Whakapunake 146.90 Repeater
Photos by Tom ZL2MOT and Jim ZL2IA
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|Repeater Status Updates|| ||2009-11-09 thanks to ZL2AOP and his employer, ZL2HC was able to make a quick trip to Whakapunake. The digi was connected up and checks made on both 2 meter dipoles. As the top dipole was slightly better 690 was changed to this aerial and the digi connected to the lower aerial. This was done so as to get the best possible performance for 690 for the upcoming event. Battery voltages and incoming AC was normal and the cracked roof vent well sealed with a silicon compound. Please note that the 690 repeater is the temporary backup pending completion of the repairs on the main 690 equipment.
2009-10-10 Despite the rain, overcast skies and the forecast Roger ZL2RC and Hamish ZL2HC made a trip to the 690 repeater site. Also despite the cold, the wind, rain, the hail and the snow they reinstalled the national system to run off it's own convertor and the new battery. 690 now operates off the new convertor and the old batteries which where originally on the national system have been used for 690 and the digi. |
2009-09-19 Roger ZL2RC made a trip to Whakapunake and has removed the National System repeaters so they can be given a complete overhaul in the hope of finding the reported problem with intermittent audio on the link to Mt. Erin. |
2009-08-17 The DC/DC convertor to operate the digi and 690 has arrived. |
2009-06-27 Roger ZL2RC and Hamish ZL2HC travelled to Whakapunake on Saturday, 27 June to assess the problems with the 690 repeater and the ZL2AA-1 digipeater. They found that the battery charger had failed, and the batteries had gone flat. Roger has already analysed the repeater and found that the 690 transmitter (drivers and finals) had also failed, and the RF input transistor to the receiver. To get the repeater back on the air they removed the old repeater from the rack and have installed a lower power backup repeater and configured it to share power with the National System. The digipeater has been removed from service temporarily. |
June 2008
As all seem to be aware all the repeaters started playing up one weekend after the national system was installed. After switching off 690 the national system and the digi appeared to operate ok most of the time and so it seemed that the possible total current consumption was the problem. Maybe the equipment, the batteries or the rectifier/invertor. So I purchased a low loss battery and modified a Tait 296 power supply to rectify and filter the incoming 32 volt line with an external voltage regulator to reduce the 45 volts DC from that to 26 volts which then supplied the the regulating circuit.
The first weekend after that when both Roger ZL2RC and I could go Roger along with what seemed to be everyone else had the flu. We agreed that if I could get Ian ZL2IMM at the such short notice we would go up just to get 690 back on the air as next month was the Hawkes Bay car rally so it would be nice if it it was back on well before that. Also this would allow more time to sort it out if the problem continued.
I was very lucky that Ian was available at such short notice as not only has he got wide experience with batteries but was able to bring equipment to fully check them out.
Of course it then turned out that that weekend there was going to be a link from Wairoa for a programme on TV so staff would also be going from Gisborne to the site and we would have to fit our travelling in with them to gain access.
So Saturday morning I go out to Roger's and collect the battery and some cables and parts and while in town got a call that the other vehicle travelling the the site was leaving town in about an hour and would meet us at the locked gate, where you leave the main road, at about 2pm. Previously I had been told that they intended to leave the site by 4.30pm so time was going to be limited.
Rang Ian, picked him up at 12.30pm and started the trip. Was passed by the other vehicle just before Te Reinga and met him at the gate about 1.55.pm. good timing. Up the road, some rough going where new metal had be added, arrived at the top, still a clear sunny day but a cold wind blowing so on with the overalls and jackets.
It was then time to carry out the work agreed with Roger and planned on the way up Ian started with the battery box to check the batteries and separate the two sets of two 6 volt batteries while in the hut I removed the leads from one set of batteries from the invertor output, removed the leads from the fuse panel feeding the digi and 690 and connected them to that battery set of leads and the output of the Tait power supply via a fuse. I then fed the Tait power supply from the incoming 32 volt AC supply also via a fuse. All this in the very cramped working conditions taking great care not to mistune or short anything
Ian had by then got into the battery box separated the battery sets and carried out full tests on each battery which all tested fine. After checking with Roger via 690 it was then decided to retain all the existing batteries with the the national system supply separated from 690 and the digi.
I then started checking the currents drawn by each piece of equipment before leaving the site while Ian confirmed that the batteries were being charged and closed up the battery boxes.
All was fine national system repeater 6.8 Amps, link 3.6 Amps, 690 and digi on receive 0.55Amps, 690 on transmit 4.7 Amps, digi on transmit 2.5 Amps, then 690 and digi both on transmit total 3.9 Amps WHAT!!
Check- output of Tait power supply dropping to 8 volts because nothing from batteries. Naturally battery boxes are well closed up, it's getting late the winds seems to be getting stronger and colder. Ian gets battery box lid off and before I can even start suggesting anything has located the open circuit in the connection between the two six volt batteries now feeding the digi and 690. Quickly fixed, I recheck currents while Ian reinstalls the battery box lids. All fine except 690 on transmit now only 3.3 Amps, voltage correct and repeater is on high power but signal in town normal so something to check another day.
Then national system start to cut in and out when the battery leads are moved. Found to be that with wire battery leads and equipment lug in same hole poor connection no matter how tight the screw. Chop lug, twist wires together insert in connector and tighten screw, now secure, wonder why no flash when positive lead touched chassis, negative lead had come out of connector, hows that for luck, same cure. recheck same set up on 690, digi connections, solid as, must be better strip connector .
Check operation of equipment, throw gear in vehicle, we are out of here, not much latter than 4.30 but very lucky as we could had to have leave the site at 3 pm because the link equipment was ready by then and the other staff had to be back up there by 6.00am the next morning
Back to town in the dark on wet roads stopping a couple of times to check 690. Supermarket for some tea and home to check national system, digi and 690. All seems ok and 690 with the the lower current even seems to be than before??
Make up slides for ATV on Sunday, 690 is back, pity I didn't the system on till 1800 hours, still at least one person saw it, mentioned it on the net and put a note on the web site
Hopefully the above will explain what was done and why it was done. Apart from the battery connection no fault was found and while I believe I know what occurred time did not allow any further investigations. As of this 8.7.08 the system is still working so hopefully it will continue to do so.
At the branch meeting I will requesting be reimbursement of the cost of the petrol as agreed on the AGM meeting night . I also will be tabling one or two motions
- the first that the branch purchase the battery from me at the cost I paid and that it be retained in the possession of the branch repeater trustees for use with the proposed APRS extension at Arowhana if not required for repeater use before then
- the second, if the first is not passed that the branch purchase the battery from me at the cost I paid and that it be retained in the possession of the branch repeater trustees for use with the repeaters as required
The battery is an Amptech 105AH Deep Cycle as used in the 950 repeater at I believe a very good price and if not purchased I will onsell it or install it as part of a back up system.
ZL2HC Repeater Trustee
July 2008
At the branch meeting it was agreed to purchase the battery but leave the question of usage apart, from repeater standby, in the meantime. The battery is on a solar panel charging via a BP Solar battery controller to ensure it is kept in the best possible condition (A very good price, a low price firm in town has similar batteries for over a S100 more. Deep cycle batteries the best type for repeater usage especially solar power ones are the most expensive of the types available but should return the cost by lasting longer)
June 2009
Added more photos showing severe erosion threatening the 690/digipeater antenna pole.