Island Trunk System
The Island Trunk System (ITS) is a system of linked repeaters running the length
of Vancouver Island. VITS is an open system and all boaters that are amateur radio operators
are welcome to utilize it to have a QSO at any time. All repeaters from Courtenay south use
a tone of 141.3 Hz. The ones north of there are just carrier access. The official webpage for
the VITS is islandtrunksystem.org.
You can view a diagram of the ITS there. Most repeaters on the VITS are normally connected to
the trunk all of the time.
The Cowichan Amateur Radio Society
maintains the southern-most repeaters on the ITS above Chemainus, and there are several repeaters
maintained by the Nanaimo Amateur Radio Association,
two of which are on the ITS.
The BC Boaters Net will be commencing on June 15 2018.
2018 - Schedule of VHF Net Control Stations> |
| Start | End | commencing 17:00 PDT |
Call | Name | Notes |
| June | 15 | June | 21 | | KD7BFA | Tom | |
| June | 22 | June | 28 | | VE7GDH | Keith | |
| June | 29 | July | 5 | July 1 Canada Day | VE7GDH |
Keith | |
| July | 06 | July | 12 | | VE7IVN | Ivan | |
| July | 13 | July | 19 | | VA7GRS | Mark | |
| July | 20 | July | 26 | | VE7DFJ | Jack | |
| July | 27 | Aug | 02 | | VE7DFJ |
Jack | |
| Aug | 03 | Aug | 09 | Aug 6 BC Day | KD7BFA | Tom | |
| Aug | 10 | Aug | 16 | | VE7BSA | Len | |
| Aug | 17 | Aug | 23 | | VE7IVN | Ivan | |
| Aug | 24 | Sept | 30 | | VE7BSA | Len | |
| Aug | 31 | Sept | 06 | | VE7FED | Art | |
| Sept | 07 | Sept | 13 | | VE7FED | Art | |
View a copy of
this month's calendar.
Len VE7BSA is the net manager for the BC Boaters Net.
Stew VE7VAX SK
Sadly, Stew VE7VAX became a silent key on November 20, 2013.
He had a heart attack and died suddenly and peacefully at home
with his wife Dorothy beside him.
Over a number of years I only knew Stew via the radio and his telephone
calls to me. I regret not having met him in person. He was dedicated and
100% engaged in the BC Boaters Net. I could always count on his help,
his guidance and his concern for the operation of the net. I knew he felt
sadness the day he decided he was unable to participate anymore but I
always knew he was there, listening in the background. Wherever you
are Stew, a much appreciated thank you.
Len Howland VE7BSA
BCBN Net Coordinator
 Sent:
June 3, 2011
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 doctor's 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
Les Saul VE7GBT
June 13, 2013
When I moved to Thetis in 1983, Alex Ducket, VE7CBV SK was controlling the BC Boaters Net.
He had been a member of a small group which met nightly on 147.320 when I was living in Victoria.
On my move to Thetis, Alex asked me to check in with weather and water conditions and any other
information for boaters. After a year he asked me to take over the Net. Initially, I had three
or four waterfront hams giving me water conditions. I operated the Net from 4:30 pm to 6 nightly
from May to September changing, from 2 meters to HF at 6 pm for those who were out of 2M range.
My Net files are at Thetis so I'm a little hazy on some details but if I recall correctly, we
had upwards of 30 or 40 check-ins at the peak of the season in mid-July and August. I had the
pleasure of meeting many of them in Telegraph Harbour and visited some of them and their families
in Washington State. One or two still visit me at Thetis and several send cards at Christmas.
I regretted having to give up the Net Control but I have enjoyed keeping in touch with weather,
water and marina condition reports.
Due to a session in hospital which Fran and I both had with a bout of e-coli
in August and September of 2012 which resulted in Fran's stroke and partial
blindness, plus my implant of a Cochlear hearing device on my right side to
overcome my increasing deafness, which had impacted my radio communications, I
have had to spend much of my time in Victoria with regular visits to St. Paul's
hospital in Vancouver where the implant unit is located. It will be close to a
year before I can expect to have full hearing again and I must still report into
Vancouver for regular check-ups. I don't know if or when I will be back on
Thetis on a more regular basis. Fran is recovering her eye sight but I have had
to give up my driving license which limits my travel somewhat. It has been an
honour and a pleasure to have been associated with the BC Boaters' Net and so
many great people over the years.
Thank you and 73 Les VE7GBT
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!
Hi BCBN Members
I want to let you know what has happened with my eye sight. Due to
macular degeneration I have lost my ability to see fine detail. As a
result I am unable to sew anymore. I had been making the flags since
Ron Drinkwater (VE7AIX) brought me a drawing in 1992. I wish to thank
everyone for all their support over the years. Thanks to one and all.
Ruth Reader, VE7BAG
Join our group at YahooGroupsTo join send an email to
bcbn-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or
click here for more information.
Weather Links
Windy.com
Wildfire Links
To report a wildfire, call toll-free 1-800-663-5555, or *5555 on most cellular networks.
Boater's Links
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.
Other Links of Interest To Area Cruisers and Hams
Links for the Net Control Stations
See this site to get the correct time
in Pacific or from some other time zone. Need to convert units?
Online Conversions
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