Please, adhere to the following guidelines when using the ZS Link Network!!

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. 

Let's build a Radio-less Allstar Node! - By Curtis ZS6CMO

This project started with the above photo and a discussion between ZS6CMO and ZS1I on the Amateur Radio 101 Telegram group.  Needless to say that the above pile of components turned out to be a radio- less Allstar node that was constructed by Curtis ZS6CMO.

For more details on the project visit:  How to build your own radio-less Allstar node

But why would one build a radio-less Allstar node?

Radio-less nodes are ideal for use cases where WiFi or wired Ethernet are available but the additional range provided by an HT or mobile radio is not needed, such as for a desk or table at your home QTH / office / shack, for vehicles or caravans where you have a WiFi hot spot, and for 2nd offices, hotels, etc. Radio-less nodes are the simplest, easiest and most cost-effective way to get on AllStar with your own node, and are more portable than even the smallest radio-based node and radio needed to access it.

For a node that's sitting a few meters away on a desk it makes more sense to use a radio-less node than to have multiple radios on transmitting 100's of mW of RF.

Radio-less nodes are more energy efficient, using generally less than a few Watts, vs. a node with radios plus other radio(s) to access it is easily 3 times the energy consumption. This efficiency means that a radio-less node can be left on and connected to your favorite repeater/hub 24x7 with no noticeable effect on your electricity account and no need to recharge batteries, unless load-shedding intervenes or when leaving radios powered on.

Radio-less nodes also support Full-Duplex by default. This is a powerful feature and makes a properly designed radio-less node much nicer to use than any half-duplex node.

A Radio-less Node is a very useful node as described above and a must have if you use VOIP. 

Photos and images  (Click on images for larger view.)

 

Mossel Bay ZS1I AREDN Mesh Network Flowchart/Diagram now available

 (Click on image for larger view.)

 The second flowchart /diagram:  ZS1I AREDN Mesh Network is now available.

• ZS1I Garden Route HUB Network flowchart
• ZS1I AREDN flowchart
• ZS - Link Network flowchart

Download the flowchart / diagram by clicking HERE (Pdf)

The ZS - Link Network flowchart will take some time and the co-operation of all the roll-players involved.  I will compile a questionnaire and once I received it back, I will add the info to the flowchart.  I will soon correspond with the custodians of Repeaters, Links, Nodes, Networks that link to the GRHub Network.  By creating flowcharts I hope that users of the ZS - Link Network will have a better understanding of the working, outlay and size of the system. 

Recent Ping-Pong Loop Incident via the GRHub Network necessitates action to be taken to prevent such incidents in future.

The title of this topic says it all.  What am I talking about?

Let me try to explain.

Firstly if your link, repeater, node, station etc. uses VOX then you are a good candidate to cause havoc on the GRHub- / ZS - Link Network.  Echolink has VOX as a future and on several occasions in the past I had to disconnect stations that lock up the system or causes a Ping-Pong Loop.  PLEASE do not use VOX when linking to the GRHub Network (ZS1I-L).  If I find that your station /link / node is using VOX I will disconnect your station and you will be informed not to use VOX on the Network.  No I do not play policeman, but we need to play the game here.  Your station not only influence the GRHub Network if you use VOX but also all the stations connected to the world wide network.

Secondly if your link, node or repeater has a long "tail" (squelch burst often heard at the end of a transmission as the PTT is released) please adjust this tail to be as short as possible or switch the tail off. The best squelch "tail" elimination method is when the tone stops just before the hang timer unkeys,this works well with all brands of equipment.  Most good repeaters or controllers have the option to select the tail off or on.  I do understand that some repeater custodians  prefer to have a tail on their repeater.  If you do link to the network then please make this tail as short as possible.

A long "tail" if not setup correctly will cause endless ping-ponging.  More on this below.

Early repeaters used relays to key the transmitter in response to the receiver detecting that a signal is present. Some propagation effects, such as mobile flutter, or picket fencing, would cause the repeater transmitter to cycle on and off as the receive signal experiences fading and restoration of received signal. This cyclic operation would result in premature failure of the transmit relay. Further, the delay in keying the transmitter may itself be responsible for rendering a signal unintelligible when compared to leaving the transmitter keyed during periodic momentary signal fading conditions.

These problems were mitigated by implementing a squelch tail timer. As soon as the receiver detects a valid signal, the transmitter is keyed immediately. When the received signal drops out, a timer is started and the transmitter remains keyed until that timer times out. The squelch tail timer duration is longer than most periodic signal fading conditions, and is able to avoid un-keying the transmitter in instances of periodic fading conditions.

Secondary to this function, the squelch tail serves a second purpose in providing a queuing signal to indicate when a user station may begin transmission. Stations may begin transmitting after the repeater squelch transmitter drops. This can be identified by the sound of the repeater squelch decaying being re-transmitted by the repeater transmitter when the receive signal drops out of the repeater receiver, followed by a delay that is equal to the duration of the squelch tail timer, and then the sound of the squelch decay heard directly on your radio when the repeater transmitter drops. Although the squelch tail timer duration typically is approximately 1.5 seconds long, shorter and longer squelch tail delays may be present on a given repeater system.

This double decay of squelch circuits, resulting in short noise bursts that are separated by a 1.5 second delay, is often referred to as a ker-chunk sound, or simply the squelch tail (it is not a come-back).

The squelch tail is used in repeater operating protocol to indicate first, that the transmitting station has ceased transmission as evident by the first squelch decay noise burst, and second, that the repeater transmitter has stopped transmitting as evident by the second squelch decay noise burst. Conversing stations should not start transmitting until the second squelch decay noise burst occurs. Breaking stations should transmit in the interval between noise bursts, as conversing stations will be standing by to wait for the repeater transmitter to drop, in order to make their presence known.

This is very important when two repeaters are linked to each other, to prevent endless ping-ponging of one repeater bringing up the other.  

Thirdly I request that a station do not connect to more than one station/node that is already connected to a specific station on the network.  This will also result in ping-ponging and audio loops.  Always check who is connected to who before connecting to a station, repeater, link etc.

Fourthly - If at all possible connect the Internet to your repeater, node, link etc. on site. That way, there is no hang time to propagate back into the network.  Alternatively connect the Echolink/AllStar node to a link port on the existing repeater controller, which has the advantage that if the AllStar/Echolink box dies, you still have local repeater functionality. The other advantage of having the node at the repeater is better audio quality. You can successfully setup a link on the user frequency, but you need to take steps to ensure that the hang time is not seen by the node, such as using CTCSS gated by the receiver's COS.

Finally:  The above might sound cumbersome and technical but unfortunately this is the only way to prevent the dreaded Ping-Pong Loop effect.  Either we do it right or don't do it at all.  A half-baked system is not going to work effectively and will only lead to frustration and bad operating practices, nothing that we need or want in amateur radio.  We must be proud and professional in this regard.  Let's play the game and enjoy the ZS Link Network in South Africa.

More information and links:

1.   The use of "AND Squelch" to eliminate those annoying squelch bursts.  By Kevin Custer W3KKC 

2.  Echolink Sysop Settings  By K1RFD

3.  Repeater Linking Tips. By K1RFD  

4.  Repeater Linking. By Kevin Custer W3KKC  

Setup an AllStar Node from scratch....is it difficult?

I regularly receive requests from fellow radio amateurs to help them setting up an AllStar Node from scratch.  Now I am not unwilling to help when a specific problem arises but to build a complete unit from scratch is definitely not possible due to my bad eyesight and various other personal reasons. Having said that I will however provide you with all the info you need to build your own AllStar Node.  No, it is not difficult but you must be willing to read and I mean read a fair amount of documentation.  You also need some surface mount soldering skills or a fellow ham with such skills to modify a USB Sound Card Interface Dongle.

How do I start?

There are two firmware packs which you can use to install AllStar on a Raspberry Pi:

1. AllStarLink
2. HamVoip

The choice is yours which firmware pack you want to use.  The GRHub Network runs on HamVoip while the ZS1I DMR Bridge runs on AllStarLink.

To build an AllStar Node to run on a Raspberry Pi you will need the following:

• 12v to 5v (3 amp minimum) Step Down Buck Converter
• Raspberry Pi 3 b or Raspberry Pi 4 (You can also use the Pi Zero W or Zero 2 but then you will need adapter cables for USB and Ethernet.
  
• Syba USB Sound Card Interface CM119  (To be converted into a Sound Card Fob, A USB CM118 can also be used.) (Many commercial Sound Interfaces are available but can cost up to $100 without import an shipping costs.)
  
• 2m /70 cm VHF/UHF Mobile or HT Radio (Single band unit can also be used.)
• Antenna of your choice
• LTE WiFi Router or Home Fiber Internet and Router
• Cables
• 12v Battery (Yes you can run it of mains power but loadshedding will provide you with lots of problems and even total failure of the Node.)
• Project Cabinet
• Odds and Sods

Now there are other methods to build an AllStar Node including to buy a ready build Node from overseas, but at the current exchange rate it is not worth spending so much money when you can build a node at the fraction of what a commercial unit would cost. 

Okay lets get to the "homework and reading" side of things.

Here are a few links that will assist you to build your own AllStar Node from scratch:

• Getting Started Overview - AllStarLink Wiki
• Beginners Guide - AllStarLink Wiki
• Welcome to AllStarLink!
• HAMVOIP Asterisk Allstar on the Raspberry Pi 2/3/4
  
• A Simplified USB Sound FOB Modification
• A self contained portable Allstar node Part 1 - 5
  
• Modifying the sound card fob 
• AllStar Node Setup and Configuration Guide PDF
• Building a Portable Raspberry Pi Asterisk AllStar Node PDF

With all the comprehensive information above you will be able to construct your own AllStar Node from scratch.  Yes it is going to take some time but nothing comes for free in this life except the above valuable information.  So "put your shoulder to the wheel" and get going.  If I can do it with no electronics background I am sure you can also do it.

 

In the event that you would rather go the route of buying a commercial AllStar Node herewith a few links to some suppliers:

• ClearNode
• The Shari 
• DMK Engineering
• Allstar SA818 node 

Now you have everything you need to get going on AllStar.  If you need further information then Google is you friend.  As I said in the beginning I am more than willing to assist if you experience a specific problem, that's if I have the knowledge to assist you with the specific problem.  There are several AllStar Groups, Forums and Message Boards that provides a great service in answering your questions.   Links are available from the above web-pages to these information sources.

 

Finally:  We are looking forward to welcome you to the ZS - Link Network with your AllStar node.  Once you build and  used an AllStar node I can guarantee you that you will not go back to Echolink, IRLP or any of the older programs. AllStar is in my opinion currently the best VOIP application to start with.  Yes, there is another very useful application but this is beyond the scope of this posting.  We will be looking at this firmware in a future posting.

Hope to hear you via your allstar node on the ZS - Link Network soon!!

    

Bringing "Hulk" the 3D Printer to life! An Amateur Radio Project by Curtis ZS6CMO

(Click on image for larger view.)

3D- Printer Project for Ham Radio by Curtis ZS6CMO

Model in this Project is the “Mendel Prusa RepRap i2”

Reference : Prusa Mendel - RepRap

Introduction
This was an inspiration from a fellow HAM David - ZR6DLG

Process
I was inspired by David when I saw the machine he had built and it was using basic items from a hardware store to put together.

He helped me to print all the items required to build the structure with his homemade 3d-printer. The printer he used was made from yellow filament and he called his printer “Bumble Bee” 🙂

The hardware is 8mm SS Threaded rods,(see Reference page show all Hardware required)

ED.  Want to read all about this project?  From hereon I will let Curtis do the talking.  HERE is the PDF file describing - "How "HULK came to life".  Do not miss this very interesting article by Curtis ZS6CMO.  A big thank you to Curtis and David for bringing "HULK" to life as well as for all the information and images.  Highly appreciated!

As can be seen Curtis is already using "Hulk" do produce amateur radio project cabinets.  A great asset to the amateur radio shack today.

Images:  (Click on images for larger view.)

New Series - Building Low Budget Antennas - 2m Delta Loop Antenna (Revisited) - Project 2

This is an ideal project for beginner radio amateurs that would like to construct their first antenna.

There are various designs on the Internet for 2 m Delta Loop antennas.  I wanted something that can be erected easily anywhere and in no time.  It should double as a fixed, portable and travel antenna and must function as an indoor and outdoor antenna.  I decided to build the antenna as described by K2ZS.  Unfortunately his web-site is not functional any more.  I do however have a printed copy of his VHF Delta Loop where he describe this project.  See images below.

The length of wire used in a delta loop antenna is determined using 1005/[frequency in Mhz.] so a loop for use on 145.500 Mhz simplex would be:

1005/145.500 = 6907 feet = 2105.2mm

The length can be divided by 3 for a delta loop or 4 for a quad style loop. For my delta loop that meant the wire would have to be about 702mm per side for a delta loop and 526mm for a quad style loop.

The quarter wavelength matching transformer would be 1/4 of that length multiplied by .67 to compensate for the velocity factor of the 75 ohm cable. Calculation = 2105mm divided by 4 x .67 = 353mm. In this case the stub should be around 353 mm from the connector to the attachment point on the loop. Keep in mind that those formulas are for ideal conditions like the antenna being mounted outdoors and in the clear so plan on starting long and trimming for resonance.

I am not going to go into full detail on how to construct this antenna as the images describe this in full.   The images underneath also provide full detail on how I constructed my version of this antenna.  Important:  For optimal performance try and get the antenna up as high as possible from the ground and away from metal objects and other antennas that could interfere with the 2m Delta Loop Antenna.

Finally:  I could access all the local repeaters in my area with this antenna about 2 meters from the ground.  This antenna can easily be built for any VHF/UHF frequency.  I enjoy building this antenna.  It can easily fit into my carry bag and is easy to fold up or to install.

 

Original Article from K2ZS:

 (Click on images for larger view.)

PS.  Apology for the quality of the photos especially the shadow reflections in the images.

Adding Bluetooth to the Xiego G90 Transceiver - By Christi ZS4CGR

 

Christi ZS4CGR explain in afrikaans how he added the Bluetooth function/setup to his Xiegu G90 Transceiver.  Thank you very much Christi.  I am sure that other Xiegu users will find it very interesting.