Hey, weather watchers! Dust off those snow boards, metre sticks and thermometers, because the IRG Weather Net will start for the 2024-2025 season on Monday, November 4, 2024 and run every morning at 7:30 a.m. Atlantic Time. Net control will be shared by Rick VE9MTB and Scott VE1CSA. They will gather your local observations and send them off to Environment and Climate Change Canada. ECCC uses the reports to fine tune their predictions and issue alerts in severe weather conditions. The reports are also used by other agencies such as River Watch and news media.

New network diagrams are available with all new repeaters and zones indicated, available at the “Network” tab.  Members can access the same map, but including current linking codes on the “Linking” tab which only appears when logged-in.

Effective July 12, changes to IRG repeater Zones have been made as part of the upgrade of equipment.  Significant changes include:

When hurricanes or tropical storms threaten, The Hurricane Watch Net activates on 14.325 MHz and 7.268 MHz, and will use either or both of these frequencies as propagation allows.

If conditions require, a CANWARN Net may be activated on all or part of the IRG system.  Be sure to listen to and follow the instructions of the net control station in giving any reports - report only what is asked --and remember the important ABC's: Accuracy, Brevity & Clarity.

With the Doaktown VE1XI repeater being the final one updated, all IRG repeaters are now tone-enabled.  Users are required to program a sub-audible tone with their transmission to activate a repeater.  For more information, see our Revamp page.

All  IRG VHF repeaters use a CTCSS (or PL tone) of 151.4 Hz, while IRG UHF repeaters use 141.3 Hz.  You can check the complete updated repeater listing by clicking on the “Revamp” tab at the top of any page. 

CubeSat VIOLET was deployed from the ISS last week, but its antenna may not yet have released.  Attempts to contact from the UNB team will be made periodically.  The orbit of VIOLET at this time is very close to the ISS, so you can find out when VIOLET may be within range at Heavens Above web site (you may need to adjust for your location, and be sure to select "all passes".).  UNB will be using 145.910 (only 6 watts pointed towards VIOLET

Update!  The winner of the draw for the new LaCrosse weather station was VE9GM, Gino Mazerolle of Drummond, NB.   Congratulations, Gino!  Thanks to all who participated, and keep on providing those observations.

To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the WeatherNet, Scott VE1CSA and Rick VE9MTB want to thank everyone who’s checked in over the years allowing the reporting of over 600,000 pieces of data to the Atlantic Storm Prediction Center.

As of Monday, December 4, the East Zone repeaters are fully CTCSS enabled - users will need to use a PL tone of 151.4 Hz to transmit via these repeater.  This includes Moncton VE1MTN (147.090 +), Acadieville VE9ACD (145.430 -) and Sackville VE9SKV (145.230 -). For a full list of updated repeaters, visit the IRG revamp page.

We recently got a great note from Grace Coleman, activity director for a school Technology Club in New Hampshire, who wanted to share some information from one of their student volunteeers: