With Stage 6 Load-shedding (blackout) in full swing in South Africa I have been asked whether the GRHub Network is still operational during load-shedding and even when there is no Internet Services. The quick answer is YES. It works despite load-shedding or Internet outages. Unlike Echolink that will not work if there is no Internet, the GRHub Network that runs AllStar is operational during loadshedding and Internet Outages.
The only draw back is that you will not be able to connect to stations elsewhere in the country or world. Locally you will be able to use the 145.550 Mhz link to get access to the network. I am currently busy to look into methods to add HF Radio to the GRHub Network whereby I hope you will be able to access the network via HF. It is imperative that we look at ways and means to still use the GRHub Network despite all odds. I will soon test several alternative options. I am looking at HF, AREDN, Winlink etc.
Another problem we currently experience is that the broadcasting of bulletins sometimes gets interrupted when the Internet Fails. The plan is to run pre-recorded bulletins from HF/VHF/UHF to the GRHub Network when there is loadshedding. Currently we run bulletins from the Internet (Echolink) to the GRHub Network. It has now happened several times that bulletin playbacks stop halfway through the broadcast and you then need to re-run it in Echolink. If the Internet is down you cannot broadcast a bulletin from Echolink to the GRHub Network. The change will result in a bulletin that will be broadcast via radio instead of the Internet. I will start conducting tests this morning in this regard. Locally radio amateurs should have no difficulty to listen to bulletins being broadcasted on the GRHub Network. It is hoped that our Internet listeners will also be able to listen uninterrupted to any of the bulletins being broadcasted by the GRHub Network in future.
I hear many shout: " That the Internet....you cannot rely on the Internet!!" The GRHub's Internet rarely goes down. The problem comes with loadshedding where areas of the country experience outages at different times and where loadshedding "hogs" the Internet. Slow Internet speeds due to loadshedding also cause problems. The GRHub Network uses an LTE Internet connection which is 99.9% reliable in my area.
I would like however to encourage radio amateur to switch from Echolink to AllStar. The benefits of AllStar speaks for itself. It works even if there is no Internet.
Finally: The GRHub Network has experience two incidents where Internet Outages occurred this past week. This is really no "car smash" taken into account how long and at what frequency loadshedding occurs. Furthermore loadshedding and Internet outages is currently no problem to the GRHub Network. However I do not know what the future hold for power in this country. It does not look good and we must urgently look at alternatives. Thus far I have been able to come up with alternatives to curb power and Internet outages. I find it very satisfying when I can come up with alternative solutions iro VOIP or Amateur Radio. Updates to follow in this regard.
