[FADCA] Re: Todays activities

[bud thompson]

Deltona
Wednesday Oct 22 0615E

Oh, YES! Moving right along!=20

Eric:

The fact the computer came up with the FPAC screen is most encouraging.  =


I expect that the guys in W. Palm marked all the RS232 cables between =
the computer and the TNCs as COM# or PORT#.  It is imperative that each =
TNC be plugged into the radio to which is has been matched and the TNC =
be plugged into the comport for which that radio port has been =
configured in the C:\FPAC\321254.cfg file.  If the cables have been =
plugged into the proper TNCs/Comports all should be fine as it was =
working FB as a switch before.  I'll see if the guys in W. Palm Beach =
can send me a copy of the .cfg file and can advise you of the comport =
assignments.=20

With the radios on the proper simplex frequencies (145.090, 223.420, =
440.900) and all feed lines/antennas new and checked out, you might be =
able to just walk away and go home!  Here are some items that need to =
checked as you move forward.

1.  If the receive audio from the radio to a TNC is taken from the =
speaker output of the radio, the front panel volume control setting is =
critical.  If there is nothing plugged into the speaker output of the =
radio, the volume control setting has no affect on the TNC. (In the =
latter case, I recommend turning the volume all the way down before =
leaving the site.)

2. I believe all those TNCs are PacComm Tiny-2s.  If a Tiny-2 has a =
"DCD" board installed, the squelch setting on the radio should be left =
full open.  Otherwise, it will be necessary to set the squelch so that =
random noise will not open the squelch, but not so tight to adversely =
affect the overall system sensitivity.

NOTE: If the radios are ultimately replaced by Mitreks and the TNCs all =
have DCD boards it is all plug 'n play- no adjustments to make and none =
to get out of whack!

3. Deviation level of each radio is set / adjusted by a variable =
resistor in the TNC to which it is connected. (The TNC and radio are =
married.)  I expect that was all done when the equipment was in W. Palm =
Beach last November.

If the radios put out nominal power and the receivers have nominal =
sensitivity - there is nothing else to do and that switch will not need =
any on-site attention for months. (I just learned this week that the =
FPAC switch in Lake Harbor has not even reset itself since it was last =
turned on April 7!)

As for the 220 radio - send me a list of the MFG/Model numbers of all =
the radios and I'll see what I can learn.

73,
bud Thompson N0IA
386 574 4124

  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: kptower@bellsouth.net=20
  To: Andy Leeds ; Bill Sinbine ; bud thompson ; Charlie Crook ; Don =
Winn ; George Fundis ; Ken Johnson ; Kenneth Hendrickson ; Mailman ; =
Rick Muething=20
  Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2003 19:31
  Subject: Todays activities


  Evening Bud and everybody else:

      I was able to get the equipment into the equipment room at Trinity =
Towers this afternoon.   I did a little rearranging of the computer in =
the rack.   I got the UPS into the rack and put the monitor and the CPU =
on top.   The rack is plugged into a receptacle that is suppose to be on =
emergency power so the system should be able to stay up even if FPL =
should go down.   I left the power supply for the radios turned off till =
we get the feed-lines run to the antennas but did power up the computer =
and it came up to the FPAC screen.   So it is probably ready to go.      =
=20
      About antennas that I got down at Intersil,   The PL 259 connector =
on the UHF antenna is frozen in place, I will try to salvage it though.  =
 The gamma match on the 220 antenna has a broken led that may be able to =
be repaired, I will also work on that.   When I was at Intersil, I =
assumed that the VHF antenna their was theirs but the more I think about =
it, it might have belonged to the system.   It really does not matter =
though since the only part of it that was still there was the mounting =
hardware and the ground redials.   This has me a bit concerned that it =
might have been hit by lightning and the VHF radio may also be damaged.  =
 I did not take the time while I was at Intersil to pull or even trace =
out the feed-lines but I did not see any evidence of any lightning =
protection on any of the lines.=20
       Bud, I may have bumped a button or two on the 220 radio so I my =
need to be walked through waking it back up but it might reset itself =
when the power is reapplied.   I did get your message from earlier today =
and will probably re-assemble tomorrow night.   =20
      Andy, I will be remaking the identification sheets for the =
equipment tonight and need a contact number you a PCARS member.   I will =
also put my number on it since for now I will need to go with anyone =
that needs to get up there.   Thanks for bring the 9913 to Tedco today.  =
 I will be starting to work on it tonight.  =20
      The rest of this week is going to be pretty busy for me but if I =
get any time I will be working in the feed-lines for the equipment.

  Well that's it for now, 73's
  Eric KD4DJW    =20


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