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All,

I am pleased to announce after much anticipation, we have re-fired 147.09 to rave reviews and reports! 

 

We had a nice day to get up there and spend some time at the site while the tower crew worked on getting the feedline and antenna up. We consolidated both repeaters into one cabinet and cleaned up the rats nests from years past that was basically due to lack of time spent at the site. 

 

All did not go perfectly well, however. After placing the antenna and running new feedline, Brian put his analyzer on the feedline to sweep prior to connecting the repeater and he couldn’t see the antenna. After sending the climbers back up to look at the connector, it was determined that the antenna had to come back down for further analysis. By this time darkness was upon us so the crew had to leave. Brian and Bob Buford W5RAB went back to the site Saturday to check the antenna and after working all day determined the connector was defective and replaced it. Swept it and looked good on the analyzer. 

 

Monday the tower crew came back to raise the antenna into place and do further tower work for RSU. Upon a final sweep before raising the antenna it was determined that there were other more serious problems with the new antenna and that if we were going to get an antenna on the tower while we had the crew there that it would have to be the old antenna. Bob and Johnny went to get the old antenna, installed a new connector(the connector was found to be the only thing wrong with the old antenna) and replaced it. They also completely rebuilt the antenna on site(whew!) 

The tower crew raised the antenna, placed it into the new mount on the tower, and Brian and Bob swept it and everything check out ok. They then fired up the new DR2X repeater for use. Special thanks to:

Brian K5BDM

Bob W5RAB

Johnny N5XQK 

John WX5OU

RAY K5CFY 

Gary KF5XK 

for all your help—this would not have been done without you guys! 

 

Thanks

Jeff

WX5WDG