G0ROZ-3 Stopped again.

G0ROZ-3 vanished from the map yesterday afternoon (11 March 2015). aprs.fi shows that the last beacon was sent around midday(ish).
I visited site today and found the computer had stopped working with an error message to say that it could not open the COM port as it is already in use.
This is usually caused by a electricity supply interruption, where the computer loses power but it comes back on again before the machine has time to close down properly.
A quick re-boot and all is well again.
I did take the opportunity to disable the desktop clean-up app, so that should not cause any more problems.

G0ROZ-3 stopped working.

G0ROZ-3 was missing from the map yesterday evening. I took a trip up Eggardon Hill this morning to see what the trouble was.
The computer was locked up and only removing the power and then connecting it up again would get it to re-boot.
This is the same problem I had with M1ABD the other day.
I think it is a software problem rather than a problem with the power or computer hardware.
I noticed that on both machines when they were locked up the "Desktop clean-up" icon was showing. This could be what is causing the problem. I have had a word with Mr Google and found out how to disable the Desktop clean-up program and will do so on my next visit.
Fingers crossed!!

M1ABD stopped working again.

M1ABD went off the air at around 1700 Hours on Thursday (26 February 2015). I managed to fit a trip up the hill in on Friday morning.
I found the computer was locked up. There did not seem to be any other problems at all. The only way I could re-start the computer was by switching off the Electricity and turning it back on again. The computer burst back into life and started working normally.
I am starting to think this is some sort of software problem. It is difficult to know what could be causing it though, as the computer on has Windows XP and UI-View32 loaded on it.
Time will tell I suppose.

M1ABD still working!

M1ABD is still on the map and working away. This is the first time for many years that it has stayed on through a severe storm. Changing the electricity supply seems to have worked (touch wood).

M1ABD power supply changed

Alan, M3GNY, and I braved the elements and fought our way to the top of Bullbarrow Hill this afternoon and changed over the power source for M1ABD. It now running on the Essential supply rather than the Non-essential supply.
Time will tell if it makes things better or not.
No problems with installing some cabling and a new socket, although we did manage to set the alarm off at one point!!

G0ROZ-3 Fixed again

G0ROZ-3 vanished from the map again in the early hours of Friday morning. I made a visit to site this morning and found that the computer had locked up again. The only way to re-start it was by turning the power off at the wall socket and turning it back on again.
This has happened before and I believe it is caused by the unreliable electricity supplied at the site. It seems to get worse in the winter when there is more bad weather around to disrupt the supply.
I have put Surge & Spike protector sockets in line to see if this will help.
I also replaced the faulty keyboard.
Perhaps tapping into the essential supply line in the cabin will help out with the power problem. I hope to go to Bullbarrow Hill tomorrow to carry out some works to use the essential power there. If that solves the problems there, then I will do the same at Eggardon Hill.

M1ABD off air again.

I woke up this morning to an almost empty APRS map. It was not as empty as last time as G0ROZ-3 was Digipeating stations.
A check with www.aprs.fi showed that the last beacon from M1ABD was at 0250 Hours.
So another trip up the hill was called for. At least it was a nice day with plenty of sunshine and no frost on the road.
The computer running M1ABD was locked up again. The only way I could get it to re-boot was by turning it off at the wall socket and then back on again.
I am at a loss to say why this is happening, although the problems did start after the UPS packed up.
I have fed everything through the UPS and spike eliminator that is still there.
I think that I will have to start using the electricity that comes from the main supply and is run by the generator when there is a power outage. I remember that that power supply had a large number of batteries to keep it going until it is switched over to the generator.
As the essential supply is not being used in our part of the site, it will not cause any problems. It will mean hard-wiring a new cable into the supply, but it will be quite easy to do.
I will need to visit the local DIY emporium to get the necessary kit before I do it.