We are constructing the new controller for our 1292.3 machine.
We have no date for it's re-installation..sorry!

A new idea was hatched today (6/7/02). We are interested in improving
the 442.15 receive sensitivity. One option is to split off the TX and RX
antennas- which would allow us to place the RX GaAs preamp at the big
Comet 24' main antenna. This would not only make up for the loss of
signal in the new run of 78' of  LMR-600, but would exceed that loss by
over +10db. We would need a new moderate sized Diamond or Comet
antenna - and a fresh run of 75' of LMR-600 with factory connectors. Cost
is about $285 for that stuff.

We have several people who use talkies around their houses- and mobile-
and we need to be as sensitive as possible.

We are still trying to work out a co-existence scheme with our new neighbors, the Travis county police trunking system. Hopefully, we will have a breakthrough soon.

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July 03'- Update: We have implemented stage one of the upgrade and have increased RX sensitivity by 6DB! We separated the RX and TX antennas and installed a homebrew 6DB gain collinear antenna- 30 ft. higher than the RX antenna. Second stage will be adding a second preamp at the RX antenna. Computer model analysis shows that we could stand a little more gain right there. TX will be sub-standard until we can get a better TX antenna installed. Remember, RX is about twice as good as TX right now. So, however you hear the repeater, you are getting into it about twice as good (using a 10 watt mobile rig). You can expect to hit the machine FB using 100mw anywhere in the bowl of Austin.