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On July 31, 2005, we made a trip up the tower. A few issues we went to
check:
 | APRS Digi went to channel 2, 146.76 for some unknown reason |
| The 147.000 was getting 'deaf' Not hearing signals as well as it
used to. |
| The repeater failed during the last tropical storm. |
The week before we attempted a trip up but the elevator failed and crashed to
the bottom of the tower with three of us in it. This week we had a similar
problem, but it seemed to be okay with just one of us on board. Even with
just one, it still slipped a few times at higher levels.
Issues found:
| The digi wasn't near anything that could have pressed the channel
button. The new EEPROM can be swapped on another trip when we have two
people up there. |
| I saw a antenna connection that looked like it was stressed.
We need to open it and replace the jumper. |
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| This is a close up of the back of the
Mastr II voting receiver shelf. The black rectangle is
actually a multipin connector that brings power, audio, speaker and
COR leads in and out of the receiver shelf.
One power input connector for the 146.40 receiver was broken off.
You can see a red wire hanging with a solder on the tip. The
wire is actually black, the red is from the red side of the zip
cord. That was the ground. The shelf was getting a
ground elsewhere.
The red positive one broke off during inspection. This
meant No power to the controller
or the receiver due to this open.
John, KF4ACN is totally rebuilding this wiring
harness.
You can see the full image below. |
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Done today:
| The receiver, exciter, controller and the cable harness was brought down
the tower. |
| The antennas and transmission lines were inspected visually. |
| The stability of the cabinet was checked. About 1.5 inches of movement
when the cabinet is rocked hard. It could be more stable.
Maybe a stiff-arm could be installed from a tower member. |
| Pictures were taken of everything. |
This week:
| The harness will be rebuilt with a new receiver connector.
Hopefully with shrink tubing to reduce the effect of corrosion. |
| The receiver will be PM'ed (Preventive Maintenance to make sure it's
up to spec.) |
Next tower trip:
| The equipment removed 7/31/05 will be reinstalled. |
| The connector to between the downlead and the jumper will be replaced. |
| Paint on the cabient will be touched up. |
| The low current connector fuse may need to be replaced since the power to
the controller shorted as it fell off. |
| Replace EEPROM in the Digi with one that only does APRS. |
08/02/2005
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