Tech Staff Meeting Notes July 14, 2025

The top priority is always repair of down stations.
NM problem stations
ET problem stations

Duty Table updated July 2025

Priorities

• Helene Upgrades
• Luxora Node
• two NM EOY upgrades
• NM station repair
• ET station repair
• Preventive Maintenance

News & Highlights

CVVA has bad timing. The Etna2 things the GPS isn't trustworthy and its clock is running fast. Dave is working with a local contact to see about sending a new Datalogger, battery, etc to repair and refurbish without making a site visit. If a visit becomes necessary, consider closing it.

DM2025 has begun and we have an index. Request includes four projects:

• upgrade and harden five ET stations (Helene);
• replace obsolete server room HVAC system;
• upgrade repeater at Luxora to remote data concentrator node; and
• replace system disks in data processing servers.

Have hardware in house for four of five DM2025 upgrades. Supplies are ordered and a trip will be scheduled soon. Stations on deck are: WMTN2, ASTN, VHTN, CCNC, and MGNC (access pending).

TVNC2 keeps dropping out. It's using the Choctaw license (as are DSNC and DYTN) but it has a large mountain in it's path. Consider replacing with a cell modem.

USGS is finally moving forward with their SLU adoptions. See this map for plans and progress.

The money pit (aka LNXT generator) needs propane and a block heater.

X702 and X703 are long-time members of the down list. No hardware to make repairs. Ask Horton to close.

SFTN was broken into. No damage other than the cut locks. Biology may put up trail cameras.

Helene Upgrade and Hardening

Congress approved Helene Disaster relief funding in December 2024 and it included funds to upgrade/harden 13 NM and ET stations in disaster declared states (TN, NC, SC, GA, and VA.) We'll do the three remaining digital upgrades in NM (ARPT, FPST, and MFRT) and the rest in ET. Prioritize replacing Geobits (MGNC, TVNC2, DSNC, WMTN2, CCNC, VHTN) and stations with single-component problems (GMG and VHTN). Install LRVA replacement and repair as yet unknown damage at MGNC.

Funding is for two years (only 1.5 for us) and GFE for all 13 will arrive first year. Our first year runs 7/1/25-1/31/26 and we plan on doing Five ET upgrades in year 1. Complete the remaining 8 upgrades (5 ET and 3 NM) in year 2 that runs 2/1/26-1/31/27. This funding is part of annual DM supplements. Year 1 in DM25 and year 2 in DM26.

MGNC access remains restricted. The road has numerous serious blockages. Jim also learned the new agreement with the USFS and the Green Co. Amatuer radio club for the forest tower included a special use permit (SUP) for CCNC but not MGNC. We have the documentation for MGNC but it mistakenly was not included in the agreement. It is however mentioned on page 1 of the agreement in the section titled, "This Permit Issued for the Purpose of:" and it says, "Operation and maintenance of seismic monitoring equipment on Camp Creek Bald site, Madison County, NC and Clingman's Peak site, Yancey County, NC. Site(s) which consist of..." Jim will contact the new Ranger (Niall is no longer there) to see about an SUP for MGNC.

NMSZ

NMAD node building has a leaky roof. Need to hire a contractor to make the repair, clean, and paint.

DBB is sensitive to inversions and rain. Cell modems are carrying the load. Have new radios that transmit 1W. Need to install them.

Need to review station list to reduce reduncancy (e.g. PLAL) and the number of urban strong motion stations (e.g. GILT).

DM24 upgrades. Only STAM remains. Made contact with owner and a new site is selected. Work can begin as soon as we dry out from the current 4 day deluge.

Luxora building should be ready soon.

CVTN/CVMS. A contractor, A2H, was hired to design and build the new school. They're aware we're there and are willing to work with us to restore those stations when the time comes.

Both UALR pipe vaults were full of water. Will replace them with a CERI style surface vault.

The City of Cape Girardeau sold the building housing sm station CBMO. Mitch has been unable to get in touch with the real-estate agent. Dave discovered the buyer is a philanthropist possibly converting it to a museum. Dave checked on it during the trip to NHIN in April and its still empty with no apparent changes.

FVM. Joe Davis (Joe.Davis@mdc.mo.gov) was looking into easement they have with SLU. Not sure where its going. Still should get a new UofM permission for it but wait and see for now.

Remove decommissioned I40 bridge and AZTN hardware.

NMDown

ETSZ

LRVA is closed due to Helene damage. Need to recover the equipment and find a new site.

Murray Co. Fire/EMA is using the lower part of the fire tower at GMG and have 5G microwave. Might be able to piggyback and get AC and internet. Sensor needs to be reinstalled.

ETDown

Etowah utilities is running fiber up to Starr Mt. They seemed amenable to sharing bandwidth with us if it can be made to work with our router. Could then get the camera going again. Camera is damaged and needs replaced. And we can bail on the Dalton link.

GPS

SCCF loses comms. Has a poor path. GPS status page

AG Network

make BAT3 permanent.

X703 and X702 have persistent unaddressed problems. They are long-lived temps. Should they be closed?

Z41A keeps losing comms. Is surrounding by tall pines. Needs a cell booster.

FDL

The old FDL wiki is here: https://umwiki.memphis.edu/display/FDL/CERI+FDL

The new FDL wiki is here: https://uofmwiki.memphis.edu/books/ceri-fdl-migrated/page/ceri-fdl

MISCELLANEOUS

The seisnet group on umdrive is at http://umdrive.memphis.edu/mwithers/seisnet You will need your uuid and password.

The seisnet wiki uses confluence at https://www.atlassian.com/