ARA antenna site on top of White Tanks
Work party getting started, reconfigure the power to the MARCA digital
node - new batteries and containers.
MARCA High gain antenna and new UHF link antenna pointed toward Pinal Mtn.
Pat Stautberg proudly displaying the new design for the battery compartment.
Paul Bennett climbing up to install new link antenna.
Paul getting ready to install new antenna. Karl prepares the antenna
and secures it to the haul line.
New link antenna (5 element directional) is installed just above the guy
wire support.
Lunch time after Karl and Paul install the new link antenna and grounding
straps.
Here's a rundown of the site.
Racks 1 2 3 - MARCA digital node, ARA repeater, ARA input filters
MARCA Packet, Link Backbone, UHF & VHF APRS node
ARA repeater & control rack
These repeater input filters are extremely narrow bandpass filters.
These filters are necessary to reject the other high-power signals present
at these mountain tops
allowing the receivers to operate at optimal performance.
The ARA battery backup system consists of six 2V cells that supply backup
energy
when the power main goes down until the propane-powered generator starts
up.
ARA charger system
Civil Air Patrol repeater and digital APRS
Condor 220 MHz repeater links other repeaters throughout the SW (Nevada,
California and Arizona).
MARCA battery backup and charger installed. Power back on to MARCA
equipment and separated from ARA power system.
Jim Gerwitz configuring and checking out the Kantronics TNC and transceiver
nodes.
John Braden installed screens across the fans to the building and on generator
to keep critters from munching on or snuggling up to our warm electronic
components.
Jim looks a bit concerned. Gary Hinton is not receiving packets.
Appears that the controllers have lost their settings.
Oh, we replaced the backup batteries inside the TNCs;
guess next time we better back up the settings before power down.
Bill Hoskings re-configures the APRS and Digipeater nodes.
Back up and running ... when you remember those old DOS commands.
(DOS is an Operating System that is prior to Windows 3.1, 95, 98, 2000, ME
or LINUX)
John Braden enjoying the great weather and view from the summit of White
Tanks.
View to the north
View to the south
Neighboring site to the SW.
Site to the SE.
Neighboring site to the NE.
Neighboring site next to the ARA site. Notice the microwave corner
repeater.
Microwave corner repeater.
A young Agave
Karl Shawcroft rehydrating. Karl helped with the install of
the new link antenna, rolex and grounding kits.
Bill documenting the site setup. Updating the log books and getting
ready for the system checkout.
The new MARCA link antenna is just above the first guy wire.
The condor 220 MHz linked repeater and the ARA repeater antennas.
Propane tanks fuel the backup generator.
Last gate near the top of the mountain. The gates remain locked at
all times.
Heading down the vertical incline. Caterpillar used this area as a
proving ground for their vehicle designs for many years.
Road up to the White tanks Antenna site - passes from the south next
to the new Verrado development.
John stops to show Gary and Paul the Silver Springs trail head.
Silver springs trail
Ariel photo of site. ARA site is located in middle of the NW site.
All in all a very productive and enjoyable work day. Thank
you John for driving Gary and Paul up to the top of the mountain.
Photos from Bill Hoskings and Paul Bennett.
Report by Paul Bennett KD7KDO