In a previous post available HERE I wrote an article about Rattlegram and Ribbit. In the previous article you will find a wide variety of information pertaining to Rattlegram and Ribbit which I am not going to repeat in this article.
An audio file was created where Rattlegram and Ribbit was explained in ZS1I Ramblings. The file can be downloaded at:
Audio File Download: ZS1I Ramblings 31 August 2023 Issue 8 - Meet Rattlegram and Ribbit!
During a conversation on Telegram I mentioned that I would like to test Rattlegram via several "modes" methods of communication. Myself and Christi ZS4CGR decided that we will have a "informal" test session this past Saturday evening. We did a few tests which was unfortunately not successful possibly due to the current Internet issues. Now some of the purist might say that this is not the way to test an emergency communications program via the Internet. Let me say that you use anything that is available when there is a emergency or a disaster. End of debate! We decided that we will carry on testing Rattlegram and that the next session would be held after the Bo Karoo Amateur Radio Club Bulletin this past Sunday the 17 March 2024. No announcement of any kind was made from my side but what a surprise when the following radio amateurs joined the test session:
1. Christi ZS4CGR Luckhoff
2. Gerrit ZS1KLO Rheebok, Mossel Bay
3. Thys ZS1TBP Port Elizabeth
4. Curtis ZS6CMO Alberton
5. Johan ZS1I Mossel Bay
6. Zayn ZR3VO Orania
7. Fred ZS5SAM (Div 1) Barrydale (Did not join the session but decoded some of the messages via AllStar and informed us of his incognito presence during the test session.)
I am not going to go into great detail here as it will take to long. If you would like to find out more then join us for the next round of tests that will hopefully take place this coming Sunday afternoon at around 15h30 SAST.
We did the following tests: (Result in Green)
1. Cellphone to Cellphone PASSED
2. Cellphone to VHF Radio = VHF Radio to Cellphone PASSED
3. Cellphone to VHF Radio to Repeater = Repeater to VHF Radio to Cellphone PASSED
4. Cellphone to VHF Radio to Echolink = Echolink to VHF Radio to Cellphone FAILED
5. Cellphone to VHF Radio to AllStar = AllStar to VHF Radio to Cellphone PASSED
6. Cellphone to DroidStar to DMR = DMR to Droidstar to Cellphone FAILED
Next test to undertake: Cellphone to HF Radio = HF Radio to Cellphone NOT YET TESTED
We will once again test those "methods" that failed in future.
Please note the Cellphone running Rattlegram is only used as a "computer" and need not be connected to a cellphone tower or the Internet.
Finally: I would like to thank everybody that participated in the Rattlegram Tests and invite other interested radio amateurs to join the next test session.
Herewith a few screen-print images of the tests conducted. (Click on images for larger view.)
