147.015 Transmit Power Update

On a whim, James, KB0NHX, went to check the power output on the 147.015 several days ago because it seemed weaker than usual in some areas and found it was only transmitting 40-Watts out of the duplexer. Previously, we drove the amplifier with 6.5 watts to get 225 Watts out.

Thanks to another local ham and group that will remain anonymous until we have permission to mention it, they have loaned us a 250w amplifier so that we can get back up to full power until we can resolve our amplifier issue. We did crack open the amplifier and found one side of an inductor in the DC input charred and unsoldered from the board as well as the DC input to two of the transistors unsoldered from the circuit board. We have got those repaired and hope to test tomorrow

We are back up to 157-W out of the duplexer now, so about a 6 dB increase in output power. The transmit side of the duplexer was spot-on, but we touched up the receive side to get another 8 dB of notch which may help weak signals access the repeater a little better.

Stay tuned for more updates - and feel free to post any improved signal levels at your QTH!