Latest SteppIR Issue

[N1API]

Well I thought that I posted this but maybe forgot to hit post report.

Yesterday with the help from my brother I got the lifting fixture on the tower. So I am ready to lower it and tip it over.

I believe that I've got all the elements at home. I "took a shot" and with the last spare chip in I did a retract elements in the setup mode. I then shut the box down and the chip did not fail. I'm 98% sure all the elements are home because of no signals across the 20 meter band, (like the antenna was disconnected).

I ran some tests on SDA-100 controller. With out the DB25 connected it has good standing and moving voltages on each pin set. The thing that does concern me is I am seeing "Cable 1 Open" and "Cable 2 Open" messages on the display. I am trying to find out from Fluid Motion that this is normal for a box with the ALP board installed to be seeing those with no DB25 connector connected. I would hate to take the antenna apart just to find out that "all" I had to do was to send the box back. It still may be under warranty because when I had it rebuilt in June or July I had the main board replaced with the new(er) ALP board. I know I've got to get moving on this but I'd like to get an answer on this. It seems that even SteppIR does not know where the problem is and where to go. Jim Thomas suggested that I replace the control cable but that cable is brand new, replaced when I did the rebuild this summer, I can't see that it would fail in less than 6 months, I doubt something "ate through it" after all it was in there for 9 or 10 years before all I replaced it just to make everything new again. ARRGGG! As I said before if it was a radio I would just send it back and say "fix it please" but it hard to ship a full antenna back for repair!

Well I'm off to try and get a hold of someone in Washington before I start all this work. Should be out there this morning or early afternoon but not looking forward to it. Nice when stuff works, not so nice when it does not and you can't figure out where the issue is!

Al