Prepped two (analog) repeaters for operation in the near future to serve Flagler County. Today was duplexer tuning day – two sets of cavities – (1) a set of Wacom 4-cavity, 4″ VHF cavities and (2) a set of Tx/Rx Systems 6-cavity, 6″ VHF cavities. Both sets tuned fine to their new frequencies and are ready for operation.

RF check-out will occur during the week, including a Yaesu VXR-9000 (VHF) and a GE Mastr Exec II on VHF as well. We expect no issues with either sets of RF decks.

The guys also removed all of the heliax from the underground conduits, marked and labeled the pull-strings and prepared the PVC pipe for entrance to the outdoor enclosure.

Now we just have to wait for the cable and parts to finish the installation of the cabling system, to be followed with the actual antennas. Stay tuned for more progress in the next couple of weeks.

In pictures..

A group of FEMV volunteers will be meeting Friday morning to start the antenna work. The day’s task is to remove all of the old antennas and inspect those which might be reusable. The antennas on the MonoPole will also be removed if a bucket lift or ladder truck can be made available. Rick Reuther (KC2HFL) has extensive experience with heavy fire equipment  and had removed antennas in the past using that type of heavy equipment. We will have at least 3 people on-site, as is typical for this type of operation – a lead rigger, a support person and a third who will act as a runner and safety manager. We will take photographs so that all can be there virtually.

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If you are available and would like to help, drop by and we’ll put you to work. Stay tuned for more updates in the coming days..

Our  DStar repeater team spent last Sunday afternoon (13-March-2011) with Troy Harper and Frank Sanita of Flagler Emergency Services performing an assessment of the Antenna Farm at the Flagler EOC, operating under the authority of the Flagler Emergency Management Volunteers (FEMV), the official county-managed group of volunteers serving Flagler Emergency Services (not a part of any independent group or organization).

We found a number of situations which need to be corrected, resulting from the lightning strike last year – but also found some inherent problems with some of the previous installs which will need to be corrected. For those in the Flagler area who are already FEMV members, as well as those who are wondering what FEMV is all about and would like to join a work party in order to get first hand experience with the FEMV team, please consider joining us in this project (date to be announced once we receive all the parts). Following is a list of work that needs to be performed:

De-Install old antennas and feed-lines (3-person job):

• De-install of a large low-band vertical antenna mounted to a short-tower section
• De-install of the Hustler HF Vertical antenna, mounted to a chain link fence
• De-install of a faulty AR-270 dual band antenna which was affected by the lightning strike
• De-install of the G6 antenna on the top of the MA-770 tower. This will require using a bucket lift or fire ladder truck
• De-install the G6 antenna on the SIDE of the MA-770 tower – this is an odd situation, since the hose-clamps which were used to secure this antenna to the 3rd section of the collapsable mast actually PREVENTS the entire mast from collapsing as originally designed – THIS IS AN IDENTIFIED SAFETY ISSUE that needs to be corrected. This is a 3-person job that will require a bucket lift or a ladder-truck. It appears that the antenna may be reusable, since it does not appear to have been affected by the lightning strike.
• De-install the Cushcraft dual-band beam antenna from the side of the short-tower, inspect and refurbish as necessary .
• Disconnect all Coax from the short-tower and the MA-770 tower – save for later inspection and sweeping using the Agilent N990B.

Once all antennas and feed-line are off both the towers (3-person job):

• Lightning Protection and Grounding System :
  • Install bonded grounding straps from the base of the short-tower, to the NEMA box and frame
  • Install the copper Grounding PLATE to the inside of the NEMA box
  • Connect the Grounding PLATE to the system ground
  • Install the Polyphasers to the terminated ends of the LMR-400 cable
  • Install #4 grounding wires from the Polyphasers to the Grounding PLATE
  • Install a Polyphaser Lightning Strike indicator to the top of the short-tower

• Short Tower Antennas :
  • Install Diamond X-500 and associated LMR-400 to the inside of the NEMA Box for the Alinco (Radio #4). Test and sweep BEFORE connection to Polyphaser
  • Install Diamond X-500 and associated LMR-400 to the inside of the NEMA Box for the DStar Radio (Radio #3). Test and sweep BEFORE connection to Polyphaser
  • Install the replacement AR-270 and associated LMR-400 to the inside of the NEMA Box for the FT-880 (Radio #2). Test and sweep BEFORE connection to Polyphaser/
  • Install OCF-Dipole with long-leg to the Parking Lot Light Pot, short-leg to the top of the EOC Building (at the bottom of the 800Mhz Yagi post). Feed-line to be routed to the top of the short-tower and should be terminated inside the NEMA Box. Test and sweep BEFORE connection to the polyphaser.

• MA-770 Tower and Antenna Work :
  • Collapse the MA-770 tower into it’s shortest height (4 section) then inspect the both sets of limit switches for proper operation.
  • Inspect the steel cables for rust and corrosion – replace as necessary and test
  • Install new  Coax Arms (CX-4M) to each of the tower sections
  • Inspect all other aspects of the MA-770 for safety and proper operation
  • Re-Install the functional G6 Antenna:
    • Install G6 antenna to the top of the MA-770 (2-person job)
    • Install LMR-400 for the G6, routing as appropriate for the coax arms. Termination of the cable will to be a Polyphaser INSIDE the NEMA Box  (3-person job) for  the FT-8800 (Radio #1)
    • Test and sweep BEFORE connection to the Polyphaser.

Coax Routing to the EOC Radio Room (3-5 person job):

• We will be replacing ALL of the coax that routes into the radio room at the EOC – this is specifically because of water intrusion into the old Heliax (FSJ4) that was previously used and the lack of a water seal on the large PVC conduits that provided the cable routing from the outside to the radio room (very poor engineering, by any standard).
• The first step in that process will be to cut and remove all of the current coax and hardline that runs from the EOC Radio room to the antenna farm – most of this cable is FSJ4 (1/2″ superflex Heliax – good stuff, if in good condition). This is a 4-person job to gently pull the existing cable FROM THE OUTSIDE, so as not to drag water and “critters” into the EOC radio room. The existing cables will need to be MEASURED FOR LENGTH – so as to cut the appropriate length for the new cables.
• PVC pipes that route from the base of the towers to the radio room will need to be extended UPWARD and terminate INSIDE of the NEMA box that is mounted on the steel platform between the MA-770 and the short-fixed tower
• Dry air from inside the radio room will need to be pumped into the PVC conduit in order to evacuate the remaining water. This may take 5-7 days, depending on the amount of accumulated water in the PVC conduits
• At present, we anticipate that there will be 5 lengths required, although we may well pull a 6th run as a spare or for future use. Currently the plan is as follows:
  • Radio #1 – VHF/UHF  - Ham Primary – Yaesu FT-8800, G6
  • Radio #2 – VHF/UHF  - Ham Secondary – Yaesu FT-880, AR-270
  • Radio #3 – VHF/UHF – DSTAR Primary – Icom 880H, X-500
  • Radio #4 – VHF/UHF – GMRS, Fire, Other – Alinco..??
  • Radio #5 – HF/MF Radio – Icom 7200, OCFD
  • Radio #6 – TBD
• The LMR-400 Cable bundle will need to be cut, waterproofed on the ends and INDIVIDUALLY LABLED on both the ends, as well as along the middle of the cable run. The length of the old cables was determined to be 176-feet thru electrical testing, but will need to be verified before cutting from the spool.

• After drying, a crew will need to pull the bundle of LMR-400 cable from the antenna farm (NEMA Box) into the Radio Room. The conduit should already be dry, so there is little risk of moisture getting into the EOC. This is a 5-6 person job.
• All cables need to be terminated with Type-N(F) connectors at the NEMA box, for later connection to the Polyphaser units.

Inside EOC Terminations (2-person job):

• Sweep EACH of the feed-lines for the expected operational frequency range before connection to the Diawa Coax Switches.
• For each of the LEFT and RIGHT sides:
  • Terminate each of the LMR-400 cables to their respective positions to a Diawa 2-position Coax Switch – common leg
  • Terminate Coax Switch legs to each of the radios – so each of two radios has access to both antennas
• For the HF Position:
  • Terminate the LMR-400 cable to the Diawa 2-position Coax Switch – Switch Position #1 (HOT)
  • Terminate the Radio/Tuner to COMMON on the switch
  • Switch Position #2 will be GROUNDED
  • Terminate the switch leg to the radio

An assessment at the Flagler County EOC last Sunday revealed a number of Motorola VHF repeaters and duplexers that were in good condition and could be re-deployed for Amateur use. Among the large quantify of equipment, we found the following which will have new homes in the near future:

• Yaesu VXR-9000 Commercial VHF repeater (redeployed from the Sheriff’s Office tower due to interferance), in like-new condition with a VHF ferrite isolator
• Motorola Micor Repeaters (3) on VHF, formerly for fire dispatch and associated uses, all of which appear to be in servicible condition,
• Kendecom VHF Repeater, in excellent condition
• Tx/Rx Systems 6-cavity VHF duplexer, in virtually new condition

All of this equipment will be put on a service bench in the near future to determine ability for redeployment, as well as what replacement parts or service might be required.

Those in the community who would like to participate in the refurbishment and deployment of this and other equipment should contact Mike (wb6rth@arrl.net) or Phil (philmcelrath@natca.net) at your earliest convenience.