First let me say I am no where near the level most of you are at. I
learn something every day I am here. For the past two winters I
have battled with a static problem on my 2 meter repeater. The
repeater had been up on a Fire Tower since 2000 and worked very well
with the exception of a tune up here and than and a couple acts of
vandalism. This group has been so helpful to me and I have learned
so much I wanted to post my experiences.
But in the winter of 2003 that changed, when the cold weather hit
the repeater started having a problem with static on the receive, it
was there on the squelch tail or when the CDid went off only when it
was receiving a signal. And it wasn't always there many times it
would clear up for days.
That winter I replaced the following equipment, receiver, exciter,
diamond fa22 with another diamond fa22 antenna, feedline, power
supply, removed the amplifier.... Changed everything but the
controller, duplexers and location of antenna. By this time, warm
weather 50 and above had set in and the noise went away.
Winter of 2004 the static set in again, so I had the thought that
the controller has to have a problem with cold. I took a heat lamp
to the repeater and placed it over the controller to keep it warm.
This was to no avail so I don't have a controller going bad.
Researched on this group and the website and found the article about
the static associated with the roof's on fire towers which the
thought of just made me so SICK, because this location is
EXCELLENT! I also found the article about the static build up and
the static buster.
I shared these article with two trusted hams in the area and one
insisted that I replace the antenna. I didn't seen the since in this
since I had replaced the antenna before and it didn't help. He
insisted that I buy an all aluminum or mostly aluminum antenna, so
after a few meetings of the minds I picked out the hustler G7. I
have never seen anyone hear using that antenna but a bay antenna for
me is out of the question unless someone was to donate one :).
Yesterday I climbed the tower in the ice and snow (VERY DUMB) and
replaced the Diamond fiberglass antenna with the G7 and so far this
static is gone and the receive is much better than before also.
I have a ground wire ran from the mount to the tower, but now I am
worried about the G7 and lighting. I will just keep my fingers
crossed I guess. I do have a lighting suppressor inline before the
duplexers. I hope I never have to use it.
Just wonder what others who are on Fire Towers use as antennas and
if they are mounted on the apex of the roof or on a stand off on the
tower legs.
Thanks again to the group for all in formation and knowledge you
have provided me, I hope this babble I have posted helps someone
else later down the road.
73's
Bruce
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