27 Sep 2016 RSS Silver Star Visit
Attendees:
Bob VE7EZI
David VA7SZ
Rob VA7RMM
Terry VE7TRZ
08:30 Departed T/H
09:00 Arrived SS Security pick up mountain VHF Radio
09:24 Arrived RSS
12:00 Departed RSS
12:24 Arrived SS Security return mountain VHF Radio
13:00 Arrived T/H
Objectives:
o1) document as much of the equipment connections as possible
o2) remove the failed 100W PA
o3) reestablish a link with the 1050 IRLP node computer
We succeeded on our first 2 objectives but failed on restoring the 1050 IRLP node.
Recommendations:
r1) provide a fused connection to the 100W PA directly from the 35A Power Supply ... with the blocking diodes in place, this should ensure the 100W PA is not powered during an AC power failure
r2) the coax relays should also be powered via a fused connection directly from the 35A Power supply ... with the blocking diodes in place this will provide an automatic switch to low power during AC power failures without having to do any fancy coding on the controller
r3) switch the Coax Ports around so the selected PA defaults to the LO Power PA ... we will need to document this change on the Remote control codes as the HI and LO codes would be reversed ... we will also need to change the labels on the rack
r4) if the PA is repairable then we should label it properly
Details:
d1) Documented the RF connections relating to the RSS Repeater
d2) rerouted some of the cables ... some of the cables were weighing down/straining critical power and or control connections on the back of the rack
d3) Removed and brought back to Vernon:
a) one rack mount Unlabelled PA (the failed High Power 100W PA)
b) one Motorola BOX (which I had assumed to be the failed 100W PA) after rereading Jesse's comments and talking to Leigh Pearson this actually may be the lost link to our IRLP issue
d4) 2 RF Coax Relays which select the RF IN and RF OUT from either the Daniels 30W PA or the High power 100W PA ... expected that during an AC power failure these Relays would automatically select the 30W PA ... this doesn't work as expected. The 100W PA (per labels on the rack) were connected to the Normally Closed Contacts of the relays ... this configuration presents 2 complications;
- it prevented the removal of the 100W PA without having to rewire the rack
- it also requires complicated controls to provide automatic Lo Power in the event of an AC Power outage
NOTE: we have currently moved the 30W PA RF IN and OUT cables to the 100W PA labeled connection ports on the Relays as the relays are currently not connected to the DC power.
d5) Power connection to the Unlabelled 100W PA was directly connected to the Battery Bank which means:
- the PA will remain powered even during an AC power outage
- the PA draws all of its current from the Batteries and or the Battery Charger instead of from the 35A Power supply
- the PA cannot be powered down without powering down all the equipment as the only fuse in this circuit is the 30A Battery Bank Fuse
d6) With respect to the current node 1050 IRLP failure, we found 2 UHF radios located on top of the rack which included all the associated equipment were all powered up ... I recycled the power on all of this equipment just in case there was some lock up ... all attempts to raise the IRLP node via 146.900 still failed ... at this point it is unknown if this failure is due to:
a) the node computer power and or Internet states?
or
b) other failures external to RSS? Equipment at 146.900? Not having keys/access to the 146.900 site we didn't investigate further
or
c) perhaps we need a better understanding of all the equipment related and or involved with the IRLP operations? Just reviewed the latest notes from Jesse forwarded from Aaren ... Jesse has moved the 1050 Node Computer and Radio(s) to a temporary Omega location on the Commonage ... further ... the node was still failing to operate because according to Jesse a Motorola MSR 2000 repeater was possibly turned off at the RSS site (sorry, I missed this detail until after reviewing all the correspondence this afternoon) ... While I can confirm there is another Motorola box sitting on the floor to the left of the RSS equipment Rack, because it had a SAR label on it, PLUS, had frequency tags indicating it was operating in the 6M band, we left this equipment alone ... the cover of this unit was momentarily opened just to see what was inside ... there were lights on inside this box ... confirmed after conversation with Leigh Pearson that this SAR box does belong to Search and Rescue.
d7) The other Motorola Box (the one I originally assumed was the Failed PA) was plugged in to the RSS Rack Battery Bank but the AC power cord to the BOX wasn't plugged in to the wall ... the unit is locked and there was no key to open the panel ... this box is at my house in Coldstream ... in hindsight and after talking with Leigh Pearson, I am now thinking this BOX is the MSR 2000 Jesse was referring to.
TRZ