For all the advances we've made with the W?VFW repeater on 145.27. We have ran into problems yet again. We discovered at the end of a long day at the VFW attempting to resolve HF noise, we found 145.27 output from the transmitter to the duplexer was over 10:1 SWR. The repeater was immediately taken off the air. Due to the Holiday's? I will not be able to investigate it further till next Friday. Should you wish to drum me out of the VFW, I understand..
W?VFW UHF repeater on 443.325 is now back on K-LINK and checks of the transmitter indicate slightly over 25 watts going up the coax to the antenna. Those old Motorola duplesers have 3dD insertion so all seems well there. as the Vertex repeater is advertized as 50 watts.
Some work needs to be done with the tower and coax running there. PAt KC?ZWS and I found the coax leaving the tower is routed between the building and a storage shed on the ground. We found that coax when was installed in 2009. It was rigid where it was laying on the ground. That indicated water-moisture has permiated the coax and was frozen as the sun never reaches that area between both buildings. Steps are needed investigate and correct that issue.
Wednesday EVERGY removed our service enterance pole to the VFW post along with 3 new pole pigs. It was dark for 3 hours and we found before, during and after? noise levels on HF to remain the same. A walk of the paremeter outside of the VFW indicated no single immediate source of AC-Noise. arcing or interference. WE did not investigate any sources beyone our property. We are however hearing at low noise levels AM broadcast in the static. If anyone on the east side of town is hearing BC interference on 80-40M please contact us. Again I cannot perform any further investigation into the ICOM 718 without replacing the rig with another. That can be done post? next Friday.
The ICOM 718 rig in the W?VFW shack is currently outputting 50 watts at 1:1.. I plan on bringing forward a second power-SWR bridge to confirm our measurements last Wednesdy. It is rated for 100 watts. So investigation is required.
The 52 crew is planning on TRACKING SANTA CLAUSE on Christmas Eve.. Please participate. 146.520 is exceptionally popular in this area.?
Remeber Post 3115 VFW will be open Christmas eve and Christmas day.. THere are a number of Veterans who have no other place to go on those days. Many people go to support them. Should you decide to stop by, feel free to bring something to share, even if only cookies, chips or a Turkey of ham..
Larry Macionski