Tech Staff Meeting Notes June 8, 2026

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

Duty Table updated July 2025

Priorities

• Luxo node problem
• BOAR analog-digital upgrade
• ET Trip, CMGA on deck
• station repair
• Preventive Maintenance

Be present in your work and pay attention to safety. Don't fall off the end of your rope.

News & Highlights

Interviews are in process for the SysadminI position.

Upcoming vacations: Jim 6/24-28; Cody 6/26-7/6; Nick 7/11-18.

Cody will be with Thomas in El Salvador to assist with the volcano network.

ANSS Summer meeting of network operators and managers went very well. Cody and Nick were handy to help with the tours. We also learned that 2027 DM is at risk in the current budget--we also know that the budget process is fickle and we'll likely have a few continuing resolutions before there is a final version.

ANSS meeting tours included an explanation of the BOAR enclosure ready to go in the shop. Mitch was confused why the low voltage cutout was set to let the battery run dry when it used to first cut power to the radio then the datalogger. That changed after we doubled the solar to help preserve real-time data and the centaur has an internal cutoff at 10.2VDC.

Luxo is done, but developed a problem, possibly from lightning. "The radio that connects to MSAR/LVAR has extremely high reflected power numbers. We either have a defective radio or water in a connection. A tower climb will be needed to investigate. LVAR may get better and the link to BOAR may work once the issue is fixed."

Preventive Maintenance. Jim's spreadsheets for most recent service:
ETSZ Service Status
NMSZ Service Status

Old note carried forward. USGS is moving forward with their SLU adoptions. Unfortunately they haven't yet changed any stations from NM to GS. Mitch will continue pushing for this after the shutdown ends. See this map for plans and progress.

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 upgraded 4 stations in 2025: ASTN, CCNC, VHTN, and WMTN2. Upgrades in 2026 so far are ETT (May) and ARPT (April) leaving five ET (CMGA, LRVA, DSNC, MGNC, TVNC2) and two NM (FPST, MFRT) to complete.

We only received four of the promised five sets of hardware for 2025DM (ASTN, CCNC, VHTN, and WMTN2) so now we have a total of nine to do in 2026. Yolanda reports four sets are on the way with another five coming in three to four weeks. The budget includes: Supplies $5600/station = $44,800, Travel $5312, and Gas $2,038. Prioritize five remaining geobit stations: CMGA, LRVA, DSNC, MGNC, TVNC2, and ETT. Final three are NM: ARPT, FPST, and MFRT.

NMSZ

Jim reports Cody and Nick have 60% of NM/AG PMs complete. Need to make sure we hit the remaining AG this year though also need to get the ET work done while the days are long.

Why are the analog-to-digital broadband upgrades so noisy? Holly reports even after hp filtering they are more difficulty to pick than the shortperiod stations.

PLAL has issues and can be retired. Hardware should be removed rather than repaired. Note, don't just end the epoch in SIS, remore hardware at the time of the closing. We wish to avoid closing too many stations with lingering obsolete hardware in the field.

RDGT cell router removed, it's now repeated through to CACT to Lenox.

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

Remove abb hardware from water tower at Peckerwood Point.

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.

Remove decommissioned I40 bridge as time permits. AZTN hardware is removed.

UALR got a new vault and Centaur/Cascadia upgrade in April.

NMDown

ETSZ

LRVA is closed due to Helene damage. A crew was able to make it to the site and found a nearby clearing formed by the storm that could be suitable. It won't make the telemetry shot so will need to be a cell modem.

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

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.

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

AG Network

Z41A has a replacement STS2.5

Need to complete PMs.

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/