Frequency Coordination In BC

A Communicator Reprise: November 2012

Our VHF and UHF bands are subdivided into sub-bands while the ones used for FM and digital communications are channelized. Certain sub-bands are allocated to channelized repeaters and simplex communications, resulting in a fixed number of channels in each band. This limits the number of repeaters and simplex channels available for use, but on the other hand, with coverage being generally limited to line-of-sight distance, these channels can be reused many times across the Province.

Early in the development of VHF repeaters it became evident that some form of organization needs to ensure that repeaters do not interfere with each other while the use of the available spectrum is optimized so that the greatest number of repeaters can be accommodated in the limited space available. The result was the emergence of Frequency Coordination Councils, groups of amateurs who volunteer and take it upon themselves to manage the repeater portion of the band, coordinating frequencies so as to prevent interference. Frequency Coordination is the process of choosing and recommending one or more specific frequencies for a system that will operate on fixed frequencies, such as a voice repeater, an ATV repeater, a packet system, a remote base or link, etc. 

In BC, the British Columbia Amateur Radio Coordination Council (BCARCC) was incorporated in January 1995 and is the current coordinator of VHF and UHF frequencies. It has taken its band plan from the Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) band plan and modified it to dovetail with one adopted by the Western Washington coordinators. Repeater operators and clubs who sponsor repeaters work with the Council to find and establish frequencies for their repeaters. The complete list of BC repeaters can be found at their website, www.bcarcc.org. 

Coordination councils in Canada have no power of enforcement: they depend on the respect and cooperation of those they serve. Over the years, BCARCC has gained the credibility and respect of virtually all Hams and has worked with all repeater operators. Amateurs cooperate with BCARCC because this approach to the use of these bands for fixed frequency installations has proven to be a workable and effective method, for everyone's benefit. 

In November 1996, BCARCC and Pacific Region of Industry Canada (IC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish the advisory role of BCARCC versus the legislative and regulatory role of IC. Under the MOU, IC refers all applications for repeaters to BCARCC for coordination, and no longer lists specific frequencies on Amateur licenses (reflecting the fact that no Amateur is licensed to have exclusive use of a frequency). 

Coordination requires cooperation: Although our Amateur sub-bands are a finite resource, they can support a large amount of fixed-frequency activity if shared in a harmonious and cooperative manner.  Abuse can destroy the resource for everyone. BCARCC provides the resources to manage our spectrum. BCARCC has other responsibilities besides frequency coordination. For example, it is involved in mediating interference issues, band planning, working on approaches to solving technical problems, and communication and cooperation with neighbouring coordination councils as well as working with other local and national organizations.

BCARCC’s success over the long term has, in part, been the result of policies that differ significantly from those of other coordination councils: 

• Unlike other councils whose members are repeater operators, BCARCC’s members are Ham clubs. This ensures that policies are developed to benefit the Ham community, not only the interests of repeater operators.
• Coordinations are completed based strictly on technical factors: can the repeater provide the coverage on the specified frequency without causing harm to other systems? The purpose of the repeater, the number of Hams it will serve or the identity of the operator (as long as he/she has an Advanced License) have no bearing on the coordination.
• The BCARCC executive and its Board of Directors determine policy and provide direction. Coordinators are appointed for their technical competence and work independently, based on these policies. Policies are documented at www.bcarcc.org/policies
• BCARCC has area coordinators in various regions of our Province. These coordinators provide local knowledge and help those wishing to install repeaters with frequency selection and other technical issues.
• BCARCC considers itself to be an enabler that provides support for the enjoyment of the hobby, not as a regulator and not as a curb on Ham activities.
• BCARCC is fortunate to have the support and continued involvement of retired, professional, communications engineers who ensure that policies are appropriate and who work with repeater operators to resolve technical and interference issues. 

More than 450 repeaters are coordinated in BC. These repeaters are also known to coordinators in Washington State as well as Alberta and the Yukon and can therefore be protected from other users of the frequency. Over 150 simplex nodes have been registered. Simplex stations, such as Echolink, IRLP, APRS and point-to-point links are registered, meaning that their presence is published. It is hoped that Hams respect their presence although simplex stations cannot be assured of protection from other users of the frequency.

A complete list of coordinated and registered stations is available at www.bcarcc.org. These lists are in pdf format and can be printed.  Feel free to make contact regarding coordination issues.

~George Merchant VE7QH 
  ve7qh@shaw.ca

Better VHF/UHF Performance

A Communicator Reprise: September 2010 (2)

There is more to your radio than just your radio; and just because you can bring up a repeater with a click of your PTT button, doesn’t necessarily mean you will have a full quieting signal sufficient enough to actually get whole words out.  

I hear far too many stations, be it hand held, mobile or base who consistently try to check into a net or have a conversation with poor quality signals or audio issues.

Here are 6 tips to better VHF/UHF Performance

1. Use the correct coax cable.  You may be losing transmission efficiency if you’re using coax that’s too small for long cable runs.  Here is a rule of thumb: For runs under 20 feet you can get away with RG58 A/U cable.  Avoid using RG-174 for handheld jumpers.  For runs longer than 20 feet, use RG8 or RG213 or better yet, LMR400.  Over 100’ LMR600.  Use the right connectors too.  You can get away with a good quality PL-259 (UHF) connector up for 144 or even 220 Mhz.  But for 440 MHz you need to start using N-Connectors.  Not only for better low loss characteristics, but because the PL-259 does not present a consistent 50-52 ohm impedance above 300 MHz.  Use the best quality you can afford as the quality of the connector will severely affect your performance.
2. Stop corrosion with lubrication. Your antenna cables and hardware are extremely susceptible to moisture.  Check the ends and lubricate them with marine or silicon grease and use coax seal or splicing tape for wrapping connections.  You can expect a 10-15 year life span out of your stainless steel or anodized aluminum antenna. Far less for uncoated copper or unprotected aluminum.  Scotch 33 or 88 is the best electrical tape over the layer of splicing tape or coax seal for added protection. [see also http://www.nsarc.ca/tech_archive/Articles/PL-259_Weatherproofing_Article.pdf]
3. Mount your antenna as high as possible. VHF/UHF communications is determined by line of sight, and the higher you mount your antenna, the further your transmission will carry.  Dense trees, lots of metal in and on buildings will diminish your transmit and receive signals.
4. Get a higher gain antenna! You’re stuck to 5 watts on a hand held with a rubber antenna that offers negative gain (a loss).  ¼ wave antennas are unity gain or NO gain.  Antennas come in 3, 6, 9-10 or higher DB gain.  Even a 3db antenna on a hand held is going to effectively increase your ability to transmit and receive by a factor of 2 (or twice).  6db is twice as good as a 3db antenna.   You can’t use the repeater as a crutch for a poor signal. Bad in, bad out...
5. Check your antenna mounting location.  If your antenna is mounted within 3 feet of a parallel metal surface, it will “de-tune” your antenna system and your radio will lose efficiency.  If it’s mounted low on a bumper, next to your AM/FM antenna on your car, or you are using the wrong antenna for the installation – e.g. a ⁵/₈^th on the mirror mount, where a ½ wave is a better choice.
6. Don’t yell into your microphone!  This is FM, not SSB or CB… Get your radio tuned properly, use the original mic or at least one with the same input impedance and don’t over deviate by yelling.  If you have a wide band FM radio, and you are trying to work into a narrow band FM repeater, your audio will sound terrible and yelling only makes it worse.  If you are next to each other or a car length away, then fine… 500 mW is good, you annoy fewer people, the rest of the time use adequate power to have a good signal.

Surrey Amateur Radio Club Repeaters [Updated]

Club Repeaters

VE7RSC

147.360MHz+ tone: 110.9Hz IRLP node 1736

Our Echolink node number for VE7RSC-VHF: 496228

223.960MHz- 1.6MHz tone: 110.9Hz IRLP node to follow

443.775MHz+ tone: 110.9Hz IRLP node 1737

Our UHF repeater is no longer linked to the VHF unit

Repeater Manager: Sheldon Ward VA7XNL

List of Vancouver and Fraser Valley Repeaters

SARC Repeater Guide

A How-To For Using VE7RSC

The SARC repeaters are linked together via an ARCOM RC-810 repeater controller. The current configuration as of August 2012 is for both our VHF and UHF repeaters to be linked together allowing for QSOs to span across the VHF and UHF repeaters. For example: All traffic on the VHF repeater is heard on the UHF repeater and vice versa. In this configuration both repeaters are connected to IRLP node 1736. If a scenario of high traffic was to arise in which both repeaters are needed for separate use, they can be disconnected with the VHF repeater remaining connected to IRLP node 1736 and the UHF repeater connected to node 1737.

To properly understand our repeater system, It’s important to distinguish the features of the ARCOM controller and the features of the IRLP nodes:

The ARCOM Controller provides:

•  Flexible Linking between VHF, UHF repeaters, and the two IRLP nodes.
•  Vocal & CW Repeater ID
•  Hangtime
•  Automatic time of day announcement

IRLP node 1736 provides:

•  IRLP & Echolink connectivity
•  Voicemail system
•  Signal check function
•  On demand time of day announcement
•  Pre-recorded club event announcement

IRLP node 1737 provides:

•  IRLP connectivity
•  Signal check function
•  On demand time of day announcement

SARC Repeater system diagrams:

Configuration #1 (default, low traffic)

Configuration #2

May be used during times of high repeater traffic like club events, exercises, etc.

IRLP Usage (basic)

For new IRLP users, please refer to the IRLP Operating Guidelines: http://www.irlp.net/guidelines.html

The guidelines page explains how the system works, explains what reflectors are and how they work, and provides important instruction on how to use IRLP. All IRLP users should review the guidelines from time to time.

Initiate an IRLP connection:

Hold PTT, say your callsign, and dial the node or reflector number via DTMF keypad. Release PTT once 4-digit dialing sequence is complete.

End an IRLP connection:

Hold PTT and dial "73" via DTMF mic. Release PTT. Note: when disconnecting from a reflector, it is best not to identify before you dial "73." Wait until the link has dropped, then say your callsign so people locally here on the repeater know who disconnected the link. It can become annoying to those who monitor the reflector to hear your ID before you disconnect. A busy reflector will often have two of three nodes connect and disconnect per minute.

The IRLP network status page: http://status.irlp.net
Use the status page to view nodes by country, see reflector usage, etc. Node lists can be printed for easy reference.

A second option for viewing reflector status and activity:http://irlp.g4eid.co.uk/status/all_reflectors.html

Echolink Usage (basic)

Our Echolink node number for VE7RSC-VHF: 496228

*NOTE:  As of August 2012, only node 1736 has Echolink capability. Echolink is not available via node 1737.

Initiate an Echolink connection:

Hold PTT, say your callsign, and dial the echolink node number preceded by an asterisk. Release PTT once dialing sequence is complete.
For example: PTT + *190638 will connect to echolink node number 190638. (VE7RHS repeater at UBC)

End an Echolink connection:

Hold PTT and dial "73" via DTMF mic. Release PTT.

Echolink status page: http://www.echolink.org/logins.asp

For more echolink info: http://www.echolink.org/

IRLP NODE 1736 additional features:

Voicemail:
To leave a message:

1. Hold PTT, dial "AAA" and release PTT.

2. The repeater will respond with a vocal prompt "Who is this message for?"

3. Hold PTT, say the callsign of the person you wish to leave a message for, release PTT (note: voicemail has a 5 second limit to receive this information).

4. The repeater will respond with a vocal prompt "Please start your message."   

5. Hold PTT and say your message. The message time limit is 60 seconds. Release PTT when finished.

6. The repeater will respond "Message complete, thank you."

To check for messages:

1. Hold PTT, dial "BBB"

2. The system will respond "There are no messages" if voicemail box is empty, or the system will respond "There are messages for: + "
If you wish to listen to the message, it is important to note the message number. If there is only one message in the voicemail box, you can assume that message will be message number 1.

To listen to a message:

1. Hold PTT, on your radio or mic keypad dial "AAx" where "x" is the message number. For example, to listen to message number 1, dial "AA1"

To delete a message:

1. Hold PTT, dial "BBx" where "x" is the message number. For example, to delete message number 1, dial "BB1" The repeater will respond "Message number deleted."

2. If there is more than one message in the message box, when message number one is deleted, message number two will move up to assume the position of message number one.

3. If you have listened to a message that was addressed to you, please delete it once you have finished with it.

To delete a message:

1. Hold PTT, dial "BBx" where "x" is the message number. For example, to delete message number 1, dial "BB1" The repeater will respond "Message number deleted."

2. If there is more than one message in the message box, when message number one is deleted, message number two will move up to assume the position of message number one.

3. If you have listened to a message that was addressed to you, please delete it once you have finished with it.

Other repeater functions:

Signal check:

The repeater can make a short recording of your audio and play it back to you to assist you in testing your radio.

To initiate a signal check:

1. Hold PTT, dial "A3", release PTT

2. The repeater will respond "RX Check ready."

3. Hold PTT, provide some test audio, release PTT.

4. Once you release PTT, the repeater will respond by playing back your last transmission. Give it a try, it's a handy feature. Some of us use it several times a day.

To initiate on demand time of day announcement:

1. Hold PTT, dial "C", release PTT.

2. The repeater will respond "The time is, XX:XX am/pm."

Quick reference summary:

•  AAA leave a message
•  BBB check for messages
•  AAX plays message X
•  BBX deletes message X
•  A3 signal check
•  C clock
•  *69 Function: reads back the last inbound and outbound connections via IRLP along with times and node numbers.

Additional/misc info:

Embedded node install/diagnostic manual
http://www.irlp.net/embedded/Embedded_Info.pdf

VE7RSC Is On The Air!

High Above Downtown Surrey...

The day we have been anticipating for over 2 years has finally arrived.

Thanks to Steve Coleman VE7MAN and Dave Cameron VE7LTD, who put in most of the day installing our new repeaters, both 2m and 440 MHz including IRLP and Echolink are now working at Concord Pacific. Andy Lo of Surrey Fire, Kelvin Hall VA7KPH and John Brodie VA7XB “assisted”. 

What we now have is a first-class installation at the top of the 36 storey Concord Pacific high rise in Central Surrey.

The Sinclair antennas are pointed southeast but the pattern is roughly omni-directional, so we should see good propagation in all compass directions. 

So if you want to test the new 2m repeater, go to 147.360 MHz + with a tone of 110.9, and if you want to test 440 MHz, go to 443.775+ with a tone of 110.9.