White Tanks

Packet &APRS Maintenance Workday

October 30, 2004

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.