Wildrose Network News Archives from 2011

Dec.22.11 It's that time of year again and for the Wildrose Network it was one of our busiest years ever. New repeaters were implemented not only for FM but for DStar as well. We are the first to install a Icom DStar repeater on a mountain top running full power using solar for energy. As of this writing our voltage at the site is excellent. Pierre VE6PTE in Calgary and Ramesh VA3UV have offered to experiment (with our permission) with a way to bring a remote Dstar repeater onto the gateway. From what I have seen there has been a lot of success, More details on this as we proceed, Many of our sites also had upgrades like new antennas, feedline, batteries and a overall inspection. Also with the new FM linked repeaters we have put up you can now communicate from Cranbrook north to Golden, from Calgary north to Red Deer and many places in between like Banff to Lake Louise and south on highway 93 to Radium. Also if you have 220 you can access the system from southern Alberta (see notes below about all the repeaters).

A special thanks to Mike VE6AMC for getting this equipment in place and keeping it all up and running. When you think about it there is a lot of hardware out there, Also thanks to Dennis VE6BGZ for his help in keeping the Repeater directory info up to date along with many other pages you will find on this web site. And to Pat VE6CPT and Pierre VE6PTE for helping on various projects throughout the year and of course all of our supporters, many thanks.

Ir's been an exhausting year with preparing all the equipment and the implementation that has gone into it so it's time for us to take a break however as we proceed into the new year there are still lots of projects and experiments to do so come back often to this web site as I will do my best to keep you all informed.

With that said...On behalf of the Wildrose Network Group I like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas (Happy Holidays) and the best to you all in the new year. And above all stay safe and stay radio active. 73...from VE6CPK
Nov.30.11 Dennis VE6BGZ has put together a little info sheet on how to set up your Dutch Star DV Node Adapter for your DVAP. If interested you can click here for the info, If you need the software you can go here for the latest version.
Nov.13.11 Just to let you all know that we have had reports of VE7PNR repeater (near Radium) is workable in Golden and atleast 20 km north. WOW!!!
Nov.11.11 Mike VE6AMC and myself (VE6CPK) were in Lake Louise earlier this week and finally got the VE6BNP repeater linked into the rest of the network. Albeit some noise on the link signal it is very workable. Please note that this repeater is transmitting PL 131.8 however PL is not required to bring it up. Enjoy one of Canada's biggest network covering some of the harshes terrain.
Oct.09.11 Yesterday the Wildrose Network Group of repeaters was fairly active. Dennis VE6BGZ was mobile from Calgary to Ponoka along highway #2 and was working VE6AMP repeater on low power all the way from Airdrie to just north of Red Deer. A little more power was required to take him to the Ponoke turnoff on Highway #2. The repeater strength was good all the way, even through all the valleys. Also like to thank Nick VA7AJP for checking in with his portable from Radium on VE7PNR and joining in on the conversations. And thanks to the many other operators that took part. The goal was to check out coverage of VE6AMP along highway #2 north of Calgary,
Oct.08.11 As mentioned earlier another mountain top repeater has gone up, this time on Mt Sinclair at near 9000 feer ASL. The repeater callsign is VE7PNR on 146.880- with PL 131.8 hz. and is linked to our Hub Repeater giving coverage from the BC valley to the Alberta prairies. Mt Sinclair is located near Radium giving handheld coverage to Radium, Invermere, Windimere, Fairmont and mobile coverage south to Cranbrook. Also the Settler Road south of Kooetenay NP to Canal Flats should have good coverage and I would think Toby Creek to Panorama Ski Resort should have excellent coverage as well. Anyway I think you can see that this repeater is covering a lot of communties. Contacts have been made from Radium and Cranbrook to Calgary north to Red Deer. Thanks goes to Mike VE6AMC for putting up this repeater. Enjoy!!!
Oct.07.11 With the expansion of the Parks Repeater System it was decided to add PL to the Banff repeater VE6MPR on 146.670. Please note that this repeater now has a PL of 131.8 hz.
Sep.18.11 The Wildrose Network has been known for putting up Mountain Top repeaters with great success. Stay tune...
Sep.17.11 The VE6WRN gateway address has changed and has been updated. So if you have been trying to access your gateway information please try it again. If you continue to have trouble make sure you have cleared your browsers cache.
Sep.12.11 VE6AMP is a new repeater now up and running on 147.030 with a negative offset and PL of 131.8.. This repeater is located on the front range at 9750 feet ASL on Barrier Mtn (West of Sundre) and is also linked into the NP repeaters including 220 on Hailstone Butte in southern Alberta.(see note below). We have had a portable in Calgary working this repeater some 150km away. The coverage should reach north into the Edmonton area however I would think a resonable station would be required. At this altitude and especially on the front range were just not sure where the range limit of this repeater will be. So give it a try and if you can hear it you should be able to work it.
Like to thank Mike VE6AMC for his efforts in getting this repeater up and running. This one repeater probably has more range than any other repeater ever put up in Alberta. Also thanks to Pat VE6CPT and Pierre VE6PTE for coming along and helping haul equipment and installing antennas at the site. Also I would like to hear from you, let us know where you may be working or hearing this repeater. Please email Dale at: VE6CPK
Sep.01.11 It's been an interesting summer for us and were still not finished yet however the last couple of weeks have been very hectic so I think I'll update some things we have done and then take a wee little break. Before I comment on what we have been doing I need to give credit to some people:
Mike VE6AMC is our tech guy and without him none of this would be working as good as it does. Much experience at installing repeaters comes from installing many repeaters and knowing the tricks of the trade really help. Learning it in school is one thing but out in the field can be totally different as repeaters don't seem to follow there own rules, you have to impromise and Mike has done this many times with great success. Usually having more than one repeater at a given site represents all kinds of challenges to make it all work. Great work Mike!!!
Pat VE6CPT is our "make it fit and have it work" guy. If something has to be customized to make it fit and work Pat is the guy. With his experience and all the tools he carries he can pretty much fabricate anything on site and make it work. You really need someone like him when your on mountain tops and no where to go.
Myself (Dale VE6CPK), well I have some experience all over the place and try to help where and when I can to make this all work and of course I run the Wildrose Network Web site to try to keep you all informed.

     - Also to those that help us from behind the scene with support whether its funds or equipment it all helps.
     - Also like to thank Dennis VE6BGZ and Max VE6MAD for coming along on our last trip to Hailstone and giving us a hand.
     - And please give us your feedback whether good or bad, it helps keep us going just to hear what your saying.

For comments, questions or just want to pass something along please email Dale VE6CPK
First off we installed VE7KNP repeater in about the center of Kootenay NP last year but the link was a little noisy however it did work. This summer we added a yagi and pointed it to our UHF hub repeater near Spray Lakes. This improved the signal quality and overall has been very consistant. This repeater covers from north to south throughout the park.
Some work was done at our Hub repeater in particular the frequecny. We were getting some interference from another repeater and that group refussed to change frequency so we decided to drop our frequecy by 12.5K, this is why were at 444.7875. Moving it by 12.5khz only required minor tuning and adjustments at the site however for us on the mountain top is not a lot of fun on bad and windy days (I remember it well). Would of been much easier if the group that put up there repeater in the first place had made the change. O'well...we have somewhat gotton used to that happening more than once.
The Banff repeater VE6MPR has had some minor work but were looking at a major upgrade as well, probably sometime over the winter. Mountain tops first especially at this time of year. O...don't forget our DStar repeaters which are all working well, gateway included.
Lake Louise VE6BNP has had some upgrades as well, the yagi was upgraded to 7 from 3 elements which we hoped would improve the link signal however we found that 3 was better than 7, interesting. Why is that? We think that the signal is widely spread from the hub repeater and the signal is bouncing from all directions and by tightning up the beam we were actually loosing the signal. Will have to give this some thought for our next visit. In the meantime the repeater works well and the link may be there from time to time. Just listen for the link tone.
Now for the big one...Hailstone Butte... With the passing of Aarne VE6CKV in June 2008 we had not been at the site since the summer of 2007. Upon our arrival the site looked pretty much the way we left it. We new that everything here was working, battery voltage over the years always showed good but was there still water in the batteries and what condition would they be in? To our surprise very good, no corrosion, water was low but still above the plates. Everything else looked good, nothing coming apart as you might expect at mountain tops. OK...we had a lot of work to do so lets get on with it.
The power system was first on the list, we have been running solar for 30 years now with the original panels and we have noticed that there output power is about half. With the extra load we were going to add to the site we had to upgrade the panels to more current technology along with new batteries. Now with lots of batteries and lots of charging power we were ready to add the new equipment. All the old equipment was pulled. A complete makeover.
Lets start new...callsign is now VE6WRT. This callsign was used in the Calgary area for many years, previously VE6TWO also VE6ONE. Remember those years? Also the 147.390+ frequency has been moved to this site but now its DStar not FM. We have installed a VHF Dstar package, no gateway at this time but that may come. It all depends on who wants it. Anyway we have been pleasantly surprised by the coverage we are getting. With the coverage from this site north to Calgary/Crossfield and working well we do expect the same south to Lethbridge and area communities. Were hoping this will promote DStar in the south and add many new hams to the family of DStar users all over the world. Were running full power 25 watts so hearing it should not be a problem (pretty good for a mountain top!!). In Calgary we can hear it with our portables but working it is touchy, mobiles are usually no problem. And of course that DStar quality makes it sound like your right beside the guy your talking to. I hope to hear someone in the south soon. Remember the callsign on this repeater is VE6WRT running on the C Module. If your new to DStar this might be a good place to start. Click here. Also check some of our links near the top of this page.
Our next project was to install the 220 repeater, callsign is also VE6WRT. You say why do I hear voice ID "VE6WRT" then "VE6MPR?" A couple of reasons, the "VE6WRT" id is coming from the 220 repeater and if you hear "VE6MPR" that id is coming from the Hub repeater. And if your connected to the Hub your most likely connected to our other repeaters. To save energy at the moutain site we implemented a relay which will eventaully time out (usually 10 minutes of no 220 activity). Of course then when keying the 220 repeater nothing will be heard. If you have keyed the 220 repeater and hear nothing wait a good 10 seconds then key again, you should then hear the repeater respond, then proceed as you normally would. The coverge of 220 should be about the same as the DStar repeater but 220 is only running 4 watts at this time so obviously it will be weaker than the DStar repeater which is running 25 watts. Possiby next summer we are thinking of running 10-15 watts but will need a little more isolation to do that. So if that happens that will be next years project.
We have one more major project on the go but for now I will keep you in suspence, so please come back and when it happens I will update the info here. That's about it for now, there may be errors and items I neglected to mention so I will update this info as I come across them. So enjoy the system, its been fun but a lot of hard work has gone into it. I like to thank all the supporters along the way because without you much of this would not be happening. So thanks from the Wildrose Network Team...Enjoy!!!
Aug.22.11 There has been some major upgrades, improvements and additions to the Wildrose Network which has been occuring over the summer months. Please stay tune as I will update all this info in the next few days. Also please check your support status as there are a number of you that have expired. Remember your support helps maintain the system. You can check your status here. Anyone else that would like to support our efforts please click here.
Jun.29.11 The Orchard City Amateur Radio Club near Kelowna BC now has a Dstar repeater (VA7DIG). For more information you can check the following links. OCARC and OCARC DStar Project.
Jun.27.11 Notice from Icom on counterfeit products. Cick here for info.
Jun.26.11 There is hint of a new DStar radio from Icom. Check out the following links: ID-31e and ID-31.
Jun.23.11 We all are wondering about the Distracted Driving Regulation when is come's to Amatuer Radio operation. It takes effect September 1/2011. Thanks to Pierre VE6PTE for the following info:

Exempt classes of individuals 3(1) Pursuant to section 115.1(1) of the Act, an individual who holds a radio operator certificate issued under the Radiocommunication Act (Canada) may drive or operate a vehicle on a highway while holding, viewing or manipulating a 2‑way radio communication device. Click here to see the full details.
May.20.11 The CaNet has recently move from Ref016B to XFR021B. Without getting into the politics and some issues with FreeStar, our group has decided not to follow the CaNet on VE6WRN and VE6WRO on a full time bases at this time. However we may bring the net up on VE6WRN from time to time until issues are resolved. If you hear the net on VE6WRN your free to check in if you like, use the usual gateway method. A local sysop will bring up and down the gateway as needed for now. Your input can have an impack on what we do as our group is having issues on whether to have FreeStar versus DStar and XRF Reflectors versus DStar Reflectors, maybe both. We certainly do not want the two cross connecting in any way. Please send your comments to Dale VE6CPK. As we move forward I will up date the info here.
May.19.11 I have decided to remove the Wildrose Network FTP site due to lack of activity. It was only getting used a couple of times and it takes time for me to keep it current. Since no one was really using it I decided to remove it and free my time for other things. There is still the support page which can be access however this to maybe removed due to lack of interest and usage.
May.12.11 Again this year, the Dayton Hamvention will be a hotbed of D-STAR Activity. There are a number of events, forums, and exhibitors all scheduled to be there and of course we can’t forget all of the vendors with the best prices on D-STAR equipment!

For more details and updates, check out www.DSTARInfo.com. The latest information will be posted there.

Local D-STAR repeaters: Dayton W8HEQ 145.2700 -0.600 (C) 444.0875 +5 Megs (B)
Dayton W8RTL 147.1050 +0.600 (C)
The W8HEQ C module has decent coverage outside at the Hamvention; the W8HEQ B module has marginal coverage. The W8RTL repeater has been relocated to Dayton, but is currently does not have a gateway, but hopefully will by the time of the Hamvention.

REF038C will be the Dayton Hamvention Reflector. All stations from outside the region are requested to connect to REF038C and not the local repeaters.
For additional repeaters along your route of travel, check out the repeater listings at www.DSTARInfo.com and www.DSTARUsers.org .
Apr.18.11 VE6WRT went off the air on Sataurday (April 16) at 3:30pm. I like to thank Dennis VE6BGZ for hostng the repeater for many years at his residence in South Calgary which gave good coverage over the city and beyond. To our surprise the repeater was workable in the Banff area. VE6WRT will be off air for awhile as we look for a new home and give the repeater a tune-up. It has been running for over 6 years with no required maintenance during that time. The repeater may run in a temporary location so give it a listen from time to time. When we know more will make further annoucements here.
The repeater has been operating in the Calgary area since the early 80's on 147.390+ by Mike VE6AMC as VE6TWO. In the early 90's the call was changed to VE6WRT and has been that ever since. The repeater is currently owned by Dale VE6CPK. Stay Tune!!!
Feb.22.11 VE6WRO DStar repeater in Banff recently had a router go bad. Mike (VE6AMC) and Dale (VE6CPK) managed to reset the router and then had to set all parameters for DStar operation. As of this afternoon all appears to be back to normal. Enjoy!!!
Feb.22.11 If you have notice your caller ID information missing on the ircDDB web site, please read the following here.

Jan.27.11 VE6WRN and VE6WRO both now have the ircDDB installed. Also Dextra has been installed as well giving us access to the Freestar network. Thanks goes to Dave VA7DN for the install of these components. Also Max VE6MAD for his input on setting up the configuration files.