverter connected to my electric car and continue to operate for many days but I’m not going to go to the trouble to connect all that up (I did last year) if there are no extra points to do it.
Cindy and I are going to operate one radio, her IC-7300 with an end-fed antenna and a logging computer. My goal is to keep it simple this year.
