VE4PLP Site Visit and Repeater Upgrade

On March 13, 2026, Andrew VE4KL made a site visit to the VE4PLP repeater site southwest of Portage la Prairie to perform a full equipment audit and upgrade. The work focused on stabilizing the site, replacing aging equipment, and preparing the repeater for the next stage of network integration. Including travel time, the total volunteer effort for this work was approximately 6 hours.

Equipment Work

The legacy VHF repeater, two MSR2000 UHF link radios, and the Palomar repeater controller were removed from the site and returned to Winnipeg. A Kenwood TKR-750 VHF FM repeater was installed in their place, giving the site a cleaner and more serviceable foundation for ongoing work. The Astron RM-35A power supply on site was confirmed healthy at 13.9 V DC.

A multi-coupler was also retrieved from the right cabinet and brought back to Winnipeg for tuning ahead of its planned deployment for APRS service. This visit was as much about clearing out legacy hardware and documenting the condition of the site as it was about getting the repeater back into dependable operation.

Antenna and RF Checks

SWR scans were performed on-site using a RigExpert Stick Pro antenna analyzer. The VHF duplexer was confirmed tuned and performing correctly across VE4PLP’s operating frequencies (147.165 MHz TX / 147.765 MHz RX). Both UHF link antennas — one oriented toward VE4MAN and one toward VE4HS — showed acceptable SWR across the operating band.

Initial reports after the work indicate the repeater is usable from roughly Carberry to Elie by mobile while travelling along Highway 1, which is a promising early sign for the refreshed installation.

Current Operating Status

At present, VE4PLP is operating in Local Repeat only while the next stage of integration work is planned. The technical crew is continuing to evaluate linking options that would allow the site to provide broader network value while working within the limits of the current infrastructure.

Because there is currently no IP connectivity available at VE4PLP, one possible path forward is a UHF link to VE4HS in Bruxelles. Another option under consideration is a half-duplex site in Portage la Prairie.

If any hams in Portage la Prairie are interested in helping with IP connectivity for a half-duplex link or APRS iGate, the technical crew would like to hear from you at tech@ramb.ca.

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