It has been a while since an update was posted on activities on the ZS-Link- and GRHub Network. The network is alive and well thanks to radio amateurs who use the network and keep on adding nodes to the existing network. I have been asked why use the name ZS-Link Network? It is actually very simple. If I use the name "ZS1I GRHub Network" it would reflect on me as a one man setup/station which is not correct. There are many other roll players that ensure that the network is operational and being extended to other areas of the country and even overseas. I would like to thank all those radio amateurs that keep the network maintained and running even during loadshedding periods. Your unselfish participation in maintaining nodes, repeaters, links etc. is highly appreciated. Remember you do it for Amateur Radio, the best hobby in the world!!
Here is a list of activities and add-ons to the GRHub Network:
1. Still Bay Echolink Node and Repeater now linked to the GRHub Network: We welcome the ZS1SB-L Echolink Node of Henry in Still Bay. The Echolink Node of Henry is linked to the 145.650 Mhz Aasvoelkop Repeater located near Albertinia and maintained by Johann ZS1AAC also from Still Bay..
Further particulars of the repeater:
VHF Repeater:
Frequency and CTCSS Tone: 145.750 Mhz with 600 Split and 88.5 CTCSS tone
Mode Analogue: FM
Coverage: George, Struisbaai, Agulhas, Swellendam, Barrydale, Suurbrak, Heidelberg, Witsand, Riversdal, Stilbaai, Jongensfontein, Gouritsmond, Vleesbaai, Mosselbaai, Oudtshoorn, Hartenbos, Sedgefield, Knysna, Buffelsbaai, Brenton on Sea, Rheebok, Plettenberg bay, Craggs,
Welcome to Johann + Henry and all the other Still Bay radio amateurs to the ZS Link Network and we are looking forward to hear activity coming from this Repeater and Echolink Node on the network.
2. George Echolink Node now linked to the GRHub Network: We welcome the ZS1ERZ-L Echolink Node of Eden Radio Club in George. The
Echolink Node is linked to and RF link radio and is maintained by Corne ZS1COR from George. This link is mainly active when the Eden Radio Club transmit their club bulletin and having their weekly net.
Further particulars of the :
VHF Link: ZS1ERZ-1
Frequency: ??? (to be provided soon)
Mode Analogue: FM
Coverage: George, Mossel Bay, Hartenbos, Sedgefield, Knysna, Buffelsbaai, Wilderness
Welcome to ZS1ERZ + Corne and all the other George radio amateurs
to the ZS Link Network and we are looking forward to hear activity
coming from this Echolink Node on the network.
3. DMR Bridge now active on the GRHub Network:
An AllStar-Echolink-DMR Experimental Bridge is now active on the Garden Route Hub Network, Mossel Bay and also available to all the ZS-Link Network users. (To many to mention them all here.) Now what is this all about?
It is quite simple. When the Bridge is active it
connects the following applications/nodes together which is forming a
"Bridge". Simply put it allows one person to talk on Echolink and the
conversation will be propagated to AllStar and DMR and vice versa. More information available HERE.
4. AllStar Node Automated:
99.5 % of all amateur radio bulletin broadcasts are now automated by
using the Crontab function. Convenient, yes. This does not mean that
you can leave the network unattended. We should all now know that
Murphy is still around and he can cause havoc to any electronic system.
However automation makes life far easier and convenient for me and all
the users of the network. I am currently looking at automating South African Amateur Radio Bulletins. More on this in future.
5. Eskom Load-Shedding:
The power backup systems that were developed/constructed by me for the
network has shown to be working very reliable in the event of a power
outage. During the recent stage 6 load-shedding, no problems were experienced
and all systems worked as if there was no power outage. Unfortunately I
have no remedy should the Internet fail. Thankfully the GRHub Network
will still function locally as an RF Link node with all the functions in
active mode but with no Internet connection. Internet Outages has been
far and in between and did not effect the network in a big way in the
past. However HERE is a project that I finished recently to ensure an automated connection to the Internet should an outage occur.
6. Automated Announcements now Active: The 49355 AllStar node and ZS1I-L Echolink node now supports custom node announcements on the GRHub Network. Local as well as Global automated announcements are now active on the GRHub Network. It is now possible to play audio announcements automatically of amateur radio activities at a given time on a given day. The two options I will be using is Playback and Localplay. Playback play audio announcements globally to all the nodes that are connected to the network. Localplay play audio announcements only on the 49355 node locally which is not heard by any connected stations except to stations listening on the 145.550 Mhz RF linked radio. The SARL, Amateur Radio Today, Clubs and radio amateurs that wish to promote activities or has an announcement to make can contact me in order to broadcast the information free of charge on the network. Yet another free service to radio amateurs.
6. VOIP "DX" active at times:
Several overseas stations were heard on the network and in many cases
their calls were answered by local radio amateurs. The latest being a station from Canada. I would like to
encourage radio amateurs to answer CQ "DX" calls on the network. Let's
be ambassadors for amateur radio in South Africa. The appreciation by
foreign stations when calls are answered is noticeable and we need to
change any false perceptions about radio amateurs in this country if
there is any.
Update on outstanding projects/functions:
- I
am currently working on a DMR Hotspot Repeater to convert it to work on battery power. Currently it can only function on 220v AC and as we all know loadshedding is still very much with us.
- Construction of another Emergency Backup Power Controller and Battery Backup Box. Updates to follow in separate future posts.
- The conversion of an IRLP board to use with AllStar has been finalized and the GRHub Network now has a fully fledged SVXLink Node. More info HERE.
Enough for now.
Finally: I would once again like to invite clubs and radio amateurs to use and keep on using the ZS-LINK and GRHub Network if they so wish. The network is not a private, club only or special allocated network. It is open for general use by any radio amateur. Transmit, experiment, test etc. - let radio amateurs know you are active and on the network. Start or join a QSO and make new friends.
Thank you to those who support and use the Network
regularly. Highly appreciated!!
NEVER FEAR THAT YOU ARE "TYING UP THE NETWORK SYSTEM" - IT IS THERE TO BE USED.
