KD0TLS: SW Minnesota APRS scene

  The south-western part of the state has long been neglected for APRS operation. Much the coverage has been handled by digipeaters, but the addition of NG0E's MTLAKE TX gateway was a game-changer.

SW MN infrastructure 7/22

As always, you can click on the map to enlarge it. 

The big KD0MC-2 digipeater in Chandler only came into existence in 2019. It was supported by the KB0NLY-2 RX-only gateway in Tyler, which was the only gateway for several years. That gateway in Tyler has become very unreliable over the past five years. It's not unusual for it to off-line for months at a time. 

 While both the KD0MC-2 and W0DRK-2 digipeaters are capable of reaching distant gateways, having MTLAKE there is a big plus. And the ability of MTLAKE to handle APRS messaging has been a big step forward. 

 To me, the sad state of the south-western MN APRS has been a source of regret for years now. There is no coverage of the I-90 interstate from Albert Lea to the border. The Fairmont KC0KMZ-2 digipeater (once a gateway) is a joke. It receives virtually nothing, and only beacons to the MTLAKE gateway. The MTLAKE gateway fails to reach I-90 reliably, and I tend to think most hams turn off their mobile APRS stations after leaving Sioux Falls or Albert Lea. 

Current infrastructure 

  While KB0NLY-2 remains down, the Windom KD0BXJ-3 gateway has suddenly re-appeared. So far, it hasn't gated much of anything. And it hasn't transmitted any packets over RF, which a supposedly TX-I-Gate would. 

 Still, having some kind of redundancy for MTLAKE is an improvement. NG0E's gateway does go down a few times a year for short periods. 

Unless an operator is within range of the Chandler or Tracy digpeaters, it seems that -IS only APRS operation is the rule for that quadrant. Although I've always been an advocate for small-scale solutions, the situation in south-west Minnesota is desperate enough that larger-scale solutions may be needed to ultimately provide reliable coverage. 

 Small-scale solutions 

 Much can still be done with small-scale solutions, such as an analogue scanner or HT audio fed into an old PC running Linux or Windows. Such solutions are covered here. Raspberry Pi (Rpi) boards offer another way for RTLSDR, HT, or analogue scanners to provide a signal for gateways using YAAC, DireWolf, or other software to create a gateway. The success of these solutions usually depends more on the antenna employed, rather than the particular software chosen. 

 And being a rural area with low RFI, a small-scale solution can provide big returns in south-western MN. 

 Right off the bat, an RX-only gateway just west of Albert Lea could be very useful. NX0P, for whatever reason, doesn't cover this area very well. In fact, since NX0P is an RX-only gateway, a 5W HT could mean the difference between RF APRS messaging and -IS only. A wide variety of 10W, and even 25W, rigs are available these days. But an RX-only gateway using a RTLSDR dongle could still make a big difference. 

 In terms of low-hanging fruit, an HT used as a TX gateway in Mankato could provide big returns. It could leverage the N0PBA-1 digi to provide RF-based messaging to the eastern edge of south-west Minnesota. 

 Likewise, an RX-only gateway in New Ulm (or the vicinity) would cover some of the gaps between the KC0QNA-1 digi and the Mankato digipeater. This would help to cover the north-east edge of SW MN.

 Last, a small-scale gateway in Pipestone would provide redundancy, and possibly link to the South Dakota infrastructure. 

 Larger-scale solutions  

 This would include 25W+ radios with a "real" TNC like the Microsat, and an antenna 30-50 feet off the ground. 

 NG0E suggests Worthington as a suitable target, and I agree. A gateway/digi there would cover I-90 pretty well, provide messaging, and link to the rest of the infrastructure nicely. 

 Blue Earth (or the vicinity) would also be an excellent hand-off point for traffic on I-90, while providing messaging capability along HWY 169. With luck, a digi here could reach Mankato. 

 Last, a gateway/digi in Luverne would possibly link with Sioux Falls and provide a stable anchor for growth in northern IA. It would be nice to greet hams entering MN with a messaging-capable gateway to access information from. 

 All of these solutions would potentially be invaluable in EmComm situations, serving as a two-way RF link to areas outside of analogue repeater reach.