M1ABD stopped working again today. This morning we had a visit by the firm that services the generator. It would seem that they turn the power off when they test the generator. Our installation is on the Non-Essential power supply, so the power to the computer was cut off. As the computer will not switch itself back on after a power cut, M1ABD did not re-boot itself.
I had a message from Chris M6CSV after the last post to let me know that there is a switch in BIOS that will restart the computer after a power cut. Unfortunately the computer at M1ABD is too old for this switch. However, I am in possession of some old redundant Windows XP computers and they do have the switch in BIOS.
So I am busy loading the software onto a new machine and there will be a Windows XP machine running M1ABD very soon.
We are getting very modern!

M1ABD went from the map last night. I took a trip up the hill today and all that was required was to turn the computer on.
It seems that the older computers had a power switch on the front that, once you had turned it on, you needed to push the switch again to turn it off. This meant that after a power cut the computer was still turned on and just powered itself up again.
Modern computers have a power switch that just turns the power on but does not latch. This means that after a power cut the computer does not power itself up and needs somebody to push the power switch to turn it on.
Obviously, this is not a good plan when the computer is on top of a hill with a flaky power supply!

I am not sure what the answer to this problem is. I have considered a UPS but it would need a large one to run the computer for several hours and the cost is prohibitive.
It occurred to me that I could just short out the live and neutral pins on the switch so that it was always latched. I am not sure how this would affect the power supply in the computer though. Would it burn something out in that condition?

If anybody does have an answer to the above question, or knows what the answer to the problem is, I would be grateful if you could let me know at 2e1ejc@dpars.net.

Took a trip up Bullbarrow Hill today to check out M1ABD. Once again a power cut caused problems. The computer did not re-start itself after the loss of power. A quick push of the button and we are back in business.

M1ABD appears to have stopped working and my APRS map is empty. Will take a run up the hill tomorrow and see what the problem is.

I have been up to Bullbarrow Hill and found that the computer running M1ABD was stuck in Safe Mode. We must have had another power cut and the computer re-booted into Safe Mode.
A quick re-boot and all is well again.
Memo: Must ask Mr Google if you can stop Win98 re-booting into Safe Mode after "Failing to close down correctly".

Once again, M1ABD is missing from the map!. First noticed yesterday afternoon and the log says it last transmitted at 1100 Hours yesterday. I am unable to get to site until later on today. Hopefully it is not too serious a fault

DPARS has number of ex-military items stored in Blandford Forum, Dorset. a couple of photos of some of the items are shown below. There are no radios, they are mainly telegraph and line items. There is a possibility that the items may have to be dumped. If anybody is interested in obtaining some or all of them, please contact 2e1ejc@dpars.net to arrange viewing them. Items must be collected but are free to a good home.