I departed my QTH at 10h15 to go to Piketberg site to install the repeater, controller and link radio which had been configured for the site. I arrived at 11h45 and after calling i=on the repeater and announcing my intentions (thanks to ZS1NOS for replying), I started with the install. Once the equipment was in place and all powered up, I called on the repeater again to do signal report as well as test the link radio signals for transmitting and receiving. Once again, thanks to ZS1NOS for replying and assisting in this regard.
Once all was tested and I was satisfied working, I locked up and headed home again. I arrived back at my QTH at 15h20.
An early morning start for site at 07h00. A pleasant drive to the site and on arrival, I removed the controller and link radio from the cabinet and brought these back to Cape Town for setting up and testing before they get re-installed.
The audio levels needed to be configured correctly.
The controller and radio were delivered to ZS1NEV who would do the necessary repairs/configuration.
After a nice breakfast in Piketberg, I headed back home and arrived back at my QTH around 13h30.
I left my QTH at 08h00 and headed to the Jonaskop high site.
On arrival at the site, the aim was to re-install the East link radio and test communications to Riversdal. Once the radio had been connected and switched on, I called ZS1RB in George, but he could not hear me. I then contacted ZS1AAC in Stilbay and we spoke via the Riversdal repeater with good and clear signals both ways, confirming that the Jonaskop link system was working. The problem now being at Riversdal, Dana Bay or George. On further investigations, it was found that the Dana Bay site was faulty. ZS1RB will be visiting there to sort this issue out.
It was a beautiful day with temperatures predicted at 36 ̊C, a slight breeze made for an awesome site visit. After the test with ZS1AAC, I arrived back home around 14h00.
It was a cool day, and wind was blowing with clear skies.
Today’s task was to install the controller and link radios and test accordingly.
We installed the controller and radios and did some testing. SWR was still good 1.2:1.
Link to Hanskop was working 100%, but we hit a snag with the link to Riversdal. Further testing that side meant we had to change settings on that radio. Unfortunately, we could not do this on site and brought that radio back with us for configuration.
Today’s aim was to replace connector to the 4-stack and install the controller and 2 link radios.
En-route, we were debating as to go to the top due to cloud cover and we continued, hoping to be above the cloud level.
On arrival at the site, it was cool and a strong breeze was blowing. We were able to install the new connector and test the SWR which showed 1.2:1. Weather turned bad and wind started blowing a lot stronger. Cloud cover was causing us and equipment to get wet. Due to the low temperature and the weather getting worse, we aborted any further work. We turned on the repeater, tested comms to Cape Town and Agulhas and headed back down. We did not install the controller and link radios. Visibility at this stage was about 10m.
A breakfast in Villiersdorp to help thaw us out and we arrived back home at about 16h30.
ZS1MTF went to site and installed the new 4 stack on the tower. On completion of the installation, SWR was tested at 1.1:1. A problem arose as the connector of the new stack was different to the old one and they did not have such a connector with them.
The repeater was then left ‘off’ and another site visit would be planned ASAP to replace the connector.
Many thanks to Matt and his team for installing the 4-stack.
I left my QTH around 10h00 on Wednesday and headed to the 145.625 Voorstevlei high site. It was an extremely warm day with temperatures reaching 36 ͦC at lunch time.
On arrival, the ‘overload’ light on the power supply was on (there was lightning in the area and this could have caused some damage). I swapped out with a replacement power supply and did some testing. I found that the controller was also not triggering the repeater. The 70cm link radio was picking up the signal from my handheld and I could hear the audio clearly, but no reaction from the controller.
SWR on 2m was tested as 1.2:1
The controller was removed and the 70cm radio turned off for now.
The PSU will be repaired, and the controller tested to see where the problem is.
I was able to contact ZS1DFR via the 145.625 repeater at the time I was on the site, and then tested again with handheld en route home, with Schalk, ZR1SWB.
After a puncture repair and wheel change, I made it home by 15h30.
A team of 5 met at 09h00 on Tuesday, 22 October at the Manor House at the base of Constantiaberg and took a leisurely drive up and around Elephants Eye Cave to where the mast is situated. The road was rough in a few places, but we all managed our way without any damage to our vehicles.
We could not have asked for better weather conditions, a beautiful summers day with no wind. The temperature was also very comfortable.
For some time, the repeater had caused interference when it rained and when the wind was blowing.
As we needed to climb the tower, we were reliant on Sentech employees to be present. On their arrival, they unlocked the gate at the base of the tower and work commenced. On inspection, it was found that the antenna cable going to the feed cable had chaffed through the outer casing and water had got into the outer plastic shield.
The antenna was replaced with a new one and all cables were tightly secured to prevent any movement on the cable. SWR tests were conducted before and after the antenna was replaced and a few tests were done with very good results (SWR and audio). Settings on the repeater were checked and all seemed to be in working order.
Once all the work had been completed, we had a lunch snack, compliments of David, ZS1DDK.
A final check that all was in order, and we slowly headed down the mountain. Today’s special thanks go to Schalk Burger (ZR1SWB), Rassie Erasmus (ZS1YT), David de Kock, (ZS1DDK), Michael Taylor (ZS1MJT) and LEM (ZS1LEM).
On 15 June 2024, ZS1DDK, ZS1YT, ZS1ATX, ZS1MJT and ZS1IX installed the new solar panels on Hawekwa. During the severe windstorm of 7 April, the wind tore off one of the solar panels and also damaged the 6m antenna.
Where is the 17 spanner?
The group left around 07:00 and with beautiful sunshine and almost no wind the task could easily be tackled. By 13:00 the two new panels were installed and connected and the meters indicated that the panels were doing their job. The 6m link antenna has also been repaired.
Let’s hope it isn’t gone
Thanks to ZS1ATX, Z1YT and ZS1DDK who donated the cost of the transport towards the WCRWG.
As Eskom becomes unaffordable, the supply to the premises will be cut off on 30 June 2024. The current 4 batteries are 5 years old and need to be replaced soon. Please feel free to make a donation to the WCRWG for the maintenance of the repeaters in our area. For more information, see wcrwg.co.za
The Jonaskop site lost Eskom supply during the heavy storms of September last year. It was running 24/7 on battery and the one solar panel installed on site.
David ZS1DDK and myself left earlier today for Jonaskop (145.675) with 2 spare power supplies, some tools, spare fuses, etc. to see if we can find a fault and repair it. We have expected either the power supply to have packed up or the earth leakage in our cubicle that has tripped.
The road leading to the site is drivable with a bakke or vehicle that is high off the ground up to the Sentech tower. The portion form the Sentech tower to the concrete strip leading to the Eskom building is still completely washed away. With the Landrover in 4×4 and diff lock on David took the dongas on. It is huge dongas and washed out gravel! We made it and got to the Eskom site. On inspection we found that the Eskom supply has tripped in the main DB board and not in our cubicle. We opened the DB Board and switched the breaker back on. Everything came to live and reports form ZS1TR was that he immediately noticed an increase in signal strength. (On battery the repeater switches automatically to lower power).
We also checked the SWR on the repeater antenna and at 145.07 it was close to 1.5:1 and even lower as we went a little bit lower, closer to 145.000. See photo attached.
We locked up and left the site again. I was home at 15h30 and David at about 16h15.
