Vancouver / British Columbia

Geographic Context

Metro Vancouver sits between the Coast Mountains to the north and the US border to the south, with the Fraser River delta extending to the east. This geography provides exceptional repeater sites on the North Shore mountains: Grouse Mountain (4,100 ft) and Mount Seymour (4,350 ft) both overlook the entire Lower Mainland, offering near-complete metro coverage from a single elevated node.

Frequency and Regulatory Notes

Canada uses the same 902-928 MHz ISM band as the United States. Industry Canada RSS-210 and RSS-GEN rules govern unlicensed use in this band -- closely equivalent to FCC Part 15. Canadian amateur operators have access to the 220 MHz and 915 MHz bands under similar provisions. 915 MHz LoRa nodes operate fully unlicensed in Canada, making cross-border interoperability with US nodes straightforward.

Network Status

Vancouver has active Meshtastic and MeshCore communities in the Lower Mainland. The region is notable for its MeshCore presence, reflecting the protocol's strong UK/Commonwealth developer community. Several dedicated repeaters operate on North Shore mountain sites year-round.

Notable Sites

• Grouse Mountain (4,100 ft): Near-complete coverage of the Lower Mainland from North Vancouver to the US border.
• Mount Seymour (4,350 ft): Excellent eastern coverage of the metro, including Coquitlam and the Tri-Cities.
• Lions Gate and Second Narrows Bridge corridors: These crossings over Burrard Inlet create interesting propagation paths, with nodes on the south shore occasionally relaying to Burnaby and Surrey via geometry along the inlet.

Cross-Border Connectivity

The 49th parallel is not a radio barrier. Lower Mainland nodes occasionally hear nodes in Bellingham and the Mount Baker area of Washington State. The mesh community is functionally cross-border -- Vancouver nodes and Pacific Northwest US nodes share Discord communities and coordinate on channel presets. Long Fast is compatible across both sides.

Community

• Vancouver Meshtastic Discord (active, invite via local ham groups)
• BC ARES chapters -- several regional ARES coordinators are active mesh participants
• MeshCore development community has strong BC representation

Recommended Preset

Long Fast for the general public mesh. The mountainous terrain and moderate node density make Long Fast the current standard across the Lower Mainland.