well due to the elements of being outside, I might suggest something more stable like a 8 bay folded di-pole or mount the antenna just below the top so that if you put yet another station master up there, you brace the bottom and the top so that it does not "move" nearly as much. Sounds like you know what the problem is at this point, the extremes ruining yet another good expenisive antenna. If your talking moving the antenna down 18 feet and loosing just a bit if height but not having to replace the antenna so much, sounds like a good compromize, and if it were me, I would mount a folded di-pole the same way, not at the tip top, just so you can keep it from moving so much. Just a thought. David
________________________________ From: Ryan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2008 12:34:19 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Stationmaster Pd-220 Hi group, Thanks for the replys on this topic,I noticed topics on here stray away from the original subject anyways. I agree on the 3db at 80 ft for RG-214 and factored this from 7/8 hardline transition to RG-214 less than 60 ft run. What i ask here the sudden tempeture change why the Rx went down ( The rpt checks out fine into service monitor and used a handheld and passed rx signal similar to what rpt Rx signal is) This site sees a lot of wind due to 2000 ft elevation outside of williamsport PA. 10 years ago we had a station master in place and some of the elements were bad(noise on Rx and Tx coverage went down)this is the third station master antenna at this site that has been replaced with the same set of problems. The big thing is the SWR of 1.8 that has me baffled at with antenna (Tested SWR at antenna with bird wattmeter and didn't notice any forward power change but the reflexed went up aka SWR 1.8 from the normal 1.3) What are groups thoughs on the folded dipole DB-224, I have read about the harnesses going bad. Also this site sees the winter months with ice on the tower. Hence why the club went to the station master. (Would like to find about 50-80 ft of rohn 45g tower to raise this site and side mount a station master.) Also our club has an shakespeare antenna very similar to the station master. does anyone have any info out here about these antennas? Ryan n3ssl [EMAIL PROTECTED] com --- In Repeater-Builder@ yahoogroups. com, Kevin Custer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Ryan, > > A few suggestions: > Antenna discussion is not Off Topic for this list. Folks that filter > their messages withing their email clients will not see your post, > however they will see this reply as I changed the subject line. A > commercial antenna will last 20+ years as far as the radome is > concerned, and if the insides can be rebuilt - re soldered, you'll save > a lot of money. If you find that the procedure for taking it apart is > different that what is on the website, please consider taking some > pictures and notes so we can assemble an article for it. > > You state the repeater is a bit deaf. Is that observation with the > repeater transmitting or with it disabled? Did you hook up a hand held > or mobile to the repeater antenna and do some simplex testing? > > Kevin Custer > > > > Hi Group, > > > > My club has a the never design Station master Pd-220 bought new in > > 1998. Antenna is top mounted ( Rohn 45G 50 ft.) The problem were having > > is the Rx went to crap since recent temperature season changes in PA. > > > > What has been noticed is the Rx is a bit deaf (MastrII with ARR Preamp > > at .050mv sens. and Wp-642 cans) Rpt was ruled out as the Rx levels are > > the same. and the TX is right on the money. There was a issue with the > > Hardline from a hungry critter and was replaced last week with RG- 214 > > untill spring than run new hardline. thinking this was the problem > > > > Distance users that could get in with 5 watts or less with a 5-9 signal > > can't key up the Rpt with 50 watts in a 30 mile radius. We Have SWR of > > 1.8 across the 2meter band. Was 1.3 when checked in years past. Local > > users ( less than 5 miles line of sight) have noticed RX signal > > changes. > > > > We know the station master is old by todays standards and duplex > > situations and top mounted have there issues.The question asked is how > > are the newer stationmaster taken apart? Searches online and repeater- > > builder and no pictures. Is this a lost cause to think about fixing? > > > > > > Ryan n3ssl >
