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British Columbia Frequency Modulation Communications Association
WELCOME!
Welcome to the British Columbia Frequency Modulation Communications Association (BCFMCA). We are an Amateur Radio organization specializing in VHF, UHF, and microwave communications. We operate equipment in a variety of modes, including FM, IRLP (node 1694), and D-STAR. Please select one of the menu buttons on the left to find out more about us.
You are also welcome to join us on our monthly net held on 146.940MHz (-600kHz) at 20:00 hours on the last Wednesday of the month. For a schedule of all nets held on the system, please check here.
The status of the IRLP node is: Connected to IDLE .
Listen LIVE! to VE7RPT-VHF HERE.
Please see Events and News or Current Issues for more information.
2012 Memberships
Yes, it is that time of the year once again... indeed, it is time to renew your BCFMCA membership!
Renew on-line, it is simple and fast! Online we accept VISA and MASTERCARD for on-line payment through PayPal. Save a stamp! Renew right now!
Never been a member before? We'd love you have you show your support for amateur radio and volunteer emergency communications in the Lower Mainland! You can join right now! Click to start a membership application.
It is YOUR support that helps to maintain eight repeaters at one of the most sought after locations in the Lower Mainland!
2012 Annual General Meeting
The 2012 Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2012.
See the AGM page for details and directions.
You can review the minutes of the 2011 AGM here.
Site Temperatures
We have recently installed some hardware to allow us to remotely monitor the inside and outside temperature at our site on Mt. Seymour. Have a look here and check it out!
NEWS! NEWS!
Check the NEWS button on the left for updated info on what has been going on in the BCFMCA lately!
IRLP
More ways to talk to the world!
We are node number 1694 on the IRLP network, and normally IRLP will be linked to VE7RPT-VHF and VE7RPT-UHF. Don't be surprised if you hear someone connect with a callsign from another part of the world!
Transmissions from the IRLP port can be identified by the CW "I" courtesy tone at the end of the calling party's transmission.
In order to "dial out" and connect VE7RPT to another IRLP node, you will need to be a BCFMCA member. More details on IRLP and our system can be found here.
NOTICE TO ALL MALICIOUS OPERATORS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 5, 2007
From: Greater Vancouver Amateur Radio Council (GVARC) Interference Committee
Months of hard work tracking various sources of malicious interference directed at the VE7RPT repeater, owned and operated by the BCFMCA and located on Mt Seymour, have finally begun to pay off.
On September 25th the FCC issued a Notice of Apparent Liability, including fines totaling $7,000, to James Grinton, K7VNI, located in Bellingham Washington. A copy of this notice is attached for your information.
Grinton repeatedly and maliciously interfered with the operation of VE7RPT on a frequent basis. During the last 2 years Grinton directed his malicious interference and harassment at the President of the BCFMCA, jammed phone patches and periodically flooded the repeater with music and other forms of intentional interference.
In early 2006 a team of Canadian Hams began tracking the interfering signals and quickly determined they originated south of the Canada/US border. A group of Hams in the US were approached to provide assistance and the source of the interference was identified shortly thereafter. A number of independent confirmations were made to verify the location, the address of which was determined to be that of James Grinton, K7VNI.
A complaint was formally made to the FCC regarding this interference and the information collected by the combined Canadian and US tracking team was provided to the Seattle office of the FCC. An agent from the FCC Enforcement Bureau’s Seattle Office independently verified the location and source of the interference during late 2006 and a Warning of Interference to Communications Letter was sent to James Grinton, K7VNI, on January 19, 2007.
Grinton continued to interfere with the operation of VE7RPT after receipt of the warning letter. In fact, the Seattle agent recorded over 160 violations during the period January 19, 2007 to June 23, 2007.
A Notice of Apparent Liability, including fines totaling $7,000, was issued to James Grinton, K7VNI, on September 25, 2007 (see notice).
This is the second of a series of interference complaints affecting repeaters in the Greater Vancouver area to be brought to a conclusion. Additional interference investigations are on-going.
Many thanks to all the people who devoted countless hours tracking and identifying the source of this interference. This is an excellent example of the tremendous spirit of cooperation that exists between Amateur Radio operators in both Canada and the US. In addition, many thanks to the Seattle office of the FCC for their support and subsequent enforcement action.
Are You A Member?!
Membership is open to all licensed amateur radio operators.
If you are not a member, why wait? Join NOW! See here for details.
QRM Problems?
QRM is a problem, we all know that. We will try and locate possible sources of interference on the repeaters, but we need YOUR help.
Please submit a QRM report so that we can try and locate the source. It is important to fill out the report EVEN IF YOU DON'T HEAR the interference from your location when it occurs. Remember to listen to the INPUT of the repeater when listening for interference.
Don't think that your report has an effect? Well, see the press release above. James Grinton was busted by the co-ordinated efforts of a number of volunteers. All information reports are useful.
Are YOU causing QRM on our repeaters? Again, be warned, you never know who is lurking around your neighbourhood gathering evidence for prosecution. We've been at this at lot longer than you, and we're not going to let you destroy our resource... and we've got the law on OUR side.
Coverage Maps
Curious as to the coverage of some of our repeaters? Please see the Equipment page for more information.
Thank you for visiting our website and 73.
This page was last updated 14 December 2011.
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Space for our equipment on Mount Seymour is provided courtesy of Mount Seymour Resorts. |
The BCFMCA acknowledges the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia. |
Bandwidth and hosting provided by the BC Wireless Amateur Radio Network. |
