On the 28 November 2021 I wrote and article called: " What happened to all the experimenters and inventors in amateur radio?" It is a short article where I try to encourage radio amateurs to explore and experiment more in amateur radio.
Now last night (4 December 2021 @ 19h30) a young and new radio amateur from George literally took the bull by the horns and showed that he is up to my challenge to explore and experiment. Corne ZS1COR lives in George and is an eager new radio amateur that enjoy exploring and experimenting with different aspects of amateur radio. To the older radio amateurs, does this sound familiar? To cut straight to the bone we had a ball of a time last night on the GRHub Network. The following radio amateurs were involved: Corne ZS1COR, Chad ZSCJ and yours truly ZS1I. The following equipment and systems were used to explore and experiment with:
- ZS1COR - Icom IC-E208 VHF/UHF Dual Band Radio fitted with a Yagi antenna.
- GRHUB Network - 145.550 Mhz Motorola Radius VHF Link Radio fitted with a Diamond X50 Dual Band Antenna.
- GRHUB Network - AllStar Nodes 49355 + 46765. The 49355 node is linked to the 145.550 Mhz Link Radio and also accommodate the Echolink Gateway
- GRHUB Network - Echolink Gateway ZS1I-L - GRHub Network
- PEARS IRLP Node 8662 - The node is hosted at the Mount Road site. This node permits the implementation of VOIP over IP for repeater access to the 145.650 Mhz town repeater and allows international repeater access by licenced radio amateurs. Echolink Gateway ZS2PE-R - PEARS Network.
- PEARS 145.650 Mhz Town Repeater able or link to 438.650 Mhz PE UHF link and the Lady Slipper repeater.
- ZS2CJ - Either Echolink program or VHF/UHF RF Radio to access the ZS2PE-R Repeater.
Now before I explain the aim of this specific experiment, I would like to mention that some might see this as simple and general practice used by many radio amateurs and repeater custodians on a daily basis. I agree but what must be taken into consideration in this experiment is that it was undertaken by a fairly new radio amateur to which all the systems mentioned above could be quite daunting and intimidating if you have never used or accessed the systems, networks and links. Then there is also the possibility that all the keying of tones could be annoying to many older radio amateurs. Remember when you fist started out in amateur radio how you might have been "afraid" to do anything that could annoy others or you try something and it works but you cannot switch it back to its original state or even worse you might cause unintentional interference. We all started out in amateur radio - never forget your first contact in amateur radio.
In this experiment Corne ZS1COR wanted to connect to the PEARS ZS2PE-R via the GRHub Network using his Icom IC-e208 RF Radio, DTMF tones and his Yagi antenna. I provided Corne with the necessary connect and disconnect DTMF codes. Now before you shout this is as easy as eating pie, remember that the DTMF tones had to follow through all the above mentioned systems/networks. Now just imagine how many factors play a vital roll in getting the tones through to the ZS2PE-R repeater. I will not go into all the factors here other than to mention that the time sequence had to be spot on as well as conditions on 2 meters between George and Mossel Bay etc. etc.
In the first attempt at 20h05 SAST, Corne ZS1COR was not successful to connect but the second attempt was spot on and Chad ZS2CJ responded by confirming the connection status. Yours truly monitored the experiment on AllStar the Echolink Gateway as well as on MobaXterm. I could hear the excitement in the voice of Corne ZS1COR as he explains to Chad ZS2CJ what he is trying to achieve. While the two of them chatted away my thoughts traveled back in time many years ago when I was a newbie trying to experiment with Packet Radio and the then ZS0DLD BBS. It brought back fond memories of how I received assistance from many radio amateurs in this regard.
I was brought back to reality when Corne ZS1COR announced that he would like to try a disconnect to the ZS2PE-R Echolink Node. After several unsuccessful attempts yours truly disconnected the node. Another attempt to connect was again successful, once again confirmed by Chad ZS2CJ. Chad also explained the Pears IRLP and Echolink linked setup which was of great assistance to understand how the PEARS network operates. Testing and experimenting carried on well after 20h54 SAST. The final disconnect was done by ZS1I.
Was this experiment successful? In my point of view yes and even if it was not, the mere fact that it was conducted by a new radio amateur and through so many systems, radios and networks makes it all worth while. The pure excitement in the voice of Corne ZS1COR is more than enough for me to call it successful.
I would like to thank all the PEARS and local radio amateurs for their courtesy and willingness to put up with two "piano players" on the two networks for quite a length of time. I am particular proud of Corne ZS1COR for his eagerness to explore and experiment. Keep it up and you will enjoy the fruits of your labour. A big thank you to Chad ZS2CJ who without asking assisted Corne ZS1COR in this regard. Your assistance is highly appreciated.
Finally: This experiment was done after monitoring the networks for the lowest activity count on the systems, so as not to prohibit fellow radio amateurs from using the networks. I thank you all in this regard. I would like to encourage my fellow radio amateurs to explore and experiment but most of all look after the younger generation radio amateurs. Let them not fall along the wayside. They are the future of amateur radio, the best hobby in the World!!
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