Garden Route Fire Warning - Next one will be worse! Are we as Radio Amateurs ready?

"The Knysna fire of 2017 went down into the history books as one of the biggest environmental disasters to hit the Garden Route. As the 8th anniversary of the great fire approaches, the man who predicted the 2017 chaos, Dr Guy Preston, has made an urgent appeal to the entire region.
He has warned that the situation on the ground is far worse, and the next fire will be far more destructive. Are we ready? " - Group Editors

 

Need I say anything about the fires that occurred in 2017 and 2018 in the Southern Cape?  I asked the following question on 29 September 2023: 

Are we ready to provide Emergency Communications in South Africa during a Disaster? 

I am not aware of any active amateur radio emergency communications group in the Southern Cape.  I might be mistaken but really there is no mentioning of any emergency communications activity over the air in this area.  If anybody knows of any amateur radio emergency communications activity in the Southern Cape I would like to hear from you.  Send me and email by clicking HERE.

I need to ask the following question:

"Is your amateur radio station equipped to handle any emergency situation, disaster or total power blackout event ?"

This question leads to more questions than answers.  Now some might say I am not interested in amateur radio emergency communications.  Whether you are interested in emergency communications or not, if your community experience a disaster and you are asked to assist with radio communications, will you be able to assist within an hour or two.

The following questions are currently unanswered.  Hopefully some of the questions might set your brain into the thinking and creative mode:

• Can you be of benefit to your local community before, during and after any emergency situation or disaster?
• Must you be a member of any emergency communication group to assist with emergency radio communications in your local community?
• Are your ready to provide emergency communications during load shedding and what equipment do you have available to overcome power failures?
• How quickly can you respond to a request to assist during a emergency situation?
• Can you use the following modes?  Winlink, FT8Call, AREDN, Morse Code etc.
• Should we get involved at all in providing any communication during a disaster or emergency situation?
• Must I be a paid up member to any organization to provide any communications when a disaster or emergency arise?
• If there is no amateur radio emergency communication member or organization in your community will you be able to assist with communications?
• Will you assist with emergency communications when asked by you local authority or community members?
• What equipment do you have available to assist, radios, antennas, batteries, inverters, solar power etc.?
• What roll if any did amateur radio play before, during and after the Knysna Fire Disaster?
• Should we wait until we are called upon to assist with radio communications during a emergency or disaster event?
• When there is load shedding I have noticed that many amateur radio stations are off the air.  As a simple example you can just look at the ZS-Link Network.  Activity is at an all time low during load shedding.  Why is this the case?  If we cannot keep the ZS-Link Network running during load shedding what will happen during a disaster? Will we as radio amateurs be able to provide emergency communications if we do not have backup power systems?  

The above questions are not posted to point finger or to "stir".  It is questions that came to the fore as a result of the fire disasters that occurred in 2017 and 2018.   The above is posted as food for thought and hopefully to motivate some fellow radio amateurs to improve their stations if they are not currently equipped for total blackouts or natural and man made disasters.

Of the utmost importance is communications amongst and between other amateur radio
organizations/clubs/emergency communication networks. It was clear from this event that the one did not know what the other was doing. This was clearly evident in emails received and posts on amateur radio forums.

Emergency Communications training is needed and more frequent Emergency Communications
Training exercises are essential. Simplicity need to be looked at. The disparate radio systems in use by all roll players during the Knysna Fire Disaster interrupted services. This radio communication disparity issue prevented effected communications during the event.   I am not aware that this issue has been addressed to prevent such issues during a future disaster.

Finally:  I am no prophet of doom but we need to be prepared for any eventuality in this country.  The 2017 Knysna Fire Disaster was the wake-up call we all needed.   The question remain whether we took this wake-up call to heart?  Only time will tell!!

AMATEUR (HAM) RADIO IS THE ONLY FAIL SAFE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM IN THE WORLD!

Eskom Loadshedding Solutions - Raspberry Pi Router/Modem "Watchdog" Project: Testing Internet Connection (Part 3)

 Image:  ZS1I AllStar Hub, 145.550 Echolink Simplex Link and ZS-Link SVXLink Reflector

With the recent loadshedding experienced I decided to consolidate several projects that were left hanging due to other more urgent projects or the fact that loadshedding was suspended and there was not really a need to finish such projects.  Well this time around I decided to make a list of unfinished projects and whether loadshedding is suspended early, these projects must be finalized irrespective if there are other more urgent projects.  One such project is the Raspberry Pi Router/Modem "Watchdog" Project.  I received requests from fellow radio amateurs to provide more information setting up the "Watchdog" and what was the end result in connecting it to an AllStar node and LTE Modem/Router. Part 1 and Part 2 is available by clicking on the specific part.

What is the project all about?  In short I needed an automated “watchdog”  to tell me if the Internet was up  or down and if  down to automatically connect to the Internet once it is back up and running again especially during and after loadshedding. (power outages)  If it is up then there is no further action to be taken. In Part 3 I will be looking at a few Linux and Setup commands for this project.  Once you finished constructing the "Watchdog" it is time to "wake it up" and getting it to watch the Internet for connection outages or confirm that it is up and running.

Let's first look at our connections that must be made for the "Watchdog" to work correctly.  

Cables needed:

1.  12 v DC Cable to power the "Watchdog"

2.  Ethernet Cable coming from the Router/Modem that you will be monitoring.

3.  Relay Control Cable.  One end of the cable connects to the Router.  The other end connects to 12v DC going to the Router and the third connection is to the "Watchdog" relay connection which is  Com - NC wired.

4.  Internet "Watchdog" Bridge Plug -  This is needed when the "Watchdog" is not connected to the Router/Modem.  It is just a wire bridge to give  12 v DC connectivity.

See images for clarity in this regard.

Once you have connected all the cables it is time to switch the unit on.  Wait a few minutes and then retrieve the IP address by either looking in the router/modem or by using software to retrieve the IP address. 

I use VNC to get access to the Raspberry Pi.  Enter  the IP address in VNC as well as your username and password which you must have created when installing the OS.  Once you have logged into the Raspberry Pi you must install Python 3.11.1 if not already installed.  If not installed do a Google search on how to install Python on a Raspberry Pi.  We need Python 3 to run the Internet Watchdog program.  Once Python is installed and you rebooted we need to update the Raspberry Pi.   Open a Terminal window in the Raspberry Pi.

Enter:

$ sudo apt update (enter)

When all the updates are downloaded and installed use clear and enter to clean the terminal window.

We will now write the two script files as shown in Part 2.   Keep Part 2 open in another tab of your browser as we will copy the contents of the two script files into two separate files.  To create each file you will have to follow the procedure listed underneath.

$ sudo su (enter)

$ cd /home/pi (enter)

To create and write a new Python script with Nano:

In the terminal window use:

$ nano filename.py  In our case replace filename with relay_test.py

Copy and paste the relay_test.py in the second browser to relay_test.py  Once copied

press CTRL+S to save the file.

press CTRL+X to exit Nano and come back to the terminal.

Your relay_test.py script file is now created.  Do the same with the relay_final.py script file.  Also open  relay_final.txt and relay_test.txt files by using the above nano method.  Do not copy and paste anything in the relay_final.txt or relay_test.txt files.  Just save them without anything in it.

 

The four files you created will be listed in the /home/pi directory.

You should still be in root@raspberrypi:/home/pi#

Use ls command to list the files.  The files will be listed as:

relay_test.py 

relay_final.py

relay_final.txt

relay_test.txt

Now go to the Applications Menu of the Raspberry Pi (far left top of the screen)

Look for Thonny Python under programming.

Open Thonny

The Thonny Python Program will open 

Click File - Open - select relay_test.py

Click OK

relay_test.py script file will open in Thonny Python

Again click file

Select Open

Click on relay_final.py

Click OK

relay_final.py script file will open in Thonny Python

Time to test if the Internet is UP or DOWN using relay_test.py script

In the Thonny Python Program select relay_test.py  The script has a false IP address to simulate that the Internet is down.

Go to the green round icon with the black triangle pointing  to the right

Click on the icon to run the relay_test.py script

Output will be displayed in Shell (Bottom of Thonny)

 

Output:

 

Date and Time is: 2025-02-24  15:44:12.382124

Testing Internet connection using Ping

PING 1.51.17.1 56(84) bytes of data

(Note the 1.51.17.1 is a fake IP address) to simulate  that the Internet is down)

--- 1.51.17.1 ping statistics ---

5 Packets transmitted, 0 received, 100% packet loss, time 135 ms

1.51.17.1 Internet connection failure

Turning off power to router

Waiting 1 minute to turn router back on

Power up and Reboot router

Nearly there - wait another while!  (Till  >>> appear)

It is clear from the above that we do not have a working Internet connection.  Internet is down!

 

You can replace the IP address in the above script with 8.8.8.8 and again test if the Internet is UP or DOWN.  The output would reflect that the Internet is UP.  No need to change the IP.  We will use the final script to get the "Watchdog" up and running.

 

Next we will use relay_final.py script to find out if the Internet is UP or Down. 

In the Thonny Python Program select relay_final.py 

Go to the green round icon with the black triangle pointing  to the right

Click on the icon to run the relay_final.py script

Output will be displayed in Shell (Bottom of Thonny)

 

Output:

 

Date and Time is 2025-02-24  15:59:35.420916

Testing Internet Connection using Ping

Ping 1.1.1.1 (1.1.1.1) 56 (84) bytes of data

64 bytes from 1.1.1.1; icmp_seq=1 ttl=57 time=66.0ms

64 bytes from 1.1.1.1; icmp_seq=2 ttl=57 time=48.6ms

64 bytes from 1.1.1.1; icmp_seq=3 ttl=57 time=47.4ms

64 bytes from 1.1.1.1; icmp_seq=4 ttl=57 time=48.5ms

64 bytes from 1.1.1.1; icmp_seq=5 ttl=57 time=45.8ms

 

---1.1.1.1 ping statistics ---

5 packets transmitted, 5 received, 0% packet loss, 12 ms

rtt vnin/avg/mox/mdev=45.826/51.277/66.032/7, 446 ms

 

1.1.1.1  Internet connection success.  No further input needed.

 

If the Internet was down the output would be similar to the output we received in relay_test.py simulation.

 

I drilled an inspection hole on the top of the cabinet to view the two LED's on the relay module.  Under normal operation there is a green led that indicates that there is power to the relay module.  There is another relay that will indicate whether the Internet is up or down. (See videos in Part 1)

If only the green power led on the relay module is on then the Internet is up and running.

If the green power led and a red led is lit on the relay module then the Internet is down.

You can now easily see if there is any issues by just looking through the inspection hole.

Finally:  We now need to setup the crontab -e file to run the final script every 10 or 30 minutes (you choose the time interval)

 

Open a Terminal window

Type after $:

crontab -e (enter)

 

Once file open go to the last entry line in the file and enter the following:

 

#*/10 * * * * python3 /home/pi/relay_final.py

#*/2 * * * * python3 /home/pi/relay_final.py >> /home/pi/relay_final.txt 2&>1

#*/2 * * * * python3 /home/pi/relay_test.py

#*/2 * * * * python3 /home/pi/relay_test/py >> /home/pi/relay_test.txt 2&>1

 

We have four options/settings:

 

1.  Running relay_find.py script every 10 minutes

2.  Running relay_find.py script every 2 minutes with output to relay_final.txt file

3.  Running relay_test.py script every 2 minutes

4.  Running relay_test.py script every 2 minutes with output to relay_test.txt file

 

Note:   Options 2 and 4 should not be activated to run continuously as output data can quickly fill up your SD Card.  Just use it for test purposes only.

 

The relay_final.py script will run every 10 minutes and should be activated by removing the # in front of  */10 ------ etc

 

If you go to cd /home/pi (enter) you will see the text (txt) files listed.  If you activated relay_final.py and relay_text.py while testing crontab you can click on the txt file and you will be able to view output when running either script file.  Only run one script txt file at a time.  How ever there is another way to check if crontab ran successfully.

In Terminal use:

grep CRON /var/log/syslog

Note:  After testing script files and txt files ensure that only relay_final.py is activated.  The three other crontab entries should be de-activated by putting an # in front of each entry. 

To check crontab content after closing it you can type in Terminal:

$ crontab -l

Crontab content will be displayed in the terminal window.

This final setup will activate the Raspberry Pi Router "Watchdog" and you will now be able to use this setup/project to automatically monitor the Internet continuously.

 

Enjoy!!

Video:

 

 

 

Images:  Click on images for larger view

 

Amateur Radio Software provides notification of Strong 5.3 Earthquake - West of Brandvlei, SA, on Sunday, December 22, 2024, at 02:51 SAST

Image: IRIS (Click on image for larger view.)

Are you prepared for a large strong earthquake in South Africa?

A moderate earthquake struck western South Africa early on Sunday, with tremors reported across several regions.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the magnitude 5.3 quake occurred at 02:51 local time, 101km west of Brandvlei, a small town in the Northern Cape Province.

The earthquake’s epicenter was 30.45 degrees south latitude and 19.44 degrees east longitude, with a depth of 10km.

There have been no official reports of casualties or property damage so far.

Local authorities are expected to conduct further assessments in the affected areas. 

 Image:  Volcano Discovery.com  (Click on image for larger view.)

Event summary

This earthquake can have a low humanitarian impact based on the magnitude and the affected population and their vulnerability.

GDACS ID	EQ 1458807
Earthquake Magnitude:	5.3M
Depth:	10 Km
Lat/Lon:	-30.445 , 19.4352
Event Date:	22 Dec 2024 00:51 UTC 22 Dec 2024 02:51 Local
Exposed Population:	2 thousand in MMI&>=V
Inserted at:	22 Dec 2024 01:08 UTC
INFORM Coping capacity:	4.3 (South Africa)

More information, maps and data available HERE

Image: Ham Radio Dashboard  (Click on image for larger view.)

Amateur Radio Software notify the administrator of the ZS Link Network Blog, Mossel Bay, South Africa of this earthquake

This earthquake was also felt in Mossel Bay. As I did not feel the earthquake at the time of its occurrence I picked up on the event via Ham Radio Dashboard which is installed on my computer and comes up at startup.  I immediately noticed the red circle over Southern Africa.  (See first image and click on it to enlarge)  This notification set the ball rolling and I soon found more data on the earthquake.

To my fellow radio amateurs HERE is more information on Ham Radio Dashboard should you like to use it on your computer.  As can be seen from the image above various windows can be displayed at the same time and by double clicking on a window it will open as a large image to view the information close-up.

Thus far no reports of serious damage or injuries.  We are not "Profits of Doom" but we were/are due for a large earthquake.  The last damaging earthquake occurred in Tulbagh in 1969.  The 1969 Tulbagh earthquake occurred at 20:03:33 UTC on 29 September. It had a magnitude of 6.3 Mw and a maximum felt intensity of VIII (Severe) on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale. It caused widespread damage in the towns of Ceres, Tulbagh and Wolseley and led to 12 deaths.

We as radio amateurs should be prepared for any eventuality.  One never knows when a disaster can happen that needs our services.

2024 Grosvenor Oorlewingstaptog vanaf Wildernis na Hartenbos

Wat behels die Grosvenor Oorlewingstap?   

 

Waar het dit alles begin? 

 

Wat  berig die Media oor die staptog?

 

"Where we go one, we go all"

"Bogenoemde is die leuse van een die uitdagendste avonture waaraan `n Suid-Afrikaanse hoërskoolseun hom kan blootstel.  Sewe dae van honger en uitputting...  Oorgelewer aan die natuurelemente...  Karakteropvoeding deur avontuur! 

Die Grosvenor Oorlewingstap is `n kursus wat lewens verander.  `n Kursus wat jou wegvat uit jou comfort zone, jou grense verskuif en jou leer om te oorleef in die natuur.  `n Kursus wat van seuns jong manne maak.

Met net die nodige klere aan hulle lywe en geen tente, kussings of slaapsakke nie, word daar van die jong manne verwag om binne 7 dae die 83km vanaf Wildernis tot by Hartenbos, te voet te voltooi.

Op die oog af lyk dit nie te erg nie... Maar probeer dit sonder kos in jou maag...
Want dit is die ding wat die Grosvenor so tough maak.  Elke kursusganger moet hoofsaaklik hul kos en water uit die natuur kry.  As `n man honger is, lyk selfs `n brandsiek hond uit `n lokasie na `n heerlike maaltyd.  Al gou leer hulle dat honger die beste kok is en word naarstiglik na enigiets te ete gesoek: paddas, mossels, riete en selfs skerpioene.  

Tydens hierdie kursus word jou uithouvermoë en karakter tot die uiterste getoets.  Manne wat swaarkry word deur spanmaats gehelp.  Soms moet jy ekstra gewig dra om jou maatjie te help.  Ander kere moet jy motiveer of selfs van jou kos deel as ander nie meer het nie...  

Where we go one, we go all.  Turning back is no option.

Almal is trots en dankbaar as die eindpunt in Hartenbos bereik word en hulle gulsig kan weglê aan die kos wat voorgesit word.  Mammas (en pappas) staan met trane in hul oë.
Oom Ewald Crause, of “Seevader” soos hy aan die Suid-Kaap bekend staan, het 41 jaar gelede hiermee begin. `n Kursus waarin seuns deur swaarkry hulself leer ken, hul karakter bou en deursettingsvermoë leer.  Deur die jare is oom Ewald bygestaan deur `n handjievol instrukteurs – manne met hare op hul tande wat jaar na jaar terugkom vir nog..." 

 - Footsteps To Good Hope

Die doel van die kursus is steeds karakteropvoeding deur avontuur. Op die evalueringsvorm aan die einde van die kursus het baie van die jongmanne aangedui dat hulle van mening is dat elke jong man die voorreg moet hê om die kursus te voltooi. Hierdie is swaarkry wat karakterbou, uithouvermoë toets en seker maak dat jy leer om die regte keuses te maak. Tot 'n groot mate leer die kursus jou ook nederigheid, want in swaarkry is daar geen plek vir arrogansie nie.
 
Jou materiële status tel geen punt nie, want in koudslaap, min eet, swaarkry en deursettingsvermoë is almal gelyk. Die sukses van die kursus kan toegeskryf word aan die fantastiese span instrukteurs wat self al meer as eenmaal hierdie ervaring meegemaak het en wat ingestel is daarop om hierdie 'n leerervaring sonder weerga te maak. 

In hierdie kursus is daar geen finansiële voordeel nie. Dit bly ongelooflik om te sien hoe jong seuns jongmanne word en hoe hulle leer wat dit is om van God diep afhanklik te word, maar ook te leer dat indien hulle die regte keuses maak hulle suksesvol kan wees. 

- Mosselbaai Advertiser

Die 2024 Grosvenor Oorlewingstaptog

Tydsverloop:  7 tot 14 Desember 2024

Beginpunt:  Wildernis

Eindpunt:  Hartenbos

Distansie: 83 km

Getal Deelnemers:  18 

Instrukteurs:  2 (Hoof Instrukteur = Kosie Gericke)

Die fotos en videos hieronder vertel die verhaal van die 2024 Grosvenor Oorlewingstaptog.  (Klik op die fotos om te vergroot.

 

 

Videos: