Wildrose Network News Archives from 2015

• Dec.10.15  Yaesu has launched a new System Fusion customer portal, accessible at: http://systemfusion.yaesu.com. This new portal allows customers to interact directly with Yaesu customer service, other customers and also offers the following features:
  
      FAQ Section
      Customer Support & Self Help System
      Up to Date product information
      Forums
      Feature Request Submissions
      Calendar of Events / Presentations
  
  Dec.04.15  DStar registration is now working once again on VE6WRN.  I'm in the process of rebuilding the older database so if you are registered on VE6WRN before today please login again with your callsign and password as a new user.  Once approved your old data/terminals will show up the next time you log in.  I need to purge the older database so that all calls registered on VE6WRN will show and allow you to gain access to your data.  If you do not register then your callsign will probably be removed from the trust server and your DStar gateway access will no longer work.  I do not plan to do the purge until the new year so you will have some time to register your call again.  If your new not to worry, just register and please send me an email so I can go in and approve your call.  Dale ve6cpk@shaw.ca
  
  Dec.01.15  When using VE6RPT please note that there is a 3 minute timer on the repeater transmitter, meaning the repeater must drop to reset that timer or the repeater will stop transmitting.  On our next visit we will probably extend that to 6 minutes.
  
  
• Nov.29.15  Due to the fact that no one had let me know that the VHF repeater was down at VE6RPT (since I do not use it that much) it was of great expense to Mike VE6AMC and myself (Dale VE6CPK) to get something up sooner rather than later.  Because this site is one of the best in the Calgary/Cochrane area we did not want to put in just any package.  Site access is limited so we tried to get something good.  We ended up spending more than we would have liked but we ended up getting a very reliable Motorola Quantar Rpt with analog/digital capability.  With time running out AltaLink gave us access to the site last Thursday as they were getting into shut down mode until after Christmas and access would have had to wait until the new year.  We were able to pull the Fusion (since it was not working) and replace it with the Quantar.  Now up and running at twice the power as before it appears coverage has improved.  PL is the same as before however digital mode has changed.  If you hear a buzzing sound on the repeater that is digital.  Obvious you may not want to listen to that in FM so just make sure your radio is decoding PL and you will not hear the noise.  This is the same scenario as with the Fusion repeater.  With the added power we are running into an antenna issue something that was there before but not as bad.  The antenna is getting very old (210c8) and should be replaced.  But another added expense, for now it will have to wait.  The breakup on FM is more noticeable than digital.  There is some fine tuning to do but that will have to wait until the new year perhaps until spring.  In the meantime VE6RPT is back and if it ever goes down again someone please let me know.  However with the new digital package I may be on it a little more than before. More about the digital mode/repeater can be found in the coming days in the P25 section.
  
  This repeater used to be an independent repeater once ran and maintain by Aarne Luoma VE6CKV who passed away in 2008.  Since then this repeater has been given to the Wildrose and is now operating under the Wildrose Group.  This has been a major expense for us and one I hope is worth while since this is an exceptional site. Currently running a 210C8 at 300 feet above ground this antenna is showing its age.  Funds are needed if we ever plan to replace it.  If you can, please support or become a member of the Wildrose.  You can contact me (Dale - ve6cpk) or if you like click on the PayPal button above to help us out.
  
  
• Nov.29.15  DVAP and X-Band frequencies updated. See Local Links.  Thanks goes to Dennis VE6BGZ for keeping this updated.
  
  
• Oct.04.15  We recently have been having issues with our A-Module on Dstar at VE6WRN so a check-up of the site was in order.  Last week we were at the site to discover that the 1200 antenna was not working at all.  Mike VE6AMC replaced it with one of his own. Its now working very well.  Some tweaking was done to C and B modules, both are working a little better especially the B-module.  Some cost to Mike to replace the 1200 antenna is required so any help with funding is always appreciated.  If you want to make a donation you can click on the PayPal button above or get in contact with Dale VE6CPK.
  
  The DStar repeater C-module in Banff is working however the gateway computer is not.  Callsign routing appears to work OK but any dplus requirements are not.  I have not been able to write any data to the hardrive so I suspect the hardrive is on its last legs.  Rebooting takes a long time for the system to come back up and is usually full of errors.  The computer is an origianl one we had back in the beginning of DStar, it uses and IDE drive which is hard to find these days. A computer replacement may be required. Unfortunately with other expenses this project will have to wait for now.
  
  As we head into winter the mountain parks repeaters are all working well. We (Mike VE6AMC and Dale VE6CPK) have been at most of the sites to check them out and all are looking good. Solar power is all good. We have added a feature at one of the sites so stay tune as I'll explain later.
  
  We have not been able to make it to Hailstone Butte this year due to time and cost however the 220 repeater continues to operate well but occassionally the repeater transmitter will hang for long periods of time.  But it does function during this time and does not bring up the parks system so it hasn't been a crtical issue.  We plan to either replace the controller or try and re-program it on our next visit.  The DStar repeater at the site worked very well during the summer but as we head into winter with load demands at the site it will probably be turned off.  If you remember, and I'm sure you do, the roads were washed out in the area making it difficult to get to the site.  Roads in the area have been repaired but the actual road to the repeater site has not.  Its been a hike since. Thanks goes to Mike VE6AMC for making a couple of hiking trips to the site to help keep the repeaters and links working.
  
  Don't forget the Alberta INFO net held every Monday at 8pm on the local DStar repeater VE6WRN C-module hosted by John VA6DS in Edmonton.  The VE6KM and VE6WRN repeaters are linked together at this time.  Please make sure your radio is set for gateway use.
  
  Also its that time of year again for renewing our insurance policies with the various sites we have, so again any help is appreciated.  And if your a member of RAC please let us know as this helps reduce the cost.
  
  73 for now...   Dale VE6CPK
  
  
• Aug.17.15  Here is the first review I have seen on the new Yaesu Portable FT2DR by VA3XPR.  Click here for the article.
  
  
• Jul.29.15  I found the latest HF band plan for 2015 on the RAC web site.  You can click here to view this PDF file.  Final 2015.
  
  
• Jul.24.15  The P25 and System Fusion page has had some recent updates.  Check it out by clicking on the above links.
  
  
• Jul.10.15  Interested in the Icom 7100 HF and DSTAR radio?  Here is an article on the radio posted in QST.  Here is also a more detail look at the 7100. Icom has a good price on this radio until Sep 30/15.  Here is there Brochure.  LDG has a great tuner for this radio, you can check that out here.
  
  
• Jun.17.15 I just added my comments about cross banding on Yaesu System Fusion.  It seems complicated at first but is rather simple and you can use all modes including FM.  Check out my article under Local Links then click on DStar / C4FM Crossband or simply click here.
  
  
• Jun.16.15  The Banff repeater VE6BNF is now running split PL.  Same PL as before to key up repeater 131.8 and if you wish to decode PL on your radio use 151.4   Mike and I also did a PM while at the site and all looks great.
  
  
• Jun.15.15 There are some new updates in the 900 Meg repeater section.
  
  
• Jun.10.15  There is a new version of WinDV 1.58.p3 now available.  You can get that version off of the Wildrose Support Page.
  
  
• Jun.03.15  I recently did the firmware upgrades on my 5100 with no issues at all.  Just be sure to read the info before proceeding as there are some items to note.  I have uploaded all the required files and documentation in the Wildrose Support section.
  
  
• May.31.15  Here is a recent review of the Icom 5100 taken from February QST.  Here is Icom's product page on the 5100.  You can also get the latest firmware from that same page.
  
  
• May.21.15  Check out the new DV3K Dongle that was introduced at Dayton. There is also a clickable image on the right side of this page.  Below is a comment from Robin AA4RC.
  
  We announced the new DV3K Dongle at the D-STAR forum at Dayton on Friday.  The software wasn't quite ready to go yet but several folks wanted to take the new hardware back with them oversees so we let HRO start selling on Saturday.  We are still working out the remaining issues with the new DVTool 2.1 which should be released in the next day or two.  In the mean time, you can download the latest version of WinDV and select "Thumb DV" as the device since the new DV3K Dongle is similar in architecture.
  
  
• May.18.15 New from Yaesu, FTM-100dr. You can also check it out on RigPix. Supposedly coming in June. Um.....   RadioWorld now has this radio on there Toronto web site. Here is the link.
  
  
• Apr.20.15  VE6WRT DStar repeater (C-Module) on Hailstone has been turned back on and functioning.  Enjoy!!!
  
  
• Apr.12.15  Mike VE6AMC and Dale VE6CPK were at the VE6RPT repeater site last Thursday to do some PM work.  There had been a on-going problem with some break-up on signals from time to time and it was thought to possibly be in the duplexer.  After Mike rebuilt the duplexer we managed to gain more power out and also a much improved knotch.  Further test showed an improvement in repeater performance.  Pierre VE6PTE was hiking west of Elbow Falls at the time and was able to work the repeater using his portable.  We have not heard any break-up of signals since but will monitor it for awhile to confirm.  Also some programming of UHF repeater was done.  There was an internal timer that would get us from time to time.  This timer has been set a little longer.  UHF is working very well on both Analog and P25.  Note that the VHF repeater is a Yaesu Fusion System and can  be worked either Analog or Digital.  Any questions or comments please send them to Dale VE6CPK.  Email addresses can be accessed under CONTACTS.
  
  
• Apr.05.15  If your like some of us contemplating on what size of balls we need, here is a chart that may help you out.  I know it did for me.  Click here.  You can also check on what shapes you might need.  Click here.  To be clear I am talking about Ram Mounts.
  
  
• Apr.02.15  If your wondering about Google Maps and FI check out this link:  http://blog.aprs.fi/2015/04/google-maps-disabled-on-aprsfi.html
  
  
• Apr.01.15  The Parks repeater system is now linked to Ottawa.  Thanks to Andrew VE6EN for providing the ROIP connection.  Any repeater on the Parks system can access the ROIP link.  If you have any questions or endorsements please contact Andrew VE6EN.
  
  
• Mar.18.15  The DSTAR repeater C Module and gateway have returned to Banff and is now operational.  Thanks goes to Mike VE6AMC for negotiating to have it returned to the area.  It is located at the same site as before so coverage will be the same.  Note that the C module has changed frequency to 147.315+, this was done to prevent interference from the VE6AMP repeater that was located in the same area in the summer of 2013.  The UHF module that was running in Calgary with the callsign VE6WRO is currently down but will return with a new callsign VE6WRE in the near future.  Watch here for details.  Repeater frequency will remain the same.
  
  
• Jan.10.15  Comment from John VA6DS about the Alberta Wide Technical Net held every Monday at 8PM Local.
  
  Where:  VE6KM B and VE6WRN C - 8:00 pm local every Monday evening,  we check in and then discuss various Technical topics.  D-Star, Fm, APRS, Cameras, Computers, HF, GPS, Radio programming, and other Technical issues.  But most important is help for D-Star and events taking place on D-Star.   All  you need is a D-Star device to check in.  You do not have to be a member of any club or organization.  Oh and a little Edmonton Calgary ribbing.  We also have lunches and coffee get togethers from time to time.  The Calgary group have there's every Wednesday evening.      John VA6DS
  
  
• Jan.02.15  The System Yaesu Fusion page above has some updates including a link to a new Yaesu portable called the FT2DR.  Looks like a winner!!!  You can also check it out here on RigPix.