I was present as the MIRA club participated in a test of the practicality of using the VE7KU repeater, atop Mt. Arrowsmith, for emergency communications.

I was with Len Hooper, Terry Lyster and Frank from that club.  Their emergency ops site is at the Qualicum municipal building, and Net Control was at the hovercraft park in Parksville.

The test was to see if the VE7KU repeater was a practical emergency repeater for the Island, it is run by the Alberni club.  The test established that contacts with both Powell River and Bamfield were practical.  Linda in Bamfield was able to relay to the Tofino and Uclulet club stations, these last two could not hear VE7KU.

Net control also ran an 80 metre test on 3.729 MHz.  The VA7QBB station (the Qualicum ops) could only marginally hear  this HF test, but both Bamfield and Powell River could participate there.

Stuart Lyster VA7QB / VA7CRH / VE6CRH