Hello All,

Anthony here, quick update on today’s work at Roleystone.

The UHF repeater VK6RUF was found to have almost no output power (no doubt the cause of the poor performance) and was removed, I have the transceiver for repair and will reinstate as soon as fixed, hopefully later this week.

Other antennas were checked and the 2m repeater & diplexer/cavities spec-checked to try & correct the intermittent noise problem. (One suspect coax connector was replaced, we should continue to monitor the repeater performance to see if any improvement). The 6m voice repeater was also checked, all looks OK.

The batteries were removed, cleaned and refitted, allowing timber reinforcing to be placed underneath (not quite enough timber for the whole set, job will be completed next time). The DC system was checked and the power supplies readjusted to compensate for voltage drop (due to diodes in series), so the battery/system
voltage is ~13.6V.

Some of the cells are starting to show signs of age, and while we can probably count on another year or two from these, we need to start looking around for replacements – the existing ones are sealed gel types, heavy duty, around 500AH per cell – if anyone can find some disposal ones like these in reasonable condition, we
are definitely interested! (If the price is right…)

More work is planned in November (date TBA) including the packet system overhaul, Bob VK6ZRT has volunteered his expertise to carry out this work (and hopefully train a few others of us in the ongoing care & feeding of VK6BBR).

Thanks to all who attended today: William VK6KWT, Cliff VK6LZ, Andrew VK6VCG, Matthew VK6KMC, Dennis VK6KAD, Jim VK6JIM, Anthony VK6AXB. My apologies if I have forgotten to mention anyone, all efforts are sincerely appreciated.

BR & 73,
Anthony VK6AXB.

Hi All

A maintenance visit to tic hill (Redhill) VK6RTH was carried out today, (08.05.08)? mainly to check on the electrolyte levels in the 2 volt wet cells and general visual of the site.

This was carried out by Bob VK6POP(with 4 x 4 vehicle) and myself.

As usual we were escorted through the Quarry (mine site) by the site owners (Hansons), although they were busy at the time. They appreciated the Cake for morning tea which we leave as a thank you for their assistance.

Bob topped up the large wet cells with distilled water which had gone down by a about a third (in the min/max safety area)in each cell since October 07, this took approx 1 litre each, and cleaned the terminals
which showed signs of salt build up.

I checked the SWR on the Antennae cables (70 cm = 1.4/1 and 2m 1.3/1) which appear to use the dual bander. The Digipeater could not be checked as we did not have a BNC connector for the Antenna Analyser with us.

I am mystified as to what exactly is on the Tower(s) for example what is the dish? and square box half way up the main tower for ? is it wifi and whose is it?

I know about the 4 x 4 club receiver and LIPD Xmitter which appears to be working (we also topped up their wet cells).

There are also three unused co-axes – one open circuit and two with reasonable SWR.

The Solar cells were feeding 5 Amps during bright sun. The batteries each showed 2.2 Volts.

A visual check of the tower did not show up any problems. The water leak repair to the “Bunker” last October seems to have held with no evidence of water.

73 Cliff VK6LZ (Site Manager)

Quick update on the weekend’s working bee at VK6RAP.

Thanks to the following who attended on either or both of the days:
Danny VK6FZUK; Dennis VK6KAD; Heath VK3TWO/6; Neil VK6BDO; Peter
VK6PMY; William VK6KWT; plus myself. Thanks also to Danny & Heath
for donations of cable tray offcuts, etc.

The aim of the working bee was to replace the various old
interconnecting coax, leads with new double-screened low-loss coax
leads, and to tidy the racks & check/remount the various cavity
filters/cables more securely. This was achieved for the voice
repeater systems and associated cavity filters, however time ran out
before we could complete work on the cabling associated with the
packet systems. (The existing packet coax cabling is not too bad
though, should be OK for now).

On Saturday VK6’s AXB / BDO / FZUK attended and made new cabling for
the 70cm repeater and remounted its filters in the rack. Work was
begun on remounting the 2m filters. The 70cm filters/diplexer were
swept using WARG’s newly-acquired IFR1500 instrument, which proved
itself versatile & easy to use in practice.

On Sunday VK6’s AXB / BDO / KAD / KWT / PMY / & VK3TWO attended.
Remounting of the filters in the racks was completed. New cabling was
made for the 2m voice repeater, news link, & 6m voice repeater
(antenna feed). The remaining filters & 2m diplexer were swept with
the IFR. Lengths of donated cable tray were mounted to the walls to
tidy & secure antenna feeder cables & the like. At the conclusion of
the job the racks & hut floor were vacuumed/dusted, and the hut given
a general tidy up.

On-air tests & monitoring of the news broadcast links indicates all
systems are working well, however if anyone is experiencing the
contrary, please make a report and let us know ASAP!

I have taken a few photos which I will try & bring to the meeting,
also I will send some to Rob for inclusion on the WARG website as
appropriate.

Future work ideas (in rough priority order):

Reinforce saggy floor under batteries

Acquire & install cable ladder/support system between mast & hut to
replace existing old/inadequate catenary support

Complete work on interior cables

Fix water ingress near door to prevent floor swelling/rotting near entry

The 2m to 6m/70 cm news link system should also be monitored and
future work considered if the startup delay (or other problems)
become worse or re-occur.

I can make more of a report at the meeting if needs be.

BR & 73,
Anthony VK6AXB