BEECN SW Portland Repeater: Difference between revisions
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# '''Do you have enough volunteers?''' It takes a minimum of three volunteers to stand up and take down the repeater kit (although, it takes only two to operate it). Two volunteers will set up the mast, and the third acts as a safety officer. | # '''Do you have enough volunteers?''' It takes a minimum of three volunteers to stand up and take down the repeater kit (although, it takes only two to operate it). Two volunteers will set up the mast, and the third acts as a safety officer. | ||
# '''Assess the deployment site.''' Is it safe to operate in the area? Are there any hazards present that could prevent volunteers from operating safely? | # '''Assess the deployment site.''' Is it safe to operate in the area? Are there any hazards present that could prevent volunteers from operating safely? | ||
# '''Personal protective equipment (PPE).''' Volunteers operating the repeater should wear weather appropriate clothing and watertight footwear. Having a hardhat is VERY important, particularly as the mast is assembled and raised. Gloves are important for avoiding pinch points on the mast segments. PBEM recommends wearing a reflective vest. | # '''Personal protective equipment (PPE).''' Volunteers operating the repeater should wear weather appropriate clothing and watertight footwear. Having a hardhat is VERY important, particularly as the mast is assembled and raised. Gloves are important for avoiding pinch points on the mast segments. PBEM recommends wearing a reflective vest.[[File:Clatoon Anemomenter.png|alt=This model of anemomenter is included in the mast bag to help measure wind speed.|thumb|400x400px|This model of anemomenter is included in the mast bag to help measure wind speed.]] | ||
# '''What is the wind doing?''' See table to the right. If winds are steadily blowing over 16 mph, volunteers must not attempt to assemble the mast. If the mast is up and winds pick up, the repeater crew should carefully disassemble the mast and demobilize until winds die down. | # '''What is the wind doing?''' See table to the right. If winds are steadily blowing over 16 mph, volunteers must not attempt to assemble the mast. If the mast is up and winds pick up, the repeater crew should carefully disassemble the mast and demobilize until winds die down. There is also a [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7NB6RFH?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title handheld anemometer] to measure wind speed included in the mast bag; see image to the right. | ||
# '''What's over our heads?''' The mast should be deployed in an open field, away from trees, and completely clear of power lines.<mark> '''CAUTION:''' '''assume all powerlines are energized, even after an earthquake. If the mast touches a power line, repeater operators will be severely injured or killed! Never push the mast upwards if you cannot see where it is going!'''</mark> | # '''What's over our heads?''' The mast should be deployed in an open field, away from trees, and completely clear of power lines.<mark> '''CAUTION:''' '''assume all powerlines are energized, even after an earthquake. If the mast touches a power line, repeater operators will be severely injured or killed! Never push the mast upwards if you cannot see where it is going!'''</mark> | ||
# '''Is the mast appropriately secured?''' The mast kit comes with stakes for the feet and [[wikipedia:Guy-wire|guy wires]]. Use them 100% of the time. This equipment helps keep the mast secure and steady. | # '''Is the mast appropriately secured?''' The mast kit comes with stakes for the feet and [[wikipedia:Guy-wire|guy wires]]. Use them 100% of the time. This equipment helps keep the mast secure and steady. | ||
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=== Power: ZAMP Solar Generator === | === Power: ZAMP Solar Generator === | ||
Output of 200 watts for charging the AGM Group 27 battery inside the DC Power subsystem. This system | Output of 200 watts for charging the AGM Group 27 battery inside the DC Power subsystem. This system has two subsystems | ||
# A pair of solar panels in a canvas case. | # A pair of solar panels in a canvas case. | ||
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# The 120V AC is provided by an inverter mounted in the upper front of the subsystem behind the door. The 120V AC capability can be used by connecting an AC cord into the front of the inverter and ensuring that the inverter is turned on. | # The 120V AC is provided by an inverter mounted in the upper front of the subsystem behind the door. The 120V AC capability can be used by connecting an AC cord into the front of the inverter and ensuring that the inverter is turned on. | ||
# The DC and AC power can be used without the solar panels but will run down the battery at a rate that will depend on the DC and AC loads. During sunny conditions the solar panels could be used to provide power to equipment as well as charge the batteries. If enough charge is provided to the battery during the day and the night-time loads are small, the battery might last until the solar panels can be used again the next day. | # The DC and AC power can be used without the solar panels but will run down the battery at a rate that will depend on the DC and AC loads. During sunny conditions the solar panels could be used to provide power to equipment as well as charge the batteries. If enough charge is provided to the battery during the day and the night-time loads are small, the battery might last until the solar panels can be used again the next day. | ||
== Repeater Kit Wish List == | |||
A couple items PBEM would like to add to the kit if resources become available: | |||
* Handheld BEECN radio, so the repeater crew can monitor radio traffic. | |||
* Generator/battery combo, to be used to power the repeater if needs to be deployed when the sun is low in the sky on short winter days or obscured by clouds during other seasons. | |||
* Replace the large AGM battery inside the heavy black. | |||
* Replace the coax for the UHF antenna with low-loss LMR 400 or equivalent. | |||
* Upgrade the VHF radio so that it could also operate on both the 2-meter amateur band and the nearby VHF band used by Multnomah County for its quarterly VHF check-ins (MCEM 1 and MCEM 2). Each MCARES team has at least one go-kit that has this capability. Team leads participate in the quarterly check-ins along with various bureaus and at least one bridge. There is a chance that this would be mostly a matter of installing a UASI frequency template on one of the orange-box transceivers instead of the standard BEECN template. | |||
== Program/Policy Background == | == Program/Policy Background == | ||
