In order to verify the coverage of the Shuswap Amateur Radio Club repeaters compared to modeling data, the club decided to organize and hold an exercise to determine the actual coverage of the VHF repeaters on the major highway routes in the region. The exercise was held on Saturday, June 22nd 2024 starting at 10:30AM local time.
Seven routes were selected on which Rover Teams contacted Net Control Stations through each of our repeaters (where possible) from each preselected location, assessed and recorded the overall quality of the base station’s signal through the repeater using the 5-1 Overall rating of the SINPO system. The base stations, in turn, assessed the Rover station’s signal through the repeater using the same scale, reported it to the Rover who then record it as well on spreadsheets.
Four Base Stations monitored each of the repeaters and responded to signal report requests from the Rover Teams:
VE7RNH, Granite Peak, – Peter Rizzi, VE7RZZ
VA7AHR, Adams Hill – Al Neufeld, VE7AN
VE7QMR, Queest Mountain – Lucas Bandura, VE7RME
VE7RSA, Larch Hills – Wayne Harris, VA7VT
Falkland checkpoint
The routes chosen are listed below along with the Rover Team leader travelling the route:
Route #1: Hwy 1 from Sicamous to Revelstoke – Robin, VE7HMN
Route #2: Hwy 97B from Hwy 1 Junction to Armstrong – Celia, VE7NIA
Route #3: Hwy 1 from Salmon River Bridge to Monte Creek – Mike, VE7LOG and Phil, VE7BPH
Route #4: Hwy 97A from Sicamous to Ashton Creek via Grindrod- Enderby Rd. – Gary, VE7GSZ
Route #5: North Shuswap from Squilax to Saint Ives – Al, VE7CAL
Route #6: Salmon River Road from Mt. Ida School to Westwold on Hwy 97 – Dave, VA7HDY
Route #7: Chase Creek Road from Falkland to Chase – Phil, VE7BPH and Mike, VE7LOG
The signal report results were collected and used by Robin Hickman, Dave Hadley and Al Marr to make a “Repeater Coverage Map” using a custom Google Map and made it available on the club’s website.
You can view the results obtained during the Repeater Coverage Exercise at this link:
The exercise was well attended and enjoyed by the participants. The coverage results will provide valuable information for decisions made by the club and provide a resource for Amateur Radio visitors to the Shuswap. Thanks to everyone who participated!
Hwy 97 east of Westwold