It is nearly time - NSN Net this evening at 19h30 SAST

This week will be an Open Net.  This means that we will not continue with the normal order of the net.  This week we will bring you a Podcast.  The current Ukraine and Russian War is of great concern to many, including Radio Amateurs and Amateur Radio as a hobby.  Come and listen to this very interesting Podcast.  I am not going to reveal any further information in this regard.   You will have to join the NSN- Net this Thursday, 31 March 2022 at 19h30 to listen to the Podcast.

You can access the Net as follow:

Please feel free to join us tonight at 19h30 SAST. We are all looking forward to your company and inputs in this regard. Please also tell your amateur radio friends about the Net. Get rid of that daily stress and enjoy a good hour or two in the company of amateur radio friends.

 Hope to hear you on the NSN Net!!

Echolink - Connect to ZS1I-L, ZS1FC-L, ZS3KBY-R or ZS5PMB-R  Please note if the last 3 stations is not connected to ZS1I-L then you need to connect to ZS1I-L for the NSN Net.

AllStar - Connect to node 49355

VHF - 145.550 Mhz Simplex in the Mossel Bay area.  Remember the 88.5 khz CTCSS tone

Any other Echolink, AllStar repeater or link station that is connected to either ZS1I-L or node 49355

Use of your cellphone by installing Echolink on your phone

By means of a Network Radio example Enrico TM8 etc.

 

ZS-Link Live Stream "Historical" Astronaut landing 30 March 2022 12h15 SAST in Kazakhstan, Russia

Expedition 66:
Raja Chari, KI5LIU
Tom Marshburn, KE5HOC
Matthias Maurer, KI5KFH
Anton Shkaplerov
Pyotr Dubrov
Kayla Barron, KI5LAL
Mark Vande Hei, KG5GNP
 

What could be a historical Soyuz landing where an American astronaut returns to earth with two fellow Russian astronauts, were live streamed on the ZS-Link earlier today.   The Soyuz module landed safely and all three astronauts were in good health after spending several months onboard the ISS Space Station.  This might also be the last time that astronauts from the West and East travel in the same module to and from the ISS.  I really hope that this will not be the case but the West is currently sanctioning Russia which ever way they can.  Be as it may I will keep you posted of future events in this regard.

The event audio was live streamed by the ZS-Link Network onto Echolink (ZS1I-L), AllStar (49355) and the 145.550 Mhz Simplex Link in the Mossel Bay area , ZS3KBY-R, ZS5PMB-R and ZS1FC-L as scheduled for 30  March, 2022 at 6:15 am EST (10:15 UTC or 12:15 SAST). 

Unfortunately from now on there will be no recorded audio file available on the Blog of the live event.  I encourage radio amateurs to connect to the ZS-Link to listen to future space events. Future contacts will be advertised on Echolink as "ISS contact 16h43 SAST" or on the GRHub Network Blog  To all the linked/repeater stations connected to the ZS-Link network, if you feel that the live stream would have a negative effect on your systems or of no interest to your users/listeners, then you are most welcome to disconnect from the ZS-Link network for the duration of the broadcast. However we would like to welcome you back on the ZS-Link network after the event.

 

 

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Images NASA (Click on images for larger view.)

ED.  Have a look at the last image of the Russian Command Center, welcoming Mark vande Hei (US Astronaut)  back to earth.  There might just be a small glimpse of hope that  the relationship of nations pertaining to the ISS will hopefully continue as before.

Build a simple indoor or outdoor 2 m Delta Loop Antenna very cheaply.

This is an ideal project for beginner radio amateurs that would like to construct their first antenna.

There are various designs on the Internet for 2 m Delta Loop antennas.  I wanted something that can be erected easily anywhere and in no time.  It should double as a fixed, portable and travel antenna and must function as an indoor and outdoor antenna.  I decided to build the antenna as described by K2ZS.  Here is the link to his VHF Delta Loop.

The length of wire used in a delta loop antenna is determined using 1005/[frequency in Mhz.] so a loop for use on 145.500 Mhz simplex would be:

1005/145.500 = 6907 feet = 2105.2mm

The length can be divided by 3 for a delta loop or 4 for a quad style loop. For my delta loop that meant the wire would have to be about 702mm per side for a delta loop and 526mm for a quad style loop.

The quarter wavelength matching transformer would be 1/4 of that length multiplied by .67 to compensate for the velocity factor of the 75 ohm cable. Calculation = 2105mm divided by 4 x .67 = 353mm. In this case the stub should be around 353 mm from the connector to the attachment point on the loop. Keep in mind that those formulas are for ideal conditions like the antenna being mounted outdoors and in the clear so plan on starting long and trimming for resonance.

I am not going to go into full detail on how to construct this antenna as the link provided describe this in full.   The images underneath also provide full detail on how I constructed my version of this antenna.

Finally:  I could access all the repeaters in my area with this antenna about 2 meters from the ground.  I will do further tests and will provide the information in a future posting. This antenna can easily be built for any VHF/UHF frequency.  I enjoy building this antenna.  It can easily fit into my carry bag and is easy to fold up or to install.

 

PS.  Apology for the quality of the photos especially the shadow reflections in the images.

Mast project images for 145.550 Mhz ZS-Link Radio Antenna

 I have lately been busy with:

• Digging a hole for a concrete block
  
• Making cage for attaching base plate for mast
• Pouring concrete to secure cage for the base plate
  
• Making base plate for aluminum flag pole mast
• Making brackets to secure flag pole mast to wall

Well it all came together yesterday afternoon and a dry run was done before final installation of the antenna to the aluminum flag pole mast.  Hopefully I will be able to do the final installation later today.  Here are a few images of the aluminum flag pole mast installed on the dry run and the build.  (Click on images for large view.)

 

Apology for the unorganized placing of images. 

TO BE UPDATED!!