Important: Broadcasting of Amateur Radio News Bulletins and reporting in on a Sunday via the ZS Link Network

It has become necessary to provide more information on how the broadcasting of amateur radio Sunday news bulletins work and what you need to know. 

Please take note of the following:

1.  Sunday is quite a busy day with regards to bulletins.  
2.  At 08h00 the ZS Link Network connects to ZS0JPL in Pretoria.  Call-ins take place from Pretoria until 08h15.  The SARL National Afrikaans Bulletin starts at 08h15.  At 10h00 Amateur Radio Today starts with the relay of the SARL National English Bulletin and other interesting amateur radio inserts.  At 15h00 the Wireless Institute of Australia weekly news bulletin is broadcast.
   
3. If you are connected to the ZS Link Network or you access the Aasvoëlkop Repeater you will NOT be able to report in to any amateur radio news bulletin throughout the Sunday.  The ZS Link Network has been setup in receive only mode to prevent causing any interference, lock-ups or any repeater Ping-Ponging on any network to which the ZS Link Network is connected to.
4. Connecting to any other network even world wide is a privilege and causing any "interference" is not in line with the Amateur Radio Code of Conduct.
5. You might argue that you just want to report in before or after the bulletin. Well you certainly can by using Echolink or AllStar (DVSwitch) on your phone and then directly connect to ZS0JPL-R.  You will then be able to report in directly when the controller allocate a slot for Echolink call-in stations.
   
6. Another reason that receive only mode is used is that in the past many radio amateurs tried to report in via Echolink and AllStar using the ZS Link Network.  The VOIP latency prevented them being heard by the person doing the call-ins.   Latency can be up to 8 seconds and "quick draw stations" prevent call-ins being heard.
7. As can be seen there are many factors that play a roll and can cause "havoc" especially with so many stations trying to call-in during the 15 minute period.
8. The above must please not be seen as complaining.  The ZS Link Network Group believe in the best operating practices possible and would not like to be left red-face before, during or after the SARL National News Bulletins, In the past several network links has simply been disconnected when their systems caused "interference".

Well there you have it.  If you do hear other radio amateurs trying to report in to bulletins on a Sunday via the ZS Link Network, please tell them courteously why they will not be heard by the bulletin controller or refer them to this article on the ZS Link Network Blog.