New Functions/Enhancements added to the GRHub Network, Mossel Bay

  The following functions/enhancements were added to the GRHub Network today:

• FAMO = Mossel Bay Air Field Weather Conditions/Data added to Supermon on node 49355.  The enhancement can be view HERE. (The weather data is updated every 10 Minutes.)  This data will also be added to node 46765.
• Telemetry Audio Levels were adjusted to increase the audio level for local announcements.   The Overall increase in telemetry level were set.  The telemetry level with signal was left at -9 default.
• The refresh time on Supermon was adjusted to refresh the time displayed on the screen.  This is necessary to update the CPU and Weather.  The normal node updates which are immediate are not effected by this. Refresh rate is now 10 minutes.
• The following functions were check to ensure they function correctly.  ASL database - astdb, Hardware Identification, Node Registration Status and finally test + view IP Address information of nodes connected to the GRHub Network.  Should someone cause interference or any server on the GRHub Network I can find his IP address and port from any other online server.
• The DTMF Function List for node 49355 was enhanced with new DTMF functions.  Tests were carried out to ensure that all the current and new functions were operational.  This now enhance the capabilities to switch functions via a DTMF VHF/UHF Radio in reach of the 145.550 Mhz RF Simplex Link.  It also gives me the ability to use these functions on my cellphone from anywhere in South Africa or even the World.

Future Enhancement:

I will add a Halt Button to all my nodes currently and future.  I will then be able to throw the "Big Switch" anytime there is a problem and this will  safely shutdown the Raspberry Pi whose halt button has been activated.   Just removing power or improper shutdown will eventually corrupt the SD Card Image and for those who do not know it does not take a few minutes to install and setup an AllStar Node.

Only a few functions/enhancements were added but the above will surely assist in good functionality of the GRHub Network and RF Links.

Morse Code practice sessions now active on the GRHub Network

Want to brush up or learn Morse Code?  Morse code practice sessions from W1AW can be heard from Monday to Friday's  on the GRHub Network starting at 15h00  and end around 16h00 SAST. Great to listen to and I must say I remember more code than I expected. Maybe not a bad idea to sharpen the skills through the W1AW sessions.

The W1AWBDCT Conference Server transmit slow and "fast" morse code on a daily basis. So don't be shocked when you hear morse code on the GRHub Network.

PLEASE NOTE:  The 1 hour long broadcast from 15h00 - 16h00 can be heard on Echolink ZS1I-L and AllStar Nodes 49355 + 46765.  Morse code can be heard for 15 minutes on the 145.550 Mhz RF Link in Mossel Bay from 15h00 - 15h15 SAST. 

 
 

The GRHub Network is being automated to give the owner of the network more freedom and flexability.

 Automation is not always  a good thing but in this instance it saves time and gives the owner of the GRHub Network more freedom and flexibility.  Several tasks or functions can be automated and I will only discuss those that I already implemented iro the nodes that I am currently running.

Before I continue I would like to make it clear that the GRHub Network is NOT an unmanned device as stated in the post:  

Setting the record straight iro the GRHub Network! Rant??

Now lets continue.  The following functions are currently automated:

• Connection to three Echolink servers from AllStar Node 49355 and control of all Echolink Stations via this AllStar node
  
• Connection to a local Weather Station in Mossel Bay. AllStar Node 49355 obtain WX data and transmit weather conditions every hour to all nodes and the RF Link on 145.550 Mhz Simplex.
• Connection to a local Time Server.  AllStar Node 49355 obtain the local time and transmit the time every hour to all nodes and the RF Link on 145.550 Mhz Simplex.
• The SARL News Bulletins, Pretoria Amateur Radio Club News Bulletin and Amateur Radio Today are automatically relayed to  Echolink ZS1I-L,  Allstar Nodes 49355 + 46765  and RF Link on 145.550 Mhz Simplex every Sunday.
• The Bo Karoo Amateur Radio Klub Bulletin is automatically relayed to  Echolink ZS1I-L,  Allstar Nodes 49355 + 46765  and RF Link on 145.550 Mhz Simplex every Sunday afternoon.
• PEARS ("PE Mobile Net") daily relayed from 06h30 - 07h45 (except on Sunday) on Echolink ZS1I-L,  Allstar Nodes 49355 + 46765  and RF Link on 145.550 Mhz Simplex.
• Pretoria ("Legends") Morning Net. Transmission: Daily relayed from 07:45 - 09:00 except on Sunday on Echolink ZS1I-L,  Allstar Nodes 49355 + 46765  and RF Link on 145.550 Mhz Simplex.
• Auto play the weekly ARRL Audio News Bulletin every Tuesday at 20h00 on Echolink ZS1I-L,  Allstar Nodes 49355 + 46765  and RF Link on 145.550 Mhz Simplex.
• Auto play the weekly Amateur Radio Audio News Bulletin every Wednesday at 20h00 on Echolink ZS1I-L,  Allstar Nodes 49355 + 46765  and RF Link on 145.550 Mhz Simplex.

Please take note of the following:

The GRHub Network will connect automatically to some of the above nodes 15 minutes before the start of the Net or Bulletin.  This does not mean that there is no supervision of the GRHub Network. I get an audio alert every time the network connects to another node or network. In the event that something goes wrong or there is other activity on the guest nodes, I will disconnect the GRHub Network immediately.  I monitor all activity on the GRHub Network at all times.  There might also be times that the mode of operation is in Receive/Monitor Mode Only. 

I will continue to automate the GRHub Network in future if I think it could enhance the capabilities of the network and only if it is to the benefit of listeners and users.

Finally:  I want to thank all the repeater, link, network owners/keepers/administrators/clubs etc. for allowing me to use their facilities and installations.  Highly appreciated.  I again say it is not about me, my image or pride, I do it for amateur radio and as a service to my fellow radio amateurs.  Enjoy!!

Amateur Radio: Adapt or Die? Read on, it is not what you think.

 Image:  Bracknell Amateur Radio Club

 Adapt or die ...  here we go again with the old story so many has heard over the years.  Please read on. This is not a post about amateur radio dying.  Since the start of the world wide Covid19 epidemic many things have changed in amateur radio.  I hear you say that I am talking a lot of bull.  Well that is your opinion and I respect it.  

Over the months I observed the following:

1.  Several silent keys as a result of Covid19.  My condolences to those who lost loved ones as a result.

2.  Amateur Meetings (Indoor and Outdoor) gatherings were either non existing or attendance figures were very low, some in single figure digits.

3.  Older radio amateurs chose to rather stay at home and not attend any virtual-,  social- or live amateur radio events.  I personally know of many.

4.  No real new group amateur- or electronic inventions were announced or released.

5.  A sharp increase in the trade of amateur radio equipment at really over inflated prices.  Some giving up?

6.  As far as can be established very few new radios were imported or sold.  We rather play with what we have.

7.  Some radio amateurs refused to use Skype, Zoom etc. for virtual club/group meetings.

8.  Very few live technical talks, lectures or demonstrations were held for especially new radio amateurs.

And so I can continue on with many more halted "changes" as a result of Covid19.  I am not looking for any reasons for the above BUT as in all other aspects related to Covid19, we have lost a great deal of time, companionship etc.

Now why mention all the above if we already know this to be the situation in amateur radio.  Well we will have to consider how we do certain "things" now and in future in amateur radio or we can just carry on dying a slow and painful "death'.  

Covid19 has changed the way we do certain "things" in Amateur Radio whether we like it or not. We must adapt to circumstances or be willing to sacrifice certain "pleasures" in Amateur Radio due to the Covid19 virus.  Yes, I hear many shout but Covid19 will eventually be overcome!!  The question nobody can answer is WHEN?  If we wait and do nothing we will lose radio amateurs  ("old and new") due to inactivity and lack of social and live amateur radio events.

One such activity is monthly public/live  get together  or club meetings.  In our area we have a club as well as a group of radio amateurs that use to gather on a monthly basis.   Since the pandemic outbreak started all live meetings were stopped/postponed/restricted.  As the pandemic continue it is clear that it will take some time before we can hopefully safely get together again without any limitations.

In June 2020 I suggested we use ZOOM as to stay virtually in touch with each other even drinking a cup of coffee while in a ZOOM meeting.  What we have done before can now be done safely with ZOOM without the risk of getting infected.  Unfortunately after spending many hours and money the ZOOM idea were not accepted by radio amateurs in this area and fell along the wayside.  With it went the monthly Reboot Coffee drink group meetings.  ZOOM could have virtually filled the "gap" of not being able to get together in person in a coffee shop.  This just shows the apathy or unwillingness to try something new.   No this is not sour grapes.  Amateur radio is the losing party here.

OK enough let me summarize.  There is an old saying "You can take a horse to the water but you cannot make him drink".  So true.  Need I explain?  

I feel for new radio amateurs in this time.  They would like to experience many if not all aspects of amateur radio.  The way we currently do things will not cut it for many and we will lose or already lost many.  Now is the time to think out of the box.  Don't be reluctant to use all communication mediums available to the benefit of amateur radio.  Experiment with new technology and mediums.  Meet with your fellow radio amateurs virtually or on the air and share your experience and knowledge with all amateurs.  Do not become a hermit or couch potato.  You only have one life.  Live it!!

Invitation:  I would like to read your take on the above.  Positive or negative but also to include solutions to many problems (if any) we currently experience in amateur radio.   Send me an email by clicking HERE

Don't be passive be active and encourage your fellow radio amateur to follow suite!!

73

Johan ZS1I

Time out Timer on the ZS1I RF Radio Link (145.550 Mhz), Mossel Bay

 I have noticed that the RF Radio Link (145.550 Mhz) time out when:

1.  News Bulletins and conversations are longer than 15 minutes.  I will however reset the RF Link during bulletins and you might lose the odd word or two.

2.  To short a time spacing ("break") is left between overs.  You are to quick on the trigger as we call it in amateur radio lingo.   This happens regularly on many links and repeaters all over the world. 

Please - Keep transmissions as short as possible, so more people can use the network. Again, long transmissions could prevent someone with an emergency from getting the chance to call for help through the network. All links and repeaters encourage short transmissions by "timing out" (shutting down for a few minutes) when someone gets long-winded. The time-out timer also prevents the links and repeater from transmitting continuously, due to distant signals or interference. A continuously transmitting link or repeater could cause unnecessary interference. Continuous operation can also damage radios and equipment.

There will be hick-ups in the beginning to "iron out".  Please expect glitches from time to time on the GRHub Network until the network is stable.  This is a learning curve for me and we all know that Linux can be unforgiving at times.  The network is improved on a daily basis and is currently stable.  However by adding new functions and making changes the network can become unstable and can even crash.  Thanks for Reboot, Reset and Restart the network can quickly be restored.

I hear many shout .... that is the Internet, unreliable ..... I suggest you rather use real RF radios.  Well we do use real radios and the internet is not needed to run a node or server.  I am busy looking into creating a back-up system should the Internet fail.  More on this in future posts. 

World Clock / Converter

World Clock

About this World Clock / Converter

World Time Buddy (WTB) is a convenient world clock, a time zone converter, and an online meeting scheduler. It's one of the best online productivity tools for those often finding themselves traveling, in flights, in online meetings or just calling friends and family abroad.

Carefully thought out design lets it effortlessly compare multiple time zones at a glance, plan conference calls, webinars, international phone calls and web meetings. It also aids with business travel & tracking of market hours.

WTB was born out of frustration with existing world clock apps, online meeting and time conversion tools. Most of them have given up on providing quality business tools and on delighting their users.

CDT = US CENTRAL TIME

YOUR TIME = SOUTH AFRICA STANDARD TIME (SAST)

Enjoy!!