Eden Radio Club Meeting Images: 17 June 2023 held at Reebok, Mossel Bay

 

The Eden Radio Club ZS1ERZ held their general meeting on Saturday 17 June 2023 in Rheebok.  Herewith a few images of radio amateurs who attended the meeting.  Not in the photographs are Nick ZS1N and  Dave ZR1AOC from the ZS1SKR Club.

vlnr:  ZS1AAC, ZS1KLO,  ZS3DS, ZS1SB, Botha en Leon (Voornemende radio amateurs) agter vlnr: ZS1WI, ZS1COR, ZS1TBP, ZS1IB en ZS1DDM.  Heel agter: ZS1NEU en Bruce seun van Botha

Eksperimentering: Statiese Ontlading in die Radio Kamer van Christi ZS4CGR

Op 26 Julie 2023 was daar 'n baie interessante gewaarwording in die radio kamer van Christi ZS4CGR.  Daardie aand was daar donderstorms aktief in die Luckhoff omgewing in die Vrystaat gewees.  Christi het 'n eksperimentele bank wat bestaan uit verskeie groeilampe, soliede koperdraad en ander items wat hy gebruik om statiese ontladings waar te neem en te ontleed dmv van verskeie antennas.

Christi verduidelik in die video asook audio opnames hoe hy te werk gaan om statiese ontladings te monitor.

Ek is oortuig dat baie van julle saam met Thys ZS1TBP sal stem dat dit 'n vreeslike interessante gewaarwording/ eksperiment is wat jy nie sommer elke dag teekom nie.  Dit is goed om te sien dat daar nog radio amateurs is wat lief is om te eksperimenteer ook op die gebied van die wetenskap.  Amateurradio-entoesiaste het aansienlik bygedra tot wetenskap, ingenieurswese, nywerheid en maatskaplike dienste soos dit vandag daar uit sien.   Doen so voort Christi en ek hoop dat daar sommer baie van die jonger radio amateurs gaan wees wat in jou voetspore sal volg.

 

 

Audio Opname 1 -  Christi ZS4CGR - Klik HIER

Audio Opname 2 - Christi ZS4CGR - Klik HIER

Fotos:

 

ZS1I Ramblings "Podcast" now available for download

I have received several requests from radio amateurs to make the weekly  "ZS1I Ramblings" available for download as many would like to listen to the Podcast but cannot always listen to it on the air.  Please note this is not your standard Podcast.  This is a re-mix between a podcast,  amateur radio news and general ramblings.  Various subjects are discussed some are not amateur radio related however it might effect amateur radio in some way or the other.

I would however like to request that if at all possible listen to ZS1I Ramblings on the air. (ZS Link Network / GRHub Network) Use your radios instead of social media or any other media.  After all we are radio amateurs and not social media celebrities. 

Download link:  Click HERE

 

Eskom Loadshedding Solutions - DIY 12V DC Distribution Project by Johan ZS1I

For years I wanted to build a 12v Distribution Box with several different outputs and various voltages.  I never got to building such a unit. The commercial units available is way to expensive and need to be imported.  Setting up a DMR Bridge once again reflected the need for some kind of distribution box.  With several Raspberry Pi's running in the shack from 220v wall-warts, loadshedding made it very difficult to keep everything alive.  Finally I decided to construct my own 12v DC Distribution Unit for Raspberry Pi's and LTE Modems that provide Internet to the Pi's.  I needed 12v- as well as 5v DC power.  Now in two previous articles available HERE and HERE a very useful step down power supply from Arduino was used by Christi ZS4CGR.  Two of these units would take care of the 5v DC side of things. Two X60 Sockets supplying 12v DC from a 100 aH battery would bring in the 12v DC.  I combined everything together in a small package which now runs the following units whether there is loadshedding or not:

• MMDVM Hotspot  (5v DC)
  
• APRS Raspberry Pi Internet Gateway  (5v DC)
• DMR Bridge via AllStar and Echolink (5v DC)
• Huawei B525 LTE Router / Modem (12c DC)

I still have the following outputs open and available for future projects:

6 x 5v USB Sockets

1 x 12 v XT60 Socket 

 

Enough writing. The images provide more than enough detail.  The unit is fully operational and was tested this afternoon during a period of loadshedding.  So far everything works great.  

 

Images:  (Click on images for larger view.)

 

 

 

Setup an AllStar Node from scratch....is it difficult?

I regularly receive requests from fellow radio amateurs to help them setting up an AllStar Node from scratch.  Now I am not unwilling to help when a specific problem arises but to build a complete unit from scratch is definitely not possible due to my bad eyesight and various other personal reasons. Having said that I will however provide you with all the info you need to build your own AllStar Node.  No, it is not difficult but you must be willing to read and I mean read a fair amount of documentation.  You also need some surface mount soldering skills or a fellow ham with such skills to modify a USB Sound Card Interface Dongle.

How do I start?

There are two firmware packs which you can use to install AllStar on a Raspberry Pi:

1. AllStarLink
2. HamVoip

The choice is yours which firmware pack you want to use.  The GRHub Network runs on HamVoip while the ZS1I DMR Bridge runs on AllStarLink.

To build an AllStar Node to run on a Raspberry Pi you will need the following:

• 12v to 5v (3 amp minimum) Step Down Buck Converter
• Raspberry Pi 3 b or Raspberry Pi 4 (You can also use the Pi Zero W or Zero 2 but then you will need adapter cables for USB and Ethernet.
  
• Syba USB Sound Card Interface CM119  (To be converted into a Sound Card Fob, A USB CM118 can also be used.) (Many commercial Sound Interfaces are available but can cost up to $100 without import an shipping costs.)
  
• 2m /70 cm VHF/UHF Mobile or HT Radio (Single band unit can also be used.)
• Antenna of your choice
• LTE WiFi Router or Home Fiber Internet and Router
• Cables
• 12v Battery (Yes you can run it of mains power but loadshedding will provide you with lots of problems and even total failure of the Node.)
• Project Cabinet
• Odds and Sods

Now there are other methods to build an AllStar Node including to buy a ready build Node from overseas, but at the current exchange rate it is not worth spending so much money when you can build a node at the fraction of what a commercial unit would cost. 

Okay lets get to the "homework and reading" side of things.

Here are a few links that will assist you to build your own AllStar Node from scratch:

• Getting Started Overview - AllStarLink Wiki
• Beginners Guide - AllStarLink Wiki
• Welcome to AllStarLink!
• HAMVOIP Asterisk Allstar on the Raspberry Pi 2/3/4
  
• A Simplified USB Sound FOB Modification
• A self contained portable Allstar node Part 1 - 5
  
• Modifying the sound card fob 
• AllStar Node Setup and Configuration Guide PDF
• Building a Portable Raspberry Pi Asterisk AllStar Node PDF

With all the comprehensive information above you will be able to construct your own AllStar Node from scratch.  Yes it is going to take some time but nothing comes for free in this life except the above valuable information.  So "put your shoulder to the wheel" and get going.  If I can do it with no electronics background I am sure you can also do it.

 

In the event that you would rather go the route of buying a commercial AllStar Node herewith a few links to some suppliers:

• ClearNode
• The Shari 
• DMK Engineering
• Allstar SA818 node 

Now you have everything you need to get going on AllStar.  If you need further information then Google is you friend.  As I said in the beginning I am more than willing to assist if you experience a specific problem, that's if I have the knowledge to assist you with the specific problem.  There are several AllStar Groups, Forums and Message Boards that provides a great service in answering your questions.   Links are available from the above web-pages to these information sources.

 

Finally:  We are looking forward to welcome you to the ZS - Link Network with your AllStar node.  Once you build and  used an AllStar node I can guarantee you that you will not go back to Echolink, IRLP or any of the older programs. AllStar is in my opinion currently the best VOIP application to start with.  Yes, there is another very useful application but this is beyond the scope of this posting.  We will be looking at this firmware in a future posting.

Hope to hear you via your allstar node on the ZS - Link Network soon!!

    

Linking Echolink/AllStar to Repeaters and Simplex Link Radios.

 

Image:  Internet

I am grateful to report that the ZS-Link Network is expanding at a very rapid rate.  Not yet part of the ZS-Link Network?  Then add your repeater or link radio to this active SA Radio and VOIP Network? 

Once I receive all the details of the new repeater and link networks from the Repeater Working Groups and Link owners I will provide more detail in this regard.  Without being prescriptive or trying to "run the show" I would however like to draw the attention to a few important aspects that should be taken into consideration when use or linking repeaters and simplex links to existing SA Networks.

1.  If you do link a repeater to the network ensure that the "tail" of the repeater is set as short as   possible.  This will prohibit the "loop" effect.
2.  If you link your echolink-link radio or repeater to the network via Echolink ensure that you adjust the Receive Hang Time by going to Setup = Timing = Receive Hang Time. This specifies how long EchoLink remains in "receive" mode after the remote station has stopped sending. This value is specified in milliseconds (1 second = 1000 ms). The default is 1200 ms, or 1.2 seconds. This value should only be changed if you have a link radio attached to Echolink.  I would suggest 1000 ms but play around with this setting to suite your setup.
3. Set your radio, node, or repeater transmitter Time Out Timer (TOT) to 5 minutes or less. Continuous transmission for more than 5 minutes will cause the system to timeout and may impact other users and connected systems. In some instances it might be necessary for repeaters and links administrators to set the TOT to 10 minutes to relay bulletins and news. However we leave the TOT setting to the administrators to decide on the length of the TOT for their systems.
4. Pause 3 seconds after keying-up to talk to allow your signal to propagate through the network; there are many linked repeaters and nodes. The issue is latency - whenever you key your transmitter it takes several seconds for the far end system to recognize you.
5. Pause 8 seconds between transmissions to allow other stations to break in or other users to disconnect. Again the issue here is latency - whenever you key your transmitter it takes several seconds for the far end system to recognize you.
6. Do not be a "kerchunker", the most hated operator in amateur radio!  If you do want to test the system then by all means do so by announcing your call-sign.  A good practice would be to say: "ZS1I testing access" or "ZS1I testing the Network" instead of being a dreaded "kerchunker".
7. If you joined the ZS-Link Network we want to know that your system is now linked to the network.  Shoot us an email by clicking HERE and provide us with more information.
8. Finally:  Please do not use VOX in Echolink or for a linked connected setup when your system is linked to the ZS-Link Network.  VOX causes all sorts of issues and may lock-up the ZS-Link Network all together.  Rather use a well designed interface that uses PTT and COS. The function of the carrier operated switch (COS) is to tell the repeater or simplex link, that the receiver squelch is open, and that there is a signal.  This will prevent false keying the PTT.  More information on this subject is available on the Internet.  Google is your friend here. 
   

The ZS-Link Network is a linked/bridged network of repeaters, links, nodes, and technologies that provides amateur radio operators a convergence of platforms where users of various systems such as Allstar, IRLP, Echolink, Zello, RF Simplex Links and Repeaters can seamlessly communicate across the country and around the world.

The ZS-Link Network is not a club nor is it affiliated with any. It is a platform built, maintained, and operated by individual operators, like yourself, who utilize available capabilities to enhance the effectiveness of today’s amateur radio for the benefit and enjoyment of all radio amateurs and listeners.

Although we are The ZS-Link Network in name, at any one time there may be several of connected nodes, repeaters and users from across the country and around the world. As with any large community, The ZS-Link Network includes people of all skill levels, backgrounds, interests, and experience.

Whether you got your license two days ago or 50 years ago, it doesn’t matter – you’re welcome on the Network. A requirement, however, is that everyone be respectful of each other and follow standard amateur radio best-practices. 

To maintain a large system like The ZS-Link Network takes time and commitment. Please help support and encourage each other. Also promote the Network system in any way you can.  Most important of all is to use the system to keep our amateur radio bands active and alive.

Enjoy and use the Network!!

-73-

ZS1I on behalf of  the ZS-Link Network Team

Bringing "Hulk" the 3D Printer to life! An Amateur Radio Project by Curtis ZS6CMO

(Click on image for larger view.)

3D- Printer Project for Ham Radio by Curtis ZS6CMO

Model in this Project is the “Mendel Prusa RepRap i2”

Reference : Prusa Mendel - RepRap

Introduction
This was an inspiration from a fellow HAM David - ZR6DLG

Process
I was inspired by David when I saw the machine he had built and it was using basic items from a hardware store to put together.

He helped me to print all the items required to build the structure with his homemade 3d-printer. The printer he used was made from yellow filament and he called his printer “Bumble Bee” 🙂

The hardware is 8mm SS Threaded rods,(see Reference page show all Hardware required)

ED.  Want to read all about this project?  From hereon I will let Curtis do the talking.  HERE is the PDF file describing - "How "HULK came to life".  Do not miss this very interesting article by Curtis ZS6CMO.  A big thank you to Curtis and David for bringing "HULK" to life as well as for all the information and images.  Highly appreciated!

As can be seen Curtis is already using "Hulk" do produce amateur radio project cabinets.  A great asset to the amateur radio shack today.

Images:  (Click on images for larger view.)

Amateur Radio HOTA Activation: Pacaltsdorp United Congregational Church, George by Corne ZS1COR

The following site was recently activated by Corne ZS1COR.  Several other radio amateurs were also present in support of the days activities.  The images underneath reflect the history and activation of the site which was registered on H.O.T.A.

Images:  Corne ZS1COR, Die Burger, H.O.T.A. and the George Herold. (Click on images for larger view.)

Corne would like to thank all those who contacted the station and also who assisted him during the activation.   A special thanks also to the PUCC  for allowing amateur radio to activate this beautiful church and heritage site!! 

More information and images on this beautiful church is available HERE. 

What is HOTA?

H.O.T.A (Heritage on the air) is an amateur radio group that strives to motivate radio amateurs to learn more about history, and to keep history alive by activating a multitude of historical sites by using SSB, AM, FM, CW and even with Heliographs. Radio amateurs have great fun going out in the field and visiting places and areas where once history was made. Even if you do not like history there is places that were visited that might be of interest to you. You can even combine your other hobbies with H.O.T.A. Now that you have a faint idea of H.O.T.A it is time to learn more about H.O.T.A and the fun radio amateurs have and can have in activating historical sites. If you want to learn more about H.O.T.A you can visit the Heritage on the Air website by clicking HERE.

Simple Small Project Images - Various Radio Amateurs (Part 1)

In this first posting you can view images, videos and listen to audio of simple small projects by various radio amateurs.  I am not going into detail here as some of the projects will appear in future postings on this blog.  My thanks and appreciation to all the radio amateurs who posted the projects on the Amateur Radio 101 Telegram Group.  Any radio amateur is welcome to send me information about the projects they constructed or busy with.  Email information and images by clicking HERE.

Loadshedding Battery Backup Project by Thys ZS1TBP

 Humor for the day!!  - Andre ZS1AFB

New Shack Project by Deon ZS1DDM 

3D Chock Block Project by Curtis ZS6CMO

Antenna Coax wall throughput Project by Christie ZS4CGR

1990's Old Homebrew Microphone Projects by Johan ZS1I

40m Antenna Project by Lional ZS6DPL

Lional: Geraas vlak op my telephone Lyn antenna is s6 af gekom van n s9+10 wat hy is op die ander antenna