[K6BW] Emergency Power at Hamilton & QSO

[Josh Heide (Mobile)]

Bill,

I know this complicates things, but can you make the station reduce transmit
power during a power failure? This is what we do on the sites that do not
have generator power. The repeaters are still very useable, be it they might
not be full quieting.

Also, on our old county radio system a tone was sent over the local govt
repeater to indicate generator power. It wouldlite a lamp in our shop. In
taking this further, on our business system there is an announcement of
power failure along with quick call tones to set off my pager. It also adds
a courtsety beep to idicate to users to keep it short.

Just a couple of ideas....

Josh  KD6KML from Napa...
I am a patriot, the government is the terrorist!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Smith" <billsmith at ispwest.com>
To: "HWA QTH Reflector" <k6bw at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 9:49 PM
Subject: [K6BW] Emergency Power at Hamilton & QSO


> The K6BW repeater and the HWA Packet Node are now hardened with battery
power, and all the red-painted plugs in the building have UPS power.  Thanks
to Wayne, WA6MET, our long lost member who has moved to Benicia, we obtained
a 800VA power supply that generates 110VAC from two 12V rechargeable
batteries.  The original batteries, well decomposed, are now safely at the
recycling center, and two 600CCA 12V deep cycle monsters, supplied by Jerry,
WA6BXV courtesy of the Independent Journal are now hooked up and floating on
the supply.
>
> Who knows how long the station will run under battery power?  The
batteries are not new and have had a rough life in the generator room over
the last year or so, but they both happily took a charge and are now topping
off due to the charger built into the UPS.  The repeater consumes about 140
VA (watts) standby and twice that during transmit.  The packet node takes
much less.  Throwing around rough numbers, if the batteries were fully up to
rating, we might see 3-1/2 or more days of operation.  That should be plenty
of time to locate a generator (or fire our rather clunky one up if we need
to).  Only time will tell what we can expect, we'll have to test the
configuration once the batteries are fully charged.
>
> In between searching for dropped washers and screws, and a trip under one
of the operating tables to fire up the Heathkit CW keyer, a short K6BW QSO
with Bill, KF6RMK was held Wednesday evening.  Tim, KG6SPV and Rem, K6BBQ
have expressed interest in CW practice.  Tests this afternoon verified 40
meters provides good propagation for local contacts.  Tracy, we need you!
:-)  If all goes according to plan we will be meeting on-air almost nightly
about 7:00PM for CW practice with short, slow-speed QSOs.  Can't make it?
Leave a note when you might have time.
>
> We are starting from scratch, expected frustration and stumbles won't
matter.  Keep an eye on the reflector, exact time and frequencies are posted
here.  Also keep a background ear on the K6BW repeater.  Don't hesitate to
post a message if you are at the ready and can't find any local activity.
Send the message to k6bw at mailman.qth.net.
>
> 73 de Bill, AB6MT
> billsmith at ispwest.com
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