YES Folks...
Your eyes don't deceive you, I'm updating the web site and e-mail you the info.
Firstly, I must apologise for letting things fall by the wayside, but as some of you are aware, everything has not been that good on the health front - Heart by-pass surgery, with various complications and on-going problem with medication. However, we are finally on the mend. I hope !
Poor old bugger .......
Well, down to business.
GB3JB / General Update.
Yes, the turbine got repaired - £280 or so, plus a tank full of diesel, plus shipping costs.
Yes, the turbine got installed - after much new constructional work by Clem, G3UGR.
The turbine is now mounted on a hinged, wind-up / wind-down mast system. Another £130, or so, for the winch, pulleys, heavy duty masting, brackets, clamps, winch cable, power cable extension, etc., plus numerous litres of diesel.
Yes, the system kept going over the Summer months, with just the Solar panel and the system on low power.
JB went back on full power, almost 2 weeks ago.
Also, additional problems that have been encountered. The 'DUMP LOAD' went open circuit, due to a breakdown in the physical structure of the internal connections and the heat insulating material. This was initially repaired by Clem. However, it eventually needed to be replaced - another £125.
At this point it was found that the voltage / bypass regulator had a problem, probably resulting from the failure of the dump load. It was constantly in 'load shedding' mode as opposed to 'power dumping' mode. Unless resolved, this risked damaging the batteries further.
Fortunately, while I was attempting to source a new regulator, in a sensible time scale, Clem stripped down the existing unit and was able to HAND DRAW out the circuit diagram and was able to determine the fault and repair. Thus saving £250 that we would have had to find.
At this point I feel that everyone should be made aware of just how much of the load has been carried by Clem, over the last few months.
CLEM, THANK YOU.
Without any exaggeration, without Clems effort JB would have effectively closed down and none of the repair or installation work would have been carried out. All users of JB own Clem a great deal of gratitude.
Thanks must also go to those few individuals who were able to provide 'muscle' power on site, when Clem was going to the site. Thanks are also due to those who offered, but were unavailable at the appropriate times.
In addition to the above expenditure, a further £379, has been spent on additional batteries to support the additional loading that GB3WX will place on the power system, and a further £350 on a custom, dual cross-band controller for GB3WX, from the USA.
As some of you may well have determined, by now, this money had to come from somewhere, there being very little in the JB coffers. The somewhere being Clems, Peter G3BPM's, and my pockets.
Now as you should all by now be aware, November is when the site insurance is due - £232 this year, and December is when the site fee of £150 is due.
So, it's really a case of us holding out the hat and as usual saying that "donations will be very welcome".
However, we feel that we should make it clear, that various individuals have previously made some very generous donations towards these annual ongoing costs, for which we are of course very appreciative.
Unfortunately, some regular users have not made any contribution, at all, ever. We guess that everyone will know which group they sit in.
Also, in previous years, any shortfall in donations has been met by ourselves. However, bearing in mind the additional expenditure which has been met by Clem, Peter and myself in order to keep JB running and too prepare for GB3WX, we feel that the annual expenditure will have to be met by the users.
Funding of UK repeaters, has always been a bone of contention. Fortunately, we have been very lucky in the past, relying on donations and the generousity of users. We would like to feel that we can keep JB, and WX for that matter, open to all.
With regard to the GB3JB web site. There will be some significant changes to the style, layout and content over the next few weeks and I shall be endeavouring to keep it as up to date as regularly as I did previously.
GB3WX Update.
As has been indicated above, we now have the pucka controller from the states and additional deep discharge batteries.
Clem is now looking at working his magic, to interface the controller with the existing logic, decoders and other hardware.
Once this is done we will be able to re-install on site, and comence the process of sorting out the breakthrough, onto GB3JB, which occurs when the system is simultaniously beaconing on 10m and 6m.
We have several ideas as to the cause and probable cures. However, since the problem is only seen, on site, little can be done until the kit is back at the site.
The computer and software for data loging and 'through audio' recording, all appear to be working OK. However, we do still need to source a PSU that will enable us to run the system from the 24v dc rail. There are various units available, but all appear to be at what can be described as rediculous prices. It may be that we end up building our own.
The aim is to get GB3WX on air and fully functional by the end of November.
However, we are looking for donations, here as well. The equipment will need to be insured; added to the existing all-risks, third party and public liability policy.
The renewal fee as shown above, does not of course include for this additional equipment. Initial assessments indicate that we are looking for around an additional £125, to cover the GB3WX equipment.
With regard to the GB3WX/TWXRG web site. There will also be some significant changes to the style, layout and content over the next few weeks and I shall be endeavouring to keep it as up to date as regularly as I did previously.
Donations.
For GB3JB, you can make a SECURE online DONATION, via PAYPAL. The email address to which donations should be made is: gb3jb.repeater@googlemail.com
You can make a payment from your bank account, debit card, credit card or if you already have a PAYPAL account, from your PAYPAL account balance.
If you would prefer the more traditional methods, such as a CHEQUE or a POSTAL ORDER, then these should be sent directly to:
GB3JB Repeater, c/o “Cariad”, Yarnbarton, Templecombe, Somerset, BA8 0JH.
Please ensure that ALL cheques and postal orders are made payable to “GB3JB Repeater”.
Please also ensure that your Name and Callsign are clearly printed on the reverse. If you have email, please include this and then we can confirm receipt of your donation.
Please do NOT send cash under any circumstances.
For donations to GB3WX. Unfortunately we do not have a PAYPAL facility for this repeater system, at this time. Therefore donations can only be made using CHEQUE or POSTAL ORDER, and these should be sent directly to:
The Wessex Repeater Group, c/o “Cariad”, Yarnbarton, Templecombe, Somerset, BA8 0JH.
Please ensure that ALL cheques and postal orders are made payable to “The Wessex Repeater Group”.
Please also ensure that your Name and Callsign are clearly printed on the reverse. If you have email, please include this and then we can confirm receipt of your donation.
Please do NOT send cash under any circumstances.
AND FINALLY .......
As will be appreciated, neither Clem or myself are getting any younger or fitter and neither of us have any plans to be building, setting-up, running or maintaining repeaters when we are in our 70's.
We therefore feel that now is the time for us to start looking for those keen and technically capable individuals to whom we can start to hand over the reins too.
If you have an interest in, shall we say 'more than just using the repeaters', let us know.
We would suggest that unless you work in the technical side of the radio communications business, or are just passing through the 'Foundation Licence' stage, on your way to getting a 'Full Ticket', it is unlikely that you will have the skill set at the appropriate level to get too deeply involved in the technical side of things. But of course, you may wish to prove us wrong.
Now is the time to start to get involved. We are still around and can give you all the technical know-how and support you need - assuming that you don't have that already.
If you just want to help us in anyway that you can - please let us know.
Could you make a better job of the web site ?
Do you have some ideas on how to promote the repeaters and generate income ?
Thanking you all for your on-going support and interest.
Cheers & 73's
Dave, G3ZXX.
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SITE LAST UPDATED ON: Saturday, 10/01/2015 @ 4:35 pm local time.
RV63 - Out 145.7875 MHz - In 145.1875 MHz - 103.5 Hz ctcss (G).
The system is located in South Wiltshire, in IO81vc, and provides coverage across South Wiltshire, South Somerset and North Dorset, with specific areas such as the City of Salisbury, Salisbury Plain, the Blackmore Vale and Cranborne Chase being well within its range. Coverage also extends, for fixed stations, across most of central and parts of North Wiltshire, Southern Dorset and West Hampshire, plus parts of North and West Somerset. See coverage map.
GB3JB is an analogue voice repeater, with no internet linking, simple intuitive logic and no bells or whistles. The beacon sends callsign and locator. The invitation to transmit is a single dit.
The simple rules for using GB3JB ....
(2) All users of GB3JB are expected to operate their station within the terms of their specific licence conditions and restrictions.
(3) When in QSO, please wait for the invitation to transmit (a single dit), and always leave a pause between overs' - always give others a chance to call-in.
(4) Please use good operating practices and procedures. Mobiles have priority. Remember, if a station calls in, during the gap between overs', always acknowledge them and please DON'T leave them sitting on the side, while everyone else has an over.
(6) If, under lift conditions, you wish to use another repeater on RV63, please turn off the 103.5 Hz ctcss tone, otherwise you will still access GB3JB.
(7) Remember that you are Radio Amateurs, using an Amateur Radio facility, so please use the appropriate operating practices and procedures.
Since you have taken the trouble to get an Amateur Licence, surely it's not to much to expect of you, that you use Amateur Radio abbreviation and accepted terminology, such as the Q-codes. We do not have a '20', we have a 'location' or 'QTH'. We do not have a 'personal', we have a 'name', etc., etc., If you still use CB, that's fine, no problem, BUT please leave the CB lingo for CB, and not when you use GB3JB or any other Amateur Radio facility or the Amateur bands.
(8) Ignore any idots - If you don't hear a callsign, do NOT respond - EVER !
