Re: Repeater Down (Update)
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hello
If that is the same antenna that was at the square, I can give you some history. It is a commercial antenna for the business band around 156 mhz. We go two of them at the hamfest, one for us and one for SIARC in Canandaigua On the VA hospital tower. A Ham friend?Rich Place WB2JLR provided the brains and the network analyzer to modify them for 2 meter.
Jim ( name callsign ??) a model maker reworked the elements. They were lengthened?by cutting the dipoles and welding in a slug of measured?length. I think about 1/2 inch but measure a good dipole. I suspect that is where the break is.? The line length in the harness arms? was also lengthened.
They are a good?antenna and ours has to be well over 30 years old.
I am not sure what Siarc has now or even on the air? ?148.20
I?hope it helps and happy new year. _/) ? _/) ? ? ? _/) ?_/) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ John Wright62 Grand View Dr. Fairport NY 14450
3 Santa Maria Court Port St. Lucie FL 34952 585 771-0509 (cell text ok)
On Fri, Dec 30, 2022 at 1:58 PM Brian Donovan < k2as@...> wrote:
All,
Just got back from the repeater site.?
Everything is working OK now.? Problem was a section of coax
between the main feedline / surge protector and the duplexer.? It
was one of the original sections from the Xerox Tower site that we
reused.
As Matt reported, two of the four
antenna radials have broken off.? The good news, the SWR was still
1.6 : 1 at 145.00 MHz, even lower above 147.00.? I am hearing it
normally at my QTH again.? It may be an s-unit or two less than it
once was (several years ago, can't be sure broken radials is
reason), but sounds fine.
At some point, we probably should
address the antenna.? Likely the other two will break soon.
- Brian
On 12/27/2022 1:00 AM, Brian Donovan
wrote:
Thanks for the reports.? You may be
right, Ned.? I was going to do some tests with Matt to see if it
was affecting both rcvr and xmtr, but I just figured I'll wait
until I get down there and see what I find.? The antenna is
definitely compromised with missing two radials, but if the main
problem is something like a bad jumper cable to/from duplexer,
maybe we can get it fixed and worry about the antenna when it's
warmer.
No matter what is wrong, it being
used probably isn't doing it any good, SWR protection or not.?
So I will deactivate it for the time being.? Hoping I can get a
look at it by later this week, or weekend.
Brian
On 12/26/2022 3:38 PM, W2NED wrote:
Brian, I just caught up on your emails regarding the
repeater. I can hear it from my QTH but it much weaker
than usual. I did chat briefly with Matt (KD2MGM) on the
repeater. He is near the repeater and offered to help in any
way he can. Since Matt had no trouble hearing me, I think that
the problem is with the transmitter. If it were the antenna, I
suspect that he would have trouble hearing me.
Regards, Ned
On 12/19/2022 7:19 PM, Brian
Donovan wrote:
I
emailed Matt, KD2MGM, since he lives nearby the repeater, and
asked he try and key it up and see if any response.? He
emailed my back and said, Yes, the repeater can be heard at
his QTH.
I'm hearing other repeaters fine here, SWR is fine.? So I
don't think problem is my end.? Anyone else who normally can
access it, maybe let me know if you can get in or hear it.
So it points to a TX output power issue, antenna or feedline
problem.? Unfortunately, probably antenna issue most likely.??
It's been up on the tower more than 6.5 years.
So while it may not be completely down, since I don't hear it
at all, I'm guessing coverage is very limited, but your
mileage may vary.? I might try to disable it through the
second receiver, until I can check the antenna/swr. Though I
won't be sure whether it works.? I might get Matt to help me
out again.
Stay tuned.
Brian
On 12/19/2022 1:00 PM, Brian Donovan wrote:
It appears the 145.29 repeater is
down.? I was there briefly last week, and it was working
when I left.? This is a busy week, I have family coming in,
and not sure what opportunity I will have to get down there.
No idea, could be antenna, power, or repeater itself.? It
has a 120V to 13.8V switching supply inside.? The 444.950
machine is up, so unless on different circuits, not likely
power problem.? I'll pass along what I find out when I can.
Brian
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