Hi All,
Earlier this afternoon, I had a phone call to my mobile, telling me that there had to be something wrong with GB3JB as the individual concerned was having trouble contacting another station, and that the signal was going down and down.
I'm afraid I did cut the conversation very short, as I was under the canopy of a petrol station in Taunton, just about to fill-up and getting very EVIL looks from the attendant.
Anyway, I had noted that it was its usual signal strength from home, when checked early this morning and having listened to various conversation whilst driving to Taunton, I thought it unlikely that there was any real problem, unless it had suddenly occurred.
I had also been able to access JB from level 2 of the multi-storey car park, at Musgrove Park Hospital. Having spent most of the afternoon at the Hospital, undergoing yet more tests !
However, during the short phone conversation, the individual appeared quite insistent that JB had a problem and that I ought to get to the site.
Throughout, the journey home, I found that I was able to access JB, on 5 watts to a 5/8th wave on the rear wing of the car, from every location that I tried it, including the traffic jam I was sat in outside the Police station in central Taunton.
I thus assumed from this that there was not a problem with the antenna.
Upon arriving home, I check JB and all appeared to be OK, but bearing in mind who the individual was, I decided to go up to the site and check things out - I gathered the kit together and was driven to the site.
Initial visual inspection indicated that there was no obvious physical damage to the antenna or feeder.
The VSWR was as expected, less that 1.15 to 1 with no obvious fluctuations as the antenna and mast moved around in the gusty wind.
The power into the antenna feeder, from the cavities was as expected, also with no obvious fluctuations.
The nominal 12v d.c rail was steady at 13.07 volts on RX, dropping to 12.97 on TX.
The nominal 24v d.c. rail was steady at 26.7 volts on RX, dropping to 26.6 on TX, with the turbine stationary.
With the turbine charging, the 24v d.c. rail was going up to 27.3 volts and the dump load was switching in.
Therefore, I think from this we can deduce that the battery system is fully charged, the antenna system is OK, the RX is OK and the TX is OK.
So. Whats wrong with JB ... Absolutely Nothing !
A 26 mile round trip, an hour and a half and a gallon of fuel later, thanks to the BANK HOLIDAY weekend and Friday evening traffic, may I respectfully request that before you go pressing the panic button, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, ensure that your perceived problem is not closer to home.
Perhaps check to see if anyone else, other than the individual that you are having a difficult QSO with, is having the same problem.
Cheers & 73's
Dave, G3ZXX
