GB7AN Hardware

The GB7AN repeater is a Yaesu DR-1X with firmware 1.10Q. The DR-1X is connected to a Wires-X HRI-200 USB interface box. The HRI-200 is connected using a 10m active USB lead to a virtual machine running Windows 10 Enterprise N LTSC. The Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) is designed for Windows 10 devices and use cases where the key requirement is that functionality and features don’t change over time. LTSC was selected to try and avoid the problems other Wires-X users often have with Windows updates taking their equipment down.
A Celwave 526-4-1 duplexer isolates the transmitter from the receiver and connects them to a single Diamond X50 antenna.

This picture shows the Wires-X HRI-200 box on the top shelf with some networking equipment, the repeater, and the duplexer.

The main fan on the back of the repeater has been replaced with a more powerful one and the air direction is reversed so cool air is pulled into the repeater and forced through the transmitter heatsink. The original air dam around the heatsink has been retained and an additional placed next to it that seals all the space around the heatsink. The air dam forces the air to pass through the heatsink, not around it. The internal fan has also been reversed.

This picture shows the transmitter half of the repeater with the additional air dam and new rear fan.

A Raspberry Pi B+ has been added to the receiver half of the repeater to remotely switch the repeater power, control the fans, and measure temperatures in the repeater.

Two DC-DC converters have been added, one to power the RPi and one to control the fan's low speed. The rear and internal fans usually run at low speed. There are temperature sensors monitoring the TX, RX, internal temperature, and air temperature from outside the repeater. If the temperature exceeds a set point the fans are switched from the low speed voltage to 12v for full speed.
A two channel SMS relay allows the repeater and RPi to be powered off/on remotely using text messages. The RPi also monitors voltages of the PSU, RPi supply and fan low speed voltages.
A fuse has been added in the power cable to the transmitter and one for the additional equipment. The RPi RJ45 network and USB sockets have been extended to the rear of the repeater. The original Yaesu power lead connector has been replaced with a PowerPole connector. The information collected by the RPi is sent to a database and is displayed on the status webpage.

Below is a close up of the Raspberry Pi B+, DC-DC converters,SMS relay and the temperature sensor/voltage measurement board.

This picture shows the four channel relay board under the RX radio that is used to switch the repeater power on/off and control the fans. One of the fan relays switches the fans in the top of the repeater 19" cabinet.