[GCARC] 2M repeater power issue?

[Tony Starr]

We should check it out before the hamfest.  If we are having a problem in a
particular direction it would be nice to know about,  even if we can't do
anything about it right away.

On Aug 27, 2021 7:04 PM, "Jim n2gxj" <jim.n2gxj at gmail.com> wrote:

> We need help from repeater committee. Here's why.
> Steve and I fine, full quieting while Vinnie saying having trouble hearing
> us until he increased rx gain at his end by using directional antenna. Of
> couse we suspected something at Vinnie's end first, but then I looked at rx
> power received at my base radio while Vinnie, Steve were talking over
> repeater. Recall the rx signal strength I am measuring is purely a function
> of the reaper and repeater antenna system.
> What I usually see is +20 db over s9.  What I saw during this test
> surprised me. The signal I was receiving was 10 db down from normal. That's
> alot. On every tx from the repeater no matter who using it.
> Didn't affect me using the repeater, as I'm close, but does offer a clue as
> to why Vinnie, on the fringe, needed the extra gain from a directional
> antenna to successfully have 2way comms with us on 147.180
>
> On Thu, Aug 26, 2021, 10:20 PM Comcast Mail <colabrese at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > Hi Vinnie,
> > A couple of questions….     And some suggestions.
> > 1.  You say that you “ Just got on the repeater with Jim, and he was
> > totally distorted and unreadable “. How was your signal into the
> repeater?
> > Strong? Weak?  Could he read you?
> > 2.  Have you checked the SWR?  Have you checked the feed line?
> Disconnect
> > the antenna and connect a dummy load at the antenna end of the feed line.
> > SWR at the rig end should be 1.0 : 1.0.
> > The high heat we’ve been having might have caused a problem with your
> > antenna.  It gets very hot in the attic and the temperature cycling could
> > cause an open internal connection in the antenna. With a coaxial antenna,
> > an internal element could be disconnected and the SWR will still look
> > fine.  The pattern and gain will be completely changed, but the SWR will
> > look good.
> > 3.  How are you receiving the repeater on the HT with a rubber duck?
> > Has that changed?
> > The fact that you can hear and get into the repeater with the HT and the
> > small tape measure beam makes me think that the repeater is working OK.
> >
> > Try to get some signal reports from other users in the fringe areas of
> the
> > county and see if they’re also having issues hearing the repeater where
> > they once could.
> > 73, Chuck, WA2TML
> >
> > Sent from my iPad
> >
> > > On Aug 26, 2021, at 7:42 PM, Vinnie Sallustio <
> Yankees_1996 at hotmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi.
> > >
> > > Over the last 2 Sundays, I have not been able to hear the Ares/Races
> net
> > at 8pm. This is a new problem and nothing in my radio has changed. My
> > antenna is in the attic and has not changed in 15 years. The symptoms
> sound
> > like a whole lot of white noise like a kid AM walkie talkie from the
> 1970s.
> > >
> > > I notified Karl and Jim who were the net ops. I just got on the
> repeater
> > with Jim, and he totally distorted and unreadable. So we trouble shot. I
> > copy several repeaters fine, like Newtown, the 145.390, the KC3DUX, and
> the
> > 440 N3KZ. All are normal.
> > >
> > > I decided to try an HT with my tape measure beam, and that worked. I
> put
> > the HT on the base antenna, and I get the same noisy reception, as I get
> on
> > the base unit.
> > >
> > > I have ruled out my radio(s) and antenna.
> > >
> > > I live in southern Gloucester County in Woolwich, and I can throw a
> > baseball to the Salem County line.
> > >
> > > It appears that it may be a weak signal issue, which points to a power
> > problem
> > >
> > > Is there any way this can be investigated?
> > >
> > > Vinnie
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