A
trip on a passive repeater
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on 23-4-2012
Passive repeaters is a wonderful technology! If you are interested in more technical information, please read this pdf article (alternative link), which describes everything about them. (notify me is the link is not working)
I have red lot about passive repeaters and fascinated about this technology but I never had the chance to see one for real. Many years ago, I noticed a big board-like construction on a mountain. I thought it to be an advertising board at the time but I had never seen an advertisement on it. This was made of metal sheets and not wood, as it should be expected for an advertising board. Furthermore, It was at a location far away from the highway. Back then, I did not know the existence of passive repeaters but later on, when I red about them, my mind brought this picture of this board. Yes, this board should be a passive repeater!
Picture above, taken from my latest visit to the repeater on 23-4-2012
On 15 December 2010 there was a big strike in Greece, so I decided to take the chance to make a first attempt to visit the repeater. First a quick look on Google earth to find out the road to the repeater. The Red dot in the next pictures represents the location of the passive repeater.
The repeater was not difficult to locate as it can be seen from the highway right away.
The road to the repeater is good since it has been made for the local factory needs. The road is shown with yellow color in the picture below. The blue dot in this picture is St. John's church.
The view from St. John's church is gorgeous. You can see almost everything from up there, the local villages, the factories, the Rio-Antirio bridge, Nafpaktos city and the sunset. Click on the panoramic photo below to see a larger version.
My car could go up to St. John's church without a problem but further on, the road is not ok if you have not got a jeep, so I have decided to go back and take the green line, so that I can take some far pictures of the repeater. I thought the next trip would definitely be a foot walk from St. John's church to the repeater. So, here is what I have seen following the green line.
The pictures have been taken using optical zoom to bring the repeater image as close as possible. I tried to photo all the details that show that this is a passive repeater indeed. During this first visit, I enjoyed the little trip very much. I hope to have more closer photos on the next trip to the passive repeater.
On 23-4-2012 I have decided to make a second visit to the repeater. This time I left my car at St. John's church and I took a walk up to the repeater.
The repeater was much more bigger than I thought. Composed out of 9 metal structures, screwed together using special metal pieces.
The metal plates have been numbered A1, A2, A3, B1, B2... probably to ensure correct alignment during the assembly time.
The back side confirms this is a passive repeater. This is the standard construction used on passive repeaters.
The repeater stands firmly on the ground due to heavy concrete blocks screwed on the metal legs of it.
Below, me standing in front of the passive repeater, to compare the size of it.
Details of the metal structures used to hold the repeater pieces together.
Somehow, the electromagnetic radiation at this place affected me, producing a weird field that lifted me upwards. Look, I am flying!
It was really hard to try to take the picture at the same time I jumped on the air, but it was fun!