NOVA SCOTIA NATURAL RESOURCES VHF NETWORK A component of the NSIMRS
Last updated Oct 4, 2021

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HISTORICAL PAGE
This page describes or depicts a system that is no longer in operation

This system was a component of the NS Integrated Mobile Radio System, which was replaced in the year 2000 by the 800 MHz NS Trunked Mobile Radio System. While the towers remain in place with other repeaters, the repeaters for the DNR system no longer exist. Some of the repeater frequencies have been re-assigned to other users. All the information shown below is therefore historical in nature.

A map of this system showing channels will be added when one is located.

DNR repeaters were located at all 24 of the primary NSIMRS sites. The repeater at any site was used for all or most of the DNR radio communications in the surrounding area. Note that there was only one channel available at each site for this department to use. Most users would keep their radio tuned to their local repeater channel, but in most areas, there would be at least one or two other repeaters in range to talk to surrounding districts.

On the other hand, to talk to more distant areas many of the radios were equipped with tone dialers. The indicated dial-up code was used by a unit in one area to connect with a distant repeater. The user brought up the local repeater and dialed the distant one by inputting the dial-up code. This would automatically set up a microwave link to the distant repeater. Note that the dial-up code for DNR was 200 plus the site number. For example, a radio user in Yarmouth could access the repeater for the Sydney area by dialing 221 (which is 200 plus 21, the number for the site at Rear Boisdale.) There was also a dial code (**) to disconnect from this link-up.

DNR users could also be connected to other NSIMRS networks. To do this the user would dial 0 for Shubie Radio and request the operator to connect the two networks together with a patch. Details are lacking but presumably if for instance the Yarmouth area DNR user wanted to talk to a Yarmouth area Vehicle Compliance Officer, the Shubie operator would connect the appropriate repeater for VC to the DNR one.

It may be interesting to note that at one time frequencies in the 160's were commonly used by Forest Services and similar departments across Canada.

Two simplex frequencies were also in the DNR radios and commonly used on-scene at forest fire incidents. 

The DNR system was built with six sets of repeater frequency pairs. In order to avoid interference between repeaters using the same set of frequencies, there was also a tone to be selected. So the user selected both a channel number and a tone to use whichever repeater they were close to and wished to use. Users were provided with a map and guide to help with this selection.

DNR SIMPLEX 164.70
DNR FIRE/AIR SIMPLEX 164.16

Site # Rptr Site Area Served Dial-up Code Channel
#		 Frequency (out) Input frequency CTCSS Tone
1 Middle Ohio Shelburne 201 6 162.57 164.88 103.5
2 East Kemptville Yarmouth 202 1 163.92 165.87 103.5
3 North Range Corner Digby County 203 4 163.05 165.30 103.5
4 DND Annapolis 204 7 163.20 165.24 71.9
5 Springfield Springfield 205 2 163.89 165.33 71.9
6 Garland Kings County 206 6 162.57 164.88 71.9
7 Liverpool Queens County 207 3 163.17 165.48 71.9
8 Sherwood Lunenburg County 208 5 162.72 164.91 71.9
9 Willow Hill West Hants 209 1 163.92 165.87 82.5
10 Hammonds Plains Halifax 210 4 163.05 165.30 82.5
11 Jerusalem Hill Musquodoboit Hbr 211 7 163.20 165.24 82.5
12 Marinette Sheet Harbour 212 6 162.57 164.88 82.5
13 Kirkhill Parrsboro 213 3 163.17 165.48 82.5
14 Sugarloaf Cumberland County 214 2 163.89 165.33 82.5
15 Nuttby Mtn Colchester County 215 5 162.72 164.91 82.5
16 McLellan's Mtn New Glasgow 216 4 163.05 165.30 94.8
17 Cochrane Hill Sherbrooke 217 3 163.17 165.48 94.8
18 Fairmont Antigonish 218 1 163.92 165.87 94.8
19 Lundy Guysborough 219 2 163.89 165.33 94.8
20 Oban St. Peter's 220 5 162.72 164.91 103.5
21 Rear Boisdale Sydney 221 6 162.57 164.88 103.5
22 Kiltarlity Mtn Inverness County 222 7 163.20 165.24 103.5
23 Cape Smokey Ingonish 223 4 163.05 165.30 103.5
24 Money Point Cape North 224 3 163.17 165.48 103.5

Note that the channel numbers vary with the output frequencies, not with the CTCSS tone.