Maple WI Tower Project: Not long after WLSAR was formed, an opportunity arose to acquire a tower and radio shack. A deal was made with Dahlberg Electric and the City of Maple WI, and the site was handed over to WLSAR. Since then, we have been busy with battling mice, clearing brush from guy wires, installing electrical service, installing battery backup, installing power control. climbing the tower, and using the radio shack for the following equipment:
* Yaesu Fusion DR-1X Repeater, W0LSA/R, 440.400, +5 MHz, CTCSS 110.9, Wires-X to N0EO-ROOM (40494)
* Packet Network, W0LSA-2 (MAPLE), 145.010
* APRS Network, W0LSA (WIMPLE), 144.390
* Winlink Packet RMS Gateway, W0LSA-10, 145.010
* Winlink VARA FM RMS Gateway, W0LSA-10, Digi VIA W0LSA-15, 145.690
* P25/Analog, KD0HRM, 443.775 +5 MHz, CTCSS 88.5, Digitally connects P25 to Chicago, Arizona, Hawaii, New Zealand, P25 has priority
* Future: AREDN Mesh Network (test site)

VARA FM Project: On October 4, 2024, Douglas County WI hosted the 10-4 IOPE (InterOPerability Exercise) in Supeior WI. This was a multi-state, multi-agency exercise. The exercise scenario was that a fire broke out in a local Superior WI grain elevator, which quickly spread and eventually the grain elevator exploded. The Amateur Radio operators needed to implement a fast, reliable, method of sending emails and large attachment (spreadsheets, photos...) Enter VARA FM! There were a few people in the area evaluating VARA FM. So they were tapped on the shoulder to help out. Permanent and temporary VARA FM nodes/digis were set up in the area for good coverage around the exercise site. Then several classroom training exercises were provied, and evetually a practical outdoor exercise. The training proved to be effective for the exercise. Many positive comments came from the exercise coordinators. After the exercise, a number of Amateur Radio operators continue to use the VARA FM mode, and are training in more operators.