To all,

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Please pass this around to any other lists or interested parties.

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I was told that the N2ZZ/R VHF repeater at Aiken Regional Medical Centers was totally off the air a few weeks ago.? Previously, just Echolink was off the air while I was working with hospital IT to fix the repeater’s Echolink computer.

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I found out that the hospital experienced a power surge which took out several electronics in the hospital, such as controlled doors, a few weeks ago.

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I went up to the repeater and found that the programming of the ARCOM controller was scrambled.? I dug out the Windows XP computer that I used to program the controller back in 2006, found the last file, uploaded it to the controller, and all was well again.? I also replaced the backup battery.? In that time space, I contacted hospital IT, they met me up at the repeater to fix the Echolink computer, and now Echolink was back on the repeater.

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That repeater has been in almost continuous operation since 2006 without a hiccup.? After surveying the situation, I realized that the controller was seriously out of date, and if failed completely, could not be directly replaced.? I contacted ARCOM, asked them to upload the data that I have to a new controller. They sold me that new one, along with an RTC time clock that will keep the time.

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Still, as nothing is easy, all the audio levels of the new board would need to be calibrated.? I met Joe N4ADI up at the repeater.? We pulled out both the ARCOM RC-210 controller box and the Kenwood TKR-750 repeater.? Joe has offered to replace the board, calibrate the audio levels and completely go through the repeater to evaluate sensitivity, power levels, etc.? Hopefully, we can meet up next weekend and reinstall the repeater with the new controller.

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At that time, we will revisit the Echolink setup.? I have not been able to produce enough gain on the old ARCOM board from the Echolink box to equalize the audio with the repeater audio.? Hopefully, we can fix that as well.

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So, the N2ZZ/R 145.350 repeater will be off the air this week.

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Just an FYI to all!

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‘73 de Jim N2ZZ

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