Tuesday, December 12, 2023

From the Desk: "What is lately happening on the GRHub- and ZS Link Network?"


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:

1.  Thys ZS1TBP
2.  Christie ZS4CGR
3.  Zayn ZS3VO
4.  Corne ZS1COR 
5.  Curtis ZS6CMO

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.

I also heard along the grapevine that there are others that are interesting in using the VHF/UHF digital radio modes.  We eagerly await to either hear you on the air or to assist you in getting started in VHF/UHF digital radio modes.  Give us a shout if you need any help.
 
In a previous posting HERE I indicated that Tuesday's will be DMR Radio Activity Day on the GRHub Network, Mossel Bay.  This is indeed still the case.  I would however like to encourage radio amateurs to join the weekly ZA DMR Net.  The ZS1I DMR Bridge is linked to the South Africa DMR Talk Group 655 for the weekly ZA DMR Net. This is a vibrant and friendly Net.  You can also learn more about DMR by joining this Net. Echolink users can connect to ZS1I-L, AllStar users to 49355 and DMR users can now use TG 655.  Analog stations are welcome to join the Net via the ZS1I GRHub network which is now connected to the ZS1I DMR Bridge.

A further plus is that I decided to permanently link the ZS1I GRHUB Network (Node 49355) to the ZS1I DMR Bridge Network. (Node 467650)  Now I hear moans and groans about joining Analog to Digital and all the problems it will cause to the ZS - Link Network.  Rest assure I will not intrude on any DMR Repeater or Network setup.  I have created my own private Talk Group (65511) on which all traffic will be relayed from Echolink / AllStar / DMR etc. 
 
Talk Group 65511 has been very active lately with traffic being relayed from DMR, Echolink, RF and AllStar.  Several local as well as overseas stations has been heard on this Talk Group.

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!!

Can one see Auroras (Southern Lights) in South Africa?

Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) over Simons Town. Picture: Hassaan Tanvir During a recent discussion on the "Sonsak Span Amateur Rad...