Heavy Lifting

The covered awning and shop extention work is in high gear.  The fabrication of the roof beams and rafters is almost done.  The beams have been lagged in place and now the rafters are being 'swung' into position.   The beams for the rafters are schedule 80 steel and estimated to weigh around 500 lbs each.  

This is very heavy construction.  Looking ahead to typhoon strength winds coming at us once again in the future, the additional details put into this will be worth it.

The Heat is On

We have seen a lot of heat in TX7 the past two days.  We were a bit concerned when a hole was burned into a circuit board of the TIGRE.  The TIGRE is not a tiger; it's a major part of the control system for the transmitter.  We had been having trouble with it for several weeks.  Once we smoked the board, we had to remove the unit and repair connections that had been severed.  Once we put the whole thing back together, we were relieved that the TIGRE was back to the way it had been operating.

Then two other problems got our attention.  One power supply failed.  It was replaced with a spare unit.  Then we worked on the original data link problem that had plagued us for weeks.  We finally figured out that the circuit board shown to the left was defective.  We replaced this one with a good spare board.  The data link went away!  TX7 was then able to respond to operator command.

We turned on the cooling system and found that we had some faults to clear.  It took some climbing and poking various connections to get those problems worked out.  We could not proceed to the next stage without those faults being cleared.

The next stage was to get heating to work.  The power amplifier (PA) tube had been simmering in the preheating stage for weeks.  Now it was time to get it fully heated.  The transmitter took the command as if it were not a big a deal.  It was definitely a big deal when we saw this display with no faults related to this stage!  Now we can heat the tube as part of its break-in period before the transmitter puts out an RF signal.

Now we can work on the RF section.  We need to check out the RF driver and then the PA.  We need the antenna connected for the PA test, so worked out well that the RF duct is now done.

Duct Dynasty

It's done.  And the focal point of this final phase of the duct is the window.  This powerful connection links the 250KW transmitter to the 4x4 curtain antenna.

The RF signal goes from the transmitter through this long RF output that includes a large filter and balun. 

This is like a take off point.  We could say the HF signal has left the building and is at lift off to the antenna.  From there it is up to the far reaches of the ionosphere 300 kilometers or about 186 miles up to where it starts it's bounce to ... you.`    

And... on the other side of the RF output the work on the transmitter is in process.  Testing and transmitter work are underway looking forward to it's inaugural transmission.  Light her up!

The Final Pour

With everything in place and the ground dried out the final truck load of concrete arrived to finish the pad at the service entry to the shop.  Everyone was hustling to get the pour complete and finished off before the concrete got too hard.  And just in time.  It wasn't long before some heavy rain came.  It's so good to get this portion completed.

The posts for the roof support are now in place and finished too. 

TX 7 is Communicating

It is exciting to see TX 7 light up.  It's like the eyes opened up and it started to say 'feed me'.  Well, not quite.

At least the control portion is awake, and it can be accessed remotely.  The cooling system is working (blowers and full speed water).  Some faults have appeared, but things are so they can be traced and followed up on.  The troubleshooting has stepped up to the next level.

The RF output is moving along slowly.  It is now through the TX hall wall and the final connection to the antenna goes through the old air vault to the outer wall where it will connect with the antenna feed line.

The Big Pour

This weeks post is highlighting the 'Big Pour" which kept us scrambling to get the pad work done before the concrete hardened up too much. 

This extended our service entry tarmak to the width of the building.  Part of the work is upgrading our drainage system at the back of the building too.  

And after this pour came another Big Pour the next day.  But this time it was from the clouds opening up and really becoming a 'soaker'.  This proved the first Big Pour was timed right.

The RF output duct work is also still in process.  The duct work for inside the transmitter hall should be complete this week.  Then we have to go through the first wall and work out to connect to thru the external and the feed lines.

Keeping Up

Here is a view of how February is starting out. 

We have a few projects underway, but we are still seeing progress with TX 7.

The lights are on! TX 7 has low level power.  It was good to get some parts on and especially to get the waterpump on.  A few leaks showed where some O-rings had to be replaced.  And on we go.

Final phase to finishing the RF duct (to the feed line) is underway.

We can't neglect the other transmitters!  TX maintenance is also a task that needs to be done.

Building roof extension and service entry phase is underway. This is a great start for February.  We are grateful also for new help that has come for a few months.  Welcome to Laszlo and Marty and Jen.