About FVARESS

 

In 1994 the Abbotsford Amateur Radio Club moved their repeater (VE7RVA) to Sumas Mountain. During the same year club members formed the Fraser Valley Amateur Radio Emergency Service Society (FVARESS) with volunteers who specialize in the maintenance and development of this unique radio repeater site. The Provincial Emergency Program (PEP) designated the repeater for inter-municipal and region wide communications during a major emergency. The repeater site source of power is provided by solar and a diesel generator. The equipment is run remotely via radio and a wireless Internet link.

The VE7RVA repeaters cover a very large geographical area, consisting of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia and the North-Western part of Washington State. In repeater terms this type of repeater is commonly referred to as a "wide area" repeater.

Repeater Rules of Use
1. Identify correctly as stated in RBR4e, “at the beginning and at the end of each period of exchange of communication or test transmission, and at intervals of not more than 30 minutes throughout the period of exchange of communication”.

2. Limit conversation if not part of a net, as this repeater is powered "off the grid". Please move to simplex or another non-battery powered repeater for longer conversations. There are local "on grid" repeaters:
Abbotsford 147.280 +, T110.9 Hz
Chilliwack VE7RAD 444.700 +5, T 110.9 Hz and VE7RSH 145.110 –
Langley 147.380+, T110.9

3. Leave at least 3 seconds between transmissions to permit others wishing to use the repeater an opportunity to identify. If you wish to join a conversation, give your call sign during an interruption in the conversation or use the word "Contact" during a break.

4. Do not engage in inappropriate discussions, comments or use of profanity.  Be responsible, do not let your language offend or allow your discussion to be used to discredit the amateur radio community.

5. Emergency, Search & Rescue and Special Event use of the repeater has priority over regular use.

6. During a net, only transmit when directed by the net controller.

7. Always give your full call sign and state your intentions before transmitting DTMF tones. If you use the IRLP system, disconnect from the system when you are finished.

8. Never knowingly interference with another transmission.