Repeater system is still humming along on the bench with a very limited range antenna system (maybe 3 miles) waiting on work to be complete at the repeater site. while the wait goes on, don't forget to program your 2 Meter transceiver for a PL tone of 127.3Hz. Read the owners manual if need be because probably no one lese knows how to program your radio either these days.
As of February 14th...
The multi-function box containing CTCSS decode, Voice ID'er, courtesy tone, and repeater controller is finally finished. It's all hooked up to the repeater along with the control receiver making the repeater system whole. IT's ALL DONE.
(above) Multi-function box. Original contents of box scrapped and replaced. This box makes up the rest of the repeater system besides just the repeater.
As of February 5th...
The repeater system overhaul is still expected to be complete around mid-February. Now that the customized circuit boards that support repeater operations are complete, mounting and interconnect wiring should begin soon. But no job is complete with out the detailed support documentation that goes with it. Future repair technicians should not have a problem of figuring what goes where- as long as the repeater system is not hacked on. (undocumented modifications)
While all other work is being done to the overall repeater system, the repeater itself has been on the bench operating in a basic mode for almost a month now without problems.
Setting things straight
As a reminder, originally, the LWRA is not off the air because the repeater system is at fault- the LWRA lost a repeater site!
The repeater itself only had a minor problem, fixed in a couple of hours. the problem arose long ago from lack of use while it was in service. The repeater did not want to 'key up' during longer spells of inactivity. This type of thing can happen to any repeater if it does not get used. It only gave out completely when the repeater sat in storage unplugged for 14+months. It sure made it easier to find the problem however!
Essentially everything else (making a repeater system) attached to the repeater was bad, from age (25 year old lightning burned out stuff) or corrosion by chlorine. The 'everything else' but the repeater is what is taking up most of the time. That and having it properly documented, electronically of course. No more scribbles on a sheet of paper to get lost some day.
(above) Completed courtesy tone board designed and built by KLM-TECH replaces a board we used that is no longer sold as a kit, and 4/5th's of the functions we did not use anyway or were redundant in the system. The LWRA had to replace the old board a number of times over the years. This new custom board is of a different design, intended to get around problems the kit boards had as the years ticked on The new board comes with detailed documentation for service personnel. It's designed to be adjustable and easily serviceable, more so than store bought stuff. "BEEP!"
(above) Completed DTMF repeater controller designed and built by KLM-TECH. Still working on the documentation at the moment. Again it's designed to be easily serviceable. It can control up to 4 repeater functions such as C.OR. activate/deactivate, PL tone enable/disable, and more. The old DTMF controller the LWRA had given out completely, as it was made in the early 80's and many parts not available anymore. By law a repeater must be under control, be it remote control or other wise, at all times. And so this is a required component in a repeater system.
As of February 1st...
It is most likely that the Repeater system rebuild will be complete by mid February. So far 80+ hours of labor have been spent on the rebuild, expecting another 20+. It should be noted that there is a number of details that need to be worked out at the Repeater site still before getting back on the air. When all that will be sorted out depends on the work schedules of people who have to work for a living!
As of January 10th...
The entire Repeater system has been contracted out for repairs and partial-overhaul. This has been initiated curiously enough not by the LWRA, but by an individual LWRA member who wants to see the Repeater up and running. By paying out of his pocket, and not wait around until the Assoc. decides to do something and then try to come up with the money to do something about it, this route will get the LWRA back on the air faster.
As of January 5th...
So...How close is the Repeater to getting back on the air now that the antenna and feedline have been installed?
On december 29, 2007, the Repeater was put on Howard WB4NYT's test bench, with John KC4KLM providing an overview to Howard, as a courtesy to the Association, of how it's supposed to work. Time to see if it still works. It worked when it was pulled from service 14 months ago.
The Repeater is broke, no doubt from lack of use. The transmitter locks up into transmit all by itself is essentially the new problem.
In attempting to find the problem, more problems were created along the way. It seems the corrosion from the chlorine in the pool room a couple years back where the Repeater operated for a few years, has ruined the wiring going to and from various parts of the Repeater system. A staggering number of wires were breaking with the greatest of ease. The wiring is shot.
And that is not all that was discovered, not by a long shot. Howard and John found...Well....Oh, read a full page report in a future newsletter when it comes out some time.
In short, no quick and easy solution can be provided in getting the Repeater back on the air soon. President Thomas AG4UC has already been in consultation with others since the observation report, and is developing ideas on what to do next. Come to the next meeting (January 10th) to stay informed!
Front. For an interactive tour on what you are looking at click here.
Back. The wiring mess that has deteriorated due to the years of being in a chlorine environment.