NoBarc's 147.03+ 

DOWN/development

as of 11/30/2009
This project is currently in development

User control codes here Technical info here
COVERAGE Plots
using Radio Mobile.
Status of the 147.03 Repeater
History of 147.03? boaring old news/
Notes on this project.
signal reports/qsl to:
ke3ht@nobarc.org


Recent news:
11/30/2009 IFAS replaced and receiver tuned back to normal
On 11/27 KB1CXI (Derek) and KE3HT (me, Tim) removed the repeater from the roof. Over the weekend the IFAS board was replaced and the receiver tuned back to normal. A CHILL test will be done shortly (low temps were the cause of the problems). I also tested a pre-amp that we could not use before due to the IFAS problem. Since I have parts I am also going to put a PA on the repeater. We were only running low power because of the IFAS board but even that power was reduced to make the repeater work at all with the IFAS problem. If the power supply will handle it 03 should be running 50watts when it goes back up. I hope for a Dec 12th return to the air.
 
04/22/2009 Power supply replaced
147.03 has had a series of power supply failures (crow baring) ever since the T-Storm a few weeks back. This morning I replaced the power supply. We STILL have a problem with the receiver when it gets cold outside. Last weekends hamfest did not have any MASTR II parts so repairs are still pending parts. 147.03 is using the GE radio that was purchased NEW BY NoBarc back in the 70's or 80's. It was on Mount Greylock for many many years as 146.91 but it is not feeling so well in its old age even in low usage as 147.03. I may try this summer to see if I can do a component repair with a can of ice air. For now we hope for more warm weather!

04/20/2009 Power problems
We have been suffering from some power supply problems since a t-storm a couple of weeks ago. I attempted a replacement today but came unprepared. I needed more power poles to complete the job but it will be completed this week. This upgrade will give the repeaters lots of Much needed DC power. It turns out I was using 25amps of a 30amp peak Astron Power supply. In the meantime I have reduced the load on the power by making 443.85 run on exciter power till the job is complete. I still need to insert the 440 filter to clean up some noise between the repeaters so this will help out double for awhile.

01/10/2009 147.03 is back on the air again
Mods for 162.2PL, Reverse Burst squelch, filtering PL hum, exciter spurs removed which will help double power out and reduce desense on the receiver. Sorry about the delays getting it back on the air. I had to order a part and get it shipped to me during the Christmas rush. It took 2 weeks to get it delivered. All is working pretty good though. IRLP still needs work. The cable I made up is not split in such a way that it reaches all the ports properly. IRLP works on the bench but does not work on location yet. I wish I was better at working on this but I do the best I can.

147.03 was taken down 12/01/08:
We are adding PL and IRLP. While we are in there I am going to re-tune the exciter to remove a spur discovered on a spectrum analyzer. Should be back up soon.

PL purchased 09/24/08:
PL was purchased. Hope to start installation week of 10/13. MAYBE have back on the air 10/18 but it could be longer.

Receiver update 7/9/08:
First day on the air we saw that the receiver was not as good as it should be. I went home and opened the ARRL repeater handbook and did the calculations. Low and behold the duplexers were not good enough for such a hot receiver. I had to add some additional attenuation for the receive side of the existing duplexers. I dug out one of the old 147.03 duplexers recovered from a tool shed last year. Most of them did not work at all. I took the cleanest looking one that was a high pass and opened it up. Wow, I used a hose in my back yard to wash it out. I dried it with my daughters hair dryer. I discoverd that the coupling loops were modified out of band for some reason. Much longer loops. I removed the mod and fixed the tuning cap on top. I now had a 20db notch high pass cavity! Installed this morning around 8:15am. MUCH MUCH Better receive and the "noises" are gone! We SHOULD have much better receiver now. Let me know!

On the Air at the North Street location 7/8/08:
After some issues with the receiver oscillating k1jaw, kb1hzl and I hoisted the repeater and cavities up to the roof.  Early reports from the Pittsfield area show the 5watt HT's from W1BS's house is a little light and WA1ZHM is loud and clear. I welcome other reports. We do NOT have a PL board or pre-amp for this repeater. I am out of my own money for now(See Financial status below for expenses). You might also want ot check out the STATUS info.

PA problem 07/05/08:
Main repeater is on the air from my house and 300mw of output. The first transistor of the driver failed. Not sure about a replacement part yet. The Pa problem came and went a couple of times before it went solid.


Repeater repairs (06/28/08):

As promised I restarted work on 147.03 after the ARRL VHF Contest. All my bands, 50mhz thru 5ghz worked well this time!

Some of you know we had two problems with the 147.03 repeater in May. The IRLP card I have hung things up a bit. Nothing illegal but not to usable. Also its PA was pulling way to much current for the power out. I had a look at it tonight and it looks like the exciter was in oscillation.  One of the final transistors is blown as a result so I  plan to run the repeater on just the driver stage which puts out 20 watts.  I also do not like the audio into the controller. Always the painful part. I have a deviation meter. As soon as I borrow the calibrated deviation source I will get this all set up and back on the air. For now WITHOUT IRLP.  K1JAW and maybe KB1HZL will be helping me get the repeater back on the air soon. When you hear the VOICE ID the repeater will be up and running but only with 20watts. If it works good for awhile I will need to pull the controller down for the IRLP connection. More on that later.
Work and family are taking up a lot of time this weekend. My 1st granddaughter is 4 years old today. Her biggest wish was to go fishing with grandpa! She caught a fish and had fun!

Signal reports for the 50watt transmitter(04/09/08):

K1JAW/m  Jim Icom Rig, 1/4wave antenna on vehicle reports:
At Kimbal Farms Lenox at traffic light       S7
On Mass Pike at top of first hill East of Exit 2  East Bound  S5
On Mass Pike West bound between hill and and exit ramp for Exit 2 WB  S3 (S3 is barely communication quality)

K2WG Wayne from Canaan, NY at home reports S3 !

WT2Q Bob in Stockbridge, MA reports loud and strong antenna unknown.

WA1ZHM John in Pittsfield near coatsville reports full scale, Ant unknown.

KE3HT/m Tim reports S3 on RT 9 near Dalton VFW with ICOM 706 and 1/4 wave antenna. Not heard at home with HT in Dalton.

PL is supposed to be 162.2 BUT at times it only responds to 77.0? Something is flakey with the temporary controller.
The ARCCOM controller is being refitted for a newer IRLP card.
The PA is dead. A rewire to run just the driver nets us almost 20 watts!

147.03 status:


Financial Status $$$$