SUPPLIED:

• 1 each SAMI 6-foot Mesh Satellite Receiver Dish w/Mount
• 1 each Zephyrus LNA for SAME Dish
• 1 each 200' length of RG-6 coax cable*
• 1 each Zephyrus WX-13M GOES Receiver and Power Supply
• 1 each 633 MHz IBM-clone Computer Tower **NO MONITOR SUPPLIED**
  (Decomissioned February, 2009. Replaced out-of-pocket.)
  • 1 set of computer speakers with power supply (Replaced out-of-pocket after failure.)
  • 1 each keyboard (Replaced out-of-pocket after failure.)
  • 1 each mouse (Replaced out-of-pocket after failure.)
  • 1 each serial cable (9-pin)
• 1 each CyberPower 500SL 275W Universal Power Supply
  (Replaced out-of-pocket after failure)
• ICOM IC-F320S VHF Transceiver
• Astron SS-12 IC Power Supply
• 1 each Tigertronics NWT-12 Modulator Device
• 1 each 200' length of 9913 coax cable*
• 1 each Cushcraft PF-167 Transmitting Antenna*
• 2 each Decibel Products clamps for the antenna mast*
• 4 each PL-259 connectors and coax seal*
• 1 each Polyphasor Lightning Protector*
• 2 each Zephyrus WX-41 Demodulator Device

EXPECTED TO SUPPLY:

• 3 each TV type mast 10 feet long* (Donated by James Carr / KC4MHH, out-of-pocket.)
• 1 each Cable with an RJ-11 and RJ-45
• 1 each Monitor for set-up of the software and computer (Replaced out-of-pocket after failure.)
• Grounding for the antenna and Polyphasor*
• Ty-wraps and clamps as needed
• An antenna site for the transmitting antenna
• An antenna site for the receive dish with pole or stand
• An air-conditioned space for the electronic equipment
• Power 110 volt AC
• Labor as needed to install the antenna, electronics, dish, and computer
• A compass and an inclinometer

* Taken and not replaced by the Gator Amateur Radio Club (GARC) in February, 2009.

REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT:

• 1 each Replacement 1.6 GHz IBM-clone Computer Tower
  (Decomissioned 04/20/2012, and placed into backup/standby server status.)
  (Decomissioned from backup status February, 2014.)
  • 1.6 GHz processor
  • 256 MB memory
  • 20 GB HDD
  • CD/DVD-ROM drive
  • 1 each 101-key PS/2 keyboard
  • 1 each serial mouse
• Windows XP Home Edition for above IBM (out-of-pocket)
• Windows XP Home Edition for use on presentational laptop (out-of-pocket)
• 1 each Replacement 3.4 GHz HP Compaq dc5700 Small Form Factor Desktop PC
  (Commissioned out-of-pocket to main server status 04/20/2012.)
  
  • Intel Pentium D 945 3.4 GHz dual core processor
  • 2 GB DDR2 memory
  • Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000 video card
  • 400 GB HDD (SATA 3.0 GB/s, 7200 rpm)
  • DVD-ROM drive
  • Integrated Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet for HP
  • 1 serial, 1 parallel, 8 USB ports, 1 LAN (RJ-45) port, 2 PS/2 connectors
  • 1 each USB standard 101-key keyboard
  • 1 each USB optical mouse
  • Windows 7 Professional (64-bit)
  • 1 yr parts & labor warranty
• 1 each Replacement Dell Latitude E6400 Laptop
  (Commissioned out-of-pocket 02/2014 as backup server.)
  • Intel Core2 Duo Processor P8700 @ 2.4 GHz
  • 4 GB memory
  • 160 GB HDD
  • DVD-ROM drive
  • Intel 82567LM Gigabit Network Connection
  • Dell Wireless 1510 Wireless-N WLAN Mini-Card
  • 4 USB ports, 1 LAN (RJ-45) port, 2 PS/2 connectors
  • 1 each USB standard 101-key keyboard
  • 1 each USB optical mouse
  • Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

SAMI 6-foot Mesh Satellite Receiver Dish w/Mount

Receives the signal from the GOES-8 satellite and sends it to the Satellite receiver unit. This would be located in the recess in the southwest corner of the southern penthouse atop the roof of the Dental Sciences wing of the J.H. Miller Health Sciences Center. Aimpoint would be approx. 70-degrees high and about 20-degrees east of south. (This is due south along the Dental Science Building's actual centerline, which is perfect.) Twelve (12) concrete blocks would be used to hold down the assembly.  
 
 
 
 
 

Zephyrus LNA, SAMI hot-stamped LNA cover, and 6' quad pole assembly for SAMI Dish

Amplifies the signal from the GOES satellite before sending it to the satellite receiver unit.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Zephyrus WX-13M GOES Receiver and Power Supply

Takes the signal from the GOES satellite dish and sends it to the computer. This unit is located in the W4DFU club station located on the 11th floor of the Dental Sciences wing of the J.H. Miller Health Sciences Center.  
 

IBM-clone Computer

Gathers the data from the GOES satellite, sorts it, and sends it back out to the transmitter.

SPECS: Celeron 633 MHz (66x9.5) processor; 1 FX483T CDROM drive; 1 Maxtor 32049H2 20-gig hard drive; 1 3.5" floppy drive; 64-megs RAM; onboard Legacy sound; 2 9-pin serial ports; 2 USB ports. Includes keyboard and mouse. Running Windows 98 Second Edition (OS). Software used for transmitting the weather data out over the air is called WeatherReTrans (WxReTrans). Software used to gather the data from the GOES-12 satellite, and handle other services such as paging, e-mailing, and FTPing of weather products to outside users is called WeatherMessage.

NOTE: Since the unauthorized system hacking by Jeff Capehart, W4UFL, an officer in the Gator Amateur Radio Club, the system has since been relocated to a more secure location, and no longer resides at the Shands Dental Science Building. Unfortunately, as a result, the retransmissions are now no longer available until such time as licensing can be obtained for retransmission from the new location.

NOTE: The system has since been transferrred to a faster 2GHz Dell tower.  
 
 
 
 

CyberPower 500 SL 275W Universal Power Supply

Provides protection for the computer, radio, and satellite receiver unit should the power go out. 275 watts. Saves any open files when power is interrupted and automatically shuts down the computer system. Provides a few minutes of emergency power and some lightning protection. Controls some overvoltages, blackouts and brownouts. Is even Internet-ready.

NOTE: The CyberPower UPS has since kicked the bucket and the system is now using an APC battery backup.  
 
 
 

Tigertronics NWT-12 Modulator Device

The NWT-12 is the modulator required for retransmission of EMWIN signals. The modulator attaches between the computer's serial port and the modulation input of the transmitter. Data received by the modulator is converted to the appropriate FSK format required for transmission.

NOTE: Since the unauthorized system hacking by Jeff Capehart, W4UFL, an officer in the Gator Amateur Radio Club, the system has since been relocated to a more secure location, and no longer resides at the Shands Dental Science Building. Unfortunately, as a result, the retransmissions are now no longer available until such time as licensing can be obtained for retransmission from the new location.  
 
 
 
 

ICOM IC-F320S VHF Transceiver

Receives the audio data from the computer and sends it back out to the transmitting antenna. Output transmit power is 12 watts from the transmitter, and about 22 watts once out the antenna. The unit is capable of transmitting on four different channels - pre-programmed to the four frequencies reserved specifically for EMWIN transmissions. Our's will transmit on Channel 2, or 163.325 MHz. The transmitter is located inside the W4DFU club station on the 11th floor of the Dental Sciences wing of the J.H. Miller Health Sciences Center, in Room D11-27.

NOTE: Since the unauthorized system hacking by Jeff Capehart, W4UFL, of the Gator Amateur Radio Club, the system has since been relocated to a more secure location, and no longer resides at the Shands Dental Science Building. Unfortunately, as a result, the retransmissions are now no longer available until such time as licensing can be obtained for retransmission from the new location.  
 
 
 
 

Cushcraft PF-167 Transmitting Antenna

Transmitted signal eminates from this antenna, and goes out to the local community. Antenna consists of four dipole elements facing north, east, west, and northwest. It is hoped Paynes Prairie to the south will provide enough added "umph" in that direction, so it was decided not to add an element that direction. The south dipole was then aimed towards the northwest in the hopes of adding extra "umph" towards the hilly area of High Springs and Alachua. Uses about 160' of 9913 coax from the transmitter to the antenna. In this configuration the antenna provides an approximate 6dB gain. Power output levels are about 12 watts out from the transmitter, approximately 22 watts out the antenna (ERP), with a 1.3:1 VSWR (1/4-watt reflected, measured with a Bird watt meter and an MFJ Antennalyzer). The antenna is located on the northwest side of the southern penthouse atop the roof of the Dental Sciences wing of the J.H. Miller Health Sciences Center.

NOTE: Since the unauthorized system hacking by Jeff Capehart, W4UFL, of the Gator Amateur Radio Club, the antenna was taken/kept by the Gator Amateur Radio Club for their own use in February/March of 2009 and was not replaced with anything equivalent back to the AC-EMWIN Project. This included the 200' each of RG-6 and 9913 coax feedline, and a polyphasor lightning protector. The rest of the system has since been relocated to a more secure location, and no longer resides at the Shands Dental Science Building. Unfortunately, as a result of all of this, the retransmissions are now no longer available until such time as licensing can be obtained for retransmission from the new location, and about half a grand-plus worth of antenna and feedline can be replaced.

UPDATE - February, 2014: Jeff Capehart / W4UFL, of the Gator Amateur Radio Club, without any prior notice, dropped the elderly Cushcraft antenna, taken apart, coax cut at the antenna, at Jim Carr's house and then sent us an email note advising that they had dropped it off at Jim's house and considered their "obligation" cleared. For 5 years we asked for the equipment back and there were no replies. Suddenly now that it's lost it's effectiveness they no longer need it? They still owe us for the RG-6 and 9913 feelines, and for the Polyphasor, and powder-coated backboard plating and related all-thread rods.  
 
 

Zephyrus WX-41 Demodulator Device

Unit that end users could purchase to allow them to hook up their scanners to their computer so that they can receive the EMWIN transmissions. All they then need do is download either the WeatherNode or RealEMWIN (or similar) software from off of the Internet and they're ready to go! The WX-41 seen here sells for $149.00 from Zephyrus; although Tigertronics sells a unit just like this, the NWX-12, at the much lower price of $69.95.

A similar device, the DM-201B demodulator unit, can be home-built by using parts that are available from any Radio Shack, if one is good enough with soldering projects. Click on the schematic diagram on the right for a larger view.

NOTE: Since the unauthorized system hacking by Jeff Capehart, W4UFL, of the Gator Amateur Radio Club, the system has since been relocated to a more secure location, and no longer resides at the Shands Dental Science Building. Unfortunately, as a result, the retransmissions are now no longer available until such time as licensing can be obtained for retransmission from the new location.