Quantar/Repeater Keying Problem

[drp10275]

We are currently having intermitant loss of transmit/key up of our repeater via CCII Gold Elite Console. The problem occurs every couple of days and cannot be corrected until something is pulled from the system. The problem is on one channel only but occurrs on both operator positions. Mobile to mobile repeated transmissions remain constant, the only thing we lose is console and remote TX.
The system is a CCII Gold Elite CRT, MC2000 remote, a Spectra-Tac comparitor, and a Quantar repeater (tone remote controlled) located locally and a second Quantar via telco.
The following have cleared the problem only to have it return. If you power down the comparitor or, pull the tone keying or tone priority module out and reseat it. Switching the console from main to standby back to main has cleared the problem at times but that is not consistant. As a matter of fact not all of the above listed remedies have always worked. The last time it happens the BIM was pulled out and reseated and the system TX came back.
We have replaced the comparitors power supply, tone priority module, command module and tone keying module and checked the backplane and wiring to the punch block, also swapped out the console BIM. Still having the same problem.
The problems seems to be pointing to the Quantars wireline board but we have a standby Quantar at another location. When the transmit failure occurs it does it on both sites.
The only thing that has not been replaced is the console 6 I/O card that supports the switching between the local and remote repeater. That however does not make much sense since touching something on the comparitor or the console seems to temporarily fix the issue. I'm sure I am missing something!

Does anyone have any suggestions ? Needless to say this has been very frustrating.

Thanks,
Don

[wavetar]

The first thing to check when the failure occurs is for the presence and proper level of both high and low level guard tone at the Quantar. If you have a digital line tester that can verify the proper frequency of the tone (typically but not always 2175Hz) then so much the better. If an issue is found, work your way back through the chain towards the console until you find where the issue is occurring. If all appears normal, try connecting another tone remote locally with a short cable & see if the repeater responds.

[Bill_G]

I always start with the phone lines, and work out from there. Sounds like you have two stations though - one on premise and one at a remote site through telco leased lines. I would still go through the BIM block on the wall to make sure you don't have a flaky cross connect. When in doubt, punch them down again.

[gtriever]

You might check the cables and connections between the CEB Interface and the Comparator. You may also want to check the punch block(s) and the bridging clips, of all things. Believe it or not, I've actually seen both go intermittent and create issues.

[drp10275]

My radio shop has verified the levels and are ok when the system is working. Unfortunatley someone does something to get the system back operating before anyone can check it when its down. We do have a second remote that is very close to the equipment and that fails to work as well when the problem does occur. I will repunch the console and comparitor and see whats happens.

Thanks

[Bill_G]

Then, if it is a wiring issue, it is between where that remote and the Quantar punch down.