An amateur radio repeater is an electronic device that receives a weak or low-level amateur radio signal and re-transmits it from a higher level or at higher power so that the signal can cover much longer distances. Many repeaters are located on hilltops or on tall buildings because the higher location increases the repeater’s (and hence, the user’s) coverage area.
Mountain-based Repeaters
In amateur radio, repeaters are typically maintained by individual Ham radio hobbyists or local groups of amateur radio operators. Many repeaters are provided openly to other amateur radio operators and are typically not used as a remote base station by a single user or group. In some cases, multiple repeaters are ‘linked’ via other sub-bands so that signals received by one are simultaneously broadcast by all the other ‘linked’ repeaters. The Island Trunk System, which covers most of the east coast of Vancouver Island is an example.
Linked repeaters, such as the Island Trunk System
While a repeater gives local Hams a wide reach over their local area, a repeater connected to the internet opens the world up to a handheld with its short antenna. An internet-connected repeater uses the Voice-Over-Internet-Protocol (VOIP) to connect two stations separated by many thousands of kilometres.
Internet-Radio-Linking-Project (IRLP) uses VOIP to connect two physical radio stations via the Internet. EchoLink, on the other hand, puts a virtual radio in your cellphone, iPad or computer and then lets you use VOIP to access EchoLink repeaters around the world.
So, what’s the difference between IRLP and EchoLink? Well, you need an actual Transceiver to use IRLP whereas EchoLink turns your computer or phone into a virtual radio. Regardless, either method lets you use a local repeater to talk to other Hams around the world.
MIRA Repeaters
MIRA operates three repeaters in the Oceanside area.
VE7RPQ 145.370 MHz down 600 KHz, tone 100.0 Hz. Located on the summit of Mt Cokely near Parksville, elevation 1619m. There is also a simplex repeater link located on Mt. Benson just north of Nanaimo. The simplex link operates on 147.400 MHz (no offset required) and a tone of 100 Hz.
VE7SYD 442.275 MHz up 5MHz, tone 136.5 Hz. Located on the summit of Mt Arrowsmith near Parksville, elevation 1819m.
VE7RBB 147.180 MHz up 600 KHz, tone 100.0 Hz. Located at the Errington Fire Hall #1, just off the Port Alberni Highway. VE7RBB and VE7RPQ are linked via a UHF link.
VE7RPQ and VE7SYD Conservative Usage
Mountain top repeaters such as these operate on power from battery banks charged by either a diesel generator or an array of solar modules. In both cases, MIRA has been generously allowed to share the facilities owned by commercial operators. It is very costly to transport diesel fuel to a site by helicopter. Also, maintaining a solar-powered repeater year round can also require helicopter access, making it expensive to run.
In the case of VE7SYD, it is very important that the battery voltage not be run down to the point where the commercial operation is impeded. Solar charging can be quite limited during the winter months or during periods of heavy snow or cloud that reduce battery charging.
We ask that sensible use of these two repeaters be observed by limiting net times to approximately 30 minutes per day to save fuel and help maintain operating battery voltage. Relatively short QSO’s between hams is acceptable.
The VE7RPQ Repeater — Top Row: Preparing the helicopter; cannisters of diesel fuel for the generator; the repeater shack on Mt. Cokely; Middle Row: Sling packs for the helicopter trip; Sulo (VE7SUL) the owner of the site; UHF link to other repeaters Bottom Row: Inside the shack — the VE7RPQ repeater. Mt. Cokely Repeater site as seen by Howard Coram VA7HGC on Nov. 8, 2023. The arrow points to the repeater shacks.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Mountain Top Repeaters
Mountain top repeaters such as VE7RPQ and VE7SYD usually have superior range but are difficult to impossible to access for seven or more months of the year due to heavy snow, high winds or limited sunlight hours as well as restrictive access during the fire season. For example, to access VE7RPQ on Mt Cokely during the summer months requires an entry permit obtained from the forestry company that owns the land and the access roads, followed by a strenuous hike of 409 m elevation change from the former Mt Arrowsmith ski facility parking lot.
The former Mt. Arrowsmith Ski Area Parking Lot. You can just see the tiny repeater shack at the top of the Mt Cokely, to the right of centre.
Not too many members in MIRA have the stamina to do such a climb that includes some boulder scrambling, especially if carrying a backpack containing test or replacement equipment. Hence, access is usually made by helicopter at any time of year and that is expensive.
Modified Commercial Repeaters – MIRA’s repeaters are Daniels commercial models that have been modified for amateur radio use. Although older, they were built to operate in extremely harsh conditions of heat and sub-zero cold for many years. Honorary MIRA member Jeff Stanhope (VA7JPS) was a commercial repeater technician for the Yukon Territory and parts of Alaska and now in his retirement years, is responsible for installing and maintaining our repeaters. We are most fortunate to have him.
IRLP
{The Internet Radio Linking Project, also called IRLP, is a closed-source[1] project that links amateur radio stations around the world by using Voice over IP (VoIP). Each gateway consists of a dedicated computer running custom software that is connected to both a radio and the Internet. This arrangement forms what is known as an IRLP Node. Since all end users communicate using a radio as opposed to using a computer directly, IRLP has adopted the motto “Keeping the Radio in Amateur Radio”. }
The system allows reliable worldwide connections to be made between radio amateurs, greatly enhancing Amateur Radio’s communications capabilities. In essence it is the same as other VoIP applications (such as Skype), but with the unique addition of the ability to link to an amateur radio station‘s transceiver. Thus any low-power handheld amateur radio transceiver which can contact a local EchoLink node (a node is an active EchoLink station with a transceiver attached) can then use the Internet connection of that station to send its transmission via VoIP to any other active EchoLink node, worldwide. No special hardware or software is required to relay a transmission via an EchoLink node.
Before using the system, it is necessary for a prospective user’s callsign to be validated. The EchoLink system requires that each new user provide positive proof of license and identity before his or her callsign is added to the list of validated users. There is no cost for this service, and it ensures that this system is used only by licensed amateur radio operators.”
On the Echolink app (downloadable for either iPhone or Android), look for VE7RPQ-R, to access our repeater.
Packet
Packet Radio is a form of radio e-mail, primarily using a computer program called Winlink (unfortunately, only available on the Windows platform at the moment). Via this program and an interconnection between the computer and a VHF/UHF amateur transceiver, it is possible to form and transmit messages in multiple formats between similarly configured amateur radio stations. Using ‘node’ stations which are connected to the Internet, it is also possible to send messages to anyone with a valid email address.
There are a number of Packet ‘nodes’ which are accessible from the Oceanside area and these nodes could provide a vital communications link to the outside world in the event of a local or regional emergency event.
MIRA maintains a map of the packet node stations available, a copy of which is shown below.
