[Ccarc] Keep your calenders clear this weekend!!

[Chuck Hendrickson]

Good morning all, 

    A little over a week ago we had a great crew together to get some tower/repeater work done at EMA. In that session we were able to get the link antenna replaced, moved higher and a new feedline <hardline> run from the link radio to the antenna. This work will help ensure the link signal will get to the water tower without fail. The old antenna did a fantastic job but was there for many many years. The trees between EMA and the water tower grew getting in the way, and the years of the weather didn't do the antenna many favors either. We can't fault the old link antenna as it did serve us very very well for many years. We also moved the 145.230 repeater downstairs to under the stairs. We also strung some coax to the 23 repeater so it is on the air. All in all the work session was a very successful one. As always during the job we discovered other things that could be done, need to be done and need to be scheduled in the future, more about that later. We <please read Anna KC9IDO> took plenty of pictures at this work session. <I'll make sure you get them for the feedline Ed> This in turn will help greatly in planning for future things. I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone that showed up and helped out. 
    I'm looking at planning another climb but at the water tank this Saturday the 13th. This climb will be to replace the mount and antenna that was damaged in a storm earlier this year. We've been using a temporary fix for several months that's been doing a pretty good job. The fix we did is obviously a temporary fix and the permanant fix needs to be put into place before the snow flies. The main work I'm looking at is as stated the antenna work, removing the 75/50 ohm converters on BOTH ends of the hardline and remounting everything securely. This time I've planned some cool stuff for the ground crew so we're not sitting around so much. Ok, so it's not a lot but it's something. Phil W9LVY has talked about bumping up the power on the transmitter a bit, what better time to get that squared away? While we're working up top that can be worked on w/o loading the hardline then once we're done and everything is remounted it can be tested with everything in place. There also has been talk about the weather receiver volume being a little too low. We can check this stuff out and make some needed tweaks on this as well. I'd LIKE to have the software for the receiver so it can be done properly and we can check all the settings to ensure the proper operation. 
    This specific climb probably won't be a super quick two hour affair as we've had lately. This one will take a while since we're planning on doing more. We have the mount on the tank to clean out the old threads in the flange, remount the new mount, remount the antenna, then in turn the feedline connected after it's reterminated without the converters. This is only the stuff on the top side, there is more stuff to do on the ground so it'll be a busy day and it's quite obvious we'll need plenty of help. I wanted to wait in talking much about it until I saw the first weather reports. So far we're looking at morning low temps of the mid 40's and highs of the mid 60's. This makes it almost perfect weather to get this work done. I'm looking at assembling at the water tank at 0800, it'll be a little chilly at that point so we can go over the plan as a whole, assemble anything on the ground needed and hit the tower around 0900 at the latest. Keep all our eyes on the weather and I'll keep you all advised of any updated information as to what might be needed by folks other than themselves. If anyone can think of something else please don't hesitate to say something. My memory these days is like a flash bulb <yes I still remember them> and lasts almost as long. 
    Have a wonderful day and I'll keep ya'll updated this week. 


73, 
Chuck Hendrickson N9PMW
President CCARC
http://www.culcom.net/~ccarcinc
ARRL Ham Radio's National Association
http://www.arrl.org
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