Guidelines to use the ZS Link Network in the Southern Cape
By default many hubs, repeaters and links are connected to the ZS Link Network. The ZS Hub is an Allstar hub node which links AllStar nodes around the world to form a network.
Due to the size of networks there need to be rules to ensure orderly use of systems/networks. Amateur Radio regulations are largely self-enforced and we all need to work together and adhere to the rules listed below:
You must identify your station according to the regulations. If you do not know how refresh you memory by downloading the regulations from the SARL Website. I request that before sending any DTMF commands, you must also identify your station, by announcing your call sign and your intentions sending DTMF.
Please limit conversations to 15 or 30 minutes. Other hams probably want to use the ZS Link Network but might not be interested in the subject you're discussing.
Please DO NOT activate any form of courtesy tones. For those not familiar, courtesy tones are normally transmitted after the operator release the PTT after an over or Ker-chunking. Courtesy tones are used in the commercial radio world and is a source of nuisance in amateur radio. Tones can and does cause issues when several networks are connected together. Please refrain from activating courtesy tones!!
In addition, great time and expense was put into building the ZS Link Network. In order for stations from across the world to log in from time to time, the Network/System must be free. If you are hogging the Network, others can’t get in.
Please do not talk about politics or religion on the ZS Link Network or for that matter on any other system/network. Absolutely no obscene, indecent or profane language at any time.
Do not make comments on institutions, groups, or people.
When using the ZS Link Network, you are a guest operator of its radio stations, nodes, hubs etc.
Please don’t use phonetics for every letter you need to say. You are talking on a network and repeaters, not a noisy station on 40 Meters. Just talk normal.
PLEASE leave a "8 second delay" between replying to a station to allow ALL the systems to reset and connect.
Please note this is a global network and you will be transmitting on RF all over the world.
It is extremely important that you spend time ensuring your audio levels are correct before connecting and using the ZS Link Network.
To do this on Echolink please connect to the *ECHOTEST* Audio Test Server Node 9999. Send a test transmission and your transmission will be replayed back to you.
On Allstar use the 49355 "Parrot" node for testing your audio and network connectivity. If you are familiar with the Echolink Test Server, this works in a similar fashion. Connect to the test node and send out a test transmission, then wait for two seconds for your transmission to be repeated back to you. As a reminder, always connect to the test node in isolation. Ask the ZS Link Network administrator to assist you in this regard. He will activate and deactivate the "Parrot" Function for you to test your audio.
When attempting to break into a conversation, please follow this procedure. If you have an Emergency, interrupt the conversation by saying “BREAK – BREAK”. The talking stations should immediately recognize this as an Emergency, and turn the system over to the "breaking" station. If you just desire to join the conversation or make a comment, interrupt by simply giving your call sign. Regardless, if you’re in a conversation, when a calling or breaking station interrupts, yield quickly since you never know if they have an emergency or not.
Correct operating procedure is a distinct characteristic of Amateur Radio. It’s important that you convey to the public, and to new hams, the image that Amateur Radio Operators are courteous, patient, and really know what they’re doing. A friendly style is great, but we also need to operate professionally. You never know who may be listening. Even late at night, there are generally people listening to the ZS Link Network via Broadcastify, including non-radio amateurs. This is important to understand for several reasons.
The ZS Link Network serve many purposes. One of the most important is the exposure it gives the hobby to the community. It’s one of our most effective forms of publicity.
We want non-radio amateurs to know that Amateur Radio is an interesting hobby and a good group of people to get to know – something clean and educational – something they would want their kids to get involved in. Kids may or may not listen late at night, but their parents do.
Don’t let our activities on the air become a weapon in the hands of people who want to discredit us. Let’s all do our part to give Amateur Radio a positive image. We want any person that listens to us to think of us as good operators, not idiots. Any time we talk on the network or repeater, we are ambassadors for the hobby.
Do not cause intentional interference, to links, repeater, hubs, nodes or conversations on the network. Intentional interference is not only heard locally but World Wide. Just remember that intentional interference can today easily be traced to your call sign as all connecting RF and Digital stations leave an identifiable script in a log file. I am sure you would not like to lose your license.
Arikaanse Weergawe:
Riglyne vir die gebruik van die ZS Link-Netwerk in die Suid-Kaap
By verstek is baie nodes, herhalers en skakels aan die ZS Link-Netwerk gekoppel van reg oor die wêreld om 'n netwerk van nodusse te vorm.
As gevolg van die grootte van netwerke moet daar reëls wees om ordelike gebruik van stelsels/netwerke te verseker. Amateur radio regulasies word grootliks self afgedwing en ons moet almal saamwerk en die reëls hieronder nakom:
Jy moet jou stasie identifiseer volgens die regulasies en kan jy jou geheue verfris deur die regulasies van die SARL-webwerf af te laai nie. Radio amateurs word versoek dat voordat jy enige DTMF-opdragte stuur, jy jou stasie moet identifiseer deur jou roepsein en jou voorneme om DTMF te stuur, aan te kondig.
Beperk asseblief gesprekke tot 15 of 30 minute. Ander radio amateurs wil waarskynlik die ZS Link Network gebruik, maar stel dalk nie belang in die onderwerp waaroor jy gesprek voer nie.
Moet asseblief NIE enige vorm van hoflikheidstone aktiveer nie. Vir diegene wat nie vertroud is nie, word hoflikheidstone gewoonlik uitgesaai nadat die operateur die PTT vrygestel nadat hy ‘n rondte geneem het. Hofflikheidstone word in die kommersiële radiowêreld gebruik en is 'n bron van oorlas in amateurradio. Tone kan en veroorsaak probleme wanneer verskeie netwerke aan mekaar gekoppel is. Vermy asseblief om hoflikheidstone te aktiveer!!
Daarbenewens is baie tyd en koste bestee aan die bou van die ZS Link Netwerk. Om stasies van regoor die wêreld van tyd tot tyd te laat aanmeld, moet die netwerk/stelsel vry wees. As jy die netwerk oorneem, kan ander nie inkom nie.
Moet asseblief nie oor politiek of godsdiens praat op die ZS Link-netwerk of wat dit betref op enige ander stelsel/netwerk nie. Absoluut geen onwelvoeglike of godslasterlike taal te eniger tyd nie.
Moenie kommentaar lewer oor instellings, groepe of mense nie.
Wanneer jy die ZS Link Netwerk gebruik, is jy 'n gasoperateur van talle radio stasies, nodusse, ens.
Moet asseblief nie fonetiek gebruik vir elke letter wat jy moet sê nie. Jy praat op 'n netwerk en herhalers, nie 'n raserige stasie op 40 meter nie. Praat net normaal.
Los asseblief 'n "8 sekondes vertraging" tussen rondtes om AL die stelsels toe te laat om te herstel en te ontkoppel.
Let asseblief daarop dat hierdie 'n wêreld wye netwerk is en dat u wêreldwyd uitsaai.
Dit is uiters belangrik dat u tyd spandeer om seker te maak dat u klank vlakke korrek is voordat u die ZS Link Netwerk koppel en gebruik.
Om dit op Echolink te doen, koppel asseblief aan die *ECHOTEST*-klanktoetsbediener groep 9999. Stuur 'n toets uitsending en u uitsending sal na u teruggespeel word.
Gebruik die 49355 "Pappagaai"- Node op Allstar om u klank- en netwerk konnektiwiteit te toets. As u vertroud is met die Echolink-toetsbediener, werk dit op 'n soortgelyke manier. Koppel aan die toets node en stuur 'n toets uitsending uit, wag dan twee sekondes totdat u uitsending na u terug herhaal word. Ter herinnering, koppel altyd in isolasie aan die pappagaai node. Vra die ZS Link Netwerk administrateur om u hiermee te help. Hy sal die "Pappagaai"-funksie aktiveer en deaktiveer sodat u u node se klank kan toets.
Wanneer jy probeer om in 'n gesprek in te breek, volg asseblief hierdie prosedure. Indien jy 'n noodgeval het, onderbreek die gesprek deur "BREEK – BREEK" te sê. Die stasies moet dit onmiddellik as 'n noodgeval herken en die stelsel oorhandig na die "onderbrekende" stasie. Indien jy net by die gesprek wil aansluit of 'n opmerking wil maak, onderbreek deur bloot jou roepsein te gee. Ongeag of jy in 'n gesprek is, wanneer 'n roepende stasie in breek, gee vinnig oor, aangesien jy nooit weet of hulle 'n noodgeval het of nie.
Korrekte bedryfs prosedure is 'n duidelike kenmerk van amateur radio. Dit is belangrik dat jy aan die publiek, en aan nuwe radio amateurs, die beeld oordra dat amateur radio operateurs hoflik, geduldig en werklik weet wat hulle doen. 'n Vriendelike styl is wonderlik, maar ons moet ook professioneel optree. Jy weet nooit wie dalk luister nie. Selfs laat in die nag is daar oor die algemeen mense wat na die ZS Link Network luister via Broadcastify, insluitend nie-radio amateurs.
