The KE6STH 443.575 South Bay area system is OFF AIR for site and antenna system maintenance. We are expecting it to be off air for at least 5 days until we can get a temporary antenna up in the interim. We found the repeater antenna had some problems as expected given the issues we were having at that site. Upon initial inspection we found at least 1 bad/broken solder joint and a damaged capacitor. The antenna will be replaced with a new one in the coming weeks.
Earlier this week we lost our Empire Grade tower site to the CZU Augest complex fire in burning in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The W6WLS 147.180, W6DXW 442.750 and WB6ECE 441.300 simulcast repeater burned down in the fire. These means that those repeaters are OFF AIR until further notice.
Over the last week I have received and overwhelming amount of people asking to donate or volunteer their time to help us rebuild the site. It will be some time before we can, in good faith take donations from you (our users). There are many logistical issues that need to be accounted for first.
While today only a inspection has been completed at this time, a game plan for the site and how we will address things and move forward to the planning phase of this project will take time as the fire still rages on in the Santa Cruz Mountains. In the coming months we will need volunteers to assist in clean up of the property, funding the replacement of equipment and building a new start for us on Empire Grade.
I ask all of you who are interested in donating to and or volunteering for our respective repeater groups to fill our a form I have setup that will allow us to contact you when we will be able to take your donations and assistance. Thank again for all your support.
73, Joe KG6NRI
