The New 73 Machine: A Picture Essay

These pictures were taken during the rehabilitation of the 73 machine during the Spring and Summer of 2001.

Photos and captions by Frank AD3M.

BEFORE: Old 13/73 G-7 Hustler repeater antenna attached to rusting conduit and fixtures.

AFTER: New 146.73 transmit antenna, Decibel Products DB224 9 db gain, pointed south into Delaware, mounted 5 feet away from rusted ladder and previous location.

BEFORE: Single 7/8" hardline shared by antenna duplexer to both 146.13/73 and 448.375 repeater antennas.

AFTER: Single 1-1/4" hardline feeding the 146.13 receiver only, mounted inside upper building and grounded to structural steel.

BEFORE: Old 448.375 fiberglass Station Master antenna mounted to railing. Note left hand side brackets extending from building mounted with 3/4" bolts to structural steel.

AFTER: New 448.375 Decibel Products DB420 antenna 9.2 db gain omni pattern fed with 1-5/8" hardline.

New 146.13 receive antenna in position raised 20 feet.

BEFORE: Old 13/73 and 448.375 repeater cabinet.

AFTER: New 13/73 repeater cabinet.

New rack of 2 VDC 200 Amp hour Batteries for emergency power donated by Dave KC3AM.

OLD: Removing and replacing rusted clevises below 152.12 MHz paging antenna.

NEW: 146.13 receive, 146.73 transmit, and 448.475 receive/transmit antennas on ground before assembly.

The new 73 transmit antenna being assembled.

The new 146.13 antenna before it was raised up 20 feet.

Dave KC3AM installing the new 146.13 receive antenna.

Al WA3UYJ (front) and Bill AE3J installing the new 146.13 receive antenna.

Charlie N3OUT installing modules in the new S-Comm K7 controller.

Dave KC3AM and Bob WA3EWK installing the duplexer into the new repeater cabinet.

Bob WA3EWK installing new air lines and manifold to pressurize new hardlines.

New antennas mounted on tower as seen from the ground.