[OZAPRS] 2 metre APRS coverage.

[Ron Graham]

Hi all,
         I think we all would have noted, with interest, the recent 
expansion of APRS VHF coverage via digi's. No doubt locals are aware of 
coverage and features in their area, but what about travellers from afar?
         I propose a nation wide list, state by state, giving general 
details of VHF APRS coverage and undertake to organize that information. 
The following is "off the top of my head" and needs input from others to 
remove the question marks, give further input, corrections and updates.
Some updates from VK2, VK3, VK5  been included so far. Need updates from 
other areas .. and help in removing the question marks. Please forward
them 
to me and I'll keep the file updated.

Frequency is 145.175 MHz unless otherwise noted.

VK1.
VK1RBM-1  appears under VK2. ? Coverage around Canberra.
Igate, HF gate, digi path for travellers - as per VK2.

VK2.
The Southern NSW APRS network has coverage from just south of Newcastle to

south of Wollongong, and out along the Hume Highway into VK1 and to the
VK3 
border.
Digipeaters in the southern region:
VK2RAG-1: Gosford
VK2JPJ-1: Sydney CBD
VK2AMW-1: Wollongong Region
VK2AMW-2: Batemans Bay Region (Currently off air)
VK2RSW-1: Western Sydney
* VK2RHR-1: High Range (Planned)
VK1RBM-1: Canberra
* VK2RGN-1: Goulburn (Planned)
VK2CSU-1: Wagga
I gates - VK2XJG Sydney Metro, VK2RAW Wagga, VK2TDG Canberra..
HF gate - No.  Suggested digi path for travellers - APRS via RELAY,WIDE3-3

There are pockets of APRS activity up the coast around Forster and further

North, however these isolated networks are on local packet frequencies, 
with no I-gate to link them into the national grid.  Updated Oct. 04 .. 
thanks Geoff VK2XJG

VK3
MELBOURNE / GENERAL VK3 .. frequency 144.9 MHz . VK3 has 20 full time VHF 
digipeaters and 2 full time UHF digipeaters.  All but VK3RON-1 and
VK3WRM-1 
(Mildura region) are on 144.900Mhz. UHF is on 439.100Mhz in eastern 
Melbourne. Mt Gambier (VK5MOO) is part of the VK3 144.9 network along with

VK2RO-1 (Tocumwal). Coverage .. 
see  http://vk3.aprs.net.au/digipeater_information.htm General coastal 
coverage from VK5 to VK2 border together with general coverage from north 
west through to north east of Melbourne as far as the VK2 border at 
Tocumwal and Albury. The system works on a cellular/zone basis.
I gate - yes.  HF gate - VK4MY. Digi path for mobiles - RELAY,WIDE. The
VK3 
APRS VHF network tends to expand at about 2 to 3 new digis per year.
  Update Oct 04 - VK3JFK, some editting VK4BRG.

MILDURA .. Currently 2 regional UI DIGIs. I'm experimenting with the 
VK3WRM-4 VHF Igate digi off. VK3WRM-1 which covers the Sturt Hwy to 
Robinvale and the Calder Hwy to Hattah. And locally around Mildura. 
VK3RON-1 which covers the Calder from Hattah in the North, to Mittyack
to the SE. The Sunraysia Hwy to Speed in the South. And the Mallee Hwy
from 
Kulwin in the East to Underbool in the West. The VK3WRM-4 Igate (UI-View 
DIGI is currently turned off) will cover 30km to the West along the Sturt.

On the Silver City Hwy to the North has not been tested, but is OK to 
Wentworth, but it would be expected to cover further North, around 30km 
from Mildura.The expansion of the network is planned to include a UIDIGI
at 
Robinvale, which would expect to extend the coverage along the Sturt and 
Murray Valley Hwys by 40km, (and make the path between Ouyen and Mildura 
more reliable) and a UIDIGI at Lake Culluleraine in the West, which is 
hoped to extent the coverage of the Sturt Hwy to the West to 80km from
Mildura.
I gate - ?. HF gate - VK3ECV. Suggested VHF PATH for this region will be 
RELAY,WIDE2-2 for Mobiles, although RELAY,WIDE or WIDE2-2 would work 
currently.  For HF, GATE is the only way to go.  Update Oct.-04 - thanks, 
VK3ECV

VK4
BRISBANE .. ?  digi Gold Coast .. apparently off air, digi Sunshine coast,

digi Towoomba giving coverage from Springwood in the south to ? Nambour
and 
west to Towoomba. The coverage of the Towoomba digi from north, through 
west to south of Towoomba needs to be determined.
I-gate - yes. HF gate - 4DMI. Suggested digi path for travellers - ?

GLADSTONE .. one digi giving coverage from Gladstone in the east, a
section 
of the Bruce Highway west to Bileola and a section of the Burnett Highway.

highway sections to be defined.
I-gate -?. HF gate - no. Suggested digi path for travellers - ?

CENTRAL HIGHLANDS .. frequency 144.725 (part of old packet network) digi 
Blackdown Tablelands, digi Hodgsons Range, digi Blue Mtn. gives coverage 
over a broad corridor from Emerald north to, and including the Mackay area

.. nicely covers the Peak Downs Highway an Dingo Mt. Flora Development 
Road. The Blackdown digi covers the Capricorn Highway from Emerald east to

? Westwood. Apparently there is one way coverage from Rockhampton into
this 
digi. There are plans to change to the National 145.175 MHz APRS
frequency.
I-gate - VK4KMR (on test). HF gate - 4CLM. Suggested digi path for 
travellers - RELAY,WIDE2-2
Update Oct '04 VK4CLM, VK4BRG.

VK5
ADELAIDE .. ? digi's. Coverage -- general rule - 100kms radius of
Adelaide.
I-gate - yes. HF gate - intermittent (on request) operation ..VK5AH. As
far 
as a path for travelers RELAY,WIDE is OK but wont always get you to an 
Igate reliably.. RELAY,WIDE2-2 is best or
RELAY,WIDE,WIDE even .. If people are traversing to and from VK3 then a 
path change is suggested or just settle on RELAY,WIDE which works most of 
the time. Update Oct 04. VK5AH

Mt. GAMBIA .. frequency 144.9 MHz (part of VK3 network) VK5MOO is digi 
giving coverage ? KMs radius Mt. Gambia.
I gate and HF gate as per VK3 network.  Suggested digi path for travellers

- as per VK3 network.
Update Oct 04. - VK3JFK

VK6.
Info required.

VK7.
Hobart area .. understand coverage ? kms radius of Hobart.
I gate - ? HF gate - ? Digi path for travellers  - ?

Ulverstone area .. ? on request VK7AX (was early 2004). Coverage (from 
memory) .. along coast from Devonport to Burnie.
I gate - ?. HF gate - ?. Digi path - ?

VK8.
Darwin area .. VK8ZJZ-1 digi. ? kms radius of Darwin.
I gate - VK8ZJZ-4. HF gate - ?. Digi path for travellers - ?.

Regards, Ron, VK4BRG. 
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