Comments on: Getting ready for the Canadian Ski Marathon

By: VA3QV

VA3QV — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 19:02:37 +0000

Hi Barbara and thank you so much for you comments…..

On behalf of the many Amateur Radio Operators that participate in the operations of the Canadian Ski Marathon. There were approximately 50 of us out there and the three Amateur Radio Clubs that let us use their Radio Repeaters so we could look after Emergency, Administrational, and Operational Radio Traffic….

Thank You for your kind words.

I sent them to the Radio Coordinator and your email hopefully will get read to all the volunteers at our volunteer banquet which will be held on Thursday evening here in Gatineau QC.

Thank you again

73 (best wishes in ham speak) Bob (at Montebello Net Control)

By: Barbara

Barbara — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 18:15:07 +0000

As one of the participants in this year’s – and many previous – Canadian Ski Marathon’s I just wanted to say THANK YOU for all the back-stage support for this event. We skiers just get to have fun on snow for a couple of days – and we get to do so safely because folks like you put in the time and energy to put up and man a temporary communications network. Hats off! I’m really grateful -
Barbara

By: VA3QV

VA3QV — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 13:32:06 +0000

Hi Steve,
A little more info for you…. Most of the repeaters up here especially in the rural areas are on Towers that want the clubs that sponsor the repeaters to participate in ARES (your RAYNET) sort of activities. Most of us treat this as an exercise and therefore we have the permission of the Clubs that own the repeaters…

This event will have approx 2000 cross country skiers out on trails for a two day 175km long tour. The CSM trail is in an area that is not very populated and therefore has not very good CELL Phone coverage and so Amateur Radio is the only real way to communicate in that area.

We (hams) do all the Safety, Administrational, and Operational/Logistical communications between the start line and the finish line including the 10 check points, the overnight dormatories, the meal locations, and the first aid locations. including having hams on skis who act as patrols on the course. We work along side Canadian Military Reserve Units who also provide services to the Ski Marathon as part of their training.

Without Amateur Repeaters this would not happen and without this event some clubs would have trouble justifying their repeaters to the repeater site owners.

Once I get back after the event (next Monday AM) I’ll most likely have something posted on it…

73bob

By: GW7AAV

GW7AAV — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 07:29:04 +0000

Using repeaters for an event! That would go down like a lead balloon here in the UK and we would be prone to abuse from the idiots who make using them Hell. When we do something like that set up our own cross-band repeaters and have to apply for a special ‘Notice of Variation’ to be allowed to do so.

I do love doing this sort of stuff because it gets us out in to the community and people who have no idea there is such a thing as ham radio get interested. I now several Police, Ambulancemen and others who involvement with ham radio was sparked by seeing Raynet in action at an event or exercise.

Have fun and I hope it all goes down safely.

73 Steve GW7AAV