Brainerd Area Amateur Radio Club, Inc.

Work on the KA-Node Packet Station
 August 28, 2002

   I took the high-rise packet node down this last winter because there was a problem with the power supply and also the 2-meter transmitter.  When I removed the node for repair, I also checked the antenna and found there was a problem with it.  I repaired the power supply and had the transmitter fixed.  I configured the TNC for KA-node and also changed the call sign from WØUJ-3 to just WØUJ and MNBRD. Both call signs now work.

   When we put the station back in the high-rise, we (Al WØRC, Mark WØMH and Jim WAØAXB) checked the antenna and found that it was definitely bad. I ordered a new Diamond model F23A high gain 2-meter base station antenna to replace it.

   On Aug. 28^th we installed the new antenna and found the node still did not work. Shirley KCØDCW and Alan AAØAS were also there to help. We suspected that the ½ inch hard line was defective.  Shirley and Alan noticed what looked like a hole in it, so after closer inspection we found that there were several holes in the sheath and the hard line had water in it.

   Fortunately Mark had enough 9913 type coax, a low loss version of RG-8A/U cable in his van.  We installed the new coax and the SWR looked much better.  

   Upon arriving home, I connected to it just fine and with a better signal than in the past.  Shortly after that, Eric NY9D was heard on the node.  He later sent me an email and stated that he connected to it from Hugo, MN.  Hugo is just northeast of St. Paul and southeast of Ham Lake.  Bob WØZPE also connected to it from Huntersville with a good signal.  So, I guess it is working pretty well.

   The node is still on 145.67 MHz and can be reached with WØUJ or MNBRD call signs.  This node will be part of a new statewide link to the Twin Cities that can be used for emergency communications in the event of a disaster in the Brainerd area.

   On an unrelated matter, I was checking the antenna rotor and control box for the beam antenna that John WØNY donated to the club for use in the Communications trailer. I found there was a shorted Zener diode in the control head so it would not indicate direction.

   When we went to town to work on the packet node I was going to stop at Radio Shack to see if I could buy one.  By chance, I asked Mark WØMH if he had one.  Well he just happened to have ten of the 6.8 volt one watt diodes I needed for the repair.

   What are the chances of that happening? With Mark around, who needs Radio Shack.   Al WØRC