The following is a direct copy of an email I sent out earlier this evening to the 168 individuals who are registered on the GB3JB 'Blanket Email List'.

" THE FUTURE OF GB3JB

Hi All.

Yes, quite a foreboding title.  Well, unfortunately it's something that we are having to very seriously consider.

Current Status.

The Site.

Since September last year, Graham G3TCT and myself have basically been expecting the axe to drop at any moment.

Last September, the site owner passed away and the site was inherited by his family.  We were advised that their intention was to sell the site and the farm land.

Fortunately, this has not happened for reasons we can only surmise about.

I was finally advised about a week ago, that we are safe on the site and that now there are no plans to do anything with the land and the barn for the foreseeable future, other than to retain the status quo.

As you can imagine, if we had been told to vacate the site, that would have been a very time consuming and a very expensive process, let alone having to find somewhere to store the Tower and the kit.  Of course there would also have been the issue of finding a new site.

As to the latter point, I don't feel this would have been something I would have wanted to get involved with.

The Batteries.

The age and the condition of the existing batteries has been outlined on numerous occasions, but with a manufacture date of 2014 with a 10/12year life, they are very close to the end of any useful life.

Thus, Graham G3TCT and myself have spent a significant amount of time looking at the various technology options.  We have basically come to the decision that whatever we do it is going to cost lots of money.  No surprise there.

We have received various kind and thoughtful offers from individuals with respect to used batteries.  Some for free, which unfortunately had been standing discharged for quite some time and had sulphated and appeared to have been leaking.

Another was for a set of batteries being decommissioned from a mobile phone site.  However, they were between 8 and 9 years into their nominal 10/12 year life expectancy.  There was only half of the total that we need, and we felt that the price being asked could not be justified for just another couple of years or so with only 50% of capacity.

Another suggestion was to use de-commissioned battery units from electric vehicles.  But again, these would be 2nd user and what's the life expectancy of these units.  Currently 7 to 10 years ?  One would also ask why have they been de-commissioned.  The other issue would be the need to change the Solar configuration and replace the Turbine, as these modules are typically 48 volts.

So, we are stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place, I’m afraid.  We cannot survive with the existing batteries, neither can we afford to replace them.

To give some idea of cost, if we simply replace the 16 existing 12v100AH batteries, with new sealed lead/acid of the same type, then we would get 10/12 or so years or 500 cycles.  However at a cost of around £403 each it's going to be £6,448.00 at current list price + delivery.

However, if we look at replacing the 800 AH with 8 off 12v 200AH Deep Cycle Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries, then with the recommended charging regulator, we are currently looking at around £4,180 at list price + delivery.

There would be several benefits in addition to initial cost, which is a £2,300 saving, with the Li approach.

We would only require 8 batteries instead of 16.  Each Li battery is approx., 35% of the weight and about 50% of the volume compared to the lead/acid type.  Each battery also has built in low temperature charge / discharge and over current protection.  They also have a similar life expectancy 10 / 12 years but with a 5000 cycle capability down to 50%, as opposed to 500 cycles to 80% with the lead / acids.

In both cases the supply side, the existing Solar Panels and Turbine, would be unchanged.

The Future.

So, we have now arrived at the nitty gritty of this communication.

At this time, we estimate that the existing system will remain operational through to the start of this coming winter period.

We do not perceive that the batteries will continue to provide sufficient capability to operate through the winter, even if we continue with closing the Repeater and the Beacon down over night. As we have done over the winter months this year.  We intend to continue this process through the Summer months as well.

The only way the complete closure of the facilities will be averted is if we can find a sponsor to pay for the new batteries etc., or lots of you folks out there can come up with the funds needed.

We are obviously open to any potentially useful suggestions.

Crowdfunding has been suggested. However we have no experience of this and there appears to be no UK precedent, with respect to Amateur Radio, for this process.  At least not that we can find by researching the various UK Crowdfunding web sites.

If there is anyone out there who knows differently, has some experience and would like to take on the principle roll of setting up and managing a suitable Crowdfunding project for us, please let us know.

So, it all comes down to one thing, MONEY.

Since September 2023 to date, we have only received a total of £140 in donations.

In the corresponding period we have paid out £400 in site fees alone.

Additionally, both Graham and myself have dipped into our own pockets to cover the cost of the 4g mobile phone connection equipment the remote shutdown capability and the running costs for both, the replacement of faulty items, the site insurance, and the fuel associated with trips to the site.

And yes, we very much appreciate that spare money is in very short supply these days.

So, at this point in time we are looking at the closure of both GB3JBwhich has been around since November 2007 and the GB3USK 23cm Beacon, by the end of this year.

You're thoughts and suggestions would be very much appreciated at this time.

 

Cheers & 73

Dave G3ZXX.

Stay Safe .....  Stay Healthy .....  Stay Positive, if at all possible ...

11th March 2025 @ 1830 UTC. "

If you wish to make contact with us to offer suggestions or assistance, if you do not have my personal contact details already, please use the contact email at the bottom of any of the sites pages.

Hi All.

This is to advise that GB3JB is Off-Air until further notice.

Yet again, we are suffering from no volts and no charging.

Both the Repeater and the 23cm Beacon (GB3USK) have been remotely switched off.  This will prevent the systems cycling between states, and hopefully give the batteries any opportunity to get some sort of charge, WX willing.

In previous years this has only been a problem, from around mid to end of November, but this year this is the second major outage.

Graham G3TCT and myself are also concerned that as the batteries are all near their expected life of 7 to 10 years, we may also be seeing the start of what would be a very significant issue.

It should also be remembered that although we have a nominal 800 AH @20C of batteries in the cabinet, when brand new, this capacity drops off with aging, as it also does with ambient temperature.  At 10C the capacity will be less than 50% or so.

Over the next few days I expect to be able to get to the site and during the visit I will check all the individual batteries to see if there may be one or more in the series parallel sequence that is / are causing any specific issue with charging or charge retention.

I have not really come to any certain decision as to why the set-up blew the load fuses in early September.

So sorry folks, it is what it is.

• Anyone got a spare mini nuclear reactor that we can have ?  I know they are being developed ......  They must need field testing.

• A spare from the old voyager missions might do .... Hi Hi.

I will advise in due course.

Cheers & 73

Dave G3ZXX.

• and always remember ..... "Life is like a sewer.  What you get out of it, depends upon what you put into it." Tom Lehrer.

GB3JB  -  Update  -  07/11/2022 @ 10:10 am.

GB3JB Is Off Air

The winter season has finally arrived, and we are now starting to suffer from the lack of Sunshine.

At approx., 9:40 am this morning, GB3JB, was closed down by the system that protects the batteries from being over discharged.

This is when the on-load battery terminal voltage has dropped to 21 volts.  The system will not switch on again until the off-load terminal voltage has reached 25 volts.

This could be very quickly, perhaps a couple of days, if we get plenty of clear skies and Sunshine, or it could take quite some time. It all depends on the WX.

I will obviously advise when it’s operational again.

GB3JB  -  Update  -  26/10/2022 @ 3:30 pm.

GB3JB is now fully re-connected to the SWC, as of approx., 11:30 this morning, Saturday 26th October.

It is fully functional on both slots 1 and 2.

Thanks to Mat G7FBD and Mark G4SDR, for there efforts in resolving the issue. Which I understand is indeed related to the 3 mobile network. As I understand it, for some reason the 3g system seems to scramble the port forwarding information, but leaves the IP address intact !

I think that this issue also occurs on other mobile networks as well.  If you encounter any issues please advise.

Please remember, that when the transmission is passed to you, please count to 5 before transmitting.

This allows any stations to call-in if they wish, without any doubling, but it also allows the Cluster server and all the repeaters to fully re-set, before you press the PTT and start talking.

GB3JB was switched off at approx., 14:50 local time today.

This is in preparation for the change over of the Cluster server, which is anticipated to go live on the 1st October.

GB3JB is now being reprogrammed, as is the router, and it is anticipated that both will return to the site, and be reactivated, at some time between the morning of 30th September or the evening of the 1st October.  This is a little fluid, because of various appointments that I already have, on those two days.

Please remember that the SWC coverage, via slot 2, will be fragmented until the other Cluster repeaters have been reprogrammed and re-connected to the new server, by their own tech., team.

On or around the 1st October 22, GB3JB (2m DMR) will be changing over to the NEW South West Cluster server, along with hopefully the 70cm cluster repeaters.

From the prospective of the user, there will be NO change to the operation of Slot 2, TG 950, on the Cluster.

However, there are significant changes to Slot 1, TG 9.

GB3JB will still operate in stand alone mode on Slot 1, however it will offer users the capability of 'Dial-On-Demand' TG's.  Thus enabling users access to other networks.

The server change over will be live on the 1st October.  So please be patient, as there could well be a few hours to a day or so when GB3JB is un-available, whilst I am re-programming the hardware. I will be as quick as I can.

For detailed information on the additional capabilities, please follow this link.

73

Dave, G3ZXX

22/08/2022 @ 10:14

Over the next couple of months users of SWC repeaters will see some significant changes in the operation of Slot 1, TG 9, which has historically only provided stand alone coverage for the repeater being accessed.   It will soon offer NEW opportunities, via a NEW server system and custom software.  For further preliminary information, please follow this LINK.

Please note.  The operation of the linked repeaters on Slot 2, TG 950, will be totally unchanged in any way.

This was of course expected, with the hope that it would encourage greater mobile use, across the Cluster. Which it appears to be doing.

All very good so far ….. YES ? ………..  Well, there is always a ‘However’.

As the keeper of GB3JB I feel that I must remind users that there is a Slot 1.

Many users of the Cluster are used to working each other across the Cluster, using different 70cm repeaters. Which is absolutely what the Cluster is there for.  To provide that communications capability.

So now we get to that ‘However’ …..

If your QSO, irrespective of how many members, is only using GB3JB, can I respectfully request that having established the QSO, via Slot 2, that you all QSY to Slot 1.

This will free up Slot 2 on all the 70cm repeaters in the Cluster, for other users, as well as slot 2 on GB3JB, for cross-repeater, across-clusters, cross-band activity.

If all in the QSO can all work each other via, Slot 2 on GB3JB, you can all also work each other via Slot 1 on GB3JB.

Staying on Slot 2 of GB3JB when it is un-necessary, locks up the entire Cluster System, which could be being used by others.

So please be prepared to QSY to Slot 1, on GB3JB, if it will not effect any members of your ongoing QSO, to do so.

I will put my hand up at this point and say that I have been guilty of previously not thinking about this issue.

I do hope that the logic of the above, makes sense to you all.

The last thing that we want, is for the GB3JB activity to have a negative impact on the existing Cluster activity.”

The marine wind turbine has stopped turning.  Unfortunately, the wind was much too strong for me to attempt to lower it on my own.

My initial thoughts, based of the previous experience with earlier turbine on the site, is that the bearings have probably failed.

This will have caused the mechanics inside to shift, with the consequence of the winding being significantly damaged and causing everything inside to jam up.

Unfortunately, it will probably turn out to be a write-off.  Further inspection is obviously necessary.

Just to add insult to injury, the FT2600m TX is also dead.

There is power going to the unit, all external fuses are OK, as is the on-board fuse.  So not very hopeful.  Only time and further investigation, will tell.