Strangely enough, I recently received an email from TOA Systems claiming that my system was "deaf" and to check the antenna and send photos of the installation. (Unchanged since initial installation several years ago)
They suspect the antenna. I offered and subsequently measured SWR and coax loss using my MFJ-259C antenna analyzer.
SWR was under 1.8 at 165.41 MHz or so and the coax loss was 0.6 dB at or below 15 MHz. I also connected a HT and listened to the local VHF Wx at the local airport. (KPZQ 118.125 MHz). It came in fine.
With this I concluded that the antenna is OK, but they still insist that it't the antenna. I have my doubts based on my testing.
I agreed to "lash up" the antenna that they send for a test. I also no longer should go up on the roof to change antennas. The wife says not to and I agree, my balance isn't what it was when I installed this system.
I'm going to compare the strokes count (via Raspberry Pi minicom at the TOA USB connection) once this antenna arrives. I also have a mag mount 2 meter that I could easily plop on the roof of the Ford Flex which is right next to the lightning detector cabinet (TOA and Blitzortung controllers live there).
I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and rig up the replacement antenna temporarily, but if they want it changed out, they will need to pay for me hiring a tech to replace it.
I'll post additional info as I go through this testing.
Greg H.
I stand corrected. I put a 2 meter mag mount on the roof of my Flex parked next to the 'lightning cabinet'. I am now getting incrementing strokes. I saw some lightning across the lake between here an Manitoulin Island this morning and thought that the TOA should be able to sense the strikes.
Sure enough it is working now.
Before, it was stuck at 3924,
========================================================
strokes
[appLog.c:1659] CHAN C ENABLED 0: COUNT 1, OFFSET -1668, LP 1
[appLog.c:1664] CHAN C THRESH: POS 32767, NEG -32767
[appLog.c:1666] CHAN D ENABLED 1: COUNT 3924, OFFSET -1668, LP 1
[appLog.c:1671] CHAN D THRESH: POS 2617, NEG -2618
========================================================
With the mag mount on the Flex roof:
[appLog.c:1659] CHAN C ENABLED 0: COUNT 3, OFFSET -1668, LP 1
[appLog.c:1664] CHAN C THRESH: POS 32767, NEG -32767
[appLog.c:1666] CHAN D ENABLED 1: COUNT 30421, OFFSET -1668, LP 1
[appLog.c:1671] CHAN D THRESH: POS 2617, NEG -2618
[appLog.c:1659] CHAN C ENABLED 0: COUNT 3, OFFSET -1668, LP 1
[appLog.c:1664] CHAN C THRESH: POS 32767, NEG -32767
[appLog.c:1666] CHAN D ENABLED 1: COUNT 30454, OFFSET -1668, LP 1
[appLog.c:1671] CHAN D THRESH: POS 2617, NEG -2618
and the latest:
[appLog.c:1659] CHAN C ENABLED 0: COUNT 5, OFFSET -1668, LP 1
[appLog.c:1664] CHAN C THRESH: POS 32767, NEG -32767
[appLog.c:1666] CHAN D ENABLED 1: COUNT 35938, OFFSET -1668, LP 1
[appLog.c:1671] CHAN D THRESH: POS 2617, NEG -2618
Greg H