Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Astron P/S question
That pretty much confirms my thinking. If the supply is blowing fuses, something is actually wrong. The crowbar shouldn't cause it to happen. Chuck WB2EDV - Original Message - From: william...@aol.com To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, December 25, 2008 11:41 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Astron P/S question I have an Astron RM-35M (35Amp) that I just tested by shorting the output and it doesn't blow the fuse. I think I would be looking for something in the primary circuit that might be shorting like the transformer primary or the surge arrestor or maybe the wiring. I have seen transformers that short after they warm up a little. Bill - WA0CBW In a message dated 12/25/2008 10:11:11 P.M. Central Standard Time, lar...@hotmail.com writes: --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Chuck Kelsey wb2...@... wrote: I have an old Bullet power supply built from a kit (anyone remember those?) that uses the 723. You can short the output time and time again and it simply folds back. heheheh I have one of those still in service on a repeater. Re-capped it a year ago and it still works fine. As I recall a shorted output simply folds back, like you say. I also have two Astrons here on the bench. One is a VS12, the other is a RS12. When the output is directly shorted with heavy wire they both simply fold back. Shorted them dozens of times; never a blown fuse. Laryn K8TVZ Yahoo! Groups Links -- Don't be the last to know - click here for the latest news that will have people talking.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Six Meter Repeater Noise Issues
And don't forget it can be battery operated devices, like laptops, iPods, CD players, etc. Something is getting turned on and you need to play detective. I once had to investigate a line noise issue that turned out to be the owner's new DVD player. Chuck WB2EDV An old trick - if the on-time changes about 6 minutes a day then it's light-dependent (i..e a photo-electric triggered yard light). In your shoes I'd power the radio from a gell-cell, and then go flip breakers off one at a time. That will tell you if the noise source is inside the house, and if so, on which breaker. Mike WA6ILQ
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Helper Instruments
I went a step farther with my handheld Bearcat scanner and placed it in a steel pie cake pan with a cover I made from aluminum flashing. A few clothes pins around the cover sealed the signal up so that the only external signal came from the BNC feed through connector mounted on the side of the cake pan. I put a 10 dB pad internal between the scanner and the connector and then used a step attenuator external to the cake pan to set the level to the receiver I was trying to tune. I used it to tune a transmitter to frequency also by zero beating the Bearcat signal into a receiver. My Bearcat had a 10.8 mHz IF and I kept a calculator handy to add 10.8 to whatever frequency I wanted. The second harmonic of the LO in that old handheld worked great to intercept the analog cell sites in the area. You could take the antenna off and the reception did not change on the cell frequencies. Setting the cell frequencies minus 10.8 divided by two then plus 10.8 gave me the 440 frequencies to program into the scanner. 73 - Jim W5ZIT --- On Thu, 12/25/08, n...@no6b.com n...@no6b.com wrote: From: n...@no6b.com n...@no6b.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Helper Instruments To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Date: Thursday, December 25, 2008, 11:44 AM At 12/24/2008 12:45, you wrote: The SM-512 is a service monitor that covers 1 to 512 MHz if memory serves correctly. It has a built in Sinadder and Millivolt meter. The system was designed around a Bearcat scanner. When Bearcat quit making ...and everyone thought I was nuts for using a Regency scanner as a deviation monitor signal generator. Bob NO6B ,___
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Six Meter Repeater Noise Issues
I got a first hand lesson in the technique Burt describes from K3RFI, the ARRL power line noise guru. He came to my QTH in response to a complaint I filed with the FCC through ARRL and showed me the 'fingerprint' method he uses to locate a noise source. When a breakdown occurs causing an RF noise, the arc may spark several times over the peak of the cycle and counting the number of spikes gives you the fingerprint of an individual noise source. K3RFI connected his service monitor to my HF antenna and noted the fingerprints of several noise sources and then worked with the power company to locate the individual noise generators. In my case, he checked on three consecutive days and found three different sets of noise sources. I have a 110 KV power line running overhead in the location where I spend the summer, and it was an old line with a lot of loose hardware problems. In my case, the consensus of opinion by K3RFI and the ARRL was that I should move to a quieter location. I have fought that problem for over 20 years now, with the local power company and with the ARRL/FCC complaint route and the noise is still there. I don't even bother to put up an HF antenna at that location any more. Noise on the 2 meter band is always pegged out on a receivers S meter. It does taper off a lot at 440 for whatever that is worth. 73 - Jim W5ZIT --- On Thu, 12/25/08, Burt Lang b...@gorum.ca wrote: From: Burt Lang b...@gorum.ca Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Six Meter Repeater Noise Issues To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Date: Thursday, December 25, 2008, 12:18 PM I have found a simple way to verify if noise is coming from a power line arc-over. Any such noise generated by a power line will only occur as the voltage on the line approaches peak and it will be synchronized to 120 Hz. Put an oscilloscope on the audio while feeding an unmodulated carrier into the receiver and set the time base trigger to 60Hz. If the noise is pulsing and stays solid on the scope display, you have power line noise. If it is steady (not pulsed) and not synchronized to 120 Hz, the power line is not the culprit. Burt VE2BMQ .
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Astron P/S question
I have had a 35-amp Astron on my workbench for years, and I can short the red and black together quickly (which happens when you aren't fussy about how many projects you have going at one time) and the supply will shut down and NOT blow the fuse - This is an adjustable supply with both voltage and current controls - I haven't tried it lately with the current control at full, but I assume it would be the same. I also haven't kept the leads together for a long time, lately, but I do remember trying it years ago just to see if it would hold down - and it did. Making the SCR fire is a black magic that shouldn't be misconstrued or misunderstood this close to the winter solstice... Merry Christmas, everyone. At 02:44 PM 12/24/08 -0500, you wrote: I have an old Bullet power supply built from a kit (anyone remember those?) that uses the 723. You can short the output time and time again and it simply folds back. No harm, no foul. That's why I was wondering. I've never tried that with an Astron (and probably won't now). Chuck WB2EDV - Original Message - From: Bob M. msf5kg...@yahoo.com To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2008 2:32 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Astron P/S question I think they do, but only if the supply is putting out current to the load and the current exceeds the value they've set for it. The crowbar firing definitely exceeds the current limit but it's so sudden and complete that the design and component values just cause the fuse to instantaneously blow. Bob M. Yahoo! Groups Links - Adam -
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Astron P/S question
At 07:38 AM 12/26/08 -0500, you wrote: That pretty much confirms my thinking. If the supply is blowing fuses, something is actually wrong. The crowbar shouldn't cause it to happen. Well... Yes and no... If the SCR fires, you dump all the available current through the supply to ground, and the supply will blow the fuse - THAT is the designed re- sponse so that you don't let it sit there and burn up. When you short the output - IF the current-sense circuitry is working to spec, the supply sees the rise in current and shuts down the voltage to alleviate the SCR from firing - again, THAT is what this circuit was designed for. I always *assumed* the SCR was for over-voltage (shorted output pass transistor) and the fold-back was for over-current, under regular output conditions. If the supply blows the fuse, something IS wrong, but it IS DESIGNED to do that when something is wrong, so... Chuck WB2EDV - Original Message - From: william...@aol.com To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, December 25, 2008 11:41 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Astron P/S question I have an Astron RM-35M (35Amp) that I just tested by shorting the output and it doesn't blow the fuse. I think I would be looking for something in the primary circuit that might be shorting like the transformer primary or the surge arrestor or maybe the wiring. I have seen transformers that short after they warm up a little. Bill - WA0CBW In a message dated 12/25/2008 10:11:11 P.M. Central Standard Time, lar...@hotmail.com writes: --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Chuck Kelsey wb2...@... wrote: I have an old Bullet power supply built from a kit (anyone remember those?) that uses the 723. You can short the output time and time again and it simply folds back. heheheh I have one of those still in service on a repeater. Re-capped it a year ago and it still works fine. As I recall a shorted output simply folds back, like you say. I also have two Astrons here on the bench. One is a VS12, the other is a RS12. When the output is directly shorted with heavy wire they both simply fold back. Shorted them dozens of times; never a blown fuse. Laryn K8TVZ Yahoo! Groups Links -- Don't be the last to know - click here for the latest news that will have people talking. !DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC -//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN HTMLHEAD META http-equiv=Content-Type content=text/html; charset=iso-8859-1 META content=MSHTML 6.00.6000.16788 name=GENERATOR STYLE/STYLE /HEAD BODY id=role_body style=FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #00; FONT-FAMILY: Arial bottomMargin=7 bgColor=#ff leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7 DIVThat pretty much confirms my thinking. If the supply is blowing fuses, something is actually wrong. The crowbar shouldn't cause it to happen./DIV DIVnbsp;/DIV DIVChuck/DIV DIVWB2EDV/DIV DIVnbsp;/DIV DIVnbsp;/DIV DIVnbsp;/DIV BLOCKQUOTE style=PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #00 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px DIV style=FONT: 10pt arial- Original Message - /DIV DIV style=BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: blackBFrom:/B A title=william...@aol.com href=mailto:william...@aol.com;william...@aol.com/A /DIV DIV style=FONT: 10pt arialBTo:/B A title=repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com href=mailto:Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com;repeater-buil...@yahoogroups. com/A /DIV DIV style=FONT: 10pt arialBSent:/B Thursday, December 25, 2008 11:41 PM/DIV DIV style=FONT: 10pt arialBSubject:/B Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Astron P/S question/DIV DIVBR/DIVFONT id=role_document face=Arial color=#00 size=2 DIVI have an Astron RM-35M (35Amp) that I just tested by shorting the output and it doesn't blow the fuse.nbsp; I think I would be looking for something in the primary circuit that might be shorting like the transformer primary or the surge arrestor or maybe the wiring.nbsp; I have seen transformers that short after they warm up a little.nbsp;/DIV DIVnbsp;/DIV DIVBill - WA0CBW/DIV DIVnbsp;/DIV DIV DIVIn a message dated 12/25/2008 10:11:11 P.M. Central Standard Time, lar...@hotmail.com writes:/DIV BLOCKQUOTE style=PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solidFONT style=BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent face=Arial color=#00 size=2--- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Chuck Kelsey lt;wb2...@...gt;BRwrote:BRgt;BRgt; I have an old Bullet power supply built from a kit (anyone rememberBRthose?) BRgt; that uses the 723. You can short the output time and time again and it BRgt; simply folds back.BRBRBRheheheh I have one of those still in service on a repeater.nbsp; Re-cappedBRit a year ago and it still
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Six Meter Repeater Noise Issues
Noise on the six meter repeater. On my machine 53.67 in New jersey I was getting noise that was holding the machine Keyed up. then drop. and key up again. I thought it was desense Even with a big expensive Commercial Duplexer. with the transmitter off, the normal unsquelched Hiss sounded Fine No noise that we could detect. after weeks of this. We finally found out what the Problem was. the 2 meter,and 440 machines next to it ran just fine.however They both had an IRLP link on them. The Noise problem turned out to be the Router/switch. The Noise it was creating was just at the threshold level to Key and hold open the repeater. BTW. The 6 meter machine was in PL with a Tone of 67hz.. Not a good choice. between the60 cycle noise of a bad wall wart for the router switch and the noise it created. might as well put a flea power transimitter with PL sitting on the repeaters input. changed the router swich and PL tome. and Problem wentt away. Verizon uses cheapo routers. we placed the new one in a shielded box Neal-KA2CAF --- On Thu, 12/25/08, Mike Morris WA6ILQ wa6...@gmail.com wrote: From: Mike Morris WA6ILQ wa6...@gmail.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Six Meter Repeater Noise Issues To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Date: Thursday, December 25, 2008, 10:12 PM At 11:06 AM 12/25/08, you wrote: Hi To All Hope everybody had a good Christmas, While the subject was brought up, I have been having a similar experience here at my location. It is not on a repeater, but a simplex radio (vertex VX3000l mobile) for a base on the natl Red Cross freq of 47 mhz. In the daytime the receiver is quiet and hears fine. It seems as about the time the sun starts going down, the receiver's squelch opens and has a constant static noise for many hours but still receives fine. It may do it all night, I don't know, I haven't stayed up to see, just leave the radio on and go to bed. Was wondering if could be power line noise (but why wouldn't do in daytime also)? Is there any interference to the HF bands like this at night? Thanks, Mike KB5FLX An old trick - if the on-time changes about 6 minutes a day then it's light-dependent (i..e a photo-electric triggered yard light). In your shoes I'd power the radio from a gell-cell, and then go flip breakers off one at a time. That will tell you if the noise source is inside the house, and if so, on which breaker. Mike WA6ILQ
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Six Meter Repeater Noise Issues
A similar war story from back in the early 90's...Commercial customer with a 35MHz base complaining of dramatically reduced range. Base and mobiles checked out fine, antenna system fine, just trouble receiving the mobiles. Dropping the PL with the antenna connected I noticed what seemed to be a constant carrier. A bit of wandering about with a scanner using increasingly short lengths of wire for antennas brought me to a nearby house. The noise seemed to be radiating on the telephone line and the power line. The house was a rental owned by the company with the radio so after proper contact was made an inside sweep found the ... telephone answering machine!?!?!?! The device was powered by a wall wart supply with an very long cord (getting any clues yet?); which had recently come back from a repair center. The wall wart had a slightly audible hum. A snap together ferrite with as much of the excess power wiring wound onto the ferrite as possible, and another ferrite on the telco line brought the noise to a level that was not detectable at the base station. Milt N3LTQ - Original Message - From: neal Newman To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 9:39 AM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Six Meter Repeater Noise Issues Noise on the six meter repeater. On my machine 53.67 in New jersey I was getting noise that was holding the machine Keyed up. then drop. and key up again. I thought it was desense Even with a big expensive Commercial Duplexer. with the transmitter off, the normal unsquelched Hiss sounded Fine No noise that we could detect. after weeks of this. We finally found out what the Problem was. the 2 meter,and 440 machines next to it ran just fine.however They both had an IRLP link on them. The Noise problem turned out to be the Router/switch. The Noise it was creating was just at the threshold level to Key and hold open the repeater. BTW. The 6 meter machine was in PL with a Tone of 67hz.. Not a good choice. between the60 cycle noise of a bad wall wart for the router switch and the noise it created. might as well put a flea power transimitter with PL sitting on the repeaters input. changed the router swich and PL tome. and Problem wentt away. Verizon uses cheapo routers. we placed the new one in a shielded box Neal-KA2CAF --- On Thu, 12/25/08, Mike Morris WA6ILQ wa6...@gmail.com wrote: From: Mike Morris WA6ILQ wa6...@gmail.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Six Meter Repeater Noise Issues To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Date: Thursday, December 25, 2008, 10:12 PM At 11:06 AM 12/25/08, you wrote: Hi To All Hope everybody had a good Christmas, While the subject was brought up, I have been having a similar experience here at my location. It is not on a repeater, but a simplex radio (vertex VX3000l mobile) for a base on the natl Red Cross freq of 47 mhz. In the daytime the receiver is quiet and hears fine. It seems as about the time the sun starts going down, the receiver's squelch opens and has a constant static noise for many hours but still receives fine. It may do it all night, I don't know, I haven't stayed up to see, just leave the radio on and go to bed. Was wondering if could be power line noise (but why wouldn't do in daytime also)? Is there any interference to the HF bands like this at night? Thanks, Mike KB5FLX An old trick - if the on-time changes about 6 minutes a day then it's light-dependent (i..e a photo-electric triggered yard light). In your shoes I'd power the radio from a gell-cell, and then go flip breakers off one at a time. That will tell you if the noise source is inside the house, and if so, on which breaker. Mike WA6ILQ
[Repeater-Builder] Re: Astron P/S question
I should point out that Astron has made several significant changes to the RS-series regulator boards over the past 20 years, and that may explain why some Astron power supplies always blow the input fuse when shorted, while others never do. Every one of my own Astron linear power supplies is more than twenty years old, and all of them blow the input fuse when shorted by the SCR. Some posters report differing results, and that may be due to recent changes in the regulator board's design. For what it's worth, almost every Astron regulator board I've seen has a few extra resistors or capacitors added to it, as if each one was customized during manufacture. According to Fred, Astron's lead technician, some components are still being changed to make the units more stable- decades after the original design! Here's one tip I learned a long time ago: Use exactly the fuse type and rating that Astron specifies for the specific power supply. Don't substitute a slow-blow fuse for a fast-blow, and don't use a higher-rated fuse or one that is intended for automotive use in place of one rated for 250 volts. If the correct fuse keeps blowing, there is a problem that should be found and fixed. Most Astron power supplies include an MOV (Metal Oxide Varistor) immediately downstream of the fuse. Such devices are usually rated for 130 VAC when applied on devices that operate at 120 VAC. If the line voltage is abnormally high, the MOV will get warm and become more likely to enter avalanche mode on modest spikes. Utilities are supposed to maintain the nominal utilization voltage at 120 VAC +/- 5%, so if the voltage ever exceeds 126 VAC, or falls below 114 VAC, it's time to complain to the electrical provider. 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Adam T. Cately atcat...@... wrote: At 07:38 AM 12/26/08 -0500, you wrote: That pretty much confirms my thinking. If the supply is blowing fuses, something is actually wrong. The crowbar shouldn't cause it to happen. Well... Yes and no... If the SCR fires, you dump all the available current through the supply to ground, and the supply will blow the fuse - THAT is the designed re- sponse so that you don't let it sit there and burn up. When you short the output - IF the current-sense circuitry is working to spec, the supply sees the rise in current and shuts down the voltage to alleviate the SCR from firing - again, THAT is what this circuit was designed for. I always *assumed* the SCR was for over-voltage (shorted output pass transistor) and the fold-back was for over-current, under regular output conditions. If the supply blows the fuse, something IS wrong, but it IS DESIGNED to do that when something is wrong, so... Chuck WB2EDV - Original Message - From: william...@... To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, December 25, 2008 11:41 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Astron P/S question I have an Astron RM-35M (35Amp) that I just tested by shorting the output and it doesn't blow the fuse. I think I would be looking for something in the primary circuit that might be shorting like the transformer primary or the surge arrestor or maybe the wiring. I have seen transformers that short after they warm up a little. Bill - WA0CBW In a message dated 12/25/2008 10:11:11 P.M. Central Standard Time, lar...@... writes: --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Chuck Kelsey wb2edv@ wrote: I have an old Bullet power supply built from a kit (anyone remember those?) that uses the 723. You can short the output time and time again and it simply folds back. heheheh I have one of those still in service on a repeater. Re-capped it a year ago and it still works fine. As I recall a shorted output simply folds back, like you say. I also have two Astrons here on the bench. One is a VS12, the other is a RS12. When the output is directly shorted with heavy wire they both simply fold back. Shorted them dozens of times; never a blown fuse. Laryn K8TVZ Yahoo! Groups Links --- --- Don't be the last to know - click here for the latest news that will have people talking. !DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC -//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN HTMLHEAD META http-equiv=Content-Type content=text/html; charset=iso-8859- 1 META content=MSHTML 6.00.6000.16788 name=GENERATOR STYLE/STYLE /HEAD BODY id=role_body style=FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #00; FONT- FAMILY: Arial bottomMargin=7 bgColor=#ff leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7 DIVThat pretty much confirms my thinking. If the supply is blowing fuses, something is actually wrong. The crowbar shouldn't
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Helper Instruments
At 12/25/2008 12:06, you wrote: n...@... wrote: ...and everyone thought I was nuts for using a Regency scanner as a deviation monitor signal generator. Bob NO6B Well, it's not just because of that... Sorry Bob... I couldn't help myself... :-) I myself also tried using the Bearcat, Radio Shack, Uniden and GRE Scanners as rough test equipment... but I could only get relative accuracy at best. The deviation meter indication was not ultra stable or precise but it was kind of neat to look at. Still... when I had a lot more time and not much money (still not much money) they were relatively usable for ham applications. Deviation measurement using a scanner is inaccurate unless some mods are done to the RX. I made 2 mods to mine. One was removing the 455 kHz IF filter so that the incoming deviation wasn't shaped in any way by the IF. The other, on advice of Burt K6OQK, was to load the discriminator coil with resistance so as to flatten the response at the expense of discriminator output level. After performing these two mods it was compared against an IFR 1200 or 1500 (can't remember which) service monitor found to be quite close. Bob NO6B
[Repeater-Builder] Re: Astron P/S question
wb6fly wb6...@... wrote: I should point out that Astron has made several significant changes to the RS-series regulator boards over the past 20 years, Amen... notice how I've been steering clear of this thread? There are/were so many board revisions and design shortfalls that I just didn't want to patch their circuit, which is the reason I choose to start making my own. For what it's worth, almost every Astron regulator board I've seen has a few extra resistors or capacitors added to it, as if each one was customized during manufacture. Yep, parts were added to make the main board work for different models. As one example the crowbar circuit on some models is right on the regulator board, others external and case mounted. I have a parts table for the various Astron Regulator boards so if you smoke a resistor (or any other part) I can probably tell you the original value. According to Fred, Astron's lead technician, some components are still being changed to make the units more stable- decades after the original design! They still appear to have not closely read and applied the LM-723 chip engineering data sheet. My original replacement regulator board is still pretty much the same circuit although the next generation pc board will appear slightly different. Since there are so many regulator board part versions based on the model and type of supply... it's hard to single out a specific problem unless I/we know your a bit of the internal details about your supply. The original problematic regulator circuit suffers from susceptibility to RF, less than optimal engineering in the SCR detect and trigger/ fire circuit, sometimes not so great parts placement and soldering. It's sometimes hard to know what power supply regulator board version and chassis layout you really have without lifting the lid to have a look. cheers, skipp skipp025 at yahoo.com
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Six Meter Repeater Noise Issues
Our 6-meter machine in Springfield, MO had an issue with a noise on the RX side. RX on 51.570 with TX RX duplexers and a dual cavity TX RX 11-18-06 bandpass filter on the front end, and we were getting a gurgling type noise. If we didn't run a PL, the squelch would hang open until the repeater shut down. The problem only seemed to occur after about 4 p.m. and usually went away around 9 or 10 at night. We were determined not to install the repeater at the final site until we could make sure that there was not a problem with the repeater. After a couple weeks of checking and double checking and and looking for interference, we finally found it . . . . It was an Apex 24 TV! Shutting it off resovled the problem. You just never know when it's 6-meters! Lots of noise out there, but, that's part of the fun, too, is the extra challenges of putting up a 6-meter machine. On Fri, Dec 26, 2008 at 9:14 AM, Milt men...@pa.net wrote: A similar war story from back in the early 90's...Commercial customer with a 35MHz base complaining of dramatically reduced range. Base and mobiles checked out fine, antenna system fine, just trouble receiving the mobiles. Dropping the PL with the antenna connected I noticed what seemed to be a constant carrier. A bit of wandering about with a scanner using increasingly short lengths of wire for antennas brought me to a nearby house. The noise seemed to be radiating on the telephone line and the power line. The house was a rental owned by the company with the radio so after proper contact was made an inside sweep found the ... telephone answering machine!?!?!?! The device was powered by a wall wart supply with an very long cord (getting any clues yet?); which had recently come back from a repair center. The wall wart had a slightly audible hum. A snap together ferrite with as much of the excess power wiring wound onto the ferrite as possible, and another ferrite on the telco line brought the noise to a level that was not detectable at the base station. Milt N3LTQ - Original Message - *From:* neal Newman cozy...@yahoo.com *To:* Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com *Sent:* Friday, December 26, 2008 9:39 AM *Subject:* Re: [Repeater-Builder] Six Meter Repeater Noise Issues Noise on the six meter repeater. On my machine 53.67 in New jersey I was getting noise that was holding the machine Keyed up. then drop. and key up again. I thought it was desense Even with a big expensive Commercial Duplexer. with the transmitter off, the normal unsquelched Hiss sounded Fine No noise that we could detect. after weeks of this. We finally found out what the Problem was. the 2 meter,and 440 machines next to it ran just fine.however They both had an IRLP link on them. The Noise problem turned out to be the Router/switch. The Noise it was creating was just at the threshold level to Key and hold open the repeater. BTW. The 6 meter machine was in PL with a Tone of 67hz.. Not a good choice. between the60 cycle noise of a bad wall wart for the router switch and the noise it created. might as well put a flea power transimitter with PL sitting on the repeaters input. changed the router swich and PL tome. and Problem wentt away. Verizon uses cheapo routers. we placed the new one in a shielded box Neal-KA2CAF --- On *Thu, 12/25/08, Mike Morris WA6ILQ wa6...@gmail.com* wrote: From: Mike Morris WA6ILQ wa6...@gmail.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Six Meter Repeater Noise Issues To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Date: Thursday, December 25, 2008, 10:12 PM At 11:06 AM 12/25/08, you wrote: Hi To All Hope everybody had a good Christmas, While the subject was brought up, I have been having a similar experience here at my location. It is not on a repeater, but a simplex radio (vertex VX3000l mobile) for a base on the natl Red Cross freq of 47 mhz. In the daytime the receiver is quiet and hears fine. It seems as about the time the sun starts going down, the receiver's squelch opens and has a constant static noise for many hours but still receives fine. It may do it all night, I don't know, I haven't stayed up to see, just leave the radio on and go to bed. Was wondering if could be power line noise (but why wouldn't do in daytime also)? Is there any interference to the HF bands like this at night? Thanks, Mike KB5FLX An old trick - if the on-time changes about 6 minutes a day then it's light-dependent (i..e a photo-electric triggered yard light). In your shoes I'd power the radio from a gell-cell, and then go flip breakers off one at a time. That will tell you if the noise source is inside the house, and if so, on which breaker. Mike WA6ILQ -- James Adkins, KB0NHX District 1 Technical Field Engineer Troop A--Lee's Summit; Troop H--St. Joseph Missouri State Highway Patrol 504 SE Blue Parkway Lee's Summit, MO 64063 816-622-0707 ext. 235 417-840-5261 (Cell) I'm James Adkins and I
[Repeater-Builder] Kendercom included an internal ACC Controller?
Looking at the following Ebay auction: Kendercom Mark 4 CR VHF Repeater Voice Controller DVR Ebay Item number: 330296552120 I'm lead to believe this Kendercom was originally equipped with an ACC Controller (from the factory) or was the controller added by the owner after the purchase of the repeater? Any current or former Kendercom Owners out there able to tell the story? Thanks in advance for your replies. cheers, s.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Astron P/S question
I think both Mark (the original poster) and I were WAITING for you to jump in and offer your comments, but you were out-of-service for the last few weeks and your absense was felt. So today's questions are (in your experience): 1. Does the supply just fold-back the current if the output is shorted? 2. Does the supply just fold-back the current if the crowbar SCR fires? 3. Can anything simple be done to prevent the crowbar from firing when the supply operates in a strong RF environment? 4. Is the crowbar firing due to RF, or is the output voltage actually going high enough to trip the SCR, thus making it fire for the purpose it's there for? Hopefully the answers you post will be more detailed than: It depends, Maybe, or Yes and No. Bob M. == --- On Fri, 12/26/08, skipp025 skipp...@yahoo.com wrote: From: skipp025 skipp...@yahoo.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Astron P/S question To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Date: Friday, December 26, 2008, 12:55 PM wb6fly wb6...@... wrote: I should point out that Astron has made several significant changes to the RS-series regulator boards over the past 20 years, Amen... notice how I've been steering clear of this thread? There are/were so many board revisions and design shortfalls that I just didn't want to patch their circuit, which is the reason I choose to start making my own. For what it's worth, almost every Astron regulator board I've seen has a few extra resistors or capacitors added to it, as if each one was customized during manufacture. Yep, parts were added to make the main board work for different models. As one example the crowbar circuit on some models is right on the regulator board, others external and case mounted. I have a parts table for the various Astron Regulator boards so if you smoke a resistor (or any other part) I can probably tell you the original value. According to Fred, Astron's lead technician, some components are still being changed to make the units more stable- decades after the original design! They still appear to have not closely read and applied the LM-723 chip engineering data sheet. My original replacement regulator board is still pretty much the same circuit although the next generation pc board will appear slightly different. Since there are so many regulator board part versions based on the model and type of supply... it's hard to single out a specific problem unless I/we know your a bit of the internal details about your supply. The original problematic regulator circuit suffers from susceptibility to RF, less than optimal engineering in the SCR detect and trigger/ fire circuit, sometimes not so great parts placement and soldering. It's sometimes hard to know what power supply regulator board version and chassis layout you really have without lifting the lid to have a look. cheers, skipp skipp025 at yahoo.com
[Repeater-Builder] Re: Astron P/S question
Hopefully the answers you post will be more detailed than: It depends, Maybe, or Yes and No. Hi Bob (and the group) Then your probably not going to like my answers very much... So today's questions are (in your experience): 1. Does the supply just fold-back the current if the output is shorted? In the generic sense to the majority of fixed voltage supplies sold and used for the typical ham station, NO they do not safely fold back current in shorted conditions. But some Astron Supplies do properly fold back based on their date of production, size/ capacity and model. And, it is not super rocket science to add a current fold back control because the heart of the circuit is already (mostly) in place on the regulator board. 2. Does the supply just fold-back the current if the crowbar SCR fires? The SCR fire was/is traditionally included to blow a fuse in a catastrophic condition. Protect the equipment was job 1. 3. Can anything simple be done to prevent the crowbar from firing when the supply operates in a strong RF environment? Yes, change some of the parts out to different values, add one or two parts (caps and resistors) and depending on the age of your specific regulator board/supply change some of the part(s) connection points/locations. Someone with a working but cranky supply could Email me and based on a list of about 10 questions I would ask... be able to help me identify the regulator board version in their supply. I'd then be able to tell then what specific parts value to change and what parts to add where they would go. But some of the early regulator boards are not realistic or practical to patch upgrade. 4. Is the crowbar firing due to RF, or is the output voltage actually going high enough to trip the SCR, thus making it fire for the purpose it's there for? Depending on the regulator board (supply) version, the problematic SCR fire issue is primarily related to wrong (not the best) part value selections, RFI and transients getting in the trigger circuit. More questions...? Got milk? cheers, s
[Repeater-Builder] More 6 meter repeater interference!!
I have a 6 meter repeater operating Portland Oregon on 53.29 MHz with an input of 51.59 Mhz. A few years ago we started receiving noise on our input, and traced it down to the new Larkin solid-state transmitter that the local TV channel 2 had recently installed. With their old RCA tube transmitter, they had a much cleaner signal. Looking the the proof of performance tests between the two transmitters, the old RCA transmitter was about 20 DB cleaner in the amateur 6 meter band. My repeater is located less than a 1/2 mile from their transmitter. No amount of filtering on my end has been able to fix the problem. I've had it. I am DEMANDING that the local TV channel 2 STOP transmitting or change to a different frequency to end the interference they are causing my 6 meter repeater. I am giving them 6 weeks notice to either stop transmitting or change frequency, and I have picked a deadline of February 18, 2009 or I will initiate further action.
RE: [Repeater-Builder] More 6 meter repeater interference!!
*chuckles* what power John, I bet you win! I've had it. I am DEMANDING that the local TV channel 2 STOP transmitting or change to a different frequency to end the interference they are causing my 6 meter repeater. I am giving them 6 weeks notice to either stop transmitting or change frequency, and I have picked a deadline of February 18, 2009 or I will initiate further action.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] More 6 meter repeater interference!!
JOHN MACKEY wrote: I've had it. I am DEMANDING that the local TV channel 2 STOP transmitting or change to a different frequency to end the interference they are causing my 6 meter repeater. I am giving them 6 weeks notice to either stop transmitting or change frequency, and I have picked a deadline of February 18, 2009 or I will initiate further action. Ha Ha funny.. They will on their own, BUT only if they are a _Full Power TV Station_. Low power TV stations do not have to stop broadcasting in Feb 2009. Many folks believe that _all_ analog TV transmissions will cease in Feb 2009, but that is not true. Kevin
Re: [Repeater-Builder] More 6 meter repeater interference!!
John, I wish that I had your way with words, your infinite wisdom of local TV interference problems on 6 meters, and last, but not least, your power with the FCC and the federal government . . . . Someone ought to talk to the newly elected president to see if there is a spot for you in his administration as the head of the communications commission. 73, Don, KD9PT - Original Message - From: Kevin Custer To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 3:14 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] More 6 meter repeater interference!! JOHN MACKEY wrote: I've had it. I am DEMANDING that the local TV channel 2 STOP transmitting or change to a different frequency to end the interference they are causing my 6 meter repeater. I am giving them 6 weeks notice to either stop transmitting or change frequency, and I have picked a deadline of February 18, 2009 or I will initiate further action. Ha Ha funny.. They will on their own, BUT only if they are a Full Power TV Station. Low power TV stations do not have to stop broadcasting in Feb 2009. Many folks believe that all analog TV transmissions will cease in Feb 2009, but that is not true. Kevin
Re: [Repeater-Builder] More 6 meter repeater interference!!
Yes, Kevin, you are correct. Analong LPTV and Translator (TV) stations do not have to cease analog transmissions in Feb 2009. The station causing me grief is a full power TV station on channel 2. For the most part, Analog TV in big and medium cities will go away. Rural areas served by translators will will stay on analog at this time. Here in Portland (Oregon) we have a couple of exceptions as we have a LPTV station and a translator serving this area. Since both of those are analog, they will stay on the air as they currently area. A good web site to get information on the digital switch over is www.tvfool.com -- Original Message -- Received: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 01:14:28 PM PST From: Kevin Custer kug...@kuggie.com To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] More 6 meter repeater interference!! JOHN MACKEY wrote: I've had it. I am DEMANDING that the local TV channel 2 STOP transmitting or change to a different frequency to end the interference they are causing my 6 meter repeater. I am giving them 6 weeks notice to either stop transmitting or change frequency, and I have picked a deadline of February 18, 2009 or I will initiate further action. Ha Ha funny.. They will on their own, BUT only if they are a _Full Power TV Station_. Low power TV stations do not have to stop broadcasting in Feb 2009. Many folks believe that _all_ analog TV transmissions will cease in Feb 2009, but that is not true. Kevin
RE: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Helper Instruments
Hi Skipp, What's a Helper RF millivoltmeter manual worth to you? I have one that I will scan for you when I get back home in a couple of weeks. No charge. 73 Gary K4FMX -Original Message- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Repeater- buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of skipp025 Sent: Thursday, December 25, 2008 1:27 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Helper Instruments Hi Dan, Glad to see you chimed in on this thread. Dan Graybeal dangerousengineer...@... wrote: The SM-512 is a service monitor that covers 1 to 512 MHz if memory serves correctly. I had incorrectly posted the follow up model as the SM-1024, but it was actually the SM-1000 as later indicated. (I was thinking in hex again...) It has a built in Sinadder and Millivolt meter. The system was designed around a Bearcat scanner. When Bearcat quit making the scanner, the system was redesigned from scratch and expanded to go to 1GHz, hence the SM-1000. If you look at the boards inside the SM-512 you will be able to identify the Bearcat model from the processor board. And more than one of us learned to use a Bearcat Scanner as a fairly strong signal source. Really neat Helper Instrument trivia... More than a few of the (now retired) local/regional Comm Shop Owners have told me stories of how a Helper Sales Rep would often loan Sinadder and similar demo products out to a shop to quickly prove their real on the service bench dollar value. Not only were the Helper Products well thought out, but those early sales folks including Bill were quite innovative. We made a bunch of neat stuff at Helper while Bill Detwiller (the owner) was still alive. I have a transitional Helper Catalog where shortly after Bill's passing his daughter announced a plan to go forward and continue operations. Not much is known to us the general public about the wind down of production and operation of Helper. As a Zetron Products Dealer one of the inside technical products support people told me about their purchase of some Helper Products, which were later discontinued as the Land Mobile Industry started to fall out of bed. I will look to see if I still have a users manual for either of these still around. I have a modest number of Helper Instrument Manuals but nothing for the Service Monitors or the RF Millivolt Meter, which I would pay dearly for (a copy of the RF mV Meter manual). Of course anyone nice enough to share would know I (or others) would pdf scan the manuals and donate copies to the Repeater-Builder and other similar web sites. The Helper 800 cell antenna performance instrument works fairly well for low 900 Amateur Band work. Not to mention the even more rare 460 band version. cheers, skipp skipp025 at yahoo.com Yahoo! Groups Links
Re: [Repeater-Builder] More 6 meter repeater interference!!
thank you, thank you very much -- Original Message -- Received: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 01:26:35 PM PST From: Don Kupferschmidt d...@httpd.org To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] More 6 meter repeater interference!! John, I wish that I had your way with words, your infinite wisdom of local TV interference problems on 6 meters, and last, but not least, your power with the FCC and the federal government . . . . Someone ought to talk to the newly elected president to see if there is a spot for you in his administration as the head of the communications commission. 73, Don, KD9PT - Original Message - From: Kevin Custer To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 3:14 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] More 6 meter repeater interference!! JOHN MACKEY wrote: I've had it. I am DEMANDING that the local TV channel 2 STOP transmitting or change to a different frequency to end the interference they are causing my 6 meter repeater. I am giving them 6 weeks notice to either stop transmitting or change frequency, and I have picked a deadline of February 18, 2009 or I will initiate further action. Ha Ha funny.. They will on their own, BUT only if they are a Full Power TV Station. Low power TV stations do not have to stop broadcasting in Feb 2009. Many folks believe that all analog TV transmissions will cease in Feb 2009, but that is not true. Kevin
[Repeater-Builder] Vertex FTL-1011H CE7 Software Q's
Anybody have a clue as to how to hack the CE7 software for the FTL-1011H 99 channel radio? I have a low split low band model that I would like to use on 10 meters. The low frequency limit is set to 29.7mhz right now. I have been through the software with a hex editor, but can't seem to locate that parameter. Any help appreciated, thanks! Dave NA6DF
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Vertex FTL-1011H CE7 Software Q's
Anybody have a clue as to how to hack the CE7 software for the FTL-1011H 99 channel radio? I have a low split low band model that I would like to use on 10 meters. The low frequency limit is set to 29.7mhz right now. I have been through the software with a hex editor, but can't seem to locate that parameter. Any help appreciated, thanks! The old trick of entering the frequency with SHIFT pressed (only for the numbers, not for the decimal point) doesn't work? :oO
Re: [Repeater-Builder] More 6 meter repeater interference!!
Channel 2 may not go off the air on February 18. The entire NPRM is here: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-281A1.pdf Harry, W0OZL 1. The Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act (Analog Nightlight Act or Act)1 requires the Commission to develop and implement a program by January 15, 2009, to encourage and permit continued analog TV service after the February 17, 2009 DTV transition date, where technically feasible, for the purpose of providing public safety information and DTV transition information to viewers who may not obtain the necessary equipment to receive digital broadcasts after the transition date. In this way, the continued analog service would serve like a nightlight to unprepared viewers, assuring that these viewers continue to have access to emergency information and guiding them with information to help them make a belated transition. This Notice describes the procedures the Commission intends to follow to implement the Act; the nature of the programming permitted by the Act; and the stations that are eligible to participate in the Analog Nightlight program. Stations that are eligible under the Act to provide nightlight service may choose to provide their own service on their analog channels, or may choose to work with other stations in their community to provide a comprehensive nightlight service on one or more analog channels in that community. Stations that cannot broadcast their own nightlight service can participate in a joint nightlight effort together with other stations in their community by providing financial, technical, or other resources. - Original Message - From: JOHN MACKEY jmac...@usa.net To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 3:54 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] More 6 meter repeater interference!! I've had it. I am DEMANDING that the local TV channel 2 STOP transmitting or change to a different frequency to end the interference they are causing my 6 meter repeater.
[Repeater-Builder] Re: More 6 meter repeater interference!!
--- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Radioman radio...@... wrote: Channel 2 may not go off the air on February 18. The entire NPRM is here: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-281A1.pdf Harry, W0OZL 1. The Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act (Analog Nightlight Act or Act)1 requires the Commission to develop and implement a program by January 15, 2009, to encourage and permit continued analog TV service after the February 17, 2009 DTV transition date, where technically feasible, for the purpose of providing public safety information and DTV transition information to viewers who may not obtain the necessary equipment to receive digital broadcasts after the transition date. In this way, the continued analog service would serve like a nightlight to unprepared viewers, assuring that these viewers continue to have access to emergency information and guiding them with information to help them make a belated transition. This Notice describes the procedures the Commission intends to follow to implement the Act; the nature of the programming permitted by the Act; and the stations that are eligible to participate in the Analog Nightlight program. Stations that are eligible under the Act to provide nightlight service may choose to provide their own service on their analog channels, or may choose to work with other stations in their community to provide a comprehensive nightlight service on one or more analog channels in that community. Stations that cannot broadcast their own nightlight service can participate in a joint nightlight effort together with other stations in their community by providing financial, technical, or other resources. - Original Message - From: JOHN MACKEY jmac...@... To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 3:54 PM Subject: [Repeater-Builder] More 6 meter repeater interference!! I've had it. I am DEMANDING that the local TV channel 2 STOP transmitting or change to a different frequency to end the interference they are causing my 6 meter repeater. --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, Milt men...@... wrote: A similar war story from back in the early 90's...Commercial customer with a 35MHz base complaining of dramatically reduced range. Base and mobiles checked out fine, antenna system fine, just trouble receiving the mobiles. Dropping the PL with the antenna connected I noticed what seemed to be a constant carrier. A bit of wandering about with a scanner using increasingly short lengths of wire for antennas brought me to a nearby house. The noise seemed to be radiating on the telephone line and the power line. The house was a rental owned by the company with the radio so after proper contact was made an inside sweep found the ... telephone answering machine!?!?!?! The device was powered by a wall wart supply with an very long cord (getting any clues yet?); which had recently come back from a repair center. The wall wart had a slightly audible hum. A snap together ferrite with as much of the excess power wiring wound onto the ferrite as possible, and another ferrite on the telco line brought the noise to a level that was not detectable at the base station. Milt N3LTQ - Original Message - From: neal Newman To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 9:39 AM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Six Meter Repeater Noise Issues Noise on the six meter repeater. On my machine 53.67 in New jersey I was getting noise that was holding the machine Keyed up. then drop. and key up again. I thought it was desense Even with a big expensive Commercial Duplexer. with the transmitter off, the normal unsquelched Hiss sounded Fine No noise that we could detect. after weeks of this. We finally found out what the Problem was. the 2 meter,and 440 machines next to it ran just fine.however They both had an IRLP link on them. The Noise problem turned out to be the Router/switch. The Noise it was creating was just at the threshold level to Key and hold open the repeater. BTW. The 6 meter machine was in PL with a Tone of 67hz.. Not a good choice. between the60 cycle noise of a bad wall wart for the router switch and the noise it created. might as well put a flea power transimitter with PL sitting on the repeaters input. changed the router swich and PL tome. and Problem wentt away. Verizon uses cheapo routers. we placed the new one in a shielded box Neal-KA2CAF --- On Thu, 12/25/08, Mike Morris WA6ILQ wa6...@... wrote: From: Mike Morris WA6ILQ wa6...@... Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Six Meter Repeater Noise Issues To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Date:
[Repeater-Builder] OT: DTV Stuff
JOHN MACKEY wrote: A good web site to get information on the digital switch over is www.tvfool.com Yup... I have been using the data available there for several weeks now. I had trouble getting some of the files at first, but finally got a good torrent client running and all is well. Great site for those who want to see what the prediction software says about coverage in their area... Kevin
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Kendercom included an internal ACC Controller?
Skipp, I have a Kendecom repeater. I believe the guy in the auction is trying to say that the Kendecom controller was made to compete with the ACC controller of that time frame. The Kendecom does have a voice record/playback to a very limited extent. I believe it is 50, 30 second addresses for voice messages. Mine is very flaky to say the least and I do not use it for that reason. As you can see from the photos all of the multi-pin plug in (failing) connections. I hope this guy gets $450 for this. I will like to see that. 73, Collin -Original Message- From: skipp025 skipp...@yahoo.com To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 1:52 pm Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Kendercom included an internal ACC Controller? Looking at the following Ebay auction: Kendercom Mark 4 CR VHF Repeater Voice Controller DVR Ebay Item number: 330296552120 I'm lead to believe this Kendercom was originally equipped with an ACC Controller (from the factory) or was the controller added by the owner after the purchase of the repeater? Any current or former Kendercom Owners out there able to tell the story? Thanks in advance for your replies. cheers, s.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Kendecom included an internal ACC Controller?
At 12/26/2008 10:52, you wrote: Looking at the following Ebay auction: Kendercom Mark 4 CR VHF Repeater Voice Controller DVR Ebay Item number: 330296552120 I'm lead to believe this Kendercom was originally equipped with an ACC Controller (from the factory) or was the controller added by the owner after the purchase of the repeater? Why do you think it has an ACC controller? AFAIK Kendecom made their own controller, which IMO was a POJ like most of the rest of the repeater. Our club bought a 220 Kendecom system back in the late 80s; I think it was on the air for a grand total of 2 months. More time was probably spent on mods repairs than actual time on the air. The RXs were salvageable, as the RF portion seemed to be well designed. It was to replace a mid-70's vintage system built out of Midland 13-509 boards; that system continues to perform quite well to this day after over 30 years of service. Bob NO6B
Re: [Repeater-Builder] More 6 meter repeater interference!!
At 12/26/2008 17:03, you wrote: Channel 2 may not go off the air on February 18. The entire NPRM is here: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-281A1.pdf Harry, W0OZL 1. The Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act (Analog Nightlight Act or Act)1 requires the Commission to develop and implement a program by January 15, 2009, to encourage and permit continued analog TV service after the February 17, 2009 DTV transition date, ...only for 30 days after 2/19/09. Bob NO6B
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Kendercom included an internal ACC Controller?
I read the ebay description, and the mention of an ACC controller I believe is just for comparison; everything I can see in the pix looks just as ours did when received from Kendecom new. The 21 w out is typical for the Nominal 30W exciter. Ours is still in service for W0CWP in Iowa. Biggest problem we had was unreliable ribbon cables/connectors. Replacing them with gold plated connectors seems to have solved that problem. Dick, W0RFX, former trustee On Fri, 26 Dec 2008 12:52:49 -0600, skipp025 skipp...@yahoo.com wrote: 330296552120 -- Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/
[Repeater-Builder] YAESU FTR2410 documentation
Hello to all of you, As being the owner of a Yaesu FTR2410 repeater, which is serving in the north of France (F1ZAM at JN19IH) on 145.6125Mhz, I have to review some of the installation and do some maintenance. I cannot find my service and operating manuals anymore (I suppose I left them at a Ham friend) Is there anyone who has a copy of these or knows a link to where obtain them? Please answer to f1oqe-at-neuf-dot-fr. I should be very please to read you. My best wishes to all hamspirits for 2009 F1OQE, Evert Victor
Re: [Repeater-Builder] More 6 meter repeater interference!!
Good grief! Anyone who hasn't seen about a million DTV transition promos by now doesn't watch enough TV to need the converter! - Original Message - From: Radioman To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 6:03 PM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] More 6 meter repeater interference!! Channel 2 may not go off the air on February 18. The entire NPRM is here: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-281A1.pdf Harry, W0OZL 1. The Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act (Analog Nightlight Act or Act)1 requires the Commission to develop and implement a program by January 15, 2009, to encourage and permit continued analog TV service after the February 17, 2009 DTV transition date, where technically feasible, for the purpose of providing public safety information and DTV transition information to viewers who may not obtain the necessary equipment... Recent Activity a.. 6New Members Visit Your Group Share Photos Put your favorite photos and more online. Group Charity Give a laptop Get a laptop: One laptop per child Special K Group on Yahoo! Groups Learn how others are losing pounds. .
Re: [Repeater-Builder] Six Meter Repeater Noise Issues
I had a problem like this but it was all the time and it was caused by a faulty matv amplifier in a apartment building a block away from the repeater. It cause the rooftop TV antenna connected to the matv amp to radiate. A now retired and possibly deceased FCC examiner out of the Dallas field office made a trip to our town at the request of our ham club and he tracked the problem down and made the owner of the matv system shut their equipment down until it could be repaired A low band TV antenna amp going into oscillation can cause a lot of problems on 6 meters. BTW a first phone tech who installed the matv unit argued with the FCC inspector and got his license revoked in the process. Sometimes it is best do what you are told and fix it later! wb5oxq. - Original Message - From: neal Newman To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 8:39 AM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Six Meter Repeater Noise Issues Noise on the six meter repeater. On my machine 53.67 in New jersey I was getting noise that was holding the machine Keyed up. then drop. and key up again. I thought it was desense Even with a big expensive Commercial Duplexer. with the transmitter off, the normal unsquelched Hiss sounded Fine No noise that we could detect. after weeks of this. We finally found out what the Problem was. the 2 meter,and 440 machines next to it ran just fine.however They both had an IRLP link on them. The Noise problem turned out to be the Router/switch. The Noise it was creating was just at the threshold level to Key and hold open the repeater. BTW. The 6 meter machine was in PL with a Tone of 67hz.. Not a good choice. between the60 cycle noise of a bad wall wart for the router switch and the noise it created. might as well put a flea power transimitter with PL sitting on the repeaters input. changed the router swich and PL tome. and Problem wentt away. Verizon uses cheapo routers. we placed the new one in a shielded box Neal-KA2CAF --- On Thu, 12/25/08, Mike Morris WA6ILQ wa6...@gmail.com wrote: From: Mike Morris WA6ILQ wa6...@gmail.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Six Meter Repeater Noise Issues To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Date: Thursday, December 25, 2008, 10:12 PM At 11:06 AM 12/25/08, you wrote: Hi To All Hope everybody had a good Christmas, While the subject was brought up, I have been having a similar experience here at my location. It is not on a repeater, but a simplex radio (vertex VX3000l mobile) for a base on the natl Red Cross freq of 47 mhz. In the daytime the receiver is quiet and hears fine. It seems as about the time the sun starts going down, the receiver's squelch opens and has a constant static noise for many hours but still receives fine. It may do it all night, I don't know, I haven't stayed up to see, just leave the radio on and go to bed. Was wondering if could be power line noise (but why wouldn't do in daytime also)? Is there any interference to the HF bands like this at night? Thanks, Mike KB5FLX An old trick - if the on-time changes about 6 minutes a day then it's light-dependent (i..e a photo-electric triggered yard light). In your shoes I'd power the radio from a gell-cell, and then go flip breakers off one at a time. That will tell you if the noise source is inside the house, and if so, on which breaker. Mike WA6ILQ
