BC Boaters' Net

The BC Boaters' Net operates daily during the summer months from 1700 PDT using the Vancouver Island Trunk System. The starting date for 2013 will be June 15. The purpose of this net is to provide information to mariners, and to facilitate communications between boaters and with friends and family back home. Methods of contacting us are shown below.

If you wish to see an azimuthal equidistant map of the world centered more or less on coastal British Columbia (Victoria to be precise) please click here.

BCBN Operations

 

New Boaters If you haven't checked into the BCBN before, please download this text file (boat_description.txt) and follow the instructions to send a description of your boat to the email address that is shown in the text file. Contacts To request more information concerning the British Columbia Boaters' Net please email Len VE7BSA at info@bcbn.ca. During the boating season, traffic for boaters via email can be sent to bcboatersnet@bcbn.ca. This is an email reflector which will send your message to all of the net control stations. The appropriate net control will then relay your traffic to the intended boater. Please include the callsign of the intended recipient as well as the vessel name, and the location if you know it. Email should be in plain text format and not in HTML format.

Vancouver Island Trunk System

The Vancouver Island Trunk System (VITS) is a system of linked repeaters running the length of Vancouver Island. VITS is an 'open' system and you are welcome to utilize it to make a QSO at any time. Generally, no tones are required on 2 meter frequencies of the trunk repeaters with the exception of Nanaimo 145.430 / -600 which now requires a 141.3 Hz tone. The official webpage for the VITS is www.islandtrunksystem.org and the reader is referred to that page for details. Just hover over the map to view the appropriate frequencies for the different geographical areas. Other information can be viewed at the Nanaimo Amateur Radio Association website at www.ve7na.ca. There is an updated copy of the a diagram and DTMF codes for the VITS at www.ve7na.ca/cms/its.

Please note that most repeaters on the VITS are normally connected to the trunk all of the time. However, the Net Control will if necessary connect any repeaters that aren't already connected to the trunk prior to starting the net. All you have to do is listen to the appropriate repeater.

View a copy of this month's calendar.

Stew VE7VAX

Sent: June 3, 2011M
To: Len.H
Subject: BCBN Farewell

Hello all
It has been a great five years working with you all. What always frustrated me was all I heard was a voice with no view of who I was talking to. On the other hand, you never saw (the pita) me either. So here I am in my junky ham shack and saying good bye under doctors orders. It has been fun and more than rewarding to feel that I was contributing to helping run the BCBN along with a great bunch of people. I wish the net continued and successful operation over the coming years.
73 to all
Stew VE7VAX

Straits Weather Protocol
A Sea Conditions Program For Interested Amateur Boaters

While transiting Georgia, Malaspina, Johnstone, or Queen Charlotte Strait, amateur boaters are encouraged to monitor and utilize the 2-meter Island Trunk System (ITS) for the purpose of exchanging observed sea conditions. To initiate a request for actual sea conditions on one of the four straits, place a call on the ITS to any vessel on location. For example:

Calling any vessel located on Johnstone Strait for a sea conditions report. This is VE7XXX, the M/V “LION” at Port McNeil.

To initiate providing a sea conditions report while transiting one of the four straits, place a call on the ITS to any vessel indicating your availability to provide on request a sea conditions report on the named strait. For example:

Calling any vessel in need of a sea conditions report for the Strait of Georgia. This is KE7XXX portable VE7, the S/V "TIGER" located on the Strait of Georgia four miles SW of Merry Island.

Marine Amateur Radio Flag

Ron Drinkwater, VE7AIX (formerly VE7LEA), designed this flag and have flown in over a dozen countries. They were individually handmade by Ruth Reader, VE7BAG, but as of August 2012, they are no longer available. Our thanks to Ruth for her work over the years!

Join our group at YahooGroups

Weather Links

• Environment Canada - Marine Weather
• Environment Canada - Weather
• Environment Canada - Weather Radar... radar image from Victoria (South Vancouver Island)
• Environment Canada - Weather Radar... radar image from Aldergrove (Vancouver)

Boaters' Links

• Current weather conditions at Pender Harbour - courtesy of Stewart VE7VAX
• Boaters Blue Pages is published by Pacific Yachting Magazine. It is a good reference
  to boating services in Washington and BC.   www.boatersbluepages.com
• Roger VE7AP and Chris: Tetu (Tetu has been sold, but photos are still available)
• Roger VE0ARA and Eric: Aramoana
• Roly VE7DCL/VE0TI: Tropic Isle
• George N7HPE and Jeannie: Nereid V
• Peter VE7GCG and Marion: Alanje
• Bill WB6JAO & Mary KG6GEX: Raptor Dance
• Bill WO7O and Lu KC7AFL: Wojo
• Gene VE7WOL and Helen: Spectrum
• Tim KD7WZM and Amy: Patience

Wi-Fi at Brentwood Bay

Wi-Fi access is now available at Brentwood Bay courtesy of Art VE7FED. Boaters are welcome to make use of it, but please be reasonable with usage. Anyone abusing the connection will be blocked! The SSID is BCBN. The router is located just above the 4th dock out of Tod Inlet on the Willis Point side. The range hasn't been tested yet, so a few connection reports sent to would be welcome. If it proves necessary, a high gain antenna could be added in spring.

Other Links of Interest To Area Cruisers and Hams

• Canadian Coast Guard Home Page
• Canadian Coast Guard Pacific Region Index of Web Pages
• Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS) Centre Frequency and Broadcast Information
• Gulf Islands Cruising School Ltd. (Sidney BC) boat & navigation courses for sail boat & power boat operators
• Search for B.C. Place Names. Works great!
• www.racerocks.com Race Rock's own web page.
• Pat's Boating in Canada An excellent site with all sorts of useful information for boating in Canada.
• Hiking Trails in British Columbia for Boaters or Where to Walk Your Dog
  The title says it all!
• Fishery Notices
• WARA - West Coast Amateur Radio Association
• Northwest Boaters' Net
• What is AIS?
• AIS - Marine Traffic
• UI-View - Windows APRS Client
• Argent Data - OpenTracker, OT2m and other APRS devices
• Byonics - TT3, TT4 and other APRS devices

Links for the Net Control Stations

• DFO Fishery Notices
• DFO Tides, Current and Water Levels
• NOAA
• BC Weather Stations
• CCG: Notices to Mariners Monthly Editions
• USCG District 13 LNMs (Local Notice to Mariners)
• RAC - Radio Amateurs of Canada
• RAC Call Book
• FCC
• QRZ.COM
• The Sky at a Glance
• BC Public Service Net... the BC PSN (BC Net)  on 3729 KHz 0130Z every day.

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