[CRAPRS] Call for help

[Ron Tonneson]

Thanks to the generosity of Heartland Towers, AKA Rob Nall WV0S, we have the opportunity to 
install APRS digipeaters on a couple towers in the area.  These towers are near Morse and 
Maclcom.  Both sites will provide antenna locations that are about 300 feet AGL.  These should 
greatly improve the coverage along I80 and to some extent along US30.

I have all the equipment needed except for a couple of Polyphasers which are on order.  Each 
digipeater package will have a GE Phoenix radio, 25 amp Samlex power supply, MFJ TNC, monitor 
box and cooling fan.  Here are photos of the digipeater packages:
<http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t17/k0qvf/Digi_box_inside.jpg>
<http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t17/k0qvf/Digi_box_outside.jpg>

I will need some help with the installation at the Morse tower.  Here is a photo of the tower:
<http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t17/k0qvf/Morse_Tower_1.jpg>

I have not been to the Morse tower yet but here is the view down looking over the edge from the 
top of the Homestead tower:
<http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t17/k0qvf/Homesteadlookingdown.jpg>

We will need to drill a hole in one of the waveguide blanks shown in this picture:
<http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t17/k0qvf/Coax_Entry_Into_Building.jpg>

We will then need to route the co-ax from the antenna to the digipeater package similar to the 
waveguide routing shown here:
<http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t17/k0qvf/Inside_Coax_Runs_2.jpg>

On the first visit there we will install the digipeater with a temporary j-pole antenna mounted 
to the guard rail.  We will also take measurements to design and fabricate a mount such that we 
can mount a DB264 to the round pipe in the middle of this photo:
<http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t17/k0qvf/Top_Dish_1.jpg>

The install at the Malcom tower will be quite a bit easier as I am told there is an antenna near 
the top that we can use.  Just have to plug in the digipeater package.

I am thinking that it would be nice to have two or three helpers at the Morse site.  There is a 
staircase inside tower with lots of steps.  Will also be looking for ideas/help fabricating the 
DB264 mount.

Thanks,

Ron - K0QVF
846-2597
ron.tonneson at gmail.com