I knew it, it's those space aliens! Richard <http://www.n7tgb.net/> www.n7tgb.net
_____ From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Keith McQueen Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 7:55 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] RC-96 Controller Problem RAM memory is not 100% especially as it ages. Stray gamma rays can corrupt RAM. It's rare here deep in the atmosphere, but it does happen. Satellites have to use hardened RAM for this reason (or as in the case of the HAM microsats, special software routines that continually watch for and correct errors in the RAM memory). It is also possible for RF to affect microprocessor circuitry. Again, if properly constructed and bypassed, this is rare. In older circuitry, the bypass capacitors that shunt noise to ground in computer circuitry, age and lose their efficacy. I'd say if there were no problems before and a reset seems to fix it, give the poor old beast another chance. If the problems re-occur, start looking for aged caps, aged EPROMS etc. Keith McQueen 801-224-9460 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Eric Lemmon Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 8:39 PM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] RC-96 Controller Problem Bryon, Thanks for the response. I hadn't thought about EEPROMS having a finite lifetime- but it sounds reasonable. This RC-96 controller has been in service for just over 16 years. I should have mentioned that, once I disconnected the power to the RC-96 and reconnected it about 20 seconds later, it responded with the expected "Controller Ready" announcement. It seemed to be behaving well at that point, but I took it back to the shop for "forensic investigation" anyway, rather than walk away thinking everything was okay. 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY -----Original Message----- From: Repeater-Builder@ <mailto:Repeater-Builder%40yahoogroups.com> yahoogroups.com [mailto:Repeater-Builder@ <mailto:Repeater-Builder%40yahoogroups.com> yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Bryon Jeffers KØBSJ Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 7:22 PM To: Repeater-Builder@ <mailto:Repeater-Builder%40yahoogroups.com> yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] RC-96 Controller Problem Eric, Eproms are only good for so long.. One or more is starting to lose its stored/burned bits. I have not had this happen to an ACC controller but other older eprom devices. The last item had a Eprom about ten years old in it when it started to go crazy... Hope this helps! Bryon KØBSJ Eric Lemmon wrote: > One of the repeaters I maintain has been working perfectly for almost a year > since its last checkup. It is a 6m repeater that has a link to several > other 6m repeaters, and is controlled by an ACC RC-96 controller. It is > powered from a very large commercial UPS that ensures no-break power. > > One evening, the controller went berserk, for no apparent reason. It > started transmitting a string of Morse characters on both the primary and > secondary ports: "dit dah dit ... dah dah dah dah dah dah dah dah dah dah > ..." for about two minutes. It would then be quiet on both ports for about > 30 seconds, and would then repeat. During the brief silent periods, the > repeater would operate as a repeater, but the Morse string muted any other > audio, once it began. The controller would not respond to my DTMF commands > on either the primary or secondary ports. To make matters worse, the > telephone line that gives me backup control to knock down the repeater was > dead at the hilltop end! I had to make a hasty trip to the mountaintop site > to take the beast off the air. > > As a result of this experience, I am adding a dedicated UHF control link to > give me positive control of the repeater. > > Has anyone else had a similar problem with the RC-96 controller? Note that > there is no lithium or similar memory battery inside the box that might go > bad. Oddball malfunctions like this can add more gray hairs than I want! > Any ideas, case histories, or suggestions will be appreciated. > > 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY > > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > >
