[RVRC] Warren Site

[Paul Nannery]

Members,
to answer some questions raised, the 25W limit is set by out current
equipment we can run up to 100W but No amp so we would need a new repeater
for that. our current will do 50 W the total system gain is 2.5 DB on both
TX and RX. site access will be limited to 2 persons however they can bring
help with them, and we can work on any of our equipment in out cabinet.
attached are estimated plots as well i just received word the state has
approved this. also this is long term. it is not dependent on one persons
as we will have an agreement in place. see below from the state.

 I discussed RVRC's potential use of the Warren tower site with the State.
They would be agreeable with certain conditions, most of which you and I
already discussed, and with which you indicated concurrance previously.  The
only new issue they brought up is cut and pasted below; I trust you will
have no objection to their requirements?

> Chuck will want to formalize with a no-charge agreement that makes the
> club aware of their maintenance obligations, site and tower access
> restrictions, and our security procedures.

The access/security procedures will likely require that only one or two
people are authorized for access.  The State is moving to an all-electronic
access system including a motorized gate across the access road to get into
the fenced compound.  Authorized persons will each be given an access card
to get into the compound; the card may not be used by anyone other than who
it is assigned to.  They may require notification prior to each access,
likely limited to weekday working hours as the new system notifies them
whenever someone swipes a card so they can monitor activity from Trenton via
the cameras at the site.

Just so we're clear, there will be no access to the tower (i.e.
climbing/installing equipment on the tower) by anyone other than the State's
authorized contractor, either initially or at any time in the future, since
you will be on the master antenna systems.

If you would like to move ahead, I'll work up a quote, and then have the
State draft the agreement for the club to sign.  Who would be the person
authorized to sign on behalf of the club?

to not miss this we need to quickly approve and move on this. below are the
emails about cost. the costs we gave at the meeting were high just be be
cretin we would not have a cost over run.

1.  Pricing below for the VHF combiner and multicoupler expansion channels
(I get a 30% discount):  $1708.70 + tax + shipping.  Figure $2000 total.
We'll do the integration and tuning as a favor to the club.

2.  Horizontal cabling.  T&M to run cables from the combiner/multicoupler
building out to your cabinet which will end up being about 100' or so away.
This has to be done by the State's approved contractor.  Assuming we use
7/8" cable, figure about 120' of cable for each run (one for Tx, one for
Rx), and a couple of hours to install with hangers, ground kits, etc., I
would guesstimate around $2000-2500.

3.  Outdoor equipment cabinet.  The existing cabinets that are there are
pretty rusty, I don't think you would want to use what remains.  Ideally it
should be a Motorola 6' outdoor cabinet as the area under the ice bridge is
set up to mount that type of cabinet, but it can probably be adapted to
whatever you have using angle steel/aluminum. About 3000.00

4.  Repeater.  Must be first-class, modern, commercial equipment (Motorola,
Tait, Kenwood, Harris, etc.).  No hammy stuff, no mobile radios, etc..  You
will not need, and you cannot add, any additional filtering, preamps, etc.
as it can adversely affect other channels on the system.  You will be
sharing antenna systems with state and federal agencies with three-letter
acronyms; any interference to them will surely end your stay, so it's in the
club's best interest to "do it once, do it right".

5.  Coordination.  I will require that you get your coordination modified
and approved before we proceed.  This is not unique to you - it is my
standard requirement whenever I let ham repeaters on sites that we own or
manage in order to avoid conflict of interest since I am involved in
frequency coordination (ARCC).  For the sake of calculating ERP, your net
antenna system gain (including the 120' of horizontal cabling loss,
combiner, feedline loss, antenna gain, etc.) will be 2.5 dBd.

6.  Electrical.  We can do the work for you at no cost as a favor to the
club.  You will be on the State's main (275 kW) diesel generator for backup
power.  If your repeater has provisions for a backup battery, be sure to use
a battery that will work/survive at the temperature extremes.  The State
will want to know your electric consumption, so I would strongly recommend a
switching power supply and keeping your power output reasonable (also goes
along with coordination).  The transmit antenna is a 4-bay dipole array at
880' AMSL (receive antenna at 940' AMSL) fed with 1-5/8" line - you're not
going to need much power...

I feel we should move on this and move quickly.

Thank you KC2VRJ