[BC] Wind and STL Mutes

[Mike McCarthy]

Carl,

Who's Bp filter?  Is it the one I sent you data on?  If not...that might be 
one problem.  I would also consider whether the tower holding the dish at 
either end is rotating with the wind when ice accumulates. 10 watts at 6 
miles is WAY overkill.  Something is definitely wrong.  You need to look at 
the envelope with a spectrum analyzer to see what's coming down the 
pipe.  It may not loss of signal at all.

MM

At 03:44 PM 2/4/2009 -0600, Carl Fletcher wrote
>During a recent blizzard with high winds my STL (Mosely Starlink) for one 
>of my FM's began muting.  This problem first reared its ugly head last 
>March and after much discussing with Mosely a 10 watt PA was installed and 
>the problem disappeared until last night  The RX is installed at a fairly 
>hostile tower site, beepers, 2 cellular companies, etc. installed on three 
>different towers.
>
>My guess is there's something loose somewhere on the three towers and when 
>the wind blows the loose connection is arcing and muting the STL..  Rather 
>than me going to the Manager and telling him that we are going to have to 
>have every nut / bolt / coax connection checked on all three towers 
>including the chain link fence, does someone have some advice which could 
>narrow this search down a bit, or possibly other causes for this 
>behavior.  The link has no troubles other than this.
>
>Transmitter output is 10W  950 Mhz digital, a bandpass filter is install, 
>and the path is only 6 miles or so,  this should be a very robust path and 
>yet here I am.  I know I have seen a thread on this here before but can't 
>seem to find it now.
>
>Thanks All,
>
>Carl
>Radio One Communications