| WARC |
| WESTCUMB AMATEUR RADIO CLUB |
| Westmorland County, NB & Cumberland County, NS |
| VE1SPR Repeater Work at Lynn Mountain 24th January 2010 |
The VE1WRC web server has a high speed line provided by http://www.cumberlandcounty.ns.ca.
| Date: January 24, 2010 Site: Lynn Mountain, Cumberland County, NS Aliant Cell Site Reason for Site Visit: VE1SPR UHF HUB Repeater low TX Deviation Visitors: Brad VE1ZX Lorne VE1BXK Background Early last fall it was reported on the “Wake Up Net” that all audio paths through the Lynn Mountain (VE1SPR) UHF HUB with links to Halifax via the NB UHF link, Gore UHF HUB and as well links to VE1BHS/VE1CDN/VE1PKT/VE1WN/VE1AEH were extremely low to the point were it was unusable. Brad VE1ZX shut off the UHF HUB at VE1SPR until such time access to the site could be arranged. Several tests were done remotely by Brad VE1ZX, Lorne VE1BXK and with the help of other “Wake Up Net” controller to try and determine if it was a TX or RX problem. History Lorne VE1BXK had seen this same problem several years back in other MSR2000 units both in the commercial world and the Ham world with almost identical reported faults, that being poor TX or RX audio. It was found that by just plugging the TX or RX Channel Element in and out of their respective cards, it would fix the problem. It was from this finding that the next visit to Lynn Mountain VE1SPR would include the possibility of the same fault. Arrangements for Site Visit Since this Aliant Site has restricted access, obtaining a key for the site rests with the NSARA. Jim VE1AFH made contact with Tom VE1TA to sign out the key to the site over the weekend of January 23rd & 24th, 2010. Brad VE1ZX picked up the key on Friday January 23, 2010 from Tom VE1TA. Drop off for the key to Tom VE1TA will take place Monday January 25 by Lorne VE1BXK. Much appreciated Tom from all of us!! Site Visit On Sunday January 24, 2010 it was planned for a site visit by Brad VE1ZX and Lorne VE1BXK. Brad VE1ZX was at the site the day previous to scope out how much snow was down to the site from the Lynn Road to the Lynn Mountain Aliant site. Arrival time at the site was at 0930 local. Three feet of snow was in the road from the Lynn Road to the site which took about eight minutes by foot. Mike VE1XDT had offered the use of snow shoes to the trek into the site from the main road, however it was determined that they would not be required with Brad’s visit to the site the day before. Once at the site, deep snow had to be shoveled so the gate could be opened and not to mention the “frozen” lock as well. Lorne VE1BXK had come prepared with lock deicer of which did the trick. Entrance to the door lock at the site was not an issue as the lock there was not frozen as the front gate was. Once in the site Brad VE1ZX took care of the “Rodent” issue while Lorne VE1BXK proceeded to check the Motorola MSR2000 UHF HUB repeater. With two handhelds in place checks did verify poor or no TX audio through the UHF repeater. Lorne VE1BXK removed the TX exciter card and plugged out the TX Channel Element in and out several times in an attempt to clean the Molex pin contacts. Another checked of the TX audio once again showed no signs of improvement. The next step was with the Receiver card Channel Element of which also did not improve the low TX audio. Then Lorne VE1BXK took a small “tweeker” screw driver and adjusted the IDC pot on the TX Exciter Channel Element back and forth a few times then rechecked the TX audio. Well to make a long story short …. it worked! There must have been a dirty spot on the IDC pot of the TX Channel Element which sets the maximum deviation at 4.7 KHz. The bad spot had made it low or nearly no TX audio. Lorne VE1BXK check links to VE1BHS and other MAVCOM links in both directions to confirm. Mike VE1XDT and Bob VA1SBT also confirmed correct audio from the VE1SPR UHF HUB. While this was going on, Brad VE1ZX (after the rodent issue) shoveled around the main entrance to the site and swept up the entire site for a spotless shine! Some final checks of the repeater equipment and the site in general then Brad and Lorne left the site at 1048 local. Conclusions Brad VE1ZX and Lorne VE1BXK will revisit the site this spring to go over all the entire VE1SPR repeater system and the VE1TPL APRS equipments. This will include power checks, VSWR, SINAD and level settings for the RLC3 Repeater controller. In closing, I would like to thank Jim VE1AFH and Tom VE1TA in obtaining the key so access to the site could take place and to any others that in some part gave us a helping hand in steering us in the right direction as to the nature of the problem at VE1SPR Lynn Mountain. 73, Lorne VE1BXK Brad VE1ZX PS- Word has it that Abbie VE1BFB makes good cookies! Jan. 24, 2010 (Please credit photos and article to VE1BXK) |
