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:
- NO Controller
$300-600. We are currently on
port 2 of KE3HT's 443.85 IRLP repeater. (temp loan from KE3HT)
- NO Dummy load for circulator.
Using small one loan from KE3HT.
- NO Site. (co-located
with 443.85 on North Street? loan
from
LMR).
- NO Power supply.
(temp loan from KE3HT)
- NO antenna
(temp loan from KJ1K)
- NO PA! $50 to purchase a complete replacement
on ebay. Cheaper at hamfests! we can even use a mobile 50 or 65watt PA
if you see one. We are running 30watts of exciter power for now.
- NO Preamp. build one myself???
- YES $75 for comspec unit. PL purchased
9/24/08.
- YES purchased by KE3HT
Duplexer
obtained 12/03/05 DB Products 4048
- old home made duplexer from BCC has been obtained as well but
is in
poor shape.
- YES purchased by KE3HT Isolator/circulator.
Obtained
12/19/05 Telewave T-2200 150watt version. (questionable)
- YES have
REAL
temp comp crystals purchased
by KE3HT.
- YES have
old
146.91 radio (tough shape, but it is a REAL HAM based Mastr II) NO PA! I used this PA on 146.91
last summer. This
is the 91 radio
purchased by the club years ago. NOBARC
OWNED.