Radio Amateurs of Manitoba

Boost Your Signal: J-Pole Build Nights

2026-04-19T00:00:00+00:00

Are you looking to boost your signal from home or out in the field? One of the most effective and rewarding ways to improve your station’s performance is by building your own antenna.

As mentioned in the latest Newscaster, a J-Pole can improve your signal by roughly 10 times compared to a stock “rubber duck” antenna. Join us for this two-part hands-on workshop!

📅 When: Thursday, April 23 & April 30
🕖 Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Where: The WSC Clubrooms, 598 St Mary’s Road

The Schedule

🔬 Night 1: Theory & Prep (April 23) We’ll dive into the physics of J-Pole operation and discuss design differences between single-band and dual-band models. We will also begin measuring the 300-ohm twin-lead and prepping elements for assembly.

🛠️ Night 2: Assembly & Tuning (April 30) This is the “hands-on” night! We will be soldering SO-239 bulkhead connectors, completing final assembly, and precision-tuning the antennas to ensure they are resonant and ready for the air.

Registration & Materials

To participate, please complete the following two steps:

📧 Register: Send an email to Info@ramb.ca to confirm your attendance.
🛒 Purchase Parts: Visit the RAM Cable Shop to pre-purchase:
- 5 feet of twin-lead
- SO-239 connector

⚙️ Important Gear Notes

Mounting: If you plan to mount your J-Pole outdoors in a PVC or ABS pipe, you will need the SO-239 connector and a few inches of coax (RG-58, RG-174, or RG-8) for the internal connection. Please talk to the organizers about exactly what to order from the Cable Shop.
Portable Use: If you are not using an SO-239 connector, ensure you have a length of transmission cable long enough to reach from your antenna to your radio.
🔥 Tools: If you have a soldering iron and solder, please bring them along for Night 2.

We look forward to seeing you there and getting you loud and clear on the air! 📻

73, Radio Amateurs of Manitoba

Solar Weather & Ionospheric Science

2026-04-13T00:00:00+00:00

May 2026 Meeting

Join us for our May meeting featuring two informative presentations.

Note: This meeting was amended. Natalie VE4NAT was originally scheduled to present on Environment Canada Weather Safety but had to cancel. Geoff VE4AE has graciously stepped in as a replacement.

Event Details

📅 Date: Monday, May 11, 2026
🕒 Time: 7:00 PM CST (01:00 UTC)

📍 In-Person Location:
VE4WSC Clubhouse (Old Firehall)
598 St. Mary’s Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba
View on Google Maps

💻 Join via Zoom:
Zoom Link

Program

Solar Weather & Ionospheric Science – by Geoff, VE4AE

Geoff will present on his radio research work, including:

Ionospheric disruption and its effects on radio propagation
Solar weather and space weather monitoring
GOES satellite data and its applications

We look forward to seeing you there! 📻

Homebrew Night 2026

2026-04-13T00:00:00+00:00

On April 13, 2026, the Radio Amateurs of Manitoba held Homebrew Night, where four members presented their amateur radio projects to the club.

Presentations

VE4SNI (James) – Digital Unnamed Project
VA4MAJ (Mark) – Speaker Wire Dipole
VE4TUR (Walter) – DDS Signal Generator
VE4ELB (Jorge) – Ham Pulse Propagation Tool

Prize Winners

Congratulations to our prize winners, selected by the club following the presentations.

First Prize -- $100 Princess Auto Gift Card

Second Prize -- $50 Princess Auto Gift Card

VA4STC Site Visit

2026-04-02T00:00:00+00:00

On April 2, 2026, Andrew VE4KL and Evan VE4EVN visited the VA4STC repeater site in the Sturgeon Creek area of Winnipeg to carry out site maintenance and system upgrades.

Controller Upgrade to ASL3

The primary task of the visit was upgrading the repeater controller from ASL2 to ASL3. ASL2 has reached end of life and is no longer receiving updates, so moving to ASL3 ensures the controller continues to benefit from ongoing security patches and software improvements. The upgrade went smoothly and the system was verified on the air following the work.

While on site, the crew also took the opportunity to ensure the configurations are in place to establish VE4CDN in Morris and VE4MAN in Starbuck as their own dedicated nodes on the AllStar network. This groundwork sets the stage for future linking activity between these sites.

Equipment and Site Inspection

A general visual inspection of the indoor equipment was carried out. Everything looked to be in good order, with no obvious concerns, and the cooling fans were sounding healthy.

The antenna systems at the site were also surveyed and photographed to support planning for future VA4WAN infrastructure work. The site hosts a triband vertical serving the club’s VHF repeater as well as a privately owned 220 MHz repeater. Two link yagis are installed to support the CDN and MAN links. The VA4WAN equipment at the site includes point-to-point links to Inkster, Osborne Village, and St. Vital, along with a 2.3 GHz omni antenna for wireless access.

Test QSO

A thank you goes out to Nolan VE4NOL for getting on the air to conduct a test QSO over the network while the crew was still on site, confirming the system was functioning correctly following the upgrade. After departing, a second test QSO with Dan VE4DRK was also successful, with good audio reported in both directions over the network.

VE4GIM Gimli Site Visit

2026-03-24T00:00:00+00:00

On March 24, 2026, Derek VE4HAY, Dan VE4DRK, Bill VE4AAZ, and Stephane VA4SPT travelled to Gimli to begin work on bringing VE4GIM onto the RAM AllStar Network. Unfortunately, upon arrival the crew discovered that the repeater site had no power, with the supply to the equipment having been lost at some point prior to the visit.

While on site, three of the four crew members completed the host site safety orientation, passing with flying colours. With that requirement out of the way, future visits will be able to get straight to work.

Host site electricians have been engaged to restore power to the site. Once that work is complete, a follow-up site visit will be scheduled to resume the AllStar integration work. All was not lost, however, as the crew made a well-deserved stop at Chicken Chef on the way home.

We’re looking forward to having VE4GIM sorted out and connected to the network before the busy summer cottage and boating season.

2026 Officer and Committee Chair Appointments

2026-03-23T00:00:00+00:00

At the March 23, 2026 Board meeting, the Board of Directors made the following appointments for the 2026 term, in accordance with the RAM Bylaws. The current roster of officers and committee chairs is always available on the Governance page.

Officers are appointed under section 4(f) of the bylaws, which requires the Board to choose from among its members who will fill the executive positions at a Directors Meeting held within fifteen days of the AGM. Committee chairs are appointed under section 4(j), which authorizes the Board to establish committees and appoint a chair from either the Board or the general membership.

Officers

The Board appointed the following officers from among its members:

Position	Name	Callsign
President	Rod	VE4TM
Vice-President	Geoff	VE4AE
Secretary	Nicholas	VA4NJF
Treasurer	Andrew	VE4KL

Committee Chairs

The Board also appointed chairs for the following committees:

Committee	Chair	Callsign
Technical	Wyatt	VE4WDZ
Communications	Mark	VE4MAB
Education	Drago	VE4DBV
Membership	Scott	VE4TQ
Programs	Jamie	VE4JHT

The Events, Fundraising, and Social committee chair positions remain vacant. Members interested in chairing one of these committees are encouraged to contact the President.

VE4PLP Site Visit and Repeater Upgrade

2026-03-13T00:00:00+00:00

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.

Photos

The tower at VE4PLP.

One of the equipment cabinets before being stripped of legacy equipment.

The two equipment cabinets stripped and prepared for new equipment, with the TKR-750 installed.

Home Brew Night

2026-03-10T00:00:00+00:00

April 2026 Meeting - Home Brew Night 🔧

It’s time for our annual Home Brew Night - the adult show and tell for radio amateurs! This is your chance to showcase the projects you’ve been working on and see what your fellow hams have created.

Event Details

📅 Date: Monday, April 13, 2026
🕒 Time: 7:00 PM CST (01:00 UTC)

📍 In-Person Location:
VE4WSC Clubhouse (Old Firehall)
598 St. Mary’s Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba
View on Google Maps

💻 Join via Zoom:
Zoom Link

What to Bring

Have you built something for your station? Bring it along! Projects can include:

📡 Antennas and antenna tuners
📻 Receivers and transmitters
🔌 Filters and matching networks
🔋 Power supplies
💻 Digital mode interfaces
🛠️ Station accessories and tools
🎨 Anything ham radio related you’ve created!

Whether it’s a work in progress or a completed masterpiece, we want to see it! Share your design ideas, construction techniques, and lessons learned.

Prizes! 🏆

Prizes will be awarded for outstanding projects. Categories and judging criteria to be announced at the meeting.

🥇 1st Place: $100 Princess Auto Gift Card
🥈 2nd Place: $50 Princess Auto Gift Card

Don’t be shy - even simple projects are worth sharing. We all learn from each other’s experiences!

We look forward to seeing your creations! 📻

WSC Morning Net Moving to VE4ARS

2026-03-03T00:00:00+00:00

WSC Morning Net Moving to VE4ARS

The following announcement was published in the Newscaster Newsletter released March 2nd, 2026:

WSC Morning Net Notice

The Winnipeg Senior Citizens morning nets, which include the Monday to Friday, and the Saturday Net, will be moving to the VE4ARS repeater effective March 9th, 2026.

The VE4ARS frequency is 145.350 - (negative) offset with no CTCSS tones.

Calvin - Chief Net Control

Radio Amateurs of Manitoba is disappointed by this announcement. The WSC morning nets have been well received and are enjoyed by amateur radio operators outside the City of Winnipeg who rely on the wider coverage provided by the current repeater network. This abrupt change impacts many operators across the province who have made the morning net part of their daily routine.

Questions and concerns about this change should be directed to the VE4WSC board at ve4wsc@gmail.com.

RAM Investigating Network Activity Options

In response to this change, RAM is in the preliminary investigation phase of a replacement morning net. We are exploring the possibility of running a morning net during the week to support amateur radio operators across Manitoba and Saskatchewan. A ManSask morning net would provide consistent daily check-in opportunities for operators throughout the region and maintain the sense of community that many operators have come to value.

Additionally, RAM is considering hosting more Trans-Canada Hub hosted nets on the Manitoba network infrastructure. These nets would provide opportunities for broader participation and connection with amateur radio operators across Canada. Feedback on hosting more Trans-Canada network activity on our Manitoba network is very welcome and will help shape our network programming decisions moving forward.

If you are interested in volunteering as a net controller, would like to support a ManSask Morning Net in any capacity, or have feedback on Trans-Canada Hub activities, please reach out to info@ramb.ca. Your involvement and feedback will be crucial in determining the format, schedule, and operation of potential new nets and network activities.

VE4MIL Node Recovery, VE4WPG Upgrade, and LoRa APRS Trials

2026-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

VE4MIL Milner Ridge Node Restoration

On Tuesday, February 24th, the Milner Ridge node failed to come back online after a system reboot, taking down the VE4MIL Milner Ridge and VE4FAL Falcon Lake repeaters from the network.

On Friday, February 28th, VE4KL Andrew and VE4POH Erica drove out to the Milner Ridge site and performed a power cycle, successfully bringing the node back online. During this visit, they installed a WiFi-enabled smart plug to allow for remote power cycles in the future. This improvement will enable the team to power cycle without requiring site visits, significantly reducing downtime during future incidents. A QSO with VE4TQ Scott confirmed the repeater and all network links were operational and performing well.

VE4EMB Hadashville Investigation

While en route to the Milner Ridge site, the team heard net reports of potential issues with VE4EMB Hadashville. After completing work at Milner Ridge, they detoured to investigate the concerns.

Upon arrival, they monitored the VE4EMB frequency from Milner Ridge all the way to Hadashville to perform a thorough coverage and performance assessment. The only observation was intermittent courtesy tones with no ident coming through the VE4ACX repeater. Investigation determined that these tones were caused by kerchunking rather than an actual repeater malfunction. The team suspects a Baofeng type “roger beep” from a user on the network. Based on this finding, we recommend that all users disable this roger beep feature on the network. This automated response, while useful in simplex operation, creates unnecessary traffic and confusion in linked repeater systems.

The Hadashville repeater was power cycled for good measure. A QSO with VE4DRK Dan in Winnipeg confirmed the repeater and network links were functioning with good audio in both directions, with clear reception and strong signal propagation. The repeater was monitored from Hadashville to Ste Anne with no further issues observed throughout the monitoring period.

VE4WPG Richardson Centre Upgrade

On March 2nd, VE4WDZ Wyatt and VA4SPT Stephane conducted maintenance on VE4WPG at Richardson Centre to address interference issues that have emerged as a result of recent RF environment changes. A new FM broadcast station was recently installed on the Richardson Centre, and the combination of three transmit frequencies on site (VE4WPG and two FM broadcast stations) creates a problematic interference scenario. During the squelch tail of the repeater’s transmit, when no audio is present, the interaction of these three transmit frequencies allows the FM broadcast stations to bleed through on the VE4WPG receive side, producing an audible screech noise during transmission pauses. The team installed a cavity filter on the transmit side of the repeater to mitigate this RF interference and protect receiver performance.

Through an SDR connected to the receiver side, they confirmed an reduction in interference following the filter installation. VE4WPG has been reconnected to the AllStar network and will be monitored closely by the technical team over the coming weeks. If any residual interference is observed, additional filtering measures will be evaluated and implemented.

LoRa APRS Experimentation

The technical team is experimenting with LoRa-based APRS to evaluate real-world performance characteristics, coverage capabilities, and operational reliability within Winnipeg. This new digital mode offers exciting possibilities for position reporting, messaging, and situational awareness during emergency and community events.

With iGates mounted at 30 to 40 feet above ground level in various neighborhoods throughout the area, the team is observing excellent range and reliability. The LoRa technology demonstrates impressive performance characteristics.

Building on these initial successes, the team is planning to mount an additional iGate at the VE4WRS Osborne repeater site in the coming months. This strategic location will allow the team to assess performance and range in a key area of the city and determine reliability metrics to support the Manitoba Marathon and other upcoming community events. The Osborne site location will also provide valuable data on iGate performance when installed at a repeater facility. Further updates, including coverage maps and performance statistics, will follow as the project progresses and additional data is collected.