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Now this topic is surely not there to brag or to boast about my "doings", projects or equipment in amateur radio, but I thought to create this post to tell some of the new radio amateurs what is happening in my Shack and also to hopefully create more amateur radio activity. In the past two weeks I was busy with the following projects:
- Switching over to Linux Mint as my Windows7 computer decided it was time to go SK after 12 years of use.
- Installing the OS and software needed to replace the Windows7 PC. Some of the software that I use is not available for Linux Mint so I had to find alternatives. Echolink, VoiceMeeter Banana, Irvanview etc.
- The 2 x Linux Mint PC's are i5's that needed upgrading. Added 16GB memory to each and replace the CMOS Batteries.
- The latest Linux Mint uses Pipewire. PipeWire is a modern, low-level multimedia framework that manages audio and video streams on Linux. I had to learn how to use Pipewire and it's associates.
- I also played around with Qtel, Qpwgraph, HPLIP, Angry IP Scanner, XnView MP, DroidStar etc.
- Test and setup Qtel and Audacity to relay nets and bulletins.
- Test, setup and played around with software that enables linking (bridge) different commercial and amateur radio equipment together.
- Try to kill the silent Amateur Radio Killer out there. This killer will kill various systems, networks etc. in the future in South Africa. More on this in a future posting.
- Find alternatives for when the Internet goes down. Well I am winning ground here and this time around I played with several methods on how to setup nodes that are dependent on the Internet. 99% of the methods that I tried worked very well locally. I do however have several ideas that will replace the Internet connection if the Internet fails. This happens more and more frequently and outages will increase in my opinion. Therefor the need for an alternative.
- I am currently busy to upgrade the firmware on the 49355 ZS1I HUB Node. The upgrade will also allow the node to work without having to connect it to the AREDN Network when the Internet fails.
- Looking at ways to switch automatically from one Internet connection to the other when one Internet service provider goes down while the other is still operational.
- The ZS1I WSPR Beacon experienced a firmware crash which resulted that it was off the air for a day or two. I had to enter all the necessary parameters into the unit to bring it back on the air. It appears that the switch mode power supply was the culprit. I will in future make it solar power operating compatible.
- I started to build the 6 Meter CW Beacon into a cabinet but with all the crashes and outages experienced in the Shack, this was put on hold until all the glitches were sorted out.
- Installed several amateur radio related servers. More on this in a future posting.
- Setup the Mossel Bay DMR Bridge and DMR Repeater to automatically transmit the DMR-ZA Net on Tuesday evenings at 19h30. The DMR-ZA Net is now transmitted on the ZS1I AllStar HUB, DMR Bridge, DMR Repeater and Echolink simultaneously.
- Currently upgrading the Mossel Bay DMR Repeater. More on this in a future article.
Okay enough for now. I now need a mental and physical break after all the above tasks in the past two weeks. One plus ...... I enjoyed working on every one of the above. More on this in a future posting.
Finally: I trust that other radio amateurs might find the inspiration to get cracking in solving issues and to experiment with what they have in the Shack. Just calling CQ CQ on the radio or having a Rag-chew does not cut if for me. Been there and done that. I need to learn, experiment, build, create, find solutions and enjoy what I am busy with in the Shack that relates to Amateur Radio. So why not get up at 04h00 in the morning work on projects till you go to work and then occupy the Shack again at 20h30 when you have spend some time with the family. It was nothing foreign to spend time in the Shack in the olden days till 01h00 in the morning. Thankfully I am retired and can now get up at 04h00 and spend the day in the shack until 20h00. Kids are out of the nest and the XYL join me in the Shack when ever she feels like it. Ya it is vice versa of cause!
Be and active radio amateur or find another hobby? We need active and dynamic radio amateurs. Amateur Radio is not a hobby, but rather an obsession if you have the KNACK!
