Maintenace and Repair for Legacy VHF Signal Boosters

Signal Boosters manufactured by Bird can function reliably for many years with little or no maintenance. However, if the amplifiers are subjected to excessively high signal levels, power surges or lightning strikes, failures may occur. The following procedures may be followed for detecting a malfunctioning unit or as part of a periodic maintenance program:

1. Inspect the units to see that the LED indicators are lit (remove any dust or debris that may obscure the LEDs). This will verify that DC power is flowing properly. Check all hardware for tightness.
2. Compare system performance to initial performance levels measured when the system was first installed. The lack of signal can be traced to a malfunctioning amplifier by progressive signal monitoring from the output (far end) to input end of the system, noting the area where the signal returns to a normal level. or measure the gain of each repeater amplifier at any convenient frequency in the working frequency bands to verify that the gain specifications are being met.  If the gain values fall below those specified for a given model, check the following. 
   • Open the repeater amplifier box and inspect for any loose or broken connections or cables, and repair as necessary.
   • Measure the output of the power supply and power regulators to see that the proper operating voltage is being maintained.
   • If the operating voltage is proper but the gain is still low, measure the gain of each amplifier stage until the one with low gain is isolated. Replace a low-gain amplifier with a new amplifier stage to correct the problem.