146.835 Repeater Maintenance and Changelog
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08/24/2008 Len, KC0RSX, Tom, W0MK, and Erik, WB0NIU, made a trip to the site with the intention of installing the NHRC-5 controller. We also had the 440 Mhz control receiver with us, to re-install after being tuned.
We were NOT successful, because when we plugged the Micor RX into the new controller, the squelch output seemed to go crazy. It should normally be low (0V) when there is no signal, and high (5V) when there is. With the RX disconnected from the controller, the COR (squelch) signal was low, and the input on the controller was low. As soon as we plugged it in, though, it immediately went to 5V. If we just connected the COR without the audio, then it worked fine. We also tried a 1.5K pull-down resistor, but found that the 5V output was quite low impedance. The Hamtronix receiver, however, worked fine.
Rather than trying to fiddle with just the parts, we brought both the controller and the Micor receiver down to put together on the bench to see what's going on. So, the repeater is down.
07/30/2008
A repair trip was made to the repeater site by KB0YJU, N0JP and WB0EUU. A replacement pair of 6 V batteries and a charger were installed. The batteries were of the same type that were in service. The charger was the unit that was replaced by the Iota.
After installation, the repeater worked and the power meter indicated that the battery charger was operating and the replacement batteries where charging.
In this configuration, the repeater is powered by a pair of 6 volt, 200 AH batteries, which are maintained by a battery charger. The charger is not designed to run the repeater directly. It requires the batteries to filter out the charger noise and provide clean power to the repeater. The charger should be hooked directly to the batteries to provide the best filtering. The existing controller does not indicate a failure of commercial power. The power lead from the Iota charger is not used in this configuration. The wire was covered with wire nuts and taped so as to be available then the Iota is replaced.
07/28/2008
The repeater has been down for the past week. It was observed to have a very poor output signal, and then no response at all indicative of the battery voltage going low due to power supply failure. Recently an electrically intense thunderstorm went through the area, which potentially caused power loss at the site, as power went out 3 times at morning in Winona. KB0YJU and K0NY made a trip to the site to determine the source of failure and perform simple repairs or damage triage. The breaker to the equipment rack was thrown, resetting it did not restore repeater operation. The repeater is down due to the failure of the power supply. The power supply and batteries have been removed from the site. The batteries will also be tested and determined if replacement is required. Replacement of the power supply is required (it may be under warranty). Lance, KB0YJU.
03/21/2008
On 3/8, the repeater went down completely. Today, Lance, KB0YJU, and Erik, WB0NIU, hiked in to investigate. We found that the IOTA had inadvertently been left unplugged by the last crew after they checked the batteries. The (2) 6V batteries were at about 4.0 volts each. After charging for 15 minutes, they had come up to 5.0 and 5.3v with the charger off, and 6.32 and 6.73 with the charger on.
The system ran for 11 days on battery power.
We also checked for and did not find any evidence of water in the feedline.
Erik, WB0NIU
03/17/2008
The audio was poor at times and some motorboating at the ends of
transmissions. Suspected water in feedline. Action is required.
03/08/2008
The transmitter was repaired by Erik, WB0NIU. Traces on a circuit board were damaged by bug excrement. The damaged traces were bypassed by installing jumper wires. The control of the cooling fans was modified by Erik and Jim, KB0THN. The fans are now controlled by a PIC microprocessor and will only turn on when needed.
Len, KC0RSX, and Clare, K0NY, installed the repaired transmitter at the site. It was found that 12 VDC was not being supplied to the receiver. The circuit breaker had failed. The receiver was hooked to an alternate terminal that is in parallel to the transmitter. The repeater system appears to be working properly.
Len and Clare checked the control receiver and it was receiving properly. They also check the voltage output of the Iota at 13 VDC (with an analog meter) and the batteries at 12.5 VDC.
