We think we know why the Stadium Remote has occasional problems!
First, a little background. Up in the Press Box area on the west side of OU Memorial Stadium, SCARS has a 146.46 MHz receiver. This is the "minus side" for our VHF system. That receiver is connected via a controller to a transmitter that sends the signal back to the main site east of town.
This system had been tended by a fellow ham whose call escapes me at the moment, but who works for a Major Cellular Carrier and had access to the site. Unfortunately, he now works in a different part of his company and is no longer available to help us.
At the last meeting, another ham, who works for that same carrier and who has been to the site, explained to us what may be happening. Seems that when any electrical work is done on the stadium, power is turned off to the entire stadium. This would include the Press Box. Since we don't have any kind of backup power, the Stadium Remote goes away. When the power returns, so does the Stadium Remote.
We're not 100% certain that this is the case, but the information presented certainly fits the behavior we've been seeing!
Once we get the main VHF repeater replaced, the Tech Comm will be working on access to the site and will explore a fix for the situation.
73,
N5UWY for the Tech Comm
2007-03-15
Expectations ...
We're getting close to actually ordering equipment, maybe even as early as this week. Ken and I were discussing what all needs to be done and it occurred to us that we'd better give you folks an idea of how long this will take.
Ken's example was this: If we got ALL the equipment tomorrow, it would still likely be 60 days until the new station is on the air.
Both major pieces will need to be set up, the Kenwood repeater itself (comes with programming software) and the Arcom controller (also comes with programming software).
Then we have accessories to get ready. There's the phone patch, the receiver for the Stadium Remote, the new control receiver. Once we get all those various pieces working together, and making RF (into a dummy load), we'll probably want to let it burn in for a few days as a unit, just to shake out what we call in IT "infant mortality" - new parts that die right away.
Once we're happy with that, then we'll need to move it to the site and start the real work. The biggest item that will need "tuning" is the audio levels - everything, the main receiver, the autopatch, and the Stadium Remote, all have to have levels that match.
It will get done ... just give us the time to do it right!
Thanks & 73,
N5UWY for the Tech Comm
Ken's example was this: If we got ALL the equipment tomorrow, it would still likely be 60 days until the new station is on the air.
Both major pieces will need to be set up, the Kenwood repeater itself (comes with programming software) and the Arcom controller (also comes with programming software).
Then we have accessories to get ready. There's the phone patch, the receiver for the Stadium Remote, the new control receiver. Once we get all those various pieces working together, and making RF (into a dummy load), we'll probably want to let it burn in for a few days as a unit, just to shake out what we call in IT "infant mortality" - new parts that die right away.
Once we're happy with that, then we'll need to move it to the site and start the real work. The biggest item that will need "tuning" is the audio levels - everything, the main receiver, the autopatch, and the Stadium Remote, all have to have levels that match.
It will get done ... just give us the time to do it right!
Thanks & 73,
N5UWY for the Tech Comm
Welcome to the Technical Committee's repeater blog
I'll post a PDF of the Tech Comm's repeater report here in a few days. The committee realized that there will be a lot going on over the next 60-90 days in regards to the repeater and that we needed to keep SCARS members up to date. So, a blog.
We have decided on the equipment, as we discussed briefly at the last meeting.
The main RF section will be a Kenwood TKR-750. This is a commercial Land Mobile repeater that covers the 2 meter ham band. Commercial repeaters basically have a CWID and not a lot else in terms of features. Fortunately, there is a plug on the back ...
To that plug, we'll be connecting an Arcom RC-210 repeater controller. We're ordering a number of accessories as well, including the automatic telephone patch board. The controller is what will give us the ability to have an autopatch, announcements, etc.
Some Hamtronics UHF receivers (for the Stadium Remote and the new control receiver) will round out the major purchases.
Oh, and of course, a weather-proof cabinet to house it all!
More later.
de N5UWY
We have decided on the equipment, as we discussed briefly at the last meeting.
The main RF section will be a Kenwood TKR-750. This is a commercial Land Mobile repeater that covers the 2 meter ham band. Commercial repeaters basically have a CWID and not a lot else in terms of features. Fortunately, there is a plug on the back ...
To that plug, we'll be connecting an Arcom RC-210 repeater controller. We're ordering a number of accessories as well, including the automatic telephone patch board. The controller is what will give us the ability to have an autopatch, announcements, etc.
Some Hamtronics UHF receivers (for the Stadium Remote and the new control receiver) will round out the major purchases.
Oh, and of course, a weather-proof cabinet to house it all!
More later.
de N5UWY
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