KD0TLS: new Detroit Lakes TX gateway

  In my last post, I mentioned the activity around Fargo. Specifically, I mentioned the K0PPE-1 digipeater and the KK0TT-15 TX gateway there. But there's also another digipeater in Fargo -- K0RQ-1. Even though it's still early May, K0RQ-1 has handled 1.2k packets this month. 

 And this morning, I looked at aprs.fi and noticed a new gateway in Detroit Lakes. That's a part of the state that desperately needs coverage, and it seems to be able to reach Fargo with a little help from the N0CBV-2 digi in Wolverton (about 20 miles south of Fargo). That new TX gateway is K0RQ-2. 

 Why is this new gateway so important? For the past few years, the infrastructure in this part of the state (west central MN) has been in decline. We lost critical gateways in Hoffman and Wadena, and the Barnesville digipeater is down far more than it is working. Without a gateway in the area, it's difficult to expand coverage with digipeaters. Sure, someone could put up a digipeater in a place like Park Rapids, but any packets it picks up would only be transmitted locally and not make it to the network. So... a gateway in Detroit Lakes makes further expansion possible. 

 But, since this is also a TX gateway, it also creates RF messaging capability. Along with that are bulletins, announcements, and objects. And it adds VHF propagation data. EmComm capability is enhanced. 

 K0RQ (Jake) also wrote about his experience setting up an RX-only I-Gate using an old analog scanner and a J-pole antenna. If more rural operators would do this, we would have a much more reliable APRS network in Minnesota. 

 There is also another new TX gateway in Bemidji. W0RFP-1 came on-air this week, with a solid hold on the Lengby digipeater (W0BJI-2). In turn, this also makes the TX gateway in Gonvick (about 15 miles north of Lengby) more valuable -- and KE0VUL-10 in Gonvick is already handling a lot of traffic for a rural gateway. If the K0PPE-1 digipeater (currently in testing in Fargo) does move to Park Rapids (as is the apparent plan), it would probably have its choice between the new Bemidji gateway and the Detroit Lakes gateway. 

 At some point, we could realize the dream of RF APRS comms between the eastern and western parts of northern MN. For the moment, though, I'd settle for an RX-only gateway in Fergus Falls or Wadena.