Volume 3 Issue 1 WA6SVT editor FEBRUARY 1999
-- email to wa6svt@.aol.com --
"On the Air to Everywhere"
Blueridge WB6VVV, Loop Canyon WA6ZVE, Mt. Potosi KB7BY
Oat Mt. WA6SVT, San Gorgonio Mt. WQ6I, Santa BarbaraWB9KMO
Santiago Peak WA6SVT, ATN Affiliate Mt. Palomar W6NWG
NEXT ATN MEETING:
February 20, 1999 at 12:00 Noon (directions enclosed)
Meeting Agenda:
Repeater and repeater interlink update.
Tower cameras and other enhancements.
Tune up clinic
Improving your ATV station talk.
ATN membership services.
(before meeting & during the break)
Treasurer’s report.
Membership input on network improvements and priorities.
New ATN "WEB" page
(KE6BXT & WA6SXU "Webmasters")
REPEATER NEWS:
San Gorgonio WQ6I:
Many changes have taken shape at this lofty 9100 foot repeater. An ATN full feature controller has been added with camera control. The tower camera has been upgraded too! Pan, tilt, & zoom have been added. The camera can be called up as needed and is also used as the ID picture with graphics overlay. A change was made to the link back to Santiago, we are now using 2.4 GHz FM and the return pictures are very good.
Jim K6CCC donated a 2 meter radio for the 146.43 calling channel. (thanks Jim) Coverage is extensive from the east Imperial County though Coachella Valley and The Inland Impire to most of the LA Basin, Orange County and portions of the West High Desert and San Diego areas.
Santiago WA6SVT:
The repeater has remained working well since last year’s damage on the top of the tower. Mike WA6SVT replaced the 434 MHz antenna with a 9 dB 2 degree down tilt antenna and the 2441.5 MHz antenna is about 10 dB with 1.5 degree down tilt. A few members donated money for a new 2.4 GHz commercial preamp too. (thanks guys)
Link antennas have been upgraded. Most of the link antennas were taken out of commercial service and the feed horns were in the 1.8 - 1.9 GHz range, we now are using Conifer’s 2.4 GHz horns and have adapted them to fit the commercial dish antennas. The above change provides a low VSWR to the link receivers and improved efficiency (gain) from the dish antennas.
Blueridge WB6VVV:
Mike WA6SVT made a recent maintenance trip this winter because the repeater stopped working. Mike found the Astron 35 amp power supply had the wrong fuse value and it blew. He put in the correct larger amperage fuse and the repeater came back to life.
Oat Mt. WA6SVT:
Several changes have taken place. Mike fixed the controller, 1253 link receiver and a few other items. The new tower has been installed by the site owner and we refurbished our old Santiago 434 MHz antenna (8.5 dB) that was in storage and installed it on top of the120 foot tower. The transmit antenna has been changed to a 10 dB Bogner with 1.25 degree down tilt. New transmit antenna feedline was donated by Allen W6IST, 100 feet of new 7/8 heliax plus connectors. (thanks Allen)
We are off the air now awaiting building repairs, we will be back on as soon as repairs to the building are finished or we get a new building assignment.
Santa Barbara WB9KMO:
Rod WB9KMO has changed out the feedlines on the repeater to heliax and the transmit antenna is now mounted on top of the STL tower at the radio station site. Rod has installed an ATN full feature controller and a 1253 MHz Santiago link receiver. Rod reports P4 pictures with a yagi but hopes to get permission to add a dish to get more signal.
Mike WA6SVT donated a VSB cable modulator for the repeater to improve the picture quality and cleaner spectrum. (thanks Mike) The output is about 6 watts and Rod would like to raise money to purchase a 4 brick amplifier to bring the power up to about 50 watts. Rod purchased one of the 2.4 GHz part 15 video units so he can add 2441.5 MHz FM input to the repeater, he hopes to have it up with in two months.
Mt. Potosi KB7BY:
Geoff KB7BY added a 2411 MHz FM receiver, it works great. The 912 MHz FM input has been changed from a vertical stick to a horizontal panel, the panel came from Blueridge when we went back to vertical. Geoff is adding a 2 watt 3380 MHz FM output and should have it installed when the snow melts.
Mt. Palomar W6NWG (Palomar ARC)
Bill KB6MCU has been busy upgrading the repeater. The output amplifier now is a combination of two SSB Electronics six brick amplifiers. A 2441.5 MHz FM input has been added. Bill has installed the link at Valley Center and Mike WA6SVT set up the receive end at Santiago. Both repeaters are linked and bill plans to increase the power on the link to Santiago to overcome some of the part 15 QRM.
Loop Canyon WA6ZVE:
Dave WA6ZVE replaced the1277 VSB filter with a different one from DCI to reduce losses by 2 dB, picture quality in the fringe areas have improved.
The ATN repeater trustees want to thank the ATVers that have helped at the sites:
1. Moody WQ6I 5. Dave KA6DPS 9 Mark W6MAF
2. Mike WA6SVT 6. Rick KB6LKR 10. Lou K6UMX
3. Bill KB6MCU 7. Miles KF6QPY 11. Gary W6KVC
4. Dave WA6ZVE 8. Fred KE6VAZ 12. Mike WA6SVT