[W2CRA] CRA: Repeater News

[William Powell]

All,

Last weekend (8/13/11):
Thanks to Tony - W2HWW, Kurt - KR2C and Bob - K2QAA we have a clean and 
orgainzed storage "closet" at the transmitter site.  The air conditioner was 
removed, cleaned and replaced, this time with an externally accessible filter 
that can be hosed down or cheaply replaced when necessary.  We also disconnected 
the old batteries in preparation for draining and removal.

Friday Nite (8/19/11):
Thanks to Ed - N3MSK we are now up on the new LDG voter and S-Com controller 
after lightning dealt a death blow to the already wounded ACC controller.  Some 
things to note though, since we don't have the password for the new controller 
we didn't reset it to clear it's memory (needed) therefore there are some 
strange operational features:
* When first keyed up it will appear to "hang" on the air for about a minute 
(forever it seems).  This is because the voice module has an empty memory chip - 
nothing recorded including the end-of-file marker.  Therefore, it tries to play 
the whole thing: 60 seconds of silence (not Simon and Whoosie tho).  We need 
some volunteer voice talent to make some "tapes" for the IDs and "plugs".  John 
- N3ZSD can warm up and give us his rendition of "IT'S FRIDAY".
* Sometimes there is a carrier hang and other times not
* One or more of the receivers sounds "tinny"
At some point in time we'll get the password and (perhaps) the programming and 
reset / reprogram it.  In the meantime, it is back up again.

As if that wasn't enough . . .
This morning (8/20/11):
Last night we plugged in the previously unplugged Murray Hill link receiver and 
it seemed OK.  Surprise, surprise - it went open squelch this morning.  Michael 
- N1MNV boldly braved the control site to locate the appropriate connector, yank 
it and down Murray Hill link receiver again.  One more thing to fix.


 Bill Powell - WB1GOT