VE6HRC Operational; Replacement is Complete

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As of October 24 2024, the repeater VE6HRC at Millarville has been returned to operation.

As announced earlier, and in conjunction with the frequency change of VE6HRA at Aldersyde, repeater VE6HRC is on the air with it’s new frequency 147.000 MHz with a plus offset and both PL and CTCSS tone of 110.9 Hz.

In addition to the voice repeater, we’ve added an APRS Digipeater at the site. The digipeater tactical name is QUIRK and will provide good fill-in coverage into the broad McLean Creek recreational area.

Many thanks to Dale VA6DD and Vince VE6LK for the on-site support and assistance with the installation. Here’s your happy crew after the work was done, and the outcome of the project.

As one more reminder now that this big network change is complete, now is a good time to reprogram your radio memories to reflect these new repeater frequencies.

VE6HRA Frequency Change Sept 22 2024

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As previously mentioned, the frequency of the Aldersyde repeater VE6HRA has been changed on Sunday Sept 22.

The frequency is now 145.190- 110.9Hz PL and CTCSS

Please update your radio memories to reflect this change and to make it easier to remember the frequency.

VE6HRA Repeater Planned Update – Frequency Change

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In the mid-September timeframe, the repeater VE6HRA at Aldersyde will acquire a new frequency.

It will change from 147.000+ 100Hz to 145.190- with 110.9Hz tone.

You may recognize this frequency, as it was formerly used at VE6HRC.

 The Aldersyde repeater callsign VE6HRA remains the same, as it is associated with the repeater location, and not the frequency. The A means Aldersyde.

So you may wonder about the 147.000 frequency pair and the Millarville repeater…
The obvious assumption would be that 147.000 gets moved to VE6HRC, and that is correct.

Why are we doing this? 
To accommodate the addition of an APRS digipeater at VE6HRC, the frequency separation between 144.390 for APRS and the input to VE6HRC is simply too close for us to be able to multi-couple into our antenna. So the frequency swap becomes necessary.

What does this mean?

Quite simply, you’ll want to reprogram your radio memory channels to reflect these changes.

Get out your manuals and programming software, and change away.
It’s always good practice to do this once in a while. Sometimes it takes someone to give you a reason to do so. So here is that reason…

When is this change taking place?
VE6HRA at Aldersyde will be changed first, some time in September. The exact date will be posted on FARS.ca in advance of the change.
The replacement repeater VE6HRC in Millarville in the lab now, and will be installed some time in late September or into mid-October, but a date has not been set at this time.

Exciting Network Changes Are Coming

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Starting in the month of September, some exciting changes are coming to the FARS Repeater Network. 

These changes will extend into October, as they are a little complicated and require coordination of several activities affecting two repeaters at two different sites.

The first change is the addition of an APRS digipeater at the VE6HRC repeater site at Quirk Creek, west of Millarville. A digipeater at this location will greatly enhance APRS coverage in a highly popular recreational area where numerous FARS members play. SOTA activators will also gain benefit by being able to post activation spots over APRS.

The next change is the VE6HRC voice repeater, which is being replaced with new radios and a new controller due to the failure of the previous system.

But wait, there’s more…

Watch for our next update in the coming weeks.

VE6HRA Aldersyde Repeater Update

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On Sunday August 11 2024, the VE6HRA repeater at Aldersyde/Gladys Ridge remediation was completed and the repeater is back to normal operation.
The original repeater, which had failed some time ago, was repaired. During the repairs, it was discovered that the repeater controller also had developed a fault, so it was also replaced.

VE6HRC Millarville Repeater Update

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The VE6HRC repeater was running in a compromised state, and unlinked from the FARS network for a while. Vince VE6LK and I attended the repeater site this week to assess the situation. We found good news and bad news. Antennas and feedlines are ok, but not the radio components.

We retrieved the radio gear to allow us to develop a new repeater package for the site.

Further to this visit, the suggestion to add APRS at the site is closer to reality, in a physical sense. I still need to work out the frequency spacing, which will be challenging.

VE6FAR Winlink Node Update: VARA FM Added

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As of the time of this post, the VE6FAR Winlink node has had an exciting new upgrade.

Several folks have inquired about this; the node now supports VARA FM. And it still supports packet. This upgrade allows continued 1200 baud AX.25 packet connections, and adds VARA FM in wide mode, allowing much higher speed than before.

If you currently use packet, nothing changes from the way you have been accessing the node. The node ID remains VE6FAR-10. The three digipeaters, VE6HRA-8, VE6HRB-8, and VA6HRH-8, continue to support the large coverage footprint for Winlink packet.

If you’re a VARA FM user, you can enjoy the high speed connection provided by the node.

To use VARA FM, download and install the VARA software from https://rosmodem.wordpress.com, configure it for your sound card and radio, then in Winlink Express, select ‘VARA FM Winlink’ for the session type.

The frequency remains on 431.000MHz.

If you’re new to VARA FM, these next few paragraphs will help get you started.

VARA FM is a ‘sound card’ mode, which does not require a TNC. It can use an external sound card, or a built-in sound card if your radio has one. Your PC or laptop’s built-in sound card is not a good option, by the way, if you’re hoping to get good connection speeds.
Have your manuals handy to help get this running.

Initial VARA FM setup:
The first time you start a Winlink VARA FM session, you’ll need to configure the path to the VARA FM software, and you want it to start automatically when you launch a session.

In VARA FM setup, select ‘WIDE’ as the FM System if your radio and sound card support it, otherwise leave is as ‘NARROW.’
Under Settings->PTT, select the PTT method for your radio. Note that VOX is typically used for many sound card types.
Under Settings -> Sound Card, select the appropriate sound card for both the input and output devices.

Setting audio levels:
Now the cool part. It is crucial to set your audio levels correctly for VARA FM to achieve maximum throughput. This is easily done with the ‘auto-tune’ button. In the ‘Calibrate with’ box, enter VE6FAR, then click the plug icon to start the calibration. It will transmit a series of 10 tones with increasing levels, and the Winlink node will respond with the suggested setting adjustments for your sound card.
Adjust your sound card levels as indicated, then do another calibration. Repeat until you get the ‘stamp of approval.’
Make note of these settings, in case you need to set them back, such as if you connect to some other node. The settings you arrive at are unique to this node.
At this point, doing a VARA ping is not a bad idea. In ‘Ping to’, type in VE6FAR, and click the plug icon. You’ll see the results, including S/N values. Since you were able to successfully auto-tune, this ping should work as expected.

Starting a Winlink session:
Now, in the VARA FM Winlink Session box, select connection type as Direct, and enter VE6FAR. 
Note that there is no ‘dash-something’ sub ID for the connection to the VARA FM node.
Then click start. Winlink Express will connect, and collect and/or send your Winlink messages.

If you’ve been using packet in the past, the first thing you’ll notice is the higher speed of this connection. As an example, checking for messages when there are none waiting for you using packet can take 45 seconds or more. With VARA FM, you will see this message check session typically complete in less than 12 seconds. 

VARA Licensing:
Does VARA FM need to be licensed? It’s up to you. You can use it without buying a license, but a nag screen pops up when using it, and your throughput speed is limited to 1188 bps.

In our early testing, we routinely saw 12000 to 22000 bps speeds with a licensed version of VARA FM.

Digipeaters:
If you are outside the direct coverage area of the VE6FAR VARA FM node, sadly, our packet digipeaters will not help you. These digipeaters are packet-only, and they do not understand VARA data streams. Their behaviour is to ignore those transmissions, as if they are noise. There are no current plans to deploy VARA FM digipeaters at this time. 

Settings Summary:
Frequency: 431.000
Packet node ID: VE6FAR-10
VARA node id: VE6FAR

If you are interested in using VARA FM, set it up, then send a Winlink message to VE6TD telling me you were successful, what sort of throughput you are experiencing, and whether you licensed VARA or not. I’m eager to see how many local amateurs adopt this digital mode for regular and frequent use.

Enjoy.

73
>>Dann – VE6TD

 

Field Day 2022 June 25-26

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It’s Field Day time again, where amateur radio operators get to showcase and practice their emergency communication by setting up and operating a radio station under impromptu or unusual conditions.

Once again, local pandemic conditions have restricted access to our usual preferred site, so we are adapting by once again setting up a hybrid operation.

The club station VE6FAR will be on air as a 5E station on emergency power, operated by Vince VE6LK and Dann VE6TD, along with some guest operators.

Operators that wish to join in the live action can attend on site and operate out of the Okotoks Composite High School parking lot on Woodhaven Drive. A logging computer and wireless access can be provided. Contact Vince or Dann for details.

A Zoom video conference call will be set up and open starting at 11:30 MDT for those wishing to join.

[call has ended]

When joining, please be sure to set your name and call sign in your Zoom client.

Feel free to drop in and encourage the operating team at any time during the 24 hour event.
Into the late hours Saturday, you may find the team has signed off for the night. If so, come back to the Zoom session Sunday morning some time.

FARS/Cycle25 Winter Field Day 2022

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Winter Field Day is January 29th and 30th, running noon Saturday to noon Sunday, Mountain Standard Time.

FARS will be taking part under similar Covid restrictions as last year, and your support is needed.

We will be doing an all virtual event, including the VE6FAR station spanning and operated by the VE6LK and VE6TD stations. This includes combined, network-based logging.

We will have a Zoom conference call open during the entire event for anyone to drop in and visit. Winter Field Day is, after all, a very fun and social event.
The Zoom meeting is on the air. Kindly ensure you set your name with your call sign when joining the call so we recognize you and admit you.
Meeting ID: 862 0611 1266
the password wfd22@FARS

We have prepared an operating and logging guide for our participants. It describes the very important submission process and details of the participants’ logs, and how to make sure your entry and your score is counted toward the overall VE6FAR Cycle25 club score.
Last year we had 9 team members amassing a combined 14,754 points. Our aim this year is to blow past that total in the first few hours of the event.

There have been some changes to the WFD rules this year, most notably imposing a maximum output power of 100W for all stations. And FT-8 is still not permitted. Logs are due March 1.

Additional points are available for anyone operating QRP.

For more information about Winter Field Day rules take a look at the official website www.winterfieldday.com