[SMCARA] K3HKI 146.64 repeater has moved.

[Clarke, Tom VX-20 OPS]

Today, Pete (WA3UMY). Eric (N3UH), Joe (WB3CZI) and Tom (W4OKW) moved the 64 machine from
it's temporary  home at Pete's house to the Hermanville tower, about 4 miles south of the base.

The coverage should dramatically improve, as the antenna is about 140 feet up on a tower that
sits on one of the highest spots in St Mary's County.  It is a Super Stationmaster fed with
large hardline.  We are getting about 60 watts out of the duplexer and no measurable reverse
power (VSWR).  We originally were coordinated for higher power (we previously had 225 watts
out of the duplexer), but 60 seems to give good coverage and doesn't beat up the final amp
transistors too badly!

There is a small amount of "clock noise" from the controller, which is common to older controllers,
such as the RC-850 that we are using.  We are looking into the possibility of replacing it with
a more recent controller, such as an RLC-1 or CAT-1000.  If anyone has any suggestions, please let
us know.

Remember that the repeater is "open", that is, it does not need CTCSS (PL) to access.  Due to a 
lack of a phone line, the autopatch is unavailable.  We are working on that.

Speaking of PL, if you have PL turned on in your rig, please program it off when using 64. A 
peculiarity of the controller is that the PL tones tend to distort the received audio if the 
PL deviation is too high (a common problem).  So, if someone is sounding very distorted
and/or you can hear the tones (low freq hum), ask them to turn off their PL.  That should
clear up the audio.

For those who are curious, the repeater is a commercial Motorola MSR-2000 repeater , with a Phelps-Dodge
six can duplexer feeding a Celwave heavy duty Superstationmaster, side mounted at about 140-150 feet
on the microwave tower just east of Rt 235 in Hermanville.  The controller is an old ACC RC-850 unit.

Future plans include moving the 220 repeater to the same site and adding an additional two
meter antenna for the K3NAL-1 APRS (144.39)digi.  The digi has been relocated to a 130 foot antenna
site at NAS Pax until the new antenna is installed at Hermanville.  Think "cooler weather", as
climbing the tower in hot weather like today is not anyone's idea of fun!  Actually it is 
downright dangerous, as dehydration can occur very quickly.

Have fun and see what kind of coverage we are getting from the new site.

73 de Tom/W4OKW

Tom Clarke
VX-20 Ops Specialist/C-130 Pilot
Wyle Laboratories, Inc
frederic.clarke at navy.mil
Voice   301-757-3317
FAX     301-757-3330
Cell    301-904-2053