FINALLY! The new 146.94 antenna is installed and on the air!
I'm sure you all probably know that I have been (im)patiently waiting on the opportunity to replace the 146.94 repeater antenna, which had been "arcing" on weak signals in recent months. I have had the new antenna onsite and ready for install for well over a year. Since this antenna is 250 feet up on one of my employer's towers, I had to wait until I needed to have our usual tower climber on the site and up the tower for an official (company-needed) reason. Otherwise, it would be a VERY expensive replacement. Well, the official reason finally happened a few days ago when one of our top-of-the-tower beacon lights went out. The FCC and FAA are very strict about tower lights and their operation. I had only 15 days to get the lights repaired on this 330-foot tower, so I scheduled our tower climber, Tower Services (from Chattanooga) to change the lights as soon as the weather allowed. We tried last Tuesday and were rained out, but today, the weather, the tower climber, and my schedule all cooperated! Initial reports from some of the .94 users are very encouraging! There are reports of as much as a 5-db improvement in signal strength. I will post pictures soon, but if you are interested in the type of antenna that .94 now proudly uses, just click on this link: http://www.wiscointl.com/celwave/antennas/pd220/index.htm
Please note that the .94 antenna does NOT have the secondary director shown in the picture. In addition, this is the same kind of antenna that 145.47 has used since its installation on Cross Mountain in 2007! That one sure has served well, hasn't it?
As promised, I have asked for NO additional support from the WB4GBI repeater users after the fiasco involving the previous .94 antenna. That one was removed three years ago, and the old DB-224 was rebuilt after the company refused to honor their warranty on the new antenna. I hope this one lasts a long time; that will make the $1,200 investment worth the wait.
So now, what's next? I am awaiting the same opportunity to replace the 146.73 antenna and relocate it much higher on the tower that where it is presently located; I have a new antenna standing by and ready for it. This tower, however, is one on which I rent space, so I must follow the owner's rules regarding climbers and locations. Hopefully, this will happen very soon.
I also want to replace the antenna on 147.075, and will be waiting on an opportunity similar to the one that came about for 146.94 today.
Lastly, I want to install the 53.15 repeater antenna on the same tower on which 146.625 is located. That tower will be much easier to schedule...I know the owner really well :-)
IMPORTANT NOTE: The autopatch on 147.075 is presently DOWN. The phone line protector that was on the phone line was destroyed by a lightning storm. I hope to have it replaced within the next week or so. And yes, believe it or not, there are still some folks that use the autopatch. You might need to, as well, when the next storm hits... and your cell phone is inoperative. :-)
Thanks for reading, and 73 for now!
Tim Berry WB4GBI
timb447457@aol.com
timb447457@aol.com
