Constantiaberg maintenance 20190831

On 23/24 July the Motorola repeater was damaged in a storm. It is suspected that the repeater was damaged by static from lightning.

Roof damaged by storms

On 26 July Jan ZS1VDV and Paul ZS1V investigated and found the repeater damaged. The repeater and duplexer was removed. The antenna SWR (1:1.03) was checked.

In the following weeks a new install was planned:

  • a backup repeater serviced by Verstay (ZS1VDV, ZS1V)
  • correct length coax acquired (ZS1VDV, ZS1YT)
  • duplexer tuned (ZS1VDV, ZS1V)
  • circulator tuned (ZS1VDV)
  • power supply connector replaced (ZS1V)

The morning of 31 August started at 06:00 with the last few tests of the configuration. Backed all equipment and tools. Left for site around 07:30

Repacked all into 4×4 vehicle at ZS1DDK.

View of Hout bay

On site around 10:00

Duplexer and circulator

Installed duplexer (Decibel Products 6 can). It was tuned to -2.04 dB insertion loss on RX, -2.5 dB insertion loss on TX, and -115 dB isolation between RX and TX). Next was the installation of the rack mount power supply (13.82 V) and Vertex VXR 9000 (sensitivity set to 0.25 uV) repeater.

Power Supply and Repeater

SWR was rechecked between repeater and circulator, circulator and duplexer as well as after duplexer, all was found to be perfect flat (1:1.05). The power output after the duplexer is 14W.

Folded Dipole just above first landing

A few test contacts was made to confirm all working.

Packed all equipment and boxes and returned home at around 11:30

A quick lunch sponsored by ZS1DDK was enjoyed at Peddlers on the Bend.

Constantiaberg maintenance

On Thursday 11 October, Mike ZS1TAF and Paul ZS1V took a day off work to take advantage of an opportunity to access the Constantiaberg Sentech site, home of the 145.700MHz repeater.

The site was last visited by Sean ZS1BSD and Paul ZS1V during mid-2017.  At the time, they diagnosed a problem with the antenna/feedline, but there were no Sentech personnel on site and so, despite being certified to climb, Paul could not attend to the antenna problem.  Since then, there have been numerous changes to the management at Sentech and communication has been difficult.  Gustav ZS1NZ, who works for Sentech, alerted the WCRWG to an upcoming Sentech maintenance run earlier in the week and so plans were hastily put in place for Mike and Paul to take leave and visit the site.

The team met the Sentech technician at the security checkpoint at 9.30am and proceeded up to the site.  Despite the warm weather at the bottom, a cloud on the mountain ensured cold and wet conditions at the mast.  The SWR at the bottom of the antenna feedline was measured at 2.5:1.  The high SWR presumably caused damage to the repeater which was transmitting well below 1W.

Despite the unpleasant climbing conditions, Mike headed up the tower to open and inspect the connection point between the feedline and the antenna, but this was found to be well sealed and dry inside.  He swapped out the antenna for another and the SWR was measured at the bottom at 1.3:1.  Paul swapped out the repeater and removed the bandpass filter for re-tuning.

The team left the site just after noon, to enjoy a cold one in a warm and sunny Tokai.

 

Maintenance Constantiaberg 2017-07-25

On Tuesday 25 July, Sean ZS1BSD and Paul ZS1V headed to Constantiaberg to attend to the 145.700 repeater which was transmitting, but not modulating.   The weather was only a few degrees above freezing and it was raining with only 10m visibility at times.  The lower part of the road was muddy an churned up by the heavy logging equipment in use in the area that is still clearing up the remains of the fire that devastated the area about 18 months prior.

Although the Motorola appeared to be working after a reset, it was removed for further testing and diagnosis and the PRF1050 backup repeater was installed in its stead.  The PRF1050 has been fitted with a new CTCSS decoder, courtesy of Sean ZS1BSD.  The required CTCSS deviation level is now more in line with typical commercial repeaters and not the very high levels required by the previous CTCSS decoder on the PRF1050.

Access to the site remains challenging.  Specific access arrangements had to be made with the nature conservation officials with the help of Sentech.

ZS1BSD appreciating the fine conditions