In the News:
6/21/2010
Extra warm greetings,
A lot of water has ran under the bridge since my last update.
After 10 trips and 3 trips up the tower 146.715 is complete ! Some
problems were encountered after we returned the repeater to the air.
A new building was installed in January by the tower owner. Air
conditioning was not installed and our equipment started to fail
when things heated up. Kb5OZQ, KE5BPL and myself installed a 5000
cfm air mover to evacuate the building and keep all the transmitters
from melting.
Thanks go to Chad Fuchs KTIJ station owner for all the donated
tower space. We helped as much as we could to help get him back in
business.
Problems continue with the 147.300 link radio. Troy has made
several attempts to get the radio to stay hooked up but seems to
fail again within a few days. We have the equipment to replace it
but the amount of work required to get a radio wired up and adjusted
to be a link radio....its easier to keep the original going.
147.075 has become our largest coverage repeater with its location
on the Arbuckle's. Since the frequency switch, the new equipment has
proved to have exceptional receive and transmit capabilities.
Equipment to increase the output power has been received and Troy
and I will get it installed as time permits.
147.000 was returned to service earlier this month with tower
donated by N5SSJ. Jerry, Alex, Delbert and myself raised the tower
with a hinged base. 1630' ASL a few feet shorter than the original
but seems to work just fine.
Kd5OTB donated a solar panel and batteries which were installed
Fathers day by OZQ and myself. Currently the repeater is 100% on
solar power, however a wind turbine will be needed to keep the power
up on the batteries in winter. Once we are sure all is operational,
electrical service will be disconnected and save SWIRA around
$350.00 to $400.00 per year!
I wish I could relay to you all the efforts on behalf of SWIRA
that have been put forth since the winter in which SWIRA lost so
much.
Hours and hours have been given by N5VIN as well as others in the
effort to keep the SWIRA Link System operational. No less than
$1000.00 in fuel alone has been needed just to get us to and from
all the sites over the last 6 months. SWIRA pays None of those cost.
Troy and I bare that burden. Your donations help with the electrical
service to 147.045 as well as repair parts and new equipment.
Your support is greatly needed to help SWIRA recover from the
catastrophic events of months past and the day to day expenses
incurred to keep 8 repeaters operational.
PLEASE continue your support by sending your donation to:
SWIRA
RT 1 Box 169 AA
Cyril, OK. 73029
PayPal is also accepted via the website.
Until next time 73s Terry /KB5LLI
April 27, 2010
Its about time for a
spring update!
This winter was pretty hard on the
system but all repeaters are operational except 146.745. The 147.075
frequency was moved to the Arbuckle site and .745 will return to the
air when the ordered crystals and other repair parts arrive. After
Troy has time to install and re-tune the Motorola repeater, 146.745
will transmit from the Elmore City location after the rework.
The frequency move was prompted by
complaints from the Muskogee group. They were hearing our .745
fairly well and did not want disturbed with amateur radio
communications upsetting their squelch settings. There were other
issues with the frequency , .745, being interfered with by a Texas
repeater on a nearby freq. So far all seems well with the move
and have yet to receive any interference or complaints. We intend to
increase power from the 147.075 repeater to better serve the area.
Our 146.715 repeater at Granite has
returned to the air after 5 trips. Power was restored to the new
building nearly 30 days after the storm. We ran on a temporary AC
drop and antenna for a few days until we were able to connect to the
restored building service.
The ice forced water into our 200
ft run of 7/8 heliax and that was replaced with donated feed line .
Thanks go to Steve KE5BPL, Troy N5VIN and KB5OZQ. Thanks go to AF5DY
Don for the feed line. Signal Reports indicate that all is
well with the machine.
147.255 seems to be working OK after a
new repeater , controller and duplexers were installed this past
winter. The repeater was taken from Grandfield and re-tuned to
147.300 and placed in service at Duncan. A brand new DB224E was
installed 4/22/10 at the Duncan site by Gordon Parkey Tower service
free of charge just as he has for years. A big thanks go Mr. Parkey
for his donations to SWIRA over the 15 years!!!
Much has changed for SWIRA over the
last year , however, the thing that has not is the need for your
support. PLEASE look to see when you last contribution was to SWIRA.
As you know, electric service , repair parts and normal maintenance
take money. Your contribution is very much needed and required for
SWIRA to stay in operation. Once again SWIRA needs your
support!
Contributions can be made via PayPal on
our website or mailed to : SWIRA RT 1 Box 169AA Cyril, Okla. 73005.
www.swiralink.com
Hope to hear you on the air!
Terry/KB5LLI
2-18-2010
Hello Folks,
An awful lot has been going on this winter...Most of it
not good at all!
Christmas Eve was costly for us . The blizzard that would
never end took out the 147.000 repeater tower. A 100ft rohn 25 with
DB 224 repeater antenna was lost, however tower donations and some
old stock I had should get us back in operation later this year. A
new antenna will be needed, but we were able to save the feed line.
The 147.000 is used for local communications while Nets are active
and when the system is busy.
147.300 Duncan was replaced after several attempts to
repair the old Master Pro repeater just did not seem to want to work
out. The 147.255 repeater was readied, and the frequency
changed to 147.300. Troy loaded it up took it to Duncan and all
seems to be working ok.
All equipment was changed out at our 147.255 Grandfield
OK site in January. The repeater and all connected equipment is new
and should serve Southern Okla. and Western North Texas very well.
AND THEN THE ICE STORM !!!!!! 146.715 at Granite has
been removed from what was left of the transmitter building and was
repaired and is in service at Troy's (N5VIN) QTH. Ice, up to 6inches
thick demolished the building we share with its owner KTIJ Radio. We
are awaiting building replacement and the invitation to return to
the Mountain! We have a plan "B" location so as to be operational
for storm season.
147.045, Cyril ran on generator power for 9 days with
two trips a day to fuel-up the generator. The antennas were in-cased
in ice for 7 straight days and we were forced to operate at a lower
power until utility power was restored. 147.075 and 147.300 lost
power but came back-up when power was restored about a week later.
Please know that GREAT efforts were made on SWIRA's
behalf by Troy N5VIN, Bennie N5PLV, KB5OZQ and myself to keep
the system up and operational during these trying times. A big THANK
YOU goes out to all that have contributed as of late. The extra
funds will help greatly as we try to get everything back up and
ready for storm season.
Better news next time!
Terry Mahorney
SWIRALINK
Happy NEW Year!
I hope all is well with you and yours. I thought I
would update you on SWIRA activities this winter.
147.300 (Duncan) was repaired and placed back in
service after a tube replacement and power supply repair. Repairs to
the repeater cost around $80.00 (parts only). N5VIN donates all
repair labor and travel.
146.745 suffered a loss of output power during the ice
and snow storm Christmas eve. Troy and I traveled to the site on the
Arbuckle's Monday to make repairs. Seems a faulty internal duplexer
part had failed but we were able to repair the part and get the
repeater back to operational power. Thank goodness for 4 wheel
drive!
The new 147.255 continues to be readied for installation at
Grandfield. After testing and tune-up, all new components will be
installed thus replacing our oldest operating repeater!
SWIRA did not escape the wrath of the 50 to 65mph winds
for hours and hours Thursday Dec. 24. Our stand alone repeater
147.000 lost its tower after freezing rain and wind forced the tower
to the ground. The 100ft Rohn tower and DB224 was a complete loss.
Its seems ice covered guy wires were snapped and down came the
tower and antenna. The repeater still continued to operate until
disconnected from power Monday afternoon.
Donations of Rohn 25g sections are being sought. If you
know of a section or two needing a home, Please let me know. We plan
to use an antenna already in stock to get us back on the air. KB5OZQ
and I plan to remove the fallen tower as soon as weather permits and
hope to replace the tower as it becomes available. Monetary
donations could help purchase used tower sections also.
As we enter into 2010, please check the date on your
last contribution. As you know, SWIRA operates 8 repeaters,...link
system radios,...power supplies....,backup battery
systems,...controllers... and antenna systems across central and
southwestern Oklahoma.
We very much appreciate the donations of late by SWIRA
members. These contributions are what keep our system up and
operational 99.99% of the time!
Please contribute to: SWIRA Rt. 1 Box 169 AA Cyril, OK.
73029 or via PayPal on the SWIRALINK website.
I hope 2010 is good for you. I look forward to seeing
you on the air!
Terry/KB5LLI
11-20-09
Hello all.
Yes its been awhile since my last update but all seems to be going well as
far as the repeaters go. New equipment installed at 147.045 Cyril, 146.715
Granite, and 146.745 on the Arbuckle's has been very helpful in keeping the
system up and has lowered maintenance issues we had with the older equipment.
A new repeater, power supply with backup and controller are being readied
to be installed at Grandfield 147.255. This is being done with funding in part
made available through a disaster mitigation grant administered by OK. Dept of
Emergency Management. Backup power is now in-place for every SWIRALINK repeater
and all repeaters should be able to operate thru an event.
I need to once again, let folks know of our access tones. We do not have
tone activated at all times, but users should always have the tones programmed
in just in case we do "tone-up" do to interference. All repeaters will use 123.0
PL tone EXCEPT Grandfield and Duncan. 147.255 tone is 192.8 and 147.300 tone is
141.3.
It is time once again to ask for your contribution. Remember if the
SWIRALINK system is a part of your radio hobby, its worth helping to support.
Your donations pay for the $960.00 in yearly electric costs, repair parts and
tower work that can not be completed by our group. All repeater work and repairs
completed by Troy (N5VIN) are donated to SWIRA. Countless hours are spent on
behalf of SWIRA and I am sure many have NO idea of the time and effort it takes
to maintain the largest coverage repeater system in Oklahoma and N. Texas!
If its been awhile since your last contribution, we would appreciate
hearing from you! Send contributions to: SWIRA Rt 1 Box 169A A Cyril, OK. 73029
Donated items were taken to the Texoma Hamarama and $243.00 was collected.
A special thanks go to Mark WB5YTO and James HC5HAA for the donation's of
equipment. A good time was had by all who attended the hamfest.
I look forward to seeing you on the air!
73's
Terry KB5LLI
7-20-09
Hope you are enjoying the warm summer temps of late. I just had a quick update
on the repeaters and also let you know I have not lost your Email address.
Troy, N5VIN and I assisted the guys from Patco Electric in an antenna change
out last Friday morning. Our fiberglass antenna was tangled in the tower at the
147.300 site and CTARC needed a digi antenna. An antenna donated by KE5EGK was
put in place at a little higher location and the fiberglass antenna was secured
and should work great for the club digi as it did for SWIRA.
Signal reports from Waurika seem to indicate better coverage and receive
capability on the newly installed DB224.
We have been toning-up the 147.045 repeater as of late due to summer time
inversion traffic coming into the machine. Please note the tone requirements of
all SWIRA repeaters and have them programmed in to avoid any problems when the
repeaters are toned. Please refer to
http://www.swiralink.com for the PL tone required for each repeater.
147.075,146.745,147.255,146.715,147.300 442.275,147.000 and 147.045 all seem
to be operating normally. If you notice anything in their operation that is not
normal, please let us know. As usual, Troy will have more time this fall and
winter to work on any problems we may have.
The 147.255 repeater at Grandfield, OK will be changed out later this year or
early next year with a new Kenwood repeater. The old Icom has been in place
several years and is ready for retirement.
Thanks to all those that have contributed as of late. As we begin our "repair"
season, your donations are very needed to help in the cost of repairs and new
equipment. Our system continues to grow as do the cost of keeping all the
repeaters operating and ready for you to use and enjoy. If it has been awhile
since your last contribution, PLEASE take
the time to send your donation to SWIRA Rt 1 Box
169AA Cyril, OK. 73029. You can also go to the SWIRALINK website and
contribute via PayPal.
Thanks for your continued support.
Terry Mahorney KB5LLI
4-22-2009
Hello all,
Just a quick update on recent activity and upgrades. New antennas were
installed on the 146.715 repeater at Granite Tuesday. KE5BPL, KB5OZQ, N5VIN and
myself spent about 5 hours in very nice weather installing 2 DB224s At the 220ft
mark above Walsh Mtn. One on the N. side and one one the S. side. We seem to
have increased the coverage area to the NW and to the SW . We should now be able
to hear spotters from Sweetwater to S. of Childress TX. Additional battery back
up was installed along with some increase in power to drive the dual antennas..
The coverage of the 146.745 repeater astounds us daily. Talkie coverage from
ADA, Norman and Ardmore are being reported. Mobile coverage to the state line on
I-35 and points East to Durant. New antennas to be installed on the tower will
complete the installation in the weeks to come.
A new UHF DB 413 was installed at the Cyril site on Monday to enhance the
quality of the link signal to 147.075 and 146.745. Approx. 4 hours were spent on
this installation..
Please keep in mind the massive amount of time and effort that goes into
keeping the SWIRA Link system up and running! As I have said before, lots of
good things are being done behind the scenes for your enjoyment and the service
to the spotter community and Emergency managers across Southern and Southwest OK
and North Texas.
Thanks go to WA5NBP of Quannah, Texas for his help and generosity in the last
few weeks! As electricity cost continue to rise for SWIRA, I am asking for those
that have not contributed as of late to PLEASE do so. If you enjoy the system or
it is a part of your hobby, please take the time to help the cause of SWIRA!
SWIRA Rt. 1 Box 169AA Cyril, OK 73029 or click on our PayPal tab on our website,
http://www.swiralink.com
As SWIRA grows, I ask users to please be mindful of the area your transmission
is covering and always invite others to join in the conversation. We only have
one chance to make a first impression!
Look forward to hearing you on the air,
Terry/ KB5LLI swira@swiralink.com
04-06-09
Hold on to your hats folks!
The wind blew Troy and I to the repeater site on the Arbuckles Sunday. We
installed the new repeater and duplexers for the 146.745 machine. We were
getting very good signal reports from near Ardmore and Marietta. New antennas to
be installed at a later date should make coverage even better for the area.
This repeater is the seventh linked repeater in the SWIRALINK system and we
welcome all those able to reach the repeater from the southern part of Oklahoma.
We hope to be an asset to the weather spotting activities in that area.
As everyday users talk on the system, I ask that you leave some time for other
amateurs to check in from other repeaters. It does take just a second to allow
for the linked radios the engage ,so please be mindful of how the system works
and allow the electronics time to connect. Please invite new stations to be part
of the conversation. SWIRA is a BIG family and we need to be open to new users
as they check in to our system. Also be mindful of the area now being served by
SWIRA and that severe weather could be a threat for some while others are making
snow balls!
We are humbled by the request by OEM to make the 146.745 a part of the
SWIRALINK family. We will NOT let them down!
Contributors of late are...K5REL Joe, WX5OKC Putnam,KD5OTB Eddie,N5QKG
Lonnie,WA5NWS Bret,K2OOL Mike, KK5O Brent, KE5TOQ John and WA5NBP Bill. A
special thanks go Troy N5VIN and Betty NZ5C for the things they do for SWIRA
when no one is watching. I know I missed someone so please remind me.
Please go to http://www.swiralink.com
if you have missed any news updates. If you would like to contribute to the
operation expenses of SWIRA please do so. SWIRA only operates through donations
from those that believe in what we do. Thank you in advance.
Till next time, 73s Terry/Kb5LLI
Howdy all!
March 25, 2009
146.745 Just an update on ongoing projects. The link antenna was installed at
the 146.745 in the Arbuckle's at the 150ft level. Thanks go to KB5OZQ, KE5NPG
and N5VIN for the help in getting the site ready for the new repeater. A
special thanks to Dale (KE5NPG) for the grub off the barbee! Most all the
equipment has arrived to construct the new repeater. Troy and I hope to get the
repeater on the air within the next couple of weeks.
147.045: New equipment was needed to augment some interconnection aspects at
Cyril. This upgrade will help with all link-backs to .045 from the other
repeaters. You may notice a stronger signal on both the .045 and Uhf. Better
duplexers were also installed to help the receive side.
146.715, 147.300, 146.745: Up coming projects include the installation of new
DB 224s at Ardmore, Granite and Duncan. We plan to increase the coverage of the
.715 repeater with dual antennas and an increase in power later this year.
Thanks go to those that have contributed as of late, there are many and I will
recognize you in a later update. If you can't remember the last time you donated
to the cause, then its probably time to do so. Information on how or where to
donate is on the home page.
Hope to hear you on the air! Terry/KB5LLI
In the News:
Feb 28, 2009
QST !
Its about time for an update. All the repeaters seem to be working well. We
were having some static crashes on .045 so KB5OZQ and I investigated. Some new
installations were ongoing on the tower and I went up and tied things down.
Seems to be better now. A good rain would help with communications across the
board. 147.300 and 147.075 are operating above expectations! N5VIN and I visited
the .075 site recently and all was well..045,.255 and .715 seem fine as well.
Some of you may heard some talk about a new addition to the SWIRA family of
repeaters. Well its true. I have been asked to make the 146.745 repeater on the
Arbuckle Mountains a part of the SWIRA link system. The repeater was installed a
couple of years ago by Carter County emergency management and the Oklahoma
Department of Emergency Management. It (146.745) was put together with some
older equipment and has suffered some neglect. Some funding became available to
aid in this project so the drain on SWIRA funds will be $0. Equipment has been
ordered and Troy will begin to build the new linked repeater when the goodies
arrive . We hope to be operational by March 30 or before. Some tower work will
need to be taken care of before installation. N5VIN and I will ask for some help
when it gets scheduled .
I would like to thank Putnam WX5OKC for his time consuming efforts on SWIRA's
behalf in the latest addition to the area SWIRA serves.
We have had several contributors as of late and I will list them in my next
news letter . Thanks to all of you who support SWIRA in anyway! SWIRA is now 17
years into a dream we had to build and operate the best repeater system in the
state. Many others look to us now for guidance in their own projects. What a
compliment!
Remember, NWS outlooks begin Mar. 15 at 7:30 and 12:30 daily.
See you on the radio,
Terry/ KB5LLI
SWIRA Rt. 1 Box 169AA Cyril, Ok. 73029
(PayPal Email centralappliance@yahoo.com )
Terry's news, have you been missed? If your a member and would like the
newsletters emailed to you please submit the following form below and we will
add your name to the list. Below the box is the latest newsletters to get you
caught up.
I
01/25/09:
Greetings all,
Just a quick update as we head into February. Hopefully we will begin to get
some precipitation soon!
The 147.075 continues to surprise us in coverage. 075 can be accessed from a
mobile from Norman to Ardmore. If you are traveling on I-35 give it a try. You
will be able to talk home via the link.
147.300 was repaired and re-tuned and now has GREAT coverage with about a 50 to
60 mile range.
A meeting between the "LINK" systems and the National Weather service was held
Sat. Jan 24th with about 50 attendees. Update to the different systems were
discussed and as usual SWIRA had the largest number of participants in
attendance. Thanks to all that made the effort to attend.
A note about access tones, 123.0 is our tone for .045,.075,.000 and.715
..147.255 is 192.8 and 147.300 is 141.3 when they are activated. We try to keep
the access tones off to allow passers by to get in. If you are unable to get in
sometime, try the tone.
We seem to be receiving much better with the change out of our 147.255 antenna
at Grandfield. Thanks to KSWO Ch 7 for their continued support of SWIRA!
All repeaters seem to be up and ready for the coming storm season. A big thanks
to Troy N5VIN for the time and effort put in on all the repeaters lately. Betty
NZ5C has updated our website and is stilling working to make it better. Please
take time to go by the site and look at the new pictures and info. Did you know
you can listen on the web when we are linked to WX5OKC/R in Oklahoma City?
That's all for now. Look forward to hearing you on the air!
Terry/KB5LLI
01/09/09:
Happy New Year!
Thought I would update everyone on what has been going on.
The 147.075 repeater has been installed and after a little more work on the
feed line we are at the top of the tower and at full power. Emergency power was
installed ,all with donated batteries and inverter. Early reports on signal
strength show that we may be able to serve Garvin, Stephens, Cleveland counties
and south into the Arbuckle's.
Thanks go out to N5VIN, KB5OZQ, KE5NPG and those that donated towards this
effort.
Further adjustments are being made to the new 147.300 Duncan machine such as
audio levels and link adjustments.
As with all SWIRALINK repeaters, they are for everyday use by all! That is how
we know if all is well with the system and ready for weather or emergency use.
Please make the effort to make a little noise and make those that make the
system work ...smile!
Special thanks go out to KM5IO, N5ZWS,KC5ZNB,NZ5C,K5WPN,KE5EGK and WX5TOR for
their continued support of SWIRA.
Happy New Year! Hope to hear from all of you in the coming new year!
SWIRA
RT. 1 Box 169AA
Cyril, Ok. 73029
(PayPal Email centralappliance@yahoo.com )
Terry KB5LLI
12/23/08:
Hello
again,
Just a quick update here before Christmas. Troy has our new 147.075 repeater
nearly ready to go on the hill near Elmore City Okla. We have reason to believe
we will have very good coverage along I-35 and south into the Arbuckle's. Some
more tower and antenna work needs to be completed when weather permits , however
a side mounted DB 224 will work until the top antenna is repaired.
Antenna replacement is still in the works for 147.255 Grandfield. Troy has
corrected me and that antenna is at the 550ft mark on the KSWO Tv tower.
I have been asked about donations via PayPal. One may donate to SWIRA via PayPal
by entering in
centralappliance@yahoo.com as the receiving email address. Click this link
http://www.paypal.com to go there.
Have a very merry CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Terry/KB5LLI
12/12/08:
Greetings,
Hope everything is going your way this CHRISTMAS season! Have you finished off
the Thanksgiving leftovers?
Here's some news....Troy and I installed the old 146.715 repeater at the
Duncan's clubs tower site in late November and all seems well after a little
repair work last week. Our output power is less than 40watts which limits its
range, but works very well for the Stephens County area. The repeater is on
147.300/141.3 tone linked to Cyril 147.045.
On Saturday 12/5/08, I personally purchased the assets of the former Table Top
amateur radio club. This included the repeater, stand by repeater ,and Wacom
duplexers. Tommy Paul KD5NMM has donated a substantial portion of the equipment
and has agreed to continue his site agreement and donate it to SWIRA. Thanks
Tommy!
The frequency pair has been coordinated in SWIRA/KB5LLI by ORSI . The pair is
147.075 and will be located West of Elmore City.
A new controller and tone encoders have been ordered for the project. Sam ,N5ZWS
has donated the link radio and James, KC5hAA donated the link antenna. All
equip. was transported to Troy's N5VIN for inspection and repairs. After a some
repair and tune up, Troy has given the equipment the OK. We will return the
repeater to the tower site after the installation of the controller and link
radio.
Some maintenance will be conducted on the 147.075 tower this weekend by myself
and KB5OZQ. This should make it ready for the re-installation of the repeater
when Troy gets it ready. Also a new DB224 donated by Larry KE5NJM will be
installed at 700 ft courtesy of KSWO very soon.
The cost to SWIRA for this addition to our network of linked repeater is small
compared to what we gain in coverage. SWIRA will need about $400.00 to complete
this project. You know the drill , if you have contributed lately , please do
so. Several small donations add up!
Just sent your contribution to: SWIRA Rt. 1 Box 169aa Cyril, Ok. 73029
Thanks in advance.
Those contributing recently are; KD5FAK Brent, Jason KD5RMV, Chris KD5TDK ,James
KE5PGT and Chris KD5EJO. A big thanks to Troy for all his time and effort in
keeping the repeaters on the air
Have a Merry CHRISTMAS.....................Terry/KB5LLI
12/01/08:
Link to 4 radars in the area
http://wdssii.nssl.noaa.gov/web/wdss2/products/radar/casart.shtml
Terry/KB5LLI
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