During 2020/ 2021 FIG commissioned Sure to undertake a project to install a new VHF network for the Falkland Islands. The outcome of this work is the network described in this document.

A public information pack has been prepared to provide technical guidance to people wishing to use the VHF network and this can be downloaded here

     

FIG VHF Network - Public Info Pack v3 (Final - for publication)
Created: Thursday, 10 June 2021 09:07 | Size: 2.72 MB

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A few points to note:

• The VHF network is a public use network and has been designed to give as wide coverage as practically possible with the intention of allowing people to contact the Emergency Services via their VHF radios in the event of an emergency.

• The RFIP will keep a watching brief for the network.

• People using the network should be in possession of an appropriate license for their VHF equipment

• If your radio does not have CTCSS capability, then that device will not be able to use the repeater network. The Public Information Pack (which can be downloaded from this page) contains more information about CTCSS.

• The network does not provide coverage across the whole of the Falkland Islands. The coverage maps presented in this document are our best estimates of the predicted levels of coverage that people could expect to get at various locations and are based on proximity to the repeater stations. The quality of the communications will, to some extent, be dependent upon the quality of the VHF radio equipment being used to access the network.

• The frequency information for the repeater stations is given below and it is suggested that, if possible, people program their radios with all the frequencies as testing has shown that it is possible to open and obtain good communications from other repeaters although not shown on the predicted maps.

• The network is physically split into two chains, a North Falklands route (Sapper Hill, Mt Kent, Sussex Mountain, Green Hill, Cook Hill) and a South Falklands route (Sapper Hill, Mount Pleasant, Wreck Gate, and Mt Alice). There is no system link between the two network chains, but coverage is such that users in southern locations can access north route repeaters and vice versa.

• People using the network should be in possession of an appropriate license for their VHF equipment.

• As part of their contract to maintain the network, Sure will carry out daily automated checks on the network.

• The FIG contract holders for the VHF network are Development and Commercial Services (DCS) – Please contact DCS on 27040 to report any issues/ concerns regarding the network.