As stated before this is a simple Jig to drill trough PVC pipe when constructing a PVC Quad Antenna for 2 meters.
Once again I know there are other methods but I used what I had and it worked for me.
Here are the list of points that were discussed: (Some in Afrikaans and some in English)
Unfortunately I do not have the time to provide a full detailed report of the discussions that took place relating to the above topics. This is where you need to join the "Lippeklap" Net to find out more.
The next "Lippeklap" Net will take place on Sunday, 26 March 2023 at 15h30 SAST. Connect to ZS1I-L via Echolink or 49355 AllStar Node or any of the other nodes connected to the GRHub Network.
Hope to hear you on the next Lippeklap Net.
Come join in on the fun!!
"Onbetrokkenheid lei tot die ondergang van velerlei Amateur Radio bedrywighede!"
"Non-involvement leads to the demise of many Amateur Radio activities!"
Disclaimer:
The project discussed under this topic uses lethal voltages and should
not be attempted by those who are not properly experienced. Proper
safety precautions must be adhere to at all times. I will not be held
responsible for your actions. Use at own risk.
This project was published in QSX the PEARS monthly newsletter as a high
power, Power Supply. The original article appeared on Packet under the
call of ZR6CPB while Andre Botes ZS2ACP compiled the QSX article. I have
re-drawn the circuit and made a few alterations to the original PCB as
suggested by ZS2ACP to suite my needs. Alternatively I have changed the
components and PCB to use the project as:
1. Variable Power Supply 13.8v 10 Amps. ( Can easily be changed to 13.8 and 24v 30 amp by altering the PCB.
2. Lead Acid Battery Charger to charge a 12V, 100Ah battery.
Several radio amateurs have expressed their concern about the current inactivity/lull in amateur radio. No there are activity but really at a low level and it seems that activity is slowly but surely fading. The lull has been brought to the attention of radio amateurs via bulletins, on several repeaters and also amateur radio social media groups. Despite this the decline continues. If you really love amateur radio than this should be of great concern to you. We need to up amateur radio activity!!
I have therefor decided to use several slogans to express concern in this regard. Here is the first slogan and I request radio amateurs to use this slogan to draw the attention of other radio amateurs to the current inactivity/lull in amateur radio. There is no copy writes to this slogan as I am the sole author of this slogan and I give permission that it can be used in amateur radio.
"Onbetrokkenheid lei tot die ondergang van velerlei Amateur Radio bedrywighede!"
"Non-involvement leads to the demise of many Amateur Radio activities!"
It is the responsibility of every radio amateur to be an active radio operator and to create radio activities by utilizing any means possible.
Loadshedding started in 2007 in South Africa. In June 2012 I started playing around with DIY wind turbines. The first DIY model that I build was a Micro Wind Turbine. Unfortunately at the time I did not deem it necessary to do a full write-up about the project or taking photos as it was seen as not being part of my amateur radio projects. Little did I know that loadshedding would have a severe affect on amateur radio and that this project could have been used today in amateur radio/emergency communications. Full information about the project is available HERE (PDF) file download.
I can however confirm that it provided enough volts and amps to charge a 12v 7Ah lead acid battery with ease. Be as it may here is some info on how I constructed the Micro Wind Turbine.
This turbine was constructed using parts from recycled equipment and scrap metal that I had lying around the workshop:
Now I must admit that this Micro Wind Turbine will not charge your large home solar batteries, but it does a fine job charging the said 12v 7Ah battery mentioned supra. I am sure it will charge up to a 12 Ah lead acid battery.
There are no limits to what you can do with wind power. It's abundant, clean, cheap and easy to harness. In my opinion there is nothing more rewarding and empowering than building a wind-power turbine from scrap materials.
PS - I also constructed a large heavy duty wind turbine. More on this in a future posting.
Video and Images:
Reminder: Lippeklap Net this afternoon (19 March 2023) at 15h30 on the GRHub Network. Topic: Today will be an open net. Tell us what you have been doing in amateur radio lately or what equipment did you add to your Shack. Anything amateur radio is welcome this afternoon even emergency communication preparations for Monday, 20 March 2023 if any. No politics or religion topics or discussions, please!
You can access the Net as follow:
Echolink - Connect to ZS1I-L, ZS1FC-L, ZS6WDL-R or ZS5PMB-R Please note if the last 3 stations is not connected to ZS1I-L then you need to connect via Echolink to ZS1I-L for the Net.
AllStar - Connect to node 49355 ZS1I or 28052 ZS5PMB-R
VHF - 145.550 Mhz Simplex in the Mossel Bay area. Remember the 88.5 khz CTCSS tone
Any other Echolink, AllStar repeater or link station that is connected to either ZS1I-L.
Use of your cellphone by installing Echolink on your phone.
Please feel free to join us this Sunday afternoon, 19 March 2023 at around 15h30 SAST. We are all looking forward to your company and inputs in this regard. Please also tell your amateur radio friends about the Net. Get rid of that daily stress and enjoy a good hour or two in the company of amateur radio friends.
Hope to hear you on the “Lippeklap” Net!!
Soos reeds te kenne gegee is in die kennisgewing tov van Lippeklap vir Sondag 12 Maart 2023 het ons die week na 'n potgooi geluister. Geen onderwerp was bespreek nie en was daar ook dan geen geselsie na die potgooi nie. Dit wil voorkom of daar 'n verskeidenheid van redes is wat Lippeklap negatief beinvloed waarvan die grootste natuurlik beurtkrag (loadshedding) is. Ek sal indringend ondersoek instel na die redes en later 'n aankondiging plaas oor my bevindinge en moontlike veranderinge wat aangebring gaan word.
Nietemin ons het lekker geluister na die potgooi.
Onderwerp van die Potgooi:
“What is the Best HF Radio in production at the beginning of 2023? All of these radios in this list are still currently being offered by the manufacturer and are tried and true. Today I take you through the top 7 picks of HF Ham Radios for 2023 that can be used for a Base Station or Mobile HF operation.”
Die radios wat volgens sy opinie die beste waarde vir geld is om the gebruik as ekonomiese basis stasie of mobiele HF werking.
Volgens Jason KC5HWB is die Flex 6400 sy keuse van radio alhoewel jy hom nie mobiel kan gebruik nie. Alternatief kan jy hom wel gebruik as 'n "remote" stasie vanaf die huis en dan met 'n ander radio in die mobiel na die Flex toe werk.
Volgende keer kan ons bietjie na Jason se VHF/UHF Radio keuses kyk.
Baie dankie aan al die stasies wat gekoppel was tydens die Lippeklap Net. Onthou om volgende Sondag middag om 15h30 weer in te skakel by die "Lippeklap" Net. Kom sluit gerus by ons aan!
Hoe skakel ek in by die Net?
Part 1 of this project is available HERE
As explained in Part 1 I needed an automated “watchdog” for the Internet connection especially during loadshedding. (power outages) In this part I will provide the Phyton Script Code, running the script as a Cron Job and the final installation of the project in a cabinet and then to the GRHub Network LTE Router and Power Source.
Lets look at the two Phython Scripts:
The first script is for testing purposes to mimic that the Internet is down.
#Test Internet Connection with Raspberry Pi
#By ZS1I, GRHub Network, Mossel Bay
#18 February 2023
#relay_test.py code written in Python3 (Ver 3.7.3)
import os
import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
import time
#Ignore Warnings
GPIO.setwarnings(False)
#Use Broadcom Numbering
GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)
# Pin Definitons:
relay1Pin = 5 #
# relay pins set as output
GPIO.setup(relay1Pin, GPIO.OUT)
#time.sleep(60) #Time delay when testing using VNC after a Reboot
from datetime import datetime
# Getting the current date and time
dt = datetime.now()
print("Date and Time is:", dt)
print ("Testing Internet connection using Ping.")
hostname = "1.51.17.1" #Fake IP to test Internet Failure
response = os.system ("ping -c 5 " +hostname)
if response ==0:
print(hostname, "Internet connection success. No further input needed.")
else:
print(hostname, "Internet connection failure.")
print("Turning off power to router.")
GPIO.output(relay1Pin,GPIO.HIGH)
#Waiting 1 minutes for modem to reboot.
print("Waiting 1 minutes to turn router back on.")
time.sleep(60) #60 seconds = 1 minutes
#Turning power on to router
GPIO.output(relay1Pin,GPIO.LOW)
print("Power up and Reboot router.")
print("Nearly there - wait another while!")
We need to make the relay_test.py file executeable. This is done with the following command:
# sudo chmod +x relay_test.py (Enter)
The second script is the real time "Watchdog" script that monitors (pings) the Internet every 30 minutes. If the Internet is up and running then no further action will be taken and it will keep on pinging the Internet every 30 minutes. If the Internet is down then it will start the sequence as already explained in Part 1.
#Raspberry Pi Test Internet Relay Code Ver 1.1
#By ZS1I, GRHub Network, Mossel Bay
#18 February 2023
#relay_final.py code written in Python3 (Ver 3.7.3)
import os
import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
import time
#Ignore Warnings
GPIO.setwarnings(False)
#Use Broadcom Numbering
GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)
# Pin Definitons:
relay1Pin = 5 #
# relay pins set as output
GPIO.setup(relay1Pin, GPIO.OUT)
#time.sleep(60) #Time delay when testing using VNC after a Reboot
from datetime import datetime
# Getting the current date and time
dt = datetime.now()
print("Date and Time is:", dt)
print ("Testing Internet Connection using Ping.")
hostname = "1.1.1.1" #IP to test Internet
response = os.system ("ping -c 5 " +hostname)
if response ==0:
print(hostname, " Internet connection success. No further input needed.")
else:
print(hostname, "Internet connection failure.")
print("Turning off power to router.")
GPIO.output(relay1Pin,GPIO.HIGH)
#Waiting 1 minutes for modem to reboot.
print("Waiting 1 minutes to turn router back on.")
time.sleep(60) #60 seconds = 1 minutes
#Turning power on to router
GPIO.output(relay1Pin,GPIO.LOW)
print("Power up and Reboot router.")
print("Nearly there - wait another while!")
We need to make the relay_test.py file executeable. This is done with the following command:
# sudo chmod +x relay_test.py (Enter)Now this code is simple but it works great. The pinging time of 30 minutes is set in the Crontab file.
Herewith more information on the Crontab file and how to set it up for this project.
Running a python script every 30 minutes using Crontab?
Suppose I have a python
file relay_test.py
To schedule it to run every 30 minutes, use
crontab -eThen edit to add
*/30 * * * * python3/home/pi/relay_test.py
To check if cron ran succesfully
grep CRON /var/log/syslogHere, you will see in logs, lines like
May 31 14:25:01 shivam-PC CRON[17805]: (shivam) CMD (python /home/shivam/test.py)Note: statements might not show in logs, so use
*/30 * * * * python3/home/pi/relay_test.py >> /home/pi/relay_test.txt
and then check relay_test.txt
for print logs.
You may want to capture stderr to the output file as well with */30 * * * * python3 /home/pi/relay_test.py >> /home/pi/relay_test.txt 2&>1
Note that I setup the crontab file in this example to log activity every 30 minutes to a relay_test.txt file. I can now check the output as and when I need to.
How do I connect the Power Supply to the "Watchdog" and the Router?
Very simple. Here is and image of the connections.
That's it!! Nothing to it and you can now relax and not worry if the Internet is online or not. This project will be your Internet "Watchdog".
Images: (Click on images for larger view.)
8V - 35V to 5V 8A power supply step-down module 4 Port USB output
Description and Specs:
1. 4 independent dedicated charging management IC, can effectively support a variety of mobile phones for maximum current charging, fast charging, safe and reliable.
2. The charging identification IC is compatible with Apple's full range of Android products, and most mobile phones can achieve the fastest charging speed.
3. Support 4 channels of USB and 2A current charging at the same time, the current is large and the charging is fast, and the total output current can reach 8A.
4. Input adopts MOS tube reverse connection protection to maximize conversion efficiency and reduce loss.
5. Output with over-voltage protection to see and effectively protect the phone.
6.8-35V ultra-wide input voltage, 12V 24V car can be perfectly supported.
7. Synchronous rectification scheme can effectively reduce heat generation and improve efficiency, and the efficiency can reach up to 96%.
8. The industry's advanced flat line high current inductance, large current and small heat generation, high conversion efficiency.
9.4 high-quality chip capacitors, and then increase the capacity of MLCC capacitors, the output ripple is lower, and the interference is smaller.
10. High-quality double-layer gold-plated USB port, the life is twice that of ordinary USB.
11. The default delivery is about 5.2V output voltage.
Module parameters:
Input voltage: DC 8-35V
Input current: 5.5A
Output voltage: 5.2V
Output current: total maximum 8A, current adaptive, mobile phone single port charging up to 2A.
Dynamic response speed: 300us (load flow change 5%)
Conversion efficiency: 95% (12V to 5.2V3.5A measured, efficiency is related to differential pressure and load size.)
Load regulation rate: 0.2-0.3% (10%-50% load measured by 12V input)
Ripple & Noise: 120mVP-P (20MHz bandwidth 12V to 5.2V3A measured)
Switching frequency: 100KHz
No-load current: 18mA (12V car 5V measured)
Wiring method: IN input OUT input Terminal block DC seat
Fixed mode: M3*1 M2*2
Net weight: about 36 grams
Supporting device:
USB-powered devices such as cell phones, digital cameras, tablets, navigators, and driving recorders. It can charge 4 mobile phones at the same time, and the total current of 4 channels is 8A.
A variety of input and output methods, support for terminal input, DC block input, output support 4 * USB output, terminal output 5V.
Physical dimension:
54 (long) * 39 (wide) * 21 (height) mm (including USB port)
Pin mode:
VIN+ input positive, GND common ground, OUT+ output positive
Link to Rabtron: Click HERE
Images: Click on images for larger view.
Items:
What do I have in mind for the above modules? All these components will be used to alleviate the effects of loadshedding in the amateur radio shack and in my home. The projects will be posted on the GRHub Network Blog when completed. I will however let the "cat out of the bag".
This will be the final posting on the ZS Link Network Blog. This blog will no longer be updated but will remain available for research an...
