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BBARC 147.020 Elephant Mountain Maintenance:
NEED:
FARB make/mod/serial.
Battery protector spray, Lots!
- RC-96 CONTROLLER (HECTOR):
- No female voice. It looks like we got the Y2K bug. Used the hidden command "9213528835", then set the date to 1992, then reset the time. Finally, I unlocked the controller and used command *1123 to reprogramm Bulletin Board #1. This is the Hector - Juliet fight macro.
- RC-96 CONTROLLER (HECTOR):
- Changed MACRO #1 to set the Frequency Agile Remote Base to 44.050 Plus (West Texas Connection).
- RC-96 CONTROLLER (HECTOR):
- Changed the Repeater Timeout Long timer to 1,500 seconds so the West Texas Connection nets coming in on the Frequency Agile Remote Base won’t time it out.
- GENERAL:
- It turned out that I didn't really need to drive up here to fix the problems.
- HUB REPEATER:
- It sounded like we had lost RX audio out to the RLC-4 sometime last week. I thought the repeater had old firmware in it but it is current (serial#30200144 = firmware B32F). It is working now so nothing to fix.
- FARB
- We could not get the FARB to transmit last week after changing frequencies. The transmit offset was wrong when we remotely changed it. I finally figured out that the Control Op manual (and the actual manual) is WRONG where it talks about offsets. Changed Control Op manual.
- HUB REPEATER:
- RLC-4, J8 was installed. This is Port #2 (Hub Repeater) de-emphasis enabled. This is not right because the Hub Repeater already outputs de-emphasized audio. Removed J8.
- Enabled local repeater in the Kenwood repeater. Disabled Port #3 repeat audio. Hub Repeater audio is now looped locally inside the Kenwood TKR-850 repeater.
- SYSTEM:
- I can't remember a time when I had so much wrong and so much go wrong on a site trip.
- POWER:
- The Mastr II Power Supply was left turned off from the 05 August trip. Turned it back on. Batteries were O. K. since the trickle charger was still running.
- Added D.C. fuse block that uses ATC fuses. Fed it from the D.C. backup screw terminals on the TKR-850 Hub Repeater. Connected the WX Receiver, RC-96 Controller, RLC-4 Controller, and D.C. Voltmeter to it.
- FREQUENCY AGILE REMOTE BASE (FARB):
- I had programmed the wrong CTCSS into the FARB on the 05 August trip. Changed it from 146.2 to 162.2 for the WTC system.
- WX RECEIVER:
- I forgot the correct D.C. cable end for the WX Receiver again! I had a D.C. cable but no end on it. I took the cable from the RC-96 Controller because it would fit the WX Receiver. I then used the D.C. screw terminals to power the RC-96 Controller.
- HUB REPEATER:
- The programming I uploaded on 05 August had the repeater set for local repeat. We need to have this repeater loop through the RLC-4 Controller to take advantage of the RLC-ADM Delay Module. Removed the local repeat from the programming.
- RLC-4 CONTROLLER:
- The two RLC-ADM Analog Delay Modules were connected to Ports #2 and #3. Moved them to the correct Ports #1 and #2. The ADM connection for Port #1 on the Controller is wired differently that then other ports. Moved connector on the ADM Module to the correct point for that port.
- RC-96 CONTROLLER (HECTOR):
- Hector is repeating all audio it receives right back out to the RLC-4 Controller on the port it is connected to (Port #4). There is NO WAY to tell Hector to not repeat except to control it to ignore everything. What we want is for Hector to act normally except NOT repeat incoming audio. If it does, then we will have multiple audio paths. I finally wired Port #4 CTCSS Input to ground and used event macros to flip the CTCSS valid polarity on Port #4. Then I told Port #4 to need COR AND CTCSS to activate.
- When not receiving audio from the RLC-4, the CTCSS signal into the RLC-4 Port #4 is held low and programmed for active low. Hector can output a COR to the RLC-4 and it will see that (and the low CTCSS) as valid and receive the audio from Hector.
- When receiving audio from the RLC-4, the RLC-4 flips the CTCSS valid polarity on Port #4 to active high. Since the CTCSS wire is held low, then the RLC-4 does not see a valid CTCSS and will not receive the audio from Hector.
- (In case anyone is counting, we had a total of 3 repeat audio paths on the Hub Repeater, internally in the TKR-850 repeater, through the RLC-4 Controller, and through the RC-96 Controller. No wonder I never could align the audio right.
- HUB REPEATER :
- Replaced Repeater with #30200144. This one has the Amateur Band band spread.
- This repeater has the programming for Monitor On to take advantage of an RLC-ADM module.
- RLC-4 CONTROLLER:
- Added RLC-ADM Analog Delay Module to Port #2 (Hub Repeater).
- Uploaded latest programming (WX radio etc).
- LINK RADIO (Now WX RECEIVER):
- Removed Vertex VX-3000U #1K220014. The FARB will take the place of this radio used to connect to the WTC repeater system.
- Installed Computer Automation Technology WX-200 Weather Receiver.
- TOWER:
- Sways like a drunk sailor.
- LOCAL REPEATER:
- No power to repeater. Open 10 amp fuse in the back panel box that the A. C. power cord plugs into. Replaced.
- BATTERIES:
- 12.77 VDC.
- Added more battery protector to terminals.
- PHONE:
- No dial tone on repeater. Calls into the phone number ring busy. Replaced shorted RED phone line protectors on line #1 and #2 on the punch block on the wall behind the repeater.
- Removed unused black 48 volt Black protectors.
- BATTERIES:
- 12.80 VDC.
- Added foam tape to rack voltmeter.
- LINK RADIO:
- Reprogrammed radio to talk to the McElroy Mountain West Texas connection repeater (449T050, 444R050, 162.2) Audio levels to WTC reported to be very hot but it's OK leaving our site.
- SITE:
- Full alignment, more or less.
-
POWER:
- Removed deep cycle battery stack and rack.
- Installed donated C & D KCT-360 "Ma-Bell" Batteries and rack.
- 1:25 PM 11.782 Vdc on charger, not powering equipment.
- 1:35 PM 11.768 Vdc on charger, powering equipment.
- 2:07 PM 11.770 Vdc on charger, powering equipment. Voltage increasing VERY slowly.
- POWER:
- Verified that A. C. power is supplied by Brewster county, not IBWC.
- A. C. current draw:
- Idle = 2.1 amps A. C.
- Keyed = 5.8 amps A. C.
- SITE:
- Checked for path to National Weather Service. No path.
- LINK RADIO:
- Turned off Link Radio connected to RLC-4, port #4. We are not using it.
- PHONE:
- No dial tone at Demarc. Called Big Bend Telephone.
- Removed phone line from A. C. protection box. Added 66 block with on-board protection.
- SITE:
- Added black wrap to exposed cabling.
- POWER:
- Added meter to back up batteries.
- LINK RADIO:
- Constant COR due to constant birdy. We don't use this link much so I am not too worried about it.
- GENERAL:
- Reason for this trip was a failure of the Kenwood TKR-850 Hub Repeater.
- LOCAL REPEATER:
- Antenna or coax is bad. 20 watts out, 6 watts return.
- HUB REPEATER:
- Failure of repeat audio and transmit CTCSS on the Kenwood TKR-850. The repeater itself would transmit just fine, just no transmit audio. This also happened on another TKR-850 (See 10 Oct 2004). After talking with some Kenwood dealers, I upgraded the firmware to B32F checksum firmware.
- CONTROLLER:
- Programmed Link Radio On macro to NOT connect to Port #4 (Hector). It was transmit cycling. Hmm, this was also done last trip (19 March). Don't know why it was programmed in. I must have messed up.
- Changed Local Repeater Courtesy Beep from "EL" to "E".
- HECTOR:
- Lowered TX audio level to quiet down Hector's voice.
- GENERAL:
- Reason for this trip was to install a phone line, try to link to the West Texas Connection for Sky warn traffic, and replace the failed backup batteries.
- POWER:
- Installed 4 new backup batteries. Purchased from SAMS in Abilene.
- Rewired Controller and Hector to run off of the backup batteries.
- CONTROLLER:
- Link radio receive would lock entire system in transmit.
- Reprogrammed Port #3 to not connect to Port #4 (Link Radio to Hector).
- Reprogrammed Port #4 to not connect to Port #3 (Hector to Link Radio).
- That fixed it.
- HECTOR:
- Installed phone line cabling between Demarc and Hector.
- LINK RADIO:
- Tried to link to West Texas Connection hub at Notrees. No path.
- Programmed to point to 444.900 repeater at McDonald Observatory.
- Aligned audio for Port #3.
- SITE:
- Someone had left the inside light on.
- Full alignment:
- Local Repeater: -116 on, -117 off, 45.8 watts.
- Hub Repeater: -116 on, -119 off, 12.8 watts.
- CONTROLLER:
- Added RLC-ADM delay module to Port #2 (Hub Repeater). set delay to 196.8 mSeconds (maximum).
- Uploaded latest programming.
- HUB REPEATER:
- Hub lost receiver audio yesterday. Audio was correct from 147.020 but all remote sites had dead carrier being repeated through the Hub. Cycled power to Hub Repeater and audio was restored. Replaced TKR-850 #30200144 with #30400171.
- HECTOR:
- Installed "Hector" RC-96 #1838 with Yaesu SP-55 speaker. Just Hector, not the Autopatch or the Remote Base or anything (No time).
- LINK RADIO:
- Changed name from "Hector Link" to Link Radio.
- Reprogrammed to 425.900 to connect to 146.820 in case batteries are ever delivered there.
- D.C. POWER:
- Battery voltage down to 8.6 VDC. We figured this out after about an hour and a half of troubleshooting problems with no Hector voice, Local Repeater constant PTT and no RX COR indication etc. Removed batteries, unplugged battery charger, and routed the RLC-4 and the RC-96 power to the G. E. power supply.
- HUB REPEATER:
- Hub repeat audio lost this morning. Audio was correct going into and out of repeater. It's just the Repeat Audio that was lost. Cycled power and audio was restored. Replaced TKR-850 #30400171 with #30200144.
- RA audio out to RLC-4 lowered from 131 to 102 to get 0.450 mV at C39 in RLC-4.
- TX High Power lowered from 232 (32 watts) to 161 (22 watts).
- HECTOR LINK:
- Bees swarming around tower base kept us from improving the antenna system.
- HUB REPEATER:
- Hub repeat audio has intermittent dead air instead of audio. I suspect that any external audio from the RLC-4 was overriding the repeat audio. Moved internal controller PTT Priority from:
- Mic PTT
- External PTT
- Repeat PTT
- Mic PTT
- Repeat PTT
- External PTT
- Aligned internal repeat audio.
- 4.5 KHZ input was set to 122 (2.3 KHZ out).
- Increased to 256 (4.15 KHZ out).
- That's the highest I could get it.
- Decreased internal CWID down from 46 (0.8 KHZ) to 20 0.3 KHZ).
- Added CWID ON to button #1 and labeled same.
- HECTOR LINK:
- Improved antenna-to-tower mount and realigned antenna.
- SITE:
- The regular outlets behind the rack now have power available. Moved plug back to these outlets.
- HUB REPEATER:
- Kenwood TKR-850 #30200144 drops repeat audio on occasion. RA audio into repeater seems OK. Replaced #30200144 with #30400171.
- Set to 17 watts high, 5 watts low.
- SITE:
- Located Rio Grande Electric meters and correlated them with TP&W list. The building is fed by two meter services. The meter on the outside right wall only feeds the three outlets on the inside left wall of the building. The meter between the front doors powers the rest of the building. (Look, I didn't wire this building!) Moved the A. C. power plug for our system (and the Sheriff's repeater) to one of the working A. C. outlets on the left wall.
- BATTERIES:
- Only down to 12.22 VDC after a 10 days of outage. Not bad.
- SITE:
- A. C. power down since Monday (10 May). Found meter can between front doors removed and locking cover installed in its place. A new tenant, International Boundaries Water Commission (IBWC) had called a few weeks ago saying something about changing the A. C. power source to the building. Left telephone message with IBWC) and sent email to Texas Parks & Wildlife contact.
- CONTROLLER:
- Removed DB-25 between I/O port and the Link Repeater (Falsing on TX Disable).
- Reprogrammed for 425.300 Hector Link Radio from MVP to Vertex VX-3000.
- HUB REPEATER:
- Reprogrammed to remove Input #1 = TX Disable and PF1 Key = TX Disable.
- HECTOR LINK:
- G. E. MVP receiver too weak. Replaced with Vertex VX-3000.
- SITE:
- Aligned audio.
- Added ground from Rack and VHF PolyPhaser to ground wire in hole in floor.
- LOCAL REPEATER:
- Replaced failed Sinclair duplexers with Phelps Dodge duplexers.
- -120 db on, -121 db off, 35 watts out of duplexer.
- HUB REPEATER:
- Kenwood TKR-850 #30400171 PA only putting out ~4 watts. Replaced with #30200144.
- -122 db on, -125 db off, 22.5 watts into PolyPhaser.
- HECTOR LINK:
- Installed beam pointed toward Alpine.
- Installed G. E. MVP #0093430.
- -100 db, 12 watts into PolyPhaser.
- Hector decodes DTMF but is noisy back to this site.
- DC. POWER:
- Added 30 amp circuit breaker.
- 13.70 Vdc.
- 7.25 amps current draw when in A. C. power fail.
- SITE:
- Replaced Spare Repeater with permanent system.
- Added broom.
- Replaced mouse poison.
- LOCAL REPEATER:
- Installed Motorola MSR-2000. Duplexers not working right so left power down to 20 watts.
- HUB REPEATER:
- Installed Kenwood TKR-850.
- -116 on, -119 off into PolyPhaser. Could only get 3 watts out of duplexer or transmitter. Transmitter PA transistor getting hot. System working fine into 146.720 and 146.920.
- A. C. POWER:
- Added surge protection box. Modified front panel enable button to eliminated surge resets.
- DC. Power:
- SYSTEM:
- Removed spare repeater Vertex and spare Link Radio Motorola.
- Installed semi-permanent equipment.
- LOCAL REPEATER:
- Changed frequency from 145.250 to 147.020.
- WAS: -113 on, -115 off, 18 watts into duplexer antenna connection.
- NOW: -116 on, -121 off, 22 watts into duplexer antenna connection. Receiver coverage seems to have suffered a bit though.
- A. C. POWER:
- Added 4 backup batteries and the blue battery tray.
- 14.02 Vdc.
- SITE:
- SITE:
- Removed antenna and pole to the left of the front door.
- Removed antenna and Rohn 25G tower on left side of building.
- Removed 2 low band dipoles and coax from short tower.
- Removed low band vertical from bent pipe on short tower.
- Removed 1 low band dipole from tall tower.
- Identified coax runs from building to tall tower.
- Swept and cleaned out building.
- SYSTEM:
- Installed at the new Elephant Mountain site.
- SYSTEM:
- Built this repeater for use at Elephant Mountain.
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