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/repeaters/links 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. ZS1ERZ AllStar Node now linked to the GRHub Network:
We welcome the ZS1ERZ 600741 AllStar Node of Eden Radio Club in George.
The Node is linked to and RF link radio (145.200 Mhz) and is maintained by Corne
ZS1COR from George.
Further particulars of the :
Node Info: ZS1ERZ 145.200 Mhz George
Node Number: 600741
RF Frequency:145.200 Mhz
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 AllStar Node on the network.
2. ZS1HEB AllStar Node linked from time to time to the GRHub Network:
We welcome the ZS1HEB 60077 AllStar Node in George.
The Node is maintained by Eben
ZS1HEB from George.
Further particulars of the :
Node Info: ZS1HEB George
Node Number: 60077
RF Frequency: Currently not connected
Mode Analogue: NA
Coverage: Internet Based
Welcome to ZS1HEB Eben and all the other George radio amateurs to the ZS Link Network and we are looking forward to hear activity coming from this AllStar Node on the network.
3. ZS1WLM AllStar Hub Node now linked to the GRHub Network:
We welcome the ZS1WLM 599680 AllStar Hub Node in Saldanha.
The Node is maintained by Wikus
ZS1WLM from Saldanha.
Further particulars of the :
Node Info: ZS1WLM Saldanha
Node Number: 599680
RF Frequency: Currently not connected
Mode Analogue: NA
Coverage: Internet Based Hub
Welcome to ZS1WLM Wikus and all the other West Coast radio amateurs to the ZS Link Network and we are looking forward to hear activity coming from this AllStar Node on the network.
I am so glad to see that the AllStar Network in South Africa is growing with several new allstar nodes making their appearance on the linked network.
4. ZS1I DMR Bridge activity 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.
This bridge has been a useful addition the the GRHub Network and hopefully to the ZS Link Network. It is now permanently linked to the network. The ZS1I DMR Bridge is now the gateway to some who cannot afford to buy a digital radio, hotspot etc or might "want to get their feet wet first." There are ways and means to use DMR and other digital radio modes without a radio or hotspot. I indicated before that you can use your analog VHF/UHF radio to work digital radio modes via the ZS1I DMR Bridge. I am so grateful to those who made this possible by writing software and creating applications for this purpose.
5. DroidStar quite popular in the Southern Cape:
There are some radio amateurs that does not have radios and equipment to use the digital radio modes. On the other hand some might first want to play with DMR to see what it is all about and whether it is worth buying such equipment. Well you do not need to buy a digital radio to use the VHF/UHF digital radio modes. DroidStar came to the rescue! I am grateful to report that DMR activity is daily on the increase in the Southern Cape and other parts of South Africa.
My article available HERE hopefully resulted in creating interest in this regard. Further information was also made available on the Amateur Radio 101 Telegram Group. I would like to thank each and every person that provided help and information on this group to assist new users of VHF/UHF digital radio modes. The Amateur Radio 101 Telegram Group really rocks! Thank you to all those who post interesting information on this Group.
I would like to welcome the following radio amateurs to the VHF/UHF digital radio modes:
Danie ZS1DL currently in the Franschoek Valley will also be moving to Danabaai in the not to distant future and will be joining the VHF/UHF digital radio modes group in the Southern Cape.
6. ZS1I GRHub Network
I am grateful to report that the GRHub Network functions very well despite Loadshedding and Internet Outages. I added several automated services lately to enhance the network. I would also like to thank all those who use and connect to the ZS Link and GRHub Network. A special word of thanks must go to all the repeater owners/custodians/clubs, RF link stations, node owners and individual network owners who forms the backbone of the ZS Link Network in South Africa. Let's not forget those who work behind the scenes to maintain and extend the ZS Link Network, Repeaters and Nodes. Without your dedication and participation this network would have collapsed long time ago. Activity on the ZS Link Network in South Africa is rife. I thank you all!!
7. ZS Link Network
I do not have much news on this linked network other than to say that it functions very well even in times of loadshedding. I have also heard that the custodians of this network is currently very busy finalizing the 2023 working year and has very little time to spend on amateur radio.
I would however like to mention the following: The ZS1I GRHub Network does not connect via Echolink to ZS0JPL-R on Sunday mornings anymore. Instead a connection is established via ZS6WDL-R after listening to the KZN HAMNET Bulletin on a Sunday morning via the ZS5PMB-R repeater network. This provides better control relating to Echolink stations that might cause "The Ping Pong" effect.
I would like to encourage clubs and link owners to connect their repeaters/links/hubs/nodes etc to the ZS Link Network to extend the range of the current networks. This create more activity on our bands and many radio amateurs enjoy having a QSO with other radio amateurs country wide as well as world wide.
8. "Dagbreek Span", "Ontbyt Sake Span" and "Sonsak Span" very active:
As I mentioned in a previous posting Amateur Radio is alive and well in the Southern Cape after a long period of inactivity. There are currently three daily (Monday to Saturday) nets run in this area. They are:
The "Dagbreek Span" - your host Henk Botha ZS1AAD 06h00 - 06h30 SAST
The "Ontbyt Sake Span" - your host Henk Botha ZS1AAD 06h30 - 08h00 SAST
The "Sonsak Span" - your host Johann Bekker ZS1AAC 16h30 - 17h30 SAST
All three nets can be accessed via the 145.750 Mhz Aasvoelkop Repeater 88.5 hz CTCSS or via Echolink ZS1SB-L. Secondary access is also available via ZS1I-L Echolink and 49355 AllStar or 65511 DMR Talk Group. Local and visiting radio amateurs are welcome to log into these three nets. There is always room for any radio amateur on these nets. Please feel free to join us!
Enough for now. I still have a few more topics but that I will leave for a future posting.
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!!