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

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

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.

Site

RX (MHz)

TX (MHz)

CTCSS

Sapper South

146.0

146.0

71.9

Sapper North

146.250

146.250

67.0

MPP

147.120

147.720

156.7

Mt Kent

147.030

147.630

131.8

Sussex Mountain

147.150

147.750

110.9

Wreck Gate

147.060

147.660

173.8

Green Hill

147.090

147.690

94.8

Cooke Hill

147.000

147.600

71.9

Mt Alice

147.180

147.780

189.9

 

  • 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.