[Repeater-Builder] Re: ISO Slow Computer for R100 repeater programming

[skipp025]

I use a not so old laptop with a serial and usb port. Before 
running any radio programming software I simply slow down the 
processor speed visible to the program/software using a free 
package called slomo (aka slo-mo). 

I then get on with the task of programming the radio/device 
without spazzing over the computer processor speed. 

cheers,
skipp 

[Repeater-Builder] Old Motorola Base

[Don]

Before I start  digging around  searching on the WWW ,  I thought I ask 
for some Help here, If I can find one  I am Donating a Old Motorola 
Base Station   used in the 1933-34 John Dillinger Era , I know that 
would not be the Andy Griffith Type  , Probably  made by Galvin ,   Can 
anyone Please tell Me the Models used back then and the type of base 
Mic  A link or pictures would be nice too ,  I will Put in a Receiver 
on the Sheriffs Freq so they can hear that .

Thanks Don KA9QJG 

Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Switching a Repeater Between AC Sources

[Chris Carruba]

The red outlets are for critical care devices and maint/housekeeping people 
etc.. are trained not to fool with them, if your devices are that crucial I see 
no problem with utilizing it. best to check with your higher ups 1st.

Chris

Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: do you believe this

[Rev Dave E Stephens Sr]

while it may not be true, it could something worthy of sending to Adam and 
Jamie over at Mythbusters just for the hell of it. maybe they're getting bored 
around the shop

dave
kf6wja

[Repeater-Builder] UHF antenna

[Milan Pavlica]

Hello!
I made UHF coax collinear antenna, two version, one is from
http://www.repeater-builder.com/antenna/wa6svt.html
and second is from
http://www.para.org.ph/membersarticles/DU1ANV/VHF%20Collinear%20Antennas.htm
in both cases i can get good SWR but i am not so sure did i made it OK
(have a feel that it is deaf on receive)
I am asking, if anyone played with this stuffs (i made 4elements, for
start only with RG58), maybe with some tips and pictures, just to see
am i doing something wrong
THANKS IN ADVANCE!
Not to disturb list, please use private mail.
THANKS AGAIN!
YU7XW

[Repeater-Builder] Re: ISO Slow Computer for R100 repeater programming

[Paul Ruszczyk]

If you are looking for one locally, check craigslist.org and search in
cities near you.  
Good luck!
Paul
KI4ADT

RE: [Repeater-Builder] Switching a Repeater Betwen AC Sources

[Richard]

I'm not taking it the wrong way, not to worry!
 
Good idea on the soliciting of funds, but I'd be careful of any
strings attached.
 
That is a good idea about the monitoring software on the IRLP node. I
use that on mine, and it sends an email to my cell phone when the
power drops, then again when it is restored.
 
 
 
Richard
  www.n7tgb.net
 

  _  

From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Eric M.
Sent: Monday, July 14, 2008 5:12 AM
To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Switching a Repeater Betwen AC Sources




Good points Richard.  

Not trying be a smart a$$, so please don't take this comment that way,
but what is the service worth to the community?  SKYWARN, and up here
in Canada CANWARN, are valuable services that can save lives.
Property can be replaced, lives can't.  Maybe there is some local,
state or federal money that could be tapped into or maybe even some
private money for that matter.  Maybe suppliers would be willing to
give the group a break on pricing or even provide it at a substantial
savings to the group.  I would go direct to the manufacturer.


Couple of thoughts on monitoring power outage.

- Some controllers have inputs that can be monitored and if a signal
is sensed it sets off an alarm.  But a walwart could be plugged into
the main receptacle and connected to a controller input with some
cleaned up DC of course.  In the event of a power failure, the
controller would no longer see the precense of the required voltage
and notification could be provided, hopefully spoken if that option is
available, and a designated person(s) could attend the site to check
power.  If you know your runtime on the UPS, you know what your
response time needs to be.

- I forgot that there was an IRLP computer at the site.  In that case,
some UPS monitoring software will run on a unix/linux platform, there
is notification as well, as this software can advise you of outages,
self test results etc, etc by email.  I am thinking here of the APC
line, we use them at our data centre for backup server power and in
all of our LAN closets for backup switch stack power.

I mentioned APC, I have nothing to do with APC, I have only used their
products and have always been pleased with the results.

Eric,
VA3EAM

Richard wrote:





It would have to be a very large, very high capacity UPS, in order to
handle the current the transmitters draw. This would be very
expensive. Maybe you could install a battery bank with a good quality
four stage charger to power the repeaters. When the power drops, since
the repeaters are already running on batteries, the switchover would
be seamless.





Your IRLP computer could be powered with a 1500 watt or better UPS.
This should allow sufficient runtime, plus the higher capacity should
get you out of the cheapo consumer grade UPS category. As Eric
suggests, you could plug the serial cable into the computer, and with
the right software, the node could monitor the battery voltage when it
is running on the UPS, then shut the computer down gracefully if the
voltage drops too low.
 
 
Richard
  www.n7tgb.net
 

 
 


 

RE: [Repeater-Builder] Switching a Repeater Betwen AC Sources

[Richard]

You do have a point about the batteries. I did see that it was
revealed in a later post that his main Skywarn (ARES? I forget which)
repeater is a MastrII, which I don't think lends itself well to run on
batteries.
 
The reason I suggested that size UPS, was to move out of the junk
consumer grade UPS' that I don't think should be in a repeater site.
Besides, think of the runtime with a UPS a large as that!
 
Richard
  www.n7tgb.net
 

  _  

From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kris Kirby
Sent: Monday, July 14, 2008 8:44 AM
To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Switching a Repeater Betwen AC Sources



On Sun, 13 Jul 2008, Richard wrote:
> Maybe you could install a battery bank with a good quality four
stage 
> charger to power the repeaters. When the power drops, since the 
> repeaters are already running on batteries, the switchover would be 
> seamless.

Good idea, but batteries weigh a lot. And they can explode when struck

by lightning. Also, does the original poster "own" the radio room? If 
not, he probably can't dictate how much more space he takes in the 
place.

> Your IRLP computer could be powered with a 1500 watt or better UPS. 
> This should allow sufficient runtime, plus the higher capacity
should 
> get you out of the cheapo consumer grade UPS category. As Eric 

A 1500W UPS is overkill for a 100W load.

--
Kris Kirby, KE4AHR <[EMAIL PROTECTED]  us>
But remember, with no superpowers comes no responsibility. 
--rly


 

[Repeater-Builder] Zetron Model 8

[ve3hxp]

Hi,  I have one of these beasts and have mostly used it for tone encode 
and decode. I never got a manual for it, but I remembered how to use it 
for that purpose. Now I need to monitor a frequency for other tone 
frequencies, and I can't remember the commands to clear the registers 
and to read back tone usage. Could somedbody help me with that?

Thanks
Sean 
VE3HXP

RE: [Repeater-Builder] Switching a Repeater Betwen AC Sources

[Eric Lemmon]

Jeff,

The primary purpose of the equipment grounding conductor (green wire) is to
provide a low-impedance path for fault current on a branch circuit.  The
lowest-possible impedance is realized only when the EGC is routed alongside
the phase conductor.  Article 250.24(C)(1) states:  "This conductor shall be
routed with the phase conductor..."  I didn't quote the entire sentence,
because it is very long.

The reason for keeping the equipment grounding conductors separate is very
simple;  we are talking about a hospital, not some ordinary radio shack.
The critical (red) buss likely feeds catheter labs, dialysis machines,
mechanical respirators, and similar equipment that is connected to human
bodies.  Even a few milliamperes of stray current flowing through a
grounding conductor may take a side trip through a patient's heart and kill
them.  It the cath lab, there are usually grounding monitors that will cause
an alarm if any stray current is detected.  The notion that someone is
jury-rigging an electrical connection that will make common connections
between a white and a red system is frightening.  Although such a connection
will likely be passive most of the time, if a fault occurs in the equipment,
that fault may perturb critical medical equipment- with tragic results.

In the hospital where I have a repeater on the red circuit, that circuit is
separately-derived by definition, since it has a separate transformer
upstream of the automatic transfer switch.  Even though I am a certified
electrical inspector, I asked for an independent inspection and a signed
certificate of compliance before I plugged anything in.

One of the previous posters suggested putting the computer on the white
buss, with the repeater on the red buss.  That's a good idea, but be careful
to use a fiber-optic link to pass data between them, else the two devices
will have a common ground connection through the data cable's shield.

73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY


 

-Original Message-
From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jeff DePolo
Sent: Monday, July 14, 2008 8:20 AM
To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Switching a Repeater Betwen AC Sources

> It is important to switch all three power leads, not just the 
> hot lead,
> because neutrals from separate sources cannot be made common- 
> especially
> when a separately-derived power source is involved- and the equipment
> grounds must guide any fault current back to the source via 
> the most direct
> route, which is alongside the respective hot conductor.

Eric, you probably have more experience with industrial electrical than I
do, but I can't recall anywhere in NEC where switching EGC is permitted,
even with separately-derived systems. My copy of NEC is back at the shop,
maybe you have yours handy and can provide a reference for my own
edjumication. 

I would tend to think that in a large industrial complex like a hospital or
high-rise building that the distributed, and unavoidable, ground paths,
(i.e. the entire building including conduits, building steel, concrete,
water pipes, etc.) is almost guaranteed to pose a much lower impedance fault
current path than can a single equipment grounding conductor run alongside
the hot.

As a sidebar, many, if not most, emergency generator installations at
communication sites are not seperately-derived systems because the neutrals
*are* tied together at the transfer switch. However, in the instant case,
where it is unknown whether or not the "red" and "white" are on separate
systems, I agree that switching the neutral and hot is the only safe way to
go.

--- Jeff WN3A



 

Re: [Repeater-Builder] ISO Slow Computer for R100 repeater programming

[Dave Gomberg]

Try to get an old Thinkpad.   Remember it is an old machine, so you 
want a reliable one.



At 16:43 7/13/2008, Tom Parker wrote:
You can get them on eBay for under $50.00 if you're patient.  We use 
PII's running around 250 MHz, although I've successfully use a PIII 
@ 600 MHz (my specific laptop for RSS).


John Reid wrote:


Where does one fine a CHEAP but reliable old computer for this
purpose.



--
Dave Gomberg, San Francisco   NE5EE gomberg1 at wcf dot com
All addresses, phones, etc. at http://www.wcf.com/ham/info.html
- 

Re: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Switching a Repeater Betwen AC Sources

[Ron Wright]

Kris,

I think you need to read the initial and follow up postings.

It is thought that if either the normally used white outlet and/or unused RED 
outlet were not in use at the time of the lightning strike it would not have 
tripped their breaker.  So it is thought if the breaker that was to the outlet  
was in use and got hit and braker tripped then something would switch over to 
the other unused RED emergency powered outlet.

If lightning did hit the relay or anything else it will do as it wants.

The posting of using a UPS after a relay switch appeals to me.  This way when 
there was switching between the sources the UPS could buffer the short loss of 
power and the repeaters and other equipment would not see a change.  Also the 
UPS would have to maintain power for short period of time and could be lower VA 
unit, possible 500 VA. Most UPSs have surge and some lightning protection.

73, ron, n9ee/r


>From: Kris Kirby <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Date: 2008/07/14 Mon AM 11:41:00 EDT
>To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Switching a Repeater Betwen AC Sources

>
>On Mon, 14 Jul 2008, Laryn Lohman wrote:
>> The reason we would not want to be on the red receptacle normally is 
>> that in case of a lightning strike we are potentially left with a dead 
>> red from the strike, and dead white if the utility is down. Obviously, 
>> another strike, after we've switched to the red, kills AC totally to 
>> our stuff.  The presumption is that a breaker probably won't trip, 
>> even after a strike, if there's not a load of some sort on it to 
>> complete a path for the "tripping" current.  Make sense?
>
>We're talking about an ionized channel of electrons that can cross 
>hundreds of feet vertically, and still generate smaller channels within 
>the radio shed that can jump a foot or more. Do you really think that a 
>3PDT relay with contacts one quarter of an inch apart represents an 
>obstacle for this immense charge of electricity? I understand that you 
>want to get it back on the air yesterday, but unless you've implemented 
>a lightning arrestor on every bloody port of every bloody device, I 
>wouldn't bet that you could keep the breaker from tripping. 
>
>--
>Kris Kirby, KE4AHR  <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>But remember, with no superpowers comes no responsibility. 
>   --rly
>   
> 


Ron Wright, N9EE
727-376-6575
MICRO COMPUTER CONCEPTS
Owner 146.64 repeater Tampa Bay, FL
No tone, all are welcome.

[Repeater-Builder] Re: Yaesu FT-2800 Solutions

[Jeff Corkren - W5PPB]

DAVE: I can use this info as well. Thanks !

Jeff Corkren/W5PPB
Raymond, MS 

[Repeater-Builder] Re: Switching a Repeater Betwen AC Sources

[skipp025]

First you should find out if the standard AC Receptacle is 
backed up by a generator or alternative power source and the 
time required for the backup source to "come on line". 

A sealed Battery in a vented Marine Battery Box can supply 
short duration equipment requirements while an emergency generator 
starts. Low voltage disconnects and a properly sized charger 
would prevent excessive current surges. 

The radio equipment transfer to and from the backup battery 
should normally be seamless. 

If you don't use a backup battery then some type of load surge 
management plan would be in order. 

You could possibly operate the repeater from the emergency 
power outlet all the time. 

Switching outlets on the fly would make most people very nervous 
and is probably not legal in many locations/examples. 

cheers, 
s. 




> "Laryn Lohman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> We have two repeaters, plus an IRLP computer, on one emergency-fed
> circuit at a hospital.  There are normally no problems with this. 
> During a recent storm, the AC panel circuit breaker tripped, taking
> everything down in the middle of our Skywarn net.   
> 
> There are two receptacles near our equipment.  One is normal power,
> the other is the red Critical Power receptacle.  What problems would
> anyone see if we would feed everything from the normal power circuit,
> and if it would ever trip off, switch to the red receptacle.  That
> way, if lightning trips the normal circuit, we would instantly feed
> our equipment from the red receptacle.  
> 
> This sounds so simple, and I'm inclined to build such a setup, but am
> I missing something obvious that could cause problems?  Any better
ideas?
> 
> Laryn K8TVZ
>

[Repeater-Builder] Re: Switching a Repeater Between AC Sources

[Rod Lane]

Here’s what we use for splitting non-redundant supplies between two separate
breakered services.

Or in the case of the use of a single UPS power supply, we can remove the
UPS without interrupting the feed.  

Plug one feed from the live circuit, and the other from the UPS.  If either
are up, so are you.

 

http://www.pulizzi.com/Products/Products_By_Series.html?GroupID=5

 

 

Rod Lane

Amateur Callsign N1FNE

ARES® Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator

ARRL® Connecticut Section

78 Loper Street

Southington, CT 06489-1812

41°37'38" N 72°52'14" W - Grid Locator: FN31NP50MN

(860) 621-9967 Home

(860) 302-1060 Cell

(860) 766-2281 Work

 

RE: [Repeater-Builder] Switching a Repeater Betwen AC Sources

[Kris Kirby]

On Sun, 13 Jul 2008, Richard wrote:
> Maybe you could install a battery bank with a good quality four stage 
> charger to power the repeaters. When the power drops, since the 
> repeaters are already running on batteries, the switchover would be 
> seamless.

Good idea, but batteries weigh a lot. And they can explode when struck 
by lightning. Also, does the original poster "own" the radio room? If 
not, he probably can't dictate how much more space he takes in the 
place.
  
> Your IRLP computer could be powered with a 1500 watt or better UPS. 
> This should allow sufficient runtime, plus the higher capacity should 
> get you out of the cheapo consumer grade UPS category. As Eric 

A 1500W UPS is overkill for a 100W load.

--
Kris Kirby, KE4AHR  <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
But remember, with no superpowers comes no responsibility. 
--rly

Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Switching a Repeater Betwen AC Sources

[Kris Kirby]

On Mon, 14 Jul 2008, Laryn Lohman wrote:
> The reason we would not want to be on the red receptacle normally is 
> that in case of a lightning strike we are potentially left with a dead 
> red from the strike, and dead white if the utility is down. Obviously, 
> another strike, after we've switched to the red, kills AC totally to 
> our stuff.  The presumption is that a breaker probably won't trip, 
> even after a strike, if there's not a load of some sort on it to 
> complete a path for the "tripping" current.  Make sense?

We're talking about an ionized channel of electrons that can cross 
hundreds of feet vertically, and still generate smaller channels within 
the radio shed that can jump a foot or more. Do you really think that a 
3PDT relay with contacts one quarter of an inch apart represents an 
obstacle for this immense charge of electricity? I understand that you 
want to get it back on the air yesterday, but unless you've implemented 
a lightning arrestor on every bloody port of every bloody device, I 
wouldn't bet that you could keep the breaker from tripping. 

--
Kris Kirby, KE4AHR  <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
But remember, with no superpowers comes no responsibility. 
--rly

RE: [Repeater-Builder] Switching a Repeater Betwen AC Sources

[Jeff DePolo]

> It is important to switch all three power leads, not just the 
> hot lead,
> because neutrals from separate sources cannot be made common- 
> especially
> when a separately-derived power source is involved- and the equipment
> grounds must guide any fault current back to the source via 
> the most direct
> route, which is alongside the respective hot conductor.

Eric, you probably have more experience with industrial electrical than I
do, but I can't recall anywhere in NEC where switching EGC is permitted,
even with separately-derived systems.  My copy of NEC is back at the shop,
maybe you have yours handy and can provide a reference for my own
edjumication.  

I would tend to think that in a large industrial complex like a hospital or
high-rise building that the distributed, and unavoidable, ground paths,
(i.e. the entire building including conduits, building steel, concrete,
water pipes, etc.) is almost guaranteed to pose a much lower impedance fault
current path than can a single equipment grounding conductor run alongside
the hot.

As a sidebar, many, if not most, emergency generator installations at
communication sites are not seperately-derived systems because the neutrals
*are* tied together at the transfer switch.  However, in the instant case,
where it is unknown whether or not the "red" and "white" are on separate
systems, I agree that switching the neutral and hot is the only safe way to
go.

--- Jeff WN3A

Re: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: do you believe this

[Ron Wright]

Johnny,

This is true.  We all have the idea in us that if it is in print it is true, 
more than if someone speaks the same.

Just something about it being in print especially in a newspaper or magazine.  
But when you think of it all this is written by someone that puts their pants 
on the same as us so what makes them so special.  Of course we need to believe 
some, but investigate it.

The other problem one will write something then other writers pick it up and 
they write the same in their words and before you know it it is true.  Guess 
the Russian thought of if you tell a lie enough times it will become the truth.

I still like the PO Office 3 cent charge for e-mails.  Have not seen this for a 
while.

73, ron, n9ee/r





>From: Johnny <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Date: 2008/07/14 Mon AM 10:42:57 EDT
>To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: do you believe this

>
>  You would be suprised how  many idiots see something like this and 
>consider it gospal fact.
>Johnny
>
>Tom wrote:
>> There was a recent article where the businessman that commissioned the
>> ad acknowledged that it was phony.  Seems he worked for a headset
>> manufacturer that was trying to suggest the safety hazard of holding a
>> cell phone next to one's head, thereby promoting headset sales.  It
>> didn't take this admission to realize that the ad was phony.  The laws
>> of physics clearly show that a few hundred milliwatts (or even a few
>> watts) from a cellphone, or even a dozen cellphones, for that matter,
>> cannot produce enough heat to vaporize the water in a kernel of
>> popcorn.  Add to that the fact that, when several phones are used,
>> who's to say that the signals are all in phase, therefore additive. 
>> They could just as easily be 180 degrees out of phase and therefore,
>> essentially cancel each other out.  Just takes a few seconds thought
>> to write that kind of rubbish off.  I take this kind of advertising as
>> an insult to my intelligence.
>> Tom
>> 
>> 
>> --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, "Richard" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>> Nope.
>>>  
>>> Richard
>>>   www.n7tgb.net
>>>  
>>>
>>>   _  
>>>
>>> From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
>>> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ron Wright
>>> Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2008 8:10 PM
>>> To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
>>> Subject: [Repeater-Builder] do you believe this
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> hi all,
>>>
>>> This kinda repeater related, but do you believe this:
>>>
>>> http://www.koreus.
>>> 
>>> com/video/telephone-portable-mais-popcorn.html
>>>
>>> Popping pop corn with a cel phone video.
>>>
>>> 73, ron, n9ee/r
>>>
>>> Ron Wright, N9EE
>>> 727-376-6575
>>> MICRO COMPUTER CONCEPTS
>>> Owner 146.64 repeater Tampa Bay, FL
>>> No tone, all are welcome.
>>>
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>   
> 


Ron Wright, N9EE
727-376-6575
MICRO COMPUTER CONCEPTS
Owner 146.64 repeater Tampa Bay, FL
No tone, all are welcome.

Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Switching a Repeater Betwen AC Sources

[Ron Wright]

Laryn,

As recommended by Eric, I and others a relay would be simple thing to do using 
the normal outlet until it failed and then automatically switch over to the RED 
outlet.

I am sure one could come up with a complex way of doing it with some good 
reasons, but a simple 3 pole/double throw relay being powered from the normal 
white outlet would work with you not having to worry about tripping the RED 
breaker under normal use.

If 40 years ago we would suggest you put a penny in the fuse socket, hi.  Back 
then you could probably get away with it, but today just doing it would get 
your repeater tossed into the next county.  That is what we need...panel 
circuit breakers with penny slots.

73, ron, n9ee/r




>From: Laryn Lohman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Date: 2008/07/13 Sun PM 11:57:05 EDT
>To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Switching a Repeater Betwen AC Sources

>
>Thanks for the great posts so far.
>
>Perhaps I didn't make it clear in my original post--our equipment is
>and always has been plugged into the red receptacle.  It was installed
>by hospital electricians a number of years ago for us, and we are the
>sole load on the circuit.  It was the recent storm, and presumed
>lightning strike, that tripped the AC breaker in the emergency breaker
>panel in the penthouse where our stuff is.
>
>The point of all this is that the breaker tripped, leaving our
>equipment with no power .  So I was proposing a method of
>implementing a "backup breaker" in case one breaker trips.  My
>proposal is that our normal, daily supply would be the white
>receptacle.  If it goes dead, whether from utility failure or breaker
>trip, we have the red receptacle, which will then be ready to feed our
>stuff.
>
>The reason we would not want to be on the red receptacle normally is
>that in case of a lightning strike we are potentially left with a dead
>red from the strike, and dead white if the utility is down. 
>Obviously, another strike, after we've switched to the red, kills AC
>totally to our stuff.  The presumption is that a breaker probably
>won't trip, even after a strike, if there's not a load of some sort on
>it to complete a path for the "tripping" current.  Make sense?
>
>Eric, I think you're on my line of thinking.  Good point on keeping
>the greens isolated.
>
>Laryn K8TVZ
>
>   
> 


Ron Wright, N9EE
727-376-6575
MICRO COMPUTER CONCEPTS
Owner 146.64 repeater Tampa Bay, FL
No tone, all are welcome.

Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: do you believe this

[Johnny]

  You would be suprised how  many idiots see something like this and 
consider it gospal fact.
Johnny

Tom wrote:
> There was a recent article where the businessman that commissioned the
> ad acknowledged that it was phony.  Seems he worked for a headset
> manufacturer that was trying to suggest the safety hazard of holding a
> cell phone next to one's head, thereby promoting headset sales.  It
> didn't take this admission to realize that the ad was phony.  The laws
> of physics clearly show that a few hundred milliwatts (or even a few
> watts) from a cellphone, or even a dozen cellphones, for that matter,
> cannot produce enough heat to vaporize the water in a kernel of
> popcorn.  Add to that the fact that, when several phones are used,
> who's to say that the signals are all in phase, therefore additive. 
> They could just as easily be 180 degrees out of phase and therefore,
> essentially cancel each other out.  Just takes a few seconds thought
> to write that kind of rubbish off.  I take this kind of advertising as
> an insult to my intelligence.
> Tom
> 
> 
> --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, "Richard" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>> Nope.
>>  
>> Richard
>>   www.n7tgb.net
>>  
>>
>>   _  
>>
>> From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
>> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ron Wright
>> Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2008 8:10 PM
>> To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
>> Subject: [Repeater-Builder] do you believe this
>>
>>
>>
>> hi all,
>>
>> This kinda repeater related, but do you believe this:
>>
>> http://www.koreus.
>> 
>> com/video/telephone-portable-mais-popcorn.html
>>
>> Popping pop corn with a cel phone video.
>>
>> 73, ron, n9ee/r
>>
>> Ron Wright, N9EE
>> 727-376-6575
>> MICRO COMPUTER CONCEPTS
>> Owner 146.64 repeater Tampa Bay, FL
>> No tone, all are welcome.
>>
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Yahoo! Groups Links
> 
> 
> 
> 

Re: Re: [Repeater-Builder ] Re: RadioShack Recalls P ower Supplies Due toElec trocution and Fire Hazards

[Ron Wright]

Wayne,

I've seen some shotty wiring also.  Scares you sometimes thinking what can 
happen especially if the wire used is too small.

One note is from the Philipenes.  There they use, as many other countries do, 
220 VAC, but use the same 110 outlet we use here in the US.  My wife is from 
there and we sent a TV/VCR to her family with a 220 to 110 converter which 
worked well.  Then the converter went bad so they simply plugged the TV into 
their outlet.  Next they were asking about parts for it and where to buy.  I 
told them forget it for it was in house part numbers and little chance of 
finding them.  

73, ron, n9ee/r




>From: Wayne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Date: 2008/07/14 Mon AM 03:00:56 EDT
>To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: RadioShack Recalls Power Supplies  Due 
>toElectrocution and Fire Hazards

>  I have seen instances where a light switch to a ceiling fixture was put  
>in the neutral side, nd not the hot side of the line.
>
>  I have also seen where some hams, to save money, were using 120 volt 3  
>prong plugs for their mobile radios. Thinking what would happen if someone  
>else plugged it into a 120 volt outlet, ha ha ha.
>  I also dislike 12 volt light fixtures that take a 12 volt screw in bulb  
>of the same size as a 120 volt light bulb. Took me a while to figure that  
>out on a 5th wheel I had, and putting a 120volt bulb in it would not  
>light. A previous owner had rewired the light over the bathroom sink for  
>120 volts, but using zip cord.
>
>  At one corner of a 10 acre plot, of which I own 1/4, there is an  
>electrical box on a pole, no switches or breakers, that still has 430  
>volts coming into it.
>  they use a lot of supposed 480 volt motors around here for oil well  
>pumps. They wire two transformer outputs in series to get the 480. Some,  
>but not all, meter boxes are marked 480 volts.
>
>  I see a lot of poor wiring around this area. I even found one outlet in  
>this house, one of only two left, that had the white and black wires  
>reversed. I redid that before I hooke that line up to a new breaker panel.  
>I had to extend the wire, but did that in a box to be sure of what I had.
>  I always tend to check each outlet to be sure it is wired correctly.
>  Most of the ceiling lights that had been in here were poorly wired with  
>no boxes at the fixtures. I'm putting in boxes where I will be wiring  
>ceiling/wall fixtures.
>  It doesn't take that much to do a proper wiring job, compared to a lousy  
>jb with possible hazards...
>  YMMV
>
>  Wayne WA2YNE
>
>
>On Sat, 05 Jul 2008 01:39:50 -0500, Bruce Bagwell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>  
>wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> There are many makes of voltage sensing sticks one can get basically  
>> anywhere.
>>
>> Many times I have seen outlets "Converted" to 3 wire from two, only to  
>> find all they did was "ground" from the neutral wire.  That means I get  
>> all kinds of RFI and if the "Ground" ever dropped, it would be HOT just  
>> from the return from the light bulb or whatever.
>>
>> BTW, those cheap "Testers" will NOT detect HOT/Ground/Neutral Reverse!
>>
>> If in doubt, run a wire from a known ground to your Meter and find what  
>> wires are "Hot"
>>
>> I remember A house I rented, every time I touched the light  
>> switch/outlet in the garage I got "tickled"
>> Glad I knew what was going on or else I might have made full contact,  
>> and I would not be typing this right now!
>> Swapped the HOT/Neutral/Ground and all was OK!
>>
>> Always remember, just because the outlet is "Grounded" does not mean it  
>> is really "Grounded"  Verify!
>>
>> Stay safe out there!
>>
>> Bruce Bagwell
>> KE5TPN
>>
>-- 
>Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

Ron Wright, N9EE
727-376-6575
MICRO COMPUTER CONCEPTS
Owner 146.64 repeater Tampa Bay, FL
No tone, all are welcome.

RE: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Switching a Repeater Between AC Sources

[Jeff DePolo]

> > Why not use a UPS?
> 
> Well, there's the old problem of battery life. One of these repeaters
> is the primary Skywarn repeater for the area. The NWS is very
> interested in weather reports from this area since we are the first to
> see what has actually come across Lake Michigan. It needs to be
> operating for sometimes 4-8 hours, depending on the duration of
> watches and warnings. Plus, our Mastr II is not what you'd call--
> "efficient" in it's use of power, even at reduced output. Your idea
> is not without some merit, though, maybe for a 3rd level of AC power,
> operating on exciter power output. h

The other issue with UPS's is that they don't always play nice with
generators.  If the "red outlet" is emergency power (i.e. backed up by a
generator), you may find that the UPS may not like the generator-supplied
current, either due to frequency or voltage variations, and refuse to switch
back to "line" power after the generator starts.  Higher-end UPS's often
have software-adjustable parameters that get around this problem, but
run-of-the-mill UPS's don't, and my experience has been that many, if not
most, of them aren't very forgiving.

> As far as "installing" something, I think it would be more like 
> "plugging it in". I can't disagree with possibly talking to the
> maintenance people about it though. I'll also run-it-past one of the
> other members of our committee, who is an EE, and sells and designs
> emergency generator systems for commercial and industrial customers.

If you want to make something and just "plug it in", I'd get a double-pole
double-throw 20A contactor with 120V coil.  Wire the coil and normally-open
contacts to a cord that goes to the white outlet.  Wire the normally-closed
contacts to a cord that goes to the emergency outlet.  Wire the common
contacts to your equipment.  As long as there's power on the white outlet,
the coil will engage the contactor (normally-open contacts will be active),
and current from the white outlet will power your equipment.  If you lose
power on the white outlet, the contactor will disengage (normally-closed
contacts will be active), and power from the red outlet will feed your
equipment.

DO NOT tie the neutrals from the two sources together!  You should switch
both the hot and neutral using a double-pole contactor per the above.

I make no claims that this is UL, NEC, or AHJ approved...

--- Jeff WN3A

Re: [Repeater-Builder] Switching a Repeater Betwen AC Sources

[Eric M.]

Good points Richard. 

Not trying be a smart a$$, so please don't take this comment that way, 
but what is the service worth to the community?  SKYWARN, and up here in 
Canada CANWARN, are valuable services that can save lives.  Property can 
be replaced, lives can't.  Maybe there is some local, state or federal 
money that could be tapped into or maybe even some private money for 
that matter.  Maybe suppliers would be willing to give the group a break 
on pricing or even provide it at a substantial savings to the group.  I 
would go direct to the manufacturer.



Couple of thoughts on monitoring power outage.

- Some controllers have inputs that can be monitored and if a signal is 
sensed it sets off an alarm.  But a walwart could be plugged into the 
main receptacle and connected to a controller input with some cleaned up 
DC of course.  In the event of a power failure, the controller would no 
longer see the precense of the required voltage and notification could 
be provided, hopefully spoken if that option is available, and a 
designated person(s) could attend the site to check power.  If you know 
your runtime on the UPS, you know what your response time needs to be.


- I forgot that there was an IRLP computer at the site.  In that case, 
some UPS monitoring software will run on a unix/linux platform, there is 
notification as well, as this software can advise you of outages, self 
test results etc, etc by email.  I am thinking here of the APC line, we 
use them at our data centre for backup server power and in all of our 
LAN closets for backup switch stack power.


I mentioned APC, I have nothing to do with APC, I have only used their 
products and have always been pleased with the results.


Eric,
VA3EAM

Richard wrote:

It would have to be a very large, very high capacity UPS, in order to 
handle the current the transmitters draw. This would be very 
expensive. Maybe you could install a battery bank with a good quality 
four stage charger to power the repeaters. When the power drops, since 
the repeaters are already running on batteries, the switchover would 
be seamless.





Your IRLP computer could be powered with a 1500 watt or better UPS. 
This should allow sufficient runtime, plus the higher capacity should 
get you out of the cheapo consumer grade UPS category. As Eric 
suggests, you could plug the serial cable into the computer, and with 
the right software, the node could monitor the battery voltage when it 
is running on the UPS, then shut the computer down gracefully if the 
voltage drops too low.
 
 
Richard

www.n7tgb.net 
 



 

RE: [Repeater-Builder] VXR-7000

[James Thurlow - Home Account]

Alan
 
Cheers - Yep all set correct and handsets work OK with repeater (around
10km) so freq, etc programmed OK just pwr out is low.
 

No worries

James Thurlow



  _  

From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: 13 July 2008 22:56
To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] VXR-7000




James,
 
Make sure the repeater is programmed to the proper TX/RX/ pl/DPL etc.
frequencies before attempting alignment  as noted in previous post.
Good Luck,
 
Alan Rabin WA2AR
Enlight Communications Inc.
www.enlightcomm.  com
 
 
 

- Original Message - 
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]  net 
To: Repeater-Builder@ 
yahoogroups.com
Sent: 7/13/2008 5:49:53 PM 
Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] VXR-7000





The software CE29 has a help feature press F1 to access it. The TX alignment
must be done in base mode. In other words make sure the base/repeater light
is off on the front panel when doing this and use a wattmeter and proper
dummy load. good luck.
 
Alan Rabin WA2AR
Enlight Comm. Inc.
 
 

- Original Message - 
From: james_thurlow2003   
To: Repeater-Builder@ 
yahoogroups.com
Sent: 7/13/2008 5:03:18 PM 
Subject: [Repeater-Builder] VXR-7000



Help - someone tell me I'm not going bonkers. OK to put this post in 
context I fumble around PMR radio for events I run, have all the 
licenses from OFCOM and in my time programmed radios (HF and VHF) for 
humanitarian aid programs around the world.

I've purchased a VXR-7000 repeater (used, but in as new condition by 
appearence). Programmed it up and it works. However its only pumping 
out 10/12 watts and seeing as my license allows up to 25 I'm keen to 
maximise coverage.

Following the instructions about installtion of a duplexer I get the to 
bit where you hold the accessory button for 2 secs and push the PTT (Po 
shows) but the up / down buttons don't do nothing in adjusting the 
power out.

Has anyone any ideas.

Look forard to your replies.



No virus found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com 

Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.4.10/1549 - Release Date: 7/12/2008
4:31 PM





No virus found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com 

Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.4.10/1549 - Release Date: 7/12/2008
4:31 PM



 

[Repeater-Builder] Re: do you believe this

[Tom]

There was a recent article where the businessman that commissioned the
ad acknowledged that it was phony.  Seems he worked for a headset
manufacturer that was trying to suggest the safety hazard of holding a
cell phone next to one's head, thereby promoting headset sales.  It
didn't take this admission to realize that the ad was phony.  The laws
of physics clearly show that a few hundred milliwatts (or even a few
watts) from a cellphone, or even a dozen cellphones, for that matter,
cannot produce enough heat to vaporize the water in a kernel of
popcorn.  Add to that the fact that, when several phones are used,
who's to say that the signals are all in phase, therefore additive. 
They could just as easily be 180 degrees out of phase and therefore,
essentially cancel each other out.  Just takes a few seconds thought
to write that kind of rubbish off.  I take this kind of advertising as
an insult to my intelligence.
Tom


--- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, "Richard" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Nope.
>  
> Richard
>   www.n7tgb.net
>  
> 
>   _  
> 
> From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ron Wright
> Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2008 8:10 PM
> To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Repeater-Builder] do you believe this
> 
> 
> 
> hi all,
> 
> This kinda repeater related, but do you believe this:
> 
> http://www.koreus.
> 
> com/video/telephone-portable-mais-popcorn.html
> 
> Popping pop corn with a cel phone video.
> 
> 73, ron, n9ee/r
> 
> Ron Wright, N9EE
> 727-376-6575
> MICRO COMPUTER CONCEPTS
> Owner 146.64 repeater Tampa Bay, FL
> No tone, all are welcome.
>

Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: RadioShack Recalls Power Supplies Due toElectrocution and Fire Hazards

[Wayne]

  I have seen instances where a light switch to a ceiling fixture was put  
in the neutral side, nd not the hot side of the line.

  I have also seen where some hams, to save money, were using 120 volt 3  
prong plugs for their mobile radios. Thinking what would happen if someone  
else plugged it into a 120 volt outlet, ha ha ha.
  I also dislike 12 volt light fixtures that take a 12 volt screw in bulb  
of the same size as a 120 volt light bulb. Took me a while to figure that  
out on a 5th wheel I had, and putting a 120volt bulb in it would not  
light. A previous owner had rewired the light over the bathroom sink for  
120 volts, but using zip cord.

  At one corner of a 10 acre plot, of which I own 1/4, there is an  
electrical box on a pole, no switches or breakers, that still has 430  
volts coming into it.
  they use a lot of supposed 480 volt motors around here for oil well  
pumps. They wire two transformer outputs in series to get the 480. Some,  
but not all, meter boxes are marked 480 volts.

  I see a lot of poor wiring around this area. I even found one outlet in  
this house, one of only two left, that had the white and black wires  
reversed. I redid that before I hooke that line up to a new breaker panel.  
I had to extend the wire, but did that in a box to be sure of what I had.
  I always tend to check each outlet to be sure it is wired correctly.
  Most of the ceiling lights that had been in here were poorly wired with  
no boxes at the fixtures. I'm putting in boxes where I will be wiring  
ceiling/wall fixtures.
  It doesn't take that much to do a proper wiring job, compared to a lousy  
jb with possible hazards...
  YMMV

  Wayne WA2YNE


On Sat, 05 Jul 2008 01:39:50 -0500, Bruce Bagwell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>  
wrote:

>
>
> There are many makes of voltage sensing sticks one can get basically  
> anywhere.
>
> Many times I have seen outlets "Converted" to 3 wire from two, only to  
> find all they did was "ground" from the neutral wire.  That means I get  
> all kinds of RFI and if the "Ground" ever dropped, it would be HOT just  
> from the return from the light bulb or whatever.
>
> BTW, those cheap "Testers" will NOT detect HOT/Ground/Neutral Reverse!
>
> If in doubt, run a wire from a known ground to your Meter and find what  
> wires are "Hot"
>
> I remember A house I rented, every time I touched the light  
> switch/outlet in the garage I got "tickled"
> Glad I knew what was going on or else I might have made full contact,  
> and I would not be typing this right now!
> Swapped the HOT/Neutral/Ground and all was OK!
>
> Always remember, just because the outlet is "Grounded" does not mean it  
> is really "Grounded"  Verify!
>
> Stay safe out there!
>
> Bruce Bagwell
> KE5TPN
>
-- 
Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/





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