Chuck's Rules For DXpedition Equipment :
Computer:
(1) A week before the trip, force an installation of all available Windows updates.
(2) Next, disable Internet access so no new updates can get downloaded nor can the Internet wreak havoc. Note that Windows updates are downloaded any old time but installed at 3AM if you let Windows do auto updates. That means turning Internet access off Tuesday night won't prevent an update from being installed Wednesday morning if the update was downloaded Monday.
(3) Disable anti-virus so there is no chance of it using too much PC resources or being foolish.
(4) Test operation with Perseus to make sure the updates weren't a problem.
(5) Let the computer run a day so Windows can re-index files, adjust to the updates, etc. When Task Manager says all is quiet, power off the computer.
(6) Don't mess with it any more.
(7) Know what your battery state is for the intended usage. Battery life depends on how hard the PC works: sitting on your desk mostly idle is way different from running Perseus full time and recording. Do a test. If your battery is not up to the task:
(a) for the common 19V charger input, connect a 12V and 6V battery in series and use them as a "charger".
(b) buy a "power bank" lithium battery with a 19V output (assuming 19V is correct). Advantages: light, easily rechargable. Disadvantages: may generate interference.
(c) if near a car, buy a cigarette lighter 19V source. Likely to generate interference.
(8) If Internet access is needed, use a cellphone or cheap tablet. Don't use the Perseus computer.
Never use a DXpedition as a guinea pig to test equipment. Most recent example: Jim's dead battery required using an untested cigarette lighter adapter and it generated a lot of switching noise.
Another issue is interference generated by all the electronic equipment. Yo prevent that, I use big 2.4 inch type 31 ferrite cores on the Perseus power cable, Perseus USB cable and Perseus RF input. With 2 Perseii and 2 laptops I have no birdies in the MW band. Unfortunately, a non-filtered version of the above will yield many birdies.
I won't mention the normal stuff like disk maintenance.
Knock on wood, I've never had a computer issue. In addition to the Tom/Nick story and Jim's story below, we had 2 issues at Newfoundland: (1) twice, some files were not recorded due to a reset after updates and (2) a laptop with battery issues seems to have shut down.
So, even though it is a pain, I think it is worthwhile to make sure your system won't fail you on a DXpedition.
Chuck
________________________________
From: IRCA <irca-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> on behalf of James Renfrew <jim.renfrew@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, July 9, 2016 9:01 PM
To: Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America
Subject: Re: [IRCA] First Rockworks impression
Well my laptop battery emptied too quickly the first morning on the cliffs.
I had to ration my use of it to stretch it. I hadn't any problems the
previous week at a conference in Portland (which is what got me ot Oregon
in the first place). I had an ac adapter for powering the laptop in the
car, but not having been tested we were reluctant to make use of it in case
it generated any interference. Before the third and final morning while I
was reviewing Perseus recordings in my room the laptop landed on the floor
and shattered the screen. So I didn't record at all the third morning.
Chuck was recording but from his comments it sounds like the third morning
was the worst of the three. Upon my return I was pleased to confirm that
my laptop data was intact, so I have two mornings of Oregon recordings that
I am going through. I did get a new laptop, by the way. Jim
On Jul 9, 2016 16:30, "Nicholas Hall-Patch" <nhp@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hmmm, New Zealand you say. Why, yes, one or two. Both Tom and I
suffered minor disasters, but I think we've recorded a few bits of DX just
the same.
I know I heard Trackside on 549 and 828 plus Sport on 693, 774 and
792...but not 1503; conditions really favored the bottom of the band.
More listening to the NetSDR recordings will be required. I do like those
NZ parallels
Disasters? Tom seemed to have been fed a Windows 10 update that made his
Perseus mute; fortunately, there was a netbook available that had Perseus
software on it and was still functional. Thank you Windows 8. So we have
Perseus recordings through the peak of the opening.
For me, battery and external battery on my laptop died in the middle of the
opening, not long after we got Tom back into business. Also fortunately, a
spare laptop battery was available and was frantically installed,
accompanied by various bad words. I thought those batteries were all
charged up. Ahem.
Still two more days. Hope we have all the kinks ironed out now.
best wishes,
Nick