Specifications of ZS1AGI/B
Frequency : 7025KHz
Power : 200mW
Operation : 24 Hours a day
Location : George Airport Transmitter building.
: 34• 00’ 09,53318” S
: 22• 22’ 26,62082” E
: 220,330 Meters above sea level
QRA : KF16EA
Mode : A1A
IDENT : Cyclic identification repeated, V DE ZS1AGI/B KF16EA followed by a long tail.
ANT : Half wave dipole oriented North South at a height of 10 meters : (1/4 wave
high) with a ground embedded reflector radial.
QSL INFO :P O Box 450
Wilderness
6560
South Africa
History of ZS1AGI/B
The 40 meter band QRP project evolved out of a number of factors. ZS1J whiles living in Plettenbergbay, operated a number of QRP beacons on the 160, 80, 30 and 10 meter band. As 40 meter band being very popular was void of any indication as to the condition of the band. Also having read about the early pioneers in radio engineering doing vast experiments studying the ionosphere. I thought I could create my own experiment on a much smaller scale to study the seasonal effects on the 40 meter band using a very low powered transmitter.
Permission was granted by my employers for me to erect the 40 meter band antenna from the supporting towers used for the transmitting antennas at George Airport. After having found no suitable diagrams, I designed and built the QRP transmitter, employing an EPROM to contain the coded message. The beacon first transmitted my call sign. Not believing that the initial 500 mW transmitter power would provide such wide and reliable coverage within South Africa, the reaction from the amateur community was very positive.
The choice of frequency had to do with the international QRP calling frequency was 7020 KHz. I just choose a frequency that would be easy to remember and close the QRP calling frequency. The beacon was first put to the test on the 5th April 1996 from my QTH, causing much curiosity and interest on the 40 meter band. Later it was installed at the airport running temporary on my call sign.
A decision was taken by the local radio club (Garden Route Radio Club ZS1GRC) to license the beacon.
After much correspondence a license was issued, the first beacon for the 40 meter band to be licensed in South Africa. The new EPROM was programmed with a very long tail, at the request of a number of hams to get a stable signal indication and transmitter power was reduced to 200 mW. The ground radial was added to improve vertical signal radiation. Many hams are in the habit to monitor ZS1AGI/B before proceeding to their favorite net.
Even Dwight West, ZS6NT, the then SARL propagation Elmer posted a very comprehensive propagation prediction coverage down to me. QSL cards though very scares were received from a wide geographical region, the furthers being from Zimbabwe. Even an unconfirmed report of it even being heard in Canada from G3USF, the IARU beacon manager for region 1.
In the nine years the beacon has being on the air, it has sustained lightning damage twice and needed repairs once to the antenna system. A full article written by myself even appeared in Radio ZS in December 1996. With the success of my QRP beacon, Roger ZS1J recently operated a test beacon with only 100ì W of power with great success. It was even copied in North America, though the recipient did use a very sophisticated receiver with DSP (digital signal processing). It just goes to show that you don’t need power to get your message across, HI HI.
73 and happy DX
Mike Hanslow
ZS1RMS
28 April 2005
Global QRP Beacons on 40 Meters
Here is the list of all 40 meter beacons from G3USF's Worldwide List of HF Beacons (7 August 2003 )
Freq Call Town Loc ERPw
7025 ZS1AGI George Airport KF16EA 0.2
7029 ZS1J Plettenberg Bay KF15PF 0.0001
7038.5 OK0EU Pruhonice JN79GX 1
7080 DL5KZ 10mw
QSL Cards
Here are some of the comments received via QSL cards, while the beacon was running under my call sign.
ZS4XJ
“Well Done”
ZS1KC
“Beautiful indeed! Congratulations. Read your article in Radio ZS dd 12/96”
ZS1AAK
“Very Nice Beacon”
Z21HL
“Heard ur beacon – thru heavy QRN. Above report is of interest” [Sig report 439]
ZS6MGD
“And I mean zero nine. Ur ½ W do ing well. Good Article in ZS. I don’t suppose everyone has facilities to
string up ant like that (hi). Best success with Beacon God Bless Marc”
ZS4NIC
“Dankie, die beacon help baie”
Images:
Image: Beacon Keyer Diagram (Click for larger view.)
Image: Beacon TX Diagram (Click for larger view.)
The above two images was received from Mike then ZS1RMS. This is what the beacon looked like as installed at the George Airport.
The last two images was send to me by Saney ZR1S. The beacon is currently operational from the property of Saney ZR1S in Wilderness after Mike then ZS1RMS left South Africa to settle in Cairns, Australia.
Since Mike left South Africa many radio amateurs played a major roll to keep the beacon on the air. I do not like to mention names as I might leave somebody in the cold. Many radio amateurs also played a minor roll. To each and everyone a big thank you who assisted in keeping this beacon alive and on the air. 👍👍👍
