---ZS Link Network Blog, Mossel Bay, South Africa ---: Down Memory Lane: Packet Radio and later APRS in the Garden Route Area (Part 1)

Sunday, January 23, 2022

Down Memory Lane: Packet Radio and later APRS in the Garden Route Area (Part 1)

Image: BAYCOM Packet Radio Modem (Poor Mans Packet Radio Modem)

In this topic I will try to recall how Packet Radio and later APRS started in the Garden Route Area. I trust that my memory will not let me down and that I will be able to provide a detailed overview of AX25 in this area.

Before APRS came on the scene Packet Radio was introduced to the Garden Route Area by Mark ZR1MLV who at the time was living in Mossel Bay but worked in George. The first BBS was put onto the air in the early 90's at a speed of 1.200 bits per second using AX25 protocol. On my arrival in this area I met Mark ZR1MLV who was the son in law of Willem ZS1ON. Mark operated the BBS from his shack only on VHF. (144.675 Mhz) In the beginning Myself, Willem Van Zyl ZS1ON (SK), Mark ZR1MLV, Don Cohoe ZS1ADJ (SK) , Michael Cohoe ZS2GMT, Stan Jones ZS1T, Isak v Aarde ZS2I (SK), Rusty Lotter ZS1WQ (SK) and those that I can't remember were active on Packet Radio. Mark ZR1MLV (Sysop)would download the BBS messages twice weekly from Dick Stratford ZS6RO (SK) BBS Gateway via a Dial Up Internet access connection using a modem that operate at a maximum data rate of 56 kbit/s downstream (towards the end user) and 34 or 48 kbit/s upstream. (toward the global Internet) We could not wait for the updates each week.

Interesting to know that mainly all Packet Radio Stations in operation at the time was either run on a 286/386/486 Desktop Computer using a mono chrome screen, SAATI TNC 2 or a BayCom modem between the computer and the 2 meter radio. The ZR1MLV BBS used a 486 Computer, BayCom modem connected to a crystal controlled radio on 144.675 Mhz fitted to a Slim-Jim antenna. For those not knowing Packet Radio, here is a short overview. In the late 1980's through the mid 1990's packet radio was all the rage. Amateur radio operators could send messages to other radio amateurs via VHF or HF, across the country or even to other countries. You also did keyboard to keyboard text "chatting" directly if you were in close proximity of another radio amateur's station. You could also browse bulletin boards, send and receive files and even pictures. Similar to today's email but with limitations at the time.

Unfortunately Mark ZR1MLV immigrated to New Zealand in 1996. Mark assisted Mike ZS2GMT in setting up a BBS in the CBD of Mossel Bay. Mike was sysop of the BBS for nearly a year when he also decided to move overseas. The BBS was then moved to Don Cohoe ZS1ADJ (SK) who operated the BBS for a few months but work commitments took it toll. The BBS was then moved to the then George Technical College and maintained by Kirstein ZR1?? a then lector at the college. Unfortunately I cannot find any information today about this radio amateur. After only a few months the BBS found a new home again. Weon ZS1LFK (ex ZS6LKF) setup a BBS and for the first time also a HF Packet Gateway in George after moving to this area from Gauteng. The system operated flawlessly on VHF and HF.

Packet messages were downloaded from HF and then ported to VHF. The system operated for several months until Weon decided to move back to Pretoria. In 2008 yours truly setup a BBS that operated only on VHF and messages were at the time downloaded from Dick Stratford ZS1RO (SK). The BBS ran for more than a year. In this year it was clear that Email was slowly starting to take the place of Packet Radio. Packet Radio was now running parallel to Email, however interest was waning in Packet Radio. In 2009 the interest was so low that there was only two Packet Radio users and I decided to shutdown the BBS as it was then possible for radio amateurs to download Packet Radio Messages directly from Dick ZS6RO (SK). No need for a BBS anymore. Was this the end of Packet Radio in the Garden Route Area? In Part 2 we will find out if this was the case.