Southern Cape Repeater History - Period 1966 tot 2025 (Part 2)

History of the first 145.600 Mhz Danabay Repeater in Mossel Bay.

First some background relating to repeaters in the Garden Route Area. Circa 1980's there was only one repeater in the area and that was the 145.700 Mhz George Mountain Repeater.  This repeater was a free standing repeater and the only repeater in the Garden Route Area.  The repeater belonged to Eskom but through their kindness radio amateurs could use the repeater.  The repeater worked great but the coverage area excluded large parts of the Mossel Bay district. 

There was definitely a  need for another repeater in the Garden Route Area.  OM Stan Jones ZS1T took it upon himself to obtain and install the first ever 145.600 Mhz repeater in Mossel Bay.  Stan a then member of the Boland Amateur Radio Banch resided in George and was for many years the Head of the Radio Technical Division of the South African Police Force in George.  In April 1996 he contacted Rassie ZS11YT of the then Boland Amateur Radio Branch and it was not long afterwards that he informed me that he picked up the then Groenberg Repeater on loan to him to install as the 145.600 Mhz repeater in Mossel Bay.  Stan re-tuned the old Storno CQM 600/662 Mobile Radiophone/Professional land mobile transceiver that was converted to a amateur radio repeater. 

 

 

It originally was a 9-12 Channel Radiophone. By the early 1970's this was state of the art equipment, very well manufactured. In this time period there were only three authorized suppliers of equipment, Storno, Pye and Marconi. The installation typically consisted of a control head, handset and loudspeaker fitted in the front of the vehicle, connected to a transceiver unit usually mounted in the boot connected to a whip antenna. Storno also produced a transportable battery operated version for pedestrian use.The CQM600 with it's stylish remote control head and 'cornet' microphone won a design award in Denmark when introduced. The rugged, waterproof mobile unit was adaptable to a wide variety of applications and included marine and duplex versions. 

Specifications of the Storno Radio courtesy RigPix:

Type:	Professional land mobile transceiver
Frequency range depending on version:	68-88 MHz 132-156 MHz 146-174 MHz 420-470 MHz
Mode:	FM
RF Power output:	6-25 W
Receiver system:	N/A
Sensitivity:	N/A
Selectivity:	N/A
Image rejection:	N/A
Voltage:	6, 12 or 24 VDC
Current drain:	RX: ? mA TX: Max ? A
Impedance:	50 ohms
Dimensions (W*H*D):	? mm
Weight:	? Kg
Manufactured:	1968-197x (Discontinued)
Other:	9 -12 channels, XTAL

The repeater was tested on the test bench by Stan ZS1T after adding a Low Loss Helical Band Pass Filter on the receive side and a Cavity Filter on the transmit side.  After a few weeks of testing the 145.600 Mhz repeater was ready to be installed on site. The only problem was that there was no site available at short notice to install the repeater on.   Yours truly offered to host the repeater for the interim up high in Heiderand, Mossel Bay at my QTH.  My QTH was situated quite high up on the ridge in Heiderand and would have to suffice until a permanent site could be found.  It was an ideal high interim site,  situated in a quiet area (free of interference then but not today), line of sight to George and in a safe area.

Myself and Stan arranged for the installation of the repeater on a Saturday morning at my QTH.  When Stan arrived I already installed the 5/8 vertical antenna for the receive side.  Stan brought a folded dipole which was installed underneath the 5/8 vertical antenna with enough space between the two to prevent de-sensing. The Band Pass filter was installed on the RX side and a cavity filter was installed on the TX side. The power supply was installed and the repeater was switched on. The necessary final checks and tuning were done.  It was not long before contact was made with Isak ZS2I (Now SK) in Klein Brak River which confirmed great signal strength and audio.  The output of the repeater was tuned down to 10 watt as we did not have a full set of cavity filters for RX and TX.  For the newer generation of radio amateurs this is how repeaters worked in years gone by as cavity filters were scarce as hen's teeth and very expensive if you can find one.

Now to find a suitable high site for the repeater.  Thanks must go to Chris ZS1M who at the time was working for the Mossel Bay Municipality.  He was able to obtain the current site on a water tower at the entrance to Danabay.  This site gave great coverage and it was decided to use the site for the 145.600 Mhz repeater.

The time arrived for the repeater to be moved from my QTH in Heiderand to the DanaBay water tower.  In the mean time Stan ZS1T again came to the rescue with a full set of cavity filters on loan from the Boland Amateur Radio Club.  This would solve the use of two antennas.  We now only have to install one antenna.  We still used the small band pass filter on RX as an extra filter.  The repeater was installed in December 1996 inside the water tower pump room with the folded dipole high up on the top of the tower.  Standing on top of this water tower revealed a clear 360 Deg take off with no obstacles in the way.  To secure the repeater, filters, power supply etc. the repeater was housed in a old computer main frame cabinet that I donated.  This cabinet was ideal as it came with great cooling fans to keep things cool. 

This repeater functioned great for several years and I had the privilege of maintaining this repeater on behalf of Stan ZS1T who could not always visit the site. As these Storno Radios are build like tanks, it was not necessary to re-tune them at regular intervals.  From time to time the cavity filters were re-tuned to ensure optimal functioning.

The repeater was enjoyed by many local and visiting radio amateurs from all over.   This was the first 145.600 repeater installed on the Danabay Water Tower in the Mossel Bay area.  A few years before the year 2000 the repeater and cavity filters was returned to the Boland Amateur Radio Club as Chris Scarr ZS2AAW and his late father Trevor ZS2AE installed a new 2m repeater, antennas and 70cm link on the Danabay Water Tower which was a great upgrade.  This upgrade amongst others allowed for the 600 and 700 repeater to be linked via DTMF.  This setup functioned  well for many years and was maintained by Chris ZS2AAW and Trevor ZS2AE (Now SK).

I would like to thank every single radio amateur that was involved in making the first 145.600 Mhz Repeater in Mossel Bay a reality and bringing it to life.  I do not like to mention names as indicated in many of my posts as I might leave somebody out in the cold but I must mention the following radio amateurs, clubs and organizations:

1.  Stanley Jones ZS1T, George

2.  Boland Amateur Radio Club (Members and Committee)

3.  The then repeater keeper of the  Boland Amateur Radio Club (???)

4.  Chris ZS1M, Danabay

5.  Mossel Bay Municipality

6.  All those who assisted and not mentioned in the article

7.  Garden Route Radio Club

8.  Rassie Erasmus ZS1YT, Strand

Finally:  I would like to plea to the younger and older generation radio amateurs.  Please if you have any information, images and articles on local (SA) amateur radio history make it available for publication and preservation.  You can forward the info to Johan ZS1I by clicking HERE.

Images:  (Click on images for larger view.)

           Coverage of the then 145.600 Mhz Danabay Repeater - Mike Hanslow then ZS1RMS

Satellite and Street Maps Courtesy -  Satellites Pro / Apple Map

- End

Best wishes to all the RAE Candidates writing the examination today, 18 October 2025!!

Die ZS Link Netwerk Groep wens al die RAE-kandidate vanoggend alles van die beste toe vir die eksamen. Julle avontuur het sopas begin in amateurradio en onthou dit is 'n lewenslange avontuur en nie net vir 'n paar maande nie. Julle sal baie dinge leer dwarsdeur julle amateur radio "loopbaan".

Ons hoop om baie van julle binnekort op die lug te hoor. Ons verwelkom julle by die amateur radio stokperdjie en sien daarna uit om julle touwys te maak in hierdie wonderlike stokperdjie.

'n Groot dankie moet ook gaan aan al die dosente, assessors en opsieners vir hul harde werk en tyd, Julle bydrae word hoog op prys gestel!!

Laastens: Sodra jy jou amateur radio lisensie ontvang, is jy meer as welkom om by ons aan te sluit by die ZS-Link Netwerk Groep via WhatsApp, Echolink of via die RF-skakels en herhalers (indien beskikbaar in jou area). Ons sal julle graag help om by ons in te skakel op die ZS-Link Netwerk en die Groep.

Sluit gerus aan by die dinamiese ZS-Link Netwerk, jy is meer as welkom!!

Kontak ons ​​deur HIER te klik.  Besoek ook gerus ons webtuiste deur HIER te klik

                                                          ********************

The ZS Link Network Group wish all the RAE Candidates the best for the examination this morning. Your adventure has just started in amateur radio and remember it is a life long adventure and not only a few months. You will learn many things throughout your amateur radio "career".

We hope to hear many of you on the air soon. We welcome you to the Amateur Radio hobby and look forward to "show you the ropes" in this wonderful hobby.

A big thank you must also go to all the lecturers, assessors and invigilators for their hard work and time,  highly appreciated!!

Finally:  Once you receive your amateur radio license you're more than welcome to join us on the ZS-Link Network Group via, WhatsApp,  Echolink or via the RF Links and Repeaters (if accessible in your area).  We will gladly assist you in connecting and joining us on the ZS-Link Network and the Group.

Give the dynamic ZS-Link Network a try, you more than welcome!!

Contact us by clicking HERE.  Visit our website by clicking HERE

Simple method to test 1:1, 4:1, 9:1 and 49:1 Baluns

 

This article was written to aid new radio amateurs in  testing a homebrew balun.

Using a transceiver, SWR meter and 1:1 balun with resistor to test the balun:

You can test a balun by connecting a simulated antenna load on the output (antenna) side of the balun.  Connect your transmitter ( with an SWR meter) on the input side.  In the case of a 4:1 balun, use a 160 to 340 ohm resistor as your simulated antenna.  (See Fig 1)   If the balun is functioning properly, you should see a low SWR (less than 1.5:1) when you key your transmitter.  This means that the 4:1 balun is matching the nominal 200 ohm load to 50 ohm (200/4 = 50).  If you have a 1:1 balun, you can use the same test. Simply substitute a 40 to 60 ohm resistor for the load.  A 50 ohm dummy load
may substitute the resistor if available.  The SWR should be 1:1 or very close to it. WARNING:  The load resistors must be non-inductive and capable of dissipating the output power of your transmitter for a short period of time.  If you turn your transmitter output down to 10 watts, you'll still need a heavy duty 10 watt resistor.   

I have used this inexpensive old school method for many years but you could substitute your transmitter and SWR meter for a expensive antenna analyzer which will have the same end result.

Testing a 9:1 Balun with a Nano VNA:

 

Images:  (Click on images for larger view.)

I decided to measure the "SWR and Impedance" of the 9:1  Balun with my NanoVNA.  Although this is not the correct way to do it, it gives me some indication that the Balun is working.  Let's call the measurement a fault finding mission.  I used a 270 Ohm resistor across the connecting points and obtained the readings as depicted in the images.

Testing a 49:1 Balun with a Nano VNA:

Images:  (Click on images for larger view.)

To test the balun before adding the wire and counter poise I used a 2K7 resistor on the ground of the coax connector and antenna connection.  The attached NanoVNA image provide info on the results I obtained from the balun.  I am sure the SWR readings will change once I add the antenna wire to the balun.  The height and closeness of objects will also play a roll.

Suid Kaap Herhaler Geskiedenis - Periode 1966 tot 2025 (Deel 1)

Bo:  Die W6MEP-herhaler, oorspronklik K6MYK, word beskou as die oudste ononderbroke werkende amateur radio herhaler wat bestaan, met sy eerste uitsending in 1956. Dit is gebou deur Art Gentry, wat as die "Vader van Amateur Radio Herhalers" beskou word.

RED.  Stan Jones ZS1T was vir baie jare gemoeid met die installering en instandhoudng van herhalers in die George / Mosselbaai omgewing.  Die artikel soos deur hom saamgestel gee vir ons 'n terugblik van hoe 2 Meter aktiwiteite toegeneem het deur die jare.  My opregte dank aan hom vir die artikel.  Ek is seker dat lesers dit baie interessant sal vind.

STAN ZS1T SKRYF: “Ek het Desember 1966 na George toe gekom. Ek het op daardie staduim nie ‘n 2 Meter stel besit nie. Twee meter was in daardie jare nie so gewilde manier van kommunikeer nie. Hier was net ‘n paar radio amateurs gewees nl myself, Chris ZS1FA, Rusty ZS1WQ, Tom Watson (roepsein nie meer beskikbaar nie), Stan French ZS1YD, Bill ZS1J, Dennis ZS1UV, Piet ZS1ZK. Dup ZS1GC het later by ons aangesluit. Die ledetal het so gegroei en het ons maar op HF gesels. Stadig maar seker het 2 Meter sy kop uitgesteek. Ek het by ‘n sekere Mnr v.d. Walt, ‘n klompie 15 watt PYE stelle gekry wat toe beskikbaar was. Ons moes natuurlik die frekwensie verander om by ons behoeftes te pas. Die frekwensie was 145.500, wat ons op daardie staduim gebruik het. Ander radio amateurs het beskikbare stelle gekoop, soos dit beskikbaar geraak het.
John Fletcher (ZS1ZR) het by my eertydse werk aangesluit en later die amateur radio eksamen geskryf. Hy is die roepsein ZR1CI toegeken. Ons het met toetse begin, versterkers gebou met 5894 of 829B lampe en saans met Andre ZS2BR in Port Elizabeth gesels. 

 

Bo:  PYE Cambridge Radios (15 Watt) - PYE Telecom History Group (Klik om te vergroot)

Op ‘n staduim is herhalers bespreek en het die gebruik van herhalers na vore gekom. Ek het by Derek Siegel ZS1DP ‘n PYE CAMBRIDGE stel gekry wat ons omskep het in ‘n herhaler. Nou kom die beste, die slyp van die kristalle. Ek het in ‘n ou Radio Amateur Handboek gelees hoe Amerikaners kristalle geslyp het. ‘n Stuk glas is gevat asook baie fyn sandpapier. Die kristal is uit sy doppie gehaal en dan versigtig geskuur tot die regte frekwensie verkry is. My werk het ‘n frekwensie teller gehad wat dit natuurlik maklik gemaak het om die regte frekwensie te verkry. Die skuurwerk moes natuurlik baie versigtig gedoen word. Die kristalle wat ons gebruik het was nie ver van die frekwensie af nie. So het ons eerste herhaler op 145.800 MHZ die lig gesien. Die herhaler is later ook toegerus met ‘n “G” kode maw die letter “G” is in morse kode uitgestuur. (Red. G staan natuurlik vir George) Die “G” kode is later verwyder, aangesien ‘n versoek ontvang was van radio amateurs dat ek dit moet doen. Op ‘n staduim was ons versoek om die frekwensie te verander na 145.700 MHZ aangesien die 145.800 Mhz frekwensie vir satelliet komunikasie gebruik sou word. Ons het maar redelik rondgeval om ‘n geskikte plek te kry vir die herhaler. Ek was op ‘n staduim versoek om na die olieboor se FM toerusting om te sien. Die toerusting was op die George berg in Eskom se gebou. Voordat ek die toerusting kon versien moes ek ‘n sekerheidsklaring by Eskom kry. Die sekerheidsklaring
is aan my toegeken en het Dave Perry ZS1SG van Eskom my gevra dat wanneer ek na die olieboor se toerusting omsien ek dan ook na hulle stelle sal kyk. So het die moontlikheid ontstaan om die herhaler in Eskom se gebou te kry. Ek het vir Dave Perry genader, waarna hy met sy departement geskakel het. Die groen lig is gekry en is die PYE herhaler met twee gevoude dipool antennas daar geinstalleer. Die SAUK het egter ontdek dat daar ‘n vreemde stel naby hulle stasie was en moes die herhaler eers weer verwyder word. Dave Perry het sy departement genader wat aandui het dat hulle een van hul stelle (Storno) daar sal installer vir gebruik deur radio amateurs. Die naam “Eskom Radio Club” is aangebring op die Storno en is die 145.700 Mhz herhaler vandag nogsteeds in gebruik op die George berg. Ek het later ‘n adres gekry van ‘n firma in Engeland vanwaar ek kristalle bestel het teen R5.00 per kristal afgelewer. Dit was vir die PYE stelle wat ons bekom het. 

Bo:   Voorbeeld van die Mobiele Storno Herhaler (10 Watt) soos geskenk deur TAK: BOLAND (Klik om te vergroot)

Later soos die amateur lede toegeneem het, het die behoefte vir ‘n tweede herhaler onstaan in die Mosselbaai omgewing. Ek het met Rassie ZS1YT in verbinding getree en ons behoeftes verduidelik. Hy het met die destydse TAK BOLAND gesels en het hulle toe vir ons ‘n Mobiele Storno Herhaler (145.600 MHZ) laat kry. Die herhaler is tydelik by die QTH van Johan ZS1I geinstalleer. terwyl ‘n geskikte perseel vir die herhaler gesoek was. Ek het later om persoonlike redes toe afstand gedoen van die 600 herhaler. Die Garden Route Radio Klub wat toe gestig was het die herhaler oorgeneem. Ek weet nie wie almal betrokke was by die installering van die 145.600 MHZ herhaler op Mosselbaai nie, maar ek dink dat Chris ZS1M toestemming gekry het vir die perseel te Danabaai. Amateurs het beter stelle aangeskaf soos dit beskikbaar geraak het. Dit in kort die ontstaan van 2 Meter aktiwiteite in die Suid Kaap omgewing.

Later jare het Eskom sy eie tegniese afdeling in George geopen. Met die gevolg dat hulle toe ook die 145.700 MHZ herhaler se herstelwerk en versiening oorgeneem het, so ook die olieboor se radio kommunikasie. 

Bo:  1958 Motorola stel die Motrac-radio bekend, die eerste tweerigtingradio vir voertuie met 'n volledig getransistoriseerde kragtoevoer en ontvanger. Die lae kragverbruik maak dit moontlik om die radio te gebruik sonder om die motor se enjin te laat loop.

Nou so ‘n kort oorsig oor die toerusting wat die S.A Polisie vroeër jare gebruik het. Toe ek in die Suid Kaap begin werk het, het die toerusting bestaan uit 50 Watt Motorola “T/POWER” stelle. Die frekwensie was in die 37 Mhz band gewees. 

 Bo:  Motorola “T/POWER” 50 Watt Radio

Bo:  Motorola Micor Radio en Herhaler (100 Watts)

Hiedie stelle is heelwat later met Motorola “Motrac” stelle vervang en ook later met Motorola “Micor” stelle. Ek het gedurende my dienstermyn begin met eksperimente met herhalers vir die S.A. Polisie. Ek het later ook magtinging verky om voort te gaan met die installering van die herhaler. Die herhaler het bestaan uit ‘n basis stel wat hooggleë was. Die Poskantoor het vanaf die bestaande ligging ons van ‘n telefoon lyn tot by die polisiestasie voorsien waar dit gekoppel was aan ‘n afstandsbeheerde monitor. Hierdie stelsel het baie goed gewerk tydens my dienstermyn. Die stelsel is egter vervang na my dienstermyn met ‘n meer moderne en gevorderde stelsel in die BHF band op die SAUK perseel op George berg.

-Einde

Down Memory Lane - To all HAMNET Members - Compiled by Pierre Tromp ZS1HF (Before he became SK)

 

Which 6146 Tube? (Valve)

Yes, the popular 6146 tube is still widely used in many amateur radio equipment  today.  However some radio amateurs might not be familiar with the  different types of 6146 tubes.  New radio amateurs might find the description of the various  types  interesting and useful for future reference.

6146  -   The original design with a plate dissipation of 25 Watt.

6146W  -  A rugged version of  the 6146.

6146A  -  The first generation of improved 6146 design, also with a plate dissipation of 25     
                watt.

6146B  -  A significantly improved tube design that offers 35 watt plate dissipation as well as
                an improved heater design that allow much cooler operation.  The 6146B was
                designed specifically for SSB service and was used as a workhorse in many CW
                and SSB radio's.

Remember if you must use a 6146, 6146A or 6146W adjust your radio's final amplifier section so that the maximum plate dissipation rating is not exceeded. 

Further reading compliments of the Antique Wireless Association of Southern Africa.  The 6146 Family of Tubes by Glen E. Zook, K9STH

"Refurbish" a 9:1 QRP Balun after 5 years in the Sea Air

I decided to to build a End Fed HF Dipole Antenna in April 2020 during Covid19 Lockdown.  The antenna known as the ZS6U Mini Shack Special Antenna with a 9:1 Magnetic Longwire Balun/Unun.  The article relating to this antenna is available HERE.

I recently decided to take the antenna down to refurbish the balun as it has now been up in die sea air for 5 years and I was sure corrosion was "eating up" the balun.  After taking it down I was quite surprised to see that the balun was still in a very good condition (outside and inside).  See images.  The only part I replaced was the eye bolt and nut.  The bolt was lightly rusted and could have lasted another 5 years, however I decided to replace the eye bolt.  The only other part that I replaced was a nut that came loose on one of the connecting bolts to which the counter poise was connected.  The lock washer did not lock and in turn the bolt would turn around when tightening the wing nut.  I replaced the nut with a lock-nut and this solved that problem.  I installed the new eye bolt and nut and the balun was ready to be put up again.

The red cabinet has a watertight seal that keeps rain water out but I again sealed the unit with silicon to keep it water tight. 

I also decided to measure the "SWR and Impedance" of the 9:1  Balun with my NanoVNA.  Although this is not the correct way to do it, it gives me some indication that the Balun is working.  Let's call the measurement a fault finding mission.  I used a 270 Ohm resistor accross the connecting points and obtained the readings as depicted in the images.

Finally:  This QRP balun served me well since 2020 and is now ready to use for another 5 years.

Images:  Click on images for larger view.

SSTV Experiment - World Space Week 2025 - ARISS Series 29 - Period: 3-9 October 2025

October 4, 2025 — Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) announces an SSTV event to be held this week in recognition of the 68th anniversary of the launch of the world’s first satellite, Sputnik-1 on October 4, 1957. This event will feature 12 images that will be transmitted at 145.800 MHz using SSTV mode PD120.

The operation times are as follows and are tentative:

Oct. 3 Start time: 12:20 UTC / 08:20 AM ET

Oct. 9 End time: around 7:30 UTC / 3:30 AM ET

(Expect interruptions due to scheduled ARISS educational contacts.)

For submitting your received images

Go to https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_SSTV/ to submit your decodes. Check the box after submis-sion to the SSTV gallery for an award certificate. You must submit your decodes and your re-quest for an award certificate within 72 hours after SSTV event transmissions end. Certificates are delivered via email (watch your spam folder).

For more information about the ARISS SSTV Award Certificate, go to https://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv/ .

Thanks to our user community for participating in ARISS.

 Why download SSTV images from the ISS?

Every radio amateur that participate set his/her own goals and has a reason for participating in the experiment.  Unfortunately I do not have all the information on hand why some radio amateurs download images.  

World Wide Participation Statistics:

Herewith some images (Click on images to enlarge)

Steyn Truter ZS1STE -  Klein Brak River

 

Gerrit Klopper ZS1KLO - Rheebok

Rulhof vd Merwe ZS4RM - Bloemfontein

Christi Grobbelaar ZS4CGR -  Luchoff

Jacobus de Jager ZS1JDJ - Aberdeen

Bernie Wentzel ZR1ACP - Agulhas

Francois Joubert ZS1Q - George

WSPR - An Introduction for Beginners / Can you make a SSB or CW contact using WSPR?