Is the B25 Radio the most respected and well known radio of the South African Bush War?

 

Images above:   ZS1CT  (Click on images for larger view.)

Before one can possibly answer the above question we need to take a look at the B25 Radio and its history.  I will only provide a short overview as there are more than enough information and reviews on the Internet relating to this radio.  

During the South African Bush War, the B25 radio was a key piece of communication equipment used by the South African Defence Force (SADF), particularly for long-distance communication, and it was a fixed station radio. 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Type:  The B25 was a fixed station radio, meaning it wasn't designed to be portable like a manpack radio.

Components:  It consisted of a power supply (12/24 V), a transceiver, a controller for an automatic antenna tuner, and the tuner itself. 

Frequency Range:  It operated in the frequency range of 2.0 to 29.999 MHz. 

Modes: The B25 supported various modes including A2J (CW), A3H (AM), and A3J (USB and LSB).

Antenna:  The B25 radio could be used with a whip antenna, long wire antenna or 50-Ohm antenna. 

Use in the Bush War:  The B25 was a crucial tool for the SADF, particularly for long-distance communication during the Bush War. 

Other Features:  The radio was solid-state and watertight, and the manpack battery had a built-in charger.

B25 Web Pages:

1. Fuchs B25 / B26 HF Radio Thomson TRC-300 ( French ) 

2.  Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre

3. Rudi's  ZS6DX Photo Gallery - military equipment  

As can be seen from the above links the B25 radio found another use after the South African Bush War. The amateur radio fraternity obtained a large quantity of these radios and many were put onto the air and used on the HF bands.  Others just kept the B25 as a nostalgic/display radio in their radio room.  I obtained a B25 radio as well as two sets of peripheral boards should a board decide to let out smoke.  I replaced the original radio's microphone with a homebrew ZS1I special microphone.  I did not make any other modifications even the microphone socket was left as originally intended.  The homebrew microphone worked great actually so good that many stations did not even know that I was using a B25 Radio.  Well as I moved on I decided to sell the B25 and all the spare boards in 1995.

Finally there were many SADF radios used during the South African Bush War and it would not be fair to answer the title question.  The B25 is a "brick" of a radio and will still be around for many years to come.

Images:  ZS1I (Click on images for larger view.)

 

Is the Vasco Da Gama Fresh Water Well, the oldest HOTA activated site in South Africa?

Above Images: 1. Entrance to the Well 2. Well covered by round concrete slab.

Is the Vasco Da Gama Fresh Water Well, the oldest HOTA activated site in South Africa?

In my humble opinion this site is the oldest registered HOTA site in South Africa to date. I am open for correction in this regard. The well dates back to November 1497. But before we continue let's go back in history to understand the significance of this HOTA activated site. I quote:

“Vasco da Gama carried out 2 expeditions between 1497 and 1502. This feature focuses on the first, as it was during this expedition that Vasco da Gama's crew landed in South Africa.

The reason for putting "discovery" in inverted commas is because the land was not, as so many explorers argue, discovered by them. The land was already occupied and was being used by the inhabitants. The reason why groups often state their arrival on some foreign land as a "discovery" is because, according to the primitive 'finders keepers' rule, this lends support to any claim they make to "owning" the land. For an unpacking of this mystification of the history of exploration.

The Portuguese expedition set off from the Tagus River on 8 July 1497 with a crew of 148 men in a squadron of three square-riggers, the Sao Gabriel, the Sao Raphael, the Berrio, and a supply ship. The commander-in-chief, Vasco da Gama embarked on the Sao Gabriel accompanied by his pilot, Pedro de Alenquer. Vasco's brother, Paulo, captained the Sao Raphael. For almost four months they sailed across the Atlantic without sight of land until, on *4 November 1497, they reached a bay (current day St Helena). Vasco da Gama named the bay Bahai da Santa Elena (St Helena Bay), after the Religious Mother of Constantine the Great. Close to, or near the mouth of the Berg River, the explorers set in to make repairs, look for water, and check their position. - SA History.org.za”

The fresh water well at St Helena Bay as it is called today was found in November 1497 by Vasco Da Gama's explorers as they searched for water in the area.

Another historical event took place on the 3 May 2023. The Vasco Da Gama Fresh Water Well was activated as a significant heritage site in South Africa by Matthys (Thys) Louw ZS1TBP.

Image:  Thys ZS1TBP doing what he does best!!

Not only as a heritage site but also the first ever activation of a HOTA site by means remotely controlling the HF Amateur Radio Station of Jacques ZS6WDL.  I will let Christie ZS4CGR explain how the activation was done:  

REMOTE HAMS - Christie ZS4CGR - Radio ZS June 2023 (Click to download PDF)

And this is how the Vasco Da Gama Fresh Water Well (November 1497) was activated via amateur radio as a HOTA site registered as HP 0005.

(Click on image for larger view)
 

What is HOTA?

H.O.T.A (Heritage on the air) is an amateur radio group that strives to motivate radio amateurs to learn more about history, and to keep history alive by activating a multitude of historical sites by using SSB, AM, FM, CW and even with Heliographs. Radio amateurs have great fun going out in the field and visiting places and areas where once history was made. Even if you do not like history there is places that were visited that might be of interest to you. You can even combine your other hobbies with H.O.T.A. Now that you have a faint idea of H.O.T.A it is time to learn more about H.O.T.A and the fun radio amateurs have and can have in activating historical sites. If you want to learn more about H.O.T.A you can visit the Heritage on the Air website by clicking HERE.

Finally: Thys ZS1TBP would like to thank all those who contacted the station and also who assisted him during the activation. A special thanks to Christie ZS4CGR, Tjaart ZS3DR and Jacques ZS6WDL for assisting and allowing amateur radio to activate the oldest heritage site in South Africa, 1497? 

28 October 2023 - HOTA activation: "Palinggat Homestead 1809", Still Bay

The above site was recently activated by Corne ZS1COR.  Johan ZS1AAC was also present in support of the days activities.  The images underneath reflect the history and activation of the site which was registered on H.O.T.A.

 

History of "Palinggat Homestead"  built in 1809 :

The Palinggat homestead in Langenhoven Street, now the ‘home’ of the Archaelogical Museum and the Stilbaai Tourism Bureau, was built in 1809 and was declared a national monument in 1985. Take a walk through the museum that includes the Blombos Museum of Archaeology, feed the eels and visit the shop filled with lots of local goods, crafts and gifts and have some tea on the ‘stoep’ or under the milk wood trees.

The little Platbosch School Museum section will take many a visitor back to their own school days and the history of schools in the area can be viewed here.

Walk around the building to view the ‘funeral wagon’ that was used between 1880 and 1920 in the Riversdale / Albertinia district.

Images:  (Click on images for larger view.)

 

What is HOTA?

H.O.T.A (Heritage on the air) is an amateur radio group that strives to motivate radio amateurs to learn more about history, and to keep history alive by activating a multitude of historical sites by using SSB, AM, FM, CW and even with Heliographs. Radio amateurs have great fun going out in the field and visiting places and areas where once history was made. Even if you do not like history there is places that were visited that might be of interest to you. You can even combine your other hobbies with H.O.T.A. Now that you have a faint idea of H.O.T.A it is time to learn more about H.O.T.A and the fun radio amateurs have and can have in activating historical sites. If you want to learn more about H.O.T.A you can visit the Heritage on the Air website by clicking HERE.

29 October 2023 - HOTA activation: "Die Waenhuis built in 1811" , George

The above site was recently activated by Corne ZS1COR.  Several other radio amateurs were also present in support of the days activities.  The images underneath reflect the history and activation of the site which was registered on H.O.T.A.

History of "Die Waenhuis" built in 1811 :

This Romantic old home was built in the first half of the nineteenth century, right in the founding years of George (1811) when the town was, according to C. Sayers (Looking back on George) “a straggling town, more like a thickly populated farm with little more than 700 residents in total and four named streets on the charts, York, Caledon, Courtney and Meade. This house with its huge plot right down to the river was probably hovering on the forest edge. It originally had a thatched roof and a rounded (leg of mutton) gable which unfortunately was probably lost in a fire. However the original yellow wood floors and ceilings and the wide stable front door and sash windows still tell the story of almost 170+ years of coming and going. In those days Sayer tells us the buck wagon was at the height of popularity in George, bringing products from the farms on market day, the ox wagon was the means of transport across the mountain for the precious products of timber from George’s forests and the main trades of town revolved around wood cutting, transport driving and furniture making, therefore the name DieWaenhuis or Coach House fits the picture perfectly. We see our calling here to upkeep this old legacy of George and share it with others.

More information visit the website of the “Die Waenhuis” by clicking HERE

Images:  (Click on images for larger view.)

 

Corne would like to thank all those who contacted the station and also who assisted him during the activation. 

 

What is HOTA?

H.O.T.A (Heritage on the air) is an amateur radio group that strives to motivate radio amateurs to learn more about history, and to keep history alive by activating a multitude of historical sites by using SSB, AM, FM, CW and even with Heliographs. Radio amateurs have great fun going out in the field and visiting places and areas where once history was made. Even if you do not like history there is places that were visited that might be of interest to you. You can even combine your other hobbies with H.O.T.A. Now that you have a faint idea of H.O.T.A it is time to learn more about H.O.T.A and the fun radio amateurs have and can have in activating historical sites. If you want to learn more about H.O.T.A you can visit the Heritage on the Air website by clicking HERE.

 

22 Oktober 2023 - HOTA activation: "Fancourt" , George

Image:  Fancourt

The following site was recently activated by Corne ZS1COR.  Several other radio amateurs were also present in support of the days activities.  The images underneath reflect the history and activation of the site which was registered on H.O.T.A.

Image:  Fancourt

History of Fancourt

The history of Fancourt, its families and people, begins in 1860. British engineer, Henry Fancourt White, settled with this wife, son and daughter at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains near George. Here, he built an elegant family home, known as Blanco House. It was designed in the style of an old Cotswold mansion.

Henry White played a vital role in the development of the commercial infrastructure around the area’s Montagu Pass. Shortly after his passing, the property was auctioned and sold to his son, Ernest Montagu White. He renamed the house “Fancourt” in honour of his father and made extensive restorations. Montagu passed away in a tragic incident of wild mushroom poisoning, which saw the property fall into a state of disrepair.

In 1960, after almost 30 years of neglect, Dr. Roland Anthony Krynauw, a South African brain surgeon, purchased the property. He began to restore it to its former glory. Today, the refined Manor House is a national monument and a testament to his dedication.

In 1989 the estate passed hands again and was transformed into a top-class hotel and golfing destination under the direction of Andre and Helene Pieterse.

Today, the extensive Fancourt estate is owned by Dr Hasso and Sabine Plattner. Fancourt offers a luxurious, contemporary and relaxed environment, perfectly blending the charms of its family origins and rich heritage with modern convenience. With award-winning golf courses, fine dining, wellness and family-friendly facilities, all Fancourt guests, from the youngest to the oldest, are assured that they will feel at home. 

More information visit the website of Fancourt by clicking HERE

 

Images:  (Click on images for larger view.)

Corne would like to thank all those who contacted the station and also who assisted him during the activation. 

What is HOTA?

H.O.T.A (Heritage on the air) is an amateur radio group that strives to motivate radio amateurs to learn more about history, and to keep history alive by activating a multitude of historical sites by using SSB, AM, FM, CW and even with Heliographs. Radio amateurs have great fun going out in the field and visiting places and areas where once history was made. Even if you do not like history there is places that were visited that might be of interest to you. You can even combine your other hobbies with H.O.T.A. Now that you have a faint idea of H.O.T.A it is time to learn more about H.O.T.A and the fun radio amateurs have and can have in activating historical sites. If you want to learn more about H.O.T.A you can visit the Heritage on the Air website by clicking HERE.