ATN WINTER NEWSLETTER 2004
ATN WINTER NEWSLETTER 2004
On the Air to Everywhere
On the Air to Everywhere
W5ATN W6ATN W7ATN www.atn-tv.org
W5ATN W6ATN W7ATN www.atn-tv.org
ATN Chapters & Presidents
ATN Chapters & Presidents
ATN-AZ ATN-CA ATN-IL ATN-IN ATN-NV ATN-NM
ATN-AZ ATN-CA ATN-IL ATN-IN ATN-NV ATN-NM
Harold Moody John Henry Geoff Earl
Harold Moody John Henry Geoff Earl
K7AED WQ6I KA9SOG AA9XW KB7BY N8TV
K7AED WQ6I KA9SOG AA9XW KB7BY N8TV
WINTER MEETINGS:
WINTER MEETINGS:
California/Nevada: Saturday February 21 at 12:00 PM following the Cal Poly Swap Meet and ATN Breakfast at Bakers Square Restaurant, Indian Hill exit on I-10, Claremont. The meeting location is back at 250 Turner Ave., Guasti (near the junction of I-10 and I-15 near Ontario) at the San Secondo Church Hall at 12:00 noon sharp, doors open at 11 AM.
California/Nevada: Saturday February 21 at 12:00 PM following the Cal Poly Swap Meet and ATN Breakfast at Bakers Square Restaurant, Indian Hill exit on I-10, Claremont. The meeting location is back at 250 Turner Ave., Guasti (near the junction of I-10 and I-15 near Ontario) at the San Secondo Church Hall at 12:00 noon sharp, doors open at 11 AM.
Directions: Get off the I-10 at Haven, go south then right turn on Guasti Rd. Left turn on Turner and left at second driveway into the church parking lot.
Directions: Get off the I-10 at Haven, go south then right turn on Guasti Rd. Left turn on Turner and left at second driveway into the church parking lot.
Talk in: 146.43 MHz simplex & 1286.15 MHz Repeater on Santiago, PL 85.4Hz.
Talk in: 146.43 MHz simplex & 1286.15 MHz Repeater on Santiago, PL 85.4Hz.
Our ATN winter meeting is your opportunity to participate in system technical discussions, ATN polices and renew your dues $50 per year to help offset site rent fees and insurance. If you are unable to attend the meeting in your chapter you can renew by mail by sending your dues donation to the ATN chapter secretary/treasurer in your state listed below:
Our ATN winter meeting is your opportunity to participate in system technical discussions, ATN polices and renew your dues $50 per year to help offset site rent fees and insurance. If you are unable to attend the meeting in your chapter you can renew by mail by sending your dues donation to the ATN chapter secretary/treasurer in your state listed below:
ATN-AZ: Fran Sibert P.O. Box 505, Tonopah, AZ 85354
ATN-AZ: Fran Sibert P.O. Box 505, Tonopah, AZ 85354
ATN-CA & NV: Mike Collis P.O. Box 1594, Crestline, CA 92325
ATN-CA & NV: Mike Collis P.O. Box 1594, Crestline, CA 92325
ATN-NM: Darlene Campbell P.O. Box 864, Mountainair, NM 87036
ATN-NM: Darlene Campbell P.O. Box 864, Mountainair, NM 87036
ATN-IL: Gene Harlan 5931 Alma Dr., Rockford, IL 61108
ATN-IL: Gene Harlan 5931 Alma Dr., Rockford, IL 61108
ATN-IN: Henry Ruhwiedel 5317 W. 133rd St., Crown Point, IN 46307
ATN-IN: Henry Ruhwiedel 5317 W. 133rd St., Crown Point, IN 46307
Come participate and meet your fellow ATVers including many from other ATN chapters.
Come participate and meet your fellow ATVers including many from other ATN chapters.
NEW ATN CHAPTERS:
NEW ATN CHAPTERS:
ATN-IL Gene Harlan of ATVQ has started a new chapter last summer in Rockford IL. John KA9SOG is President & Gene WB9MMM as trustee, They built a repeater W9ATN located in Rockford, the output is 421.25 MHz Horizontal and input is 434 MHz and a FM input on 1253 MHz. At the Dayton Hamfest, Mike WA6SVT presented Gene with a 5 watt VSB transmitter on 421.25 MHz to help the new chapter get the repeater on the air. Great work guys!
ATN-IL Gene Harlan of ATVQ has started a new chapter last summer in Rockford IL. John KA9SOG is President & Gene WB9MMM as trustee, They built a repeater W9ATN located in Rockford, the output is 421.25 MHz Horizontal and input is 434 MHz and a FM input on 1253 MHz. At the Dayton Hamfest, Mike WA6SVT presented Gene with a 5 watt VSB transmitter on 421.25 MHz to help the new chapter get the repeater on the air. Great work guys!
Two other areas have an interest in forming ATN chapters, Bill WB8ELK in Huntsville and Ralph Fowler N4NEQ in Atlanta. We hope you both get your chapters formed soon!
Two other areas have an interest in forming ATN chapters, Bill WB8ELK in Huntsville and Ralph Fowler N4NEQ in Atlanta. We hope you both get your chapters formed soon!
ATV at DAYTON:
ATV at DAYTON:
Many ATN members were there this year from almost all of our chapters. Don our webmaster was taking photos for the website. Mike WA6SVT gave ATV presentations at both the Friday night and the Saturday ATV forum. We met with ATVers from Europe and other ATV groups stateside. It was great! We hope to have a bigger ATN presence this year!
Many ATN members were there this year from almost all of our chapters. Don our webmaster was taking photos for the website. Mike WA6SVT gave ATV presentations at both the Friday night and the Saturday ATV forum. We met with ATVers from Europe and other ATV groups stateside. It was great! We hope to have a bigger ATN presence this year!
ATN WEBSITE:
ATN WEBSITE:
Don KE6BXT has done a great job this year with the website and making several updates and a complete overhaul of the website including last year’s meetings and Dayton Hamfest! Great work Don! Log on to www.atn-tv.org and check it out!
Don KE6BXT has done a great job this year with the website and making several updates and a complete overhaul of the website including last year’s meetings and Dayton Hamfest! Great work Don! Log on to www.atn-tv.org and check it out!
ATN-AZ NEWS:
ATN-AZ NEWS:
WHITE TANK MT:
WHITE TANK MT:
A new controller is under construction to add more inputs to the repeater to allow linking to Mt. Lemmon and a link towards California. A new low loss feedline has been donated with connectors to deliver more power to the 1253.25 MHz antenna. The feedline should be installed sometime this spring. The Echolink connection for the 448.400 MHz voice repeater has been installed at Greg’s QTH, it uses CTCSS (PL) switching to eliminate the VOX switching that greatly improves usability of the link.
A new controller is under construction to add more inputs to the repeater to allow linking to Mt. Lemmon and a link towards California. A new low loss feedline has been donated with connectors to deliver more power to the 1253.25 MHz antenna. The feedline should be installed sometime this spring. The Echolink connection for the 448.400 MHz voice repeater has been installed at Greg’s QTH, it uses CTCSS (PL) switching to eliminate the VOX switching that greatly improves usability of the link.
MT. LEMMON:
MT. LEMMON:
The Mt. Lemmon fire last summer claimed the repeater and the building. The tower was also partially damaged. Due to ATN having most of our antennas on top of the tower and a load of fire retardant dropped by forestry aircraft , the 1.2 GHz antenna survived, 434 MHz preamp box (tower mounted)with filter survived.
The Mt. Lemmon fire last summer claimed the repeater and the building. The tower was also partially damaged. Due to ATN having most of our antennas on top of the tower and a load of fire retardant dropped by forestry aircraft , the 1.2 GHz antenna survived, 434 MHz preamp box (tower mounted)with filter survived.
Harold K7AED and Mike WA6SVT scrubbed the pink colored fire retardant off the antenna and box. The equipment tested in good condition. The 434 MHz receiver and 440 MHz voice repeater was
Harold K7AED and Mike WA6SVT scrubbed the pink colored fire retardant off the antenna and box. The equipment tested in good condition. The 434 MHz receiver and 440 MHz voice repeater was
In the shop for modification work and was spared. The repeater is under re-construction and as soon as the site owner has the new building completed (late spring or early summer) Harold plans to have a work party to re-install the new repeater.
In the shop for modification work and was spared. The repeater is under re-construction and as soon as the site owner has the new building completed (late spring or early summer) Harold plans to have a work party to re-install the new repeater.
ATN-CA NEWS:
ATN-CA NEWS:
Thanks to Jim K6CCC for running the Monday night Mt. Wilson ATN net, Roland KC6JPG and Dave KA6DPS for running the Tuesday night linked system ATN Net.
Thanks to Jim K6CCC for running the Monday night Mt. Wilson ATN net, Roland KC6JPG and Dave KA6DPS for running the Tuesday night linked system ATN Net.
SANTIAGO:
SANTIAGO:
Mike WA6SVT added at his cost a commercial grade FM transmitter on 5910 MHz. It uses standard 4 MHz deviation and 6.2 MHz subcarrier audio, the polarization is vertical. The 1 watt transmitter is then amplified by an 18 watt commercial amplifier with help from Art KC6UQH in tuning the amplifier and checking the antenna on his network analyzer, Thanks Art!
Mike WA6SVT added at his cost a commercial grade FM transmitter on 5910 MHz. It uses standard 4 MHz deviation and 6.2 MHz subcarrier audio, the polarization is vertical. The 1 watt transmitter is then amplified by an 18 watt commercial amplifier with help from Art KC6UQH in tuning the amplifier and checking the antenna on his network analyzer, Thanks Art!
The ATV repeater has been working well. Mike WA6SVT finished repackaging the 2.4 link receivers and main 2.4 input receiver into dicast boxes with identical layouts and setup to mount onto a single 5 ¼" high rack plate to conserve space in the rack.
The ATV repeater has been working well. Mike WA6SVT finished repackaging the 2.4 link receivers and main 2.4 input receiver into dicast boxes with identical layouts and setup to mount onto a single 5 ¼" high rack plate to conserve space in the rack.
OAT MT:
OAT MT:
Allen W6IST, Joe K6TBA, and Mike WA6SVT are in process of moving the repeater to a new site at the Top of Oat Mt. to provide better security and coverage. More details at the meeting.
Allen W6IST, Joe K6TBA, and Mike WA6SVT are in process of moving the repeater to a new site at the Top of Oat Mt. to provide better security and coverage. More details at the meeting.
BLUERIDGE MT:
BLUERIDGE MT:
The repeater has moved into the new building and the tower camera and 146.43 MHz antenna still need to be mounted. The link receiver that picks up the Jobs Peak relay needs to be reinstalled too! Signal strength from Las Vegas has improved by more that 10 dB due to no more trees growing up in front of the link dish’s new higher location.
The repeater has moved into the new building and the tower camera and 146.43 MHz antenna still need to be mounted. The link receiver that picks up the Jobs Peak relay needs to be reinstalled too! Signal strength from Las Vegas has improved by more that 10 dB due to no more trees growing up in front of the link dish’s new higher location.
MT. WILSON:
MT. WILSON:
Doug K6KMN has retired from Mt. Wilson three months ago and no longer maintains the repeater. Thanks Doug for your many years of service maintaining the repeater. The repeater was sold to ATN about a year ago and became an ATN system. The rack was moved to a new location within the building to facilitate a new DTV transmitter before Doug left but the antenna cables were to short so the repeater was turned off for a few months.
Doug K6KMN has retired from Mt. Wilson three months ago and no longer maintains the repeater. Thanks Doug for your many years of service maintaining the repeater. The repeater was sold to ATN about a year ago and became an ATN system. The rack was moved to a new location within the building to facilitate a new DTV transmitter before Doug left but the antenna cables were to short so the repeater was turned off for a few months.
Jim K6CCC, Gene K6BNN and Mike WA6SVT removed the 25 year old reflector from the tower and moved the receive antenna (without the reflector) to the south tower leg 40 feet higher late last June. Thanks for the help Jim, Gene and Mike.
Jim K6CCC, Gene K6BNN and Mike WA6SVT removed the 25 year old reflector from the tower and moved the receive antenna (without the reflector) to the south tower leg 40 feet higher late last June. Thanks for the help Jim, Gene and Mike.
Mike WA6SVT in January brought up jumper cables and connected up the repeater. The 434 receiver is currently VFO operated and needs to be replaced with a crystal or PLL receiver. The transmitter needs an output VSB filter to bring the transmitter into compliance. We will discuss this in greater detail at the meeting.
Mike WA6SVT in January brought up jumper cables and connected up the repeater. The 434 receiver is currently VFO operated and needs to be replaced with a crystal or PLL receiver. The transmitter needs an output VSB filter to bring the transmitter into compliance. We will discuss this in greater detail at the meeting.
San Gorgonio:
San Gorgonio:
WQ6I repeater has been taken down last October.
WQ6I repeater has been taken down last October.
SANTA BARBARA:
SANTA BARBARA:
Last May Rod WB9KMO and Mike WA6SVT added the 2417.5 MHz link to Santiago Peak and it works well. The receive antenna for 1253.25 MHz was up graded to a larger size and a low noise preamp was added with an improvement in picture quality. Mike currently is overhauling the repeater transmitter and Rod is cleaning up the rest of the equipment and rack. Having to use an outdoor rack places more maintenance requirements on the equipment and Rod plans to have the repeater back up soon.
Last May Rod WB9KMO and Mike WA6SVT added the 2417.5 MHz link to Santiago Peak and it works well. The receive antenna for 1253.25 MHz was up graded to a larger size and a low noise preamp was added with an improvement in picture quality. Mike currently is overhauling the repeater transmitter and Rod is cleaning up the rest of the equipment and rack. Having to use an outdoor rack places more maintenance requirements on the equipment and Rod plans to have the repeater back up soon.
Mt. Palomar (Palomar ARC)
Mt. Palomar (Palomar ARC)
Art KC6UQH has been maintaining the repeater and he and Mike (forgot his call) have reinstalled the link at Mike’s QTH in Valley Center. Some audio issues are being addressed by Art. Thanks for your work Art and Mike!
Art KC6UQH has been maintaining the repeater and he and Mike (forgot his call) have reinstalled the link at Mike’s QTH in Valley Center. Some audio issues are being addressed by Art. Thanks for your work Art and Mike!
ATN-IN NEWS:
ATN-IN NEWS:
CROWN POINT:
CROWN POINT:
Henry AA9XW has added a 100 watt amplifier to the repeater and duplexed the repeater on the same four bay Andrew horizontal commercially made antenna at the 600 ft level on the tower. The range of the repeater has improved and stations 50 miles distant receive P5 pictures and some of the bigger gun stations out 100 miles do too! Great work Henry!
Henry AA9XW has added a 100 watt amplifier to the repeater and duplexed the repeater on the same four bay Andrew horizontal commercially made antenna at the 600 ft level on the tower. The range of the repeater has improved and stations 50 miles distant receive P5 pictures and some of the bigger gun stations out 100 miles do too! Great work Henry!
ATN-NV NEWS:
ATN-NV NEWS:
Mt. POTOSI:
Mt. POTOSI:
Last summer Geoff took down the 912 MHz FM receiver due to much part 15 QRM and added a 912 MHz FM output to the repeater. Geoff took down the 1265 MHz FM output and put the 1241.25 MHz VSB output back on too. Some more work needs to be done to the link dish to Blueridge due to VSWR being higher than normal. This will be addressed when the snow melts. Great work Geoff!
Last summer Geoff took down the 912 MHz FM receiver due to much part 15 QRM and added a 912 MHz FM output to the repeater. Geoff took down the 1265 MHz FM output and put the 1241.25 MHz VSB output back on too. Some more work needs to be done to the link dish to Blueridge due to VSWR being higher than normal. This will be addressed when the snow melts. Great work Geoff!
ATN-NM NEWS:
ATN-NM NEWS:
Ben’s Bluff:
Ben’s Bluff:
ATN-NM had a good meeting last year with two new hams interested in ATV. Nothing new to report 73,s Earl N8TV and Darlene KD7HPN.
ATN-NM had a good meeting last year with two new hams interested in ATV. Nothing new to report 73,s Earl N8TV and Darlene KD7HPN.
THANK YOU:
THANK YOU:
The ATN Trustees and management want to thank all of the members who donated items, designed and built items, helped at the sites. It is your efforts that greatly help make ATN the network that it is. ATN is the world’s largest & Successful ATV repeater club thanks to your help and support of the Membership.
The ATN Trustees and management want to thank all of the members who donated items, designed and built items, helped at the sites. It is your efforts that greatly help make ATN the network that it is. ATN is the world’s largest & Successful ATV repeater club thanks to your help and support of the Membership.