Maintenance Jonaskop 2016-02-06

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ZS1TAF and ZS1VDV went to Jonaskop.

We left Stellenbosch at 06:15.
Arrived 08:30.

First did a quick status check on battery system, power supply and SWR on VHF repeater. All was fine, except the SWR on the VHF was a bit high (The first time I saw a VXR9000 cut back on it’s output power).
Installed small rack
Swopped out the repeater with the one aligned with link controller en link radios.
Installed new rack mount PSU.
Installed link radios.
Installed link controller.
Installed new circulator.
Replaced fly lead between duplexer and heliax (to remove a damaged barrel connector, in future we must replace the UHF t piece FMF)
Serviced the heliax to 4 stack connection. Found some water in connection. Was dried out and triple rubber taped and double isolation taped for UV protection.

Was back in Stellenbosch 14:00

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Maintenance Riversdale 2016-01-30

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On Saturday 30 January, David ZS1DDK left home at 5am to take Andre ZS1AN and Paul ZS1V to the Riversdale repeater site. The 2m antenna system had been previously diagnosed as faulty and so the team set about removing the old antenna and feedline and installing a new feedline and upgraded antenna.

ZS1DDK eliminating some redundant adapters.

ZS1DDK eliminating some redundant adapters.

The old antenna had been installed at 6m and was also not clear of some local obstacles. The new antenna, a two stack Webb FDC145 folded dipole system was installed with its centre at about 12m AGL.

ZS1V at the new antenna position.

ZS1V at the new antenna position.

The RX path of the duplexer was checked on the spectrum analyser and found to be good. The TX path showed good SWR.

Duplexer receive path showing insertion loss and TX rejection

Duplexer receive path showing insertion loss and TX rejection

The team rounded off the day with an early dinner in Swellendam and reached home at about 6pm.