[RVRC] RVRC Systems update 12/13/2015

[Craig W Saums]

Members

The RVRC repeater site has lost internet connectivity due to a service agreement dispute with Cablevision.  

As you may know, we share the internet service with our host, Susan Lund.  Even though the service is an upgraded service, Cablevision has blocked the internet ports needed to host the server processes that we use to link the repeaters during our nets and during other special operations (storms, hamfest, ETS net, etc).  Currently they have shut down the service entirely.  Susan has attempted to negotiate with Cablevision to no avail so a decision has been made to switch providers to Verizon.  The terms of the Verizon commercial account that we need to make things work properly will support our web server and allow voice traffic (our digital converted RF audio) in addition to providing Susan with her home TV, Internet and Phone service.  

The new equipment will not be installed for about 10-15 days.  In the meantime we can link the W2QW repeaters using standard DTMF tones only.  The Control Operators and Net Managers do not have internet control of the machines using the control operator web page until the internet service is restored.  

DTMF codes that you can use:

*601 will link the 2M and 440 machines
*600 will unlink the 2M and 440 machines

Linking and unlinking can happen from either machine (same codes work in both directions).  
Please use the strongest repeater for your situation

These are the primary machines that are used for nets so please use these codes only for the time being.  Please remember that if there is any kind of outage or failure or hung system, it will require a site visit to reset equipment.  The system operators cannot reset the machines remotely since we cannot get to the computer by internet. A site visit may take 24 hours or more.

Please make sure if you are linking and unlinking that you do so from a location where the tones will solidly get to the machine.  Attempting to link with weak signals is not a great idea and there have been lock-ups in the past.  Please let someone with a solid signal manage the net linking.

Thank you for your cooperation

Craig Saums
AC2FE