1. Reminder: Do tune into the DMR-ZA Net this evening at 19h30 SAST
Herewith
a list of different equipment / apps and images that cross transmit /
receive the DMR-ZA Net on a Tuesday evening. (Click on images for larger
view.)
1. ZS1I 49355 AllStar Hub Network which incorporates Echolink. (ZS1I-R)
2. DMR / DVSwitch /AllStar Bridge (TG 65522)
3. ZS1I MMDVM Digital Repeater (TG 65522)
4. 145.550 Mhz Analogue Simplex RF Link Mossel Bay area.
5. DroidStar / VoxDMR Applications for DMR TG655
6. ASL3 to Mumble Bridge PC (Mumble Client) as well as Mobile Phone (Plumble Client)
7. BrandMeister - Hoseline Application (PC or Mobile Phone - Receive only.)
8. DVSwitch Mobile Application (PC or Mobile Phone)
9. Many Analog-Repeaters and Links are connected to the ZS1I Hub Network on a daily basis. Some of these analogue repeaters will be connected to the ZS1I Hub Network on a Tuesday evening and they might also be linked to other repeaters country- and world wide. So why not link up with your local analogue repeater. You might just be able to connect to the DMR-ZA Net on a Tuesday evening at 19h30 SAST.
Finally: There are an abundance of means illustrated above to connect to the DMR-ZA Net on a Tuesday evening at 19h30 SAST. The DMR-ZA Net is an open net and all radio amateurs are welcome to join / connect to the net. Brian ZS5BR is the net controller and I would like to thank him for professionally conducting the net each Tuesday evening. Highly appreciated!!
2. Linux Mint isn't the best Windows replacement anymore
And the replacement is ........ ?
ZorinOS has been getting a lot of hype ever since Microsoft dropped support for Windows 10. Turns out the hype is justified. Linux Mint has been my go-to recommendation.
Read more HERE about ZorinOS.
3. 16-Year-Old ARRL Member Wins 2026 Student Coding Competition
ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® is pleased to announce that member Ben Leovy, KC3ZPQ, of Ellicott City, Maryland, has been named the winner of the 2026 ARRL Student Coding Competition. Leovy, 16, recently completed his sophomore year at Howard High School. He designed a mobile application to help users prepare for their amateur radio license examinations.
Leovy will receive a $5,000 prize awarded by ARRL. His project was selected by a panel of judges based on usability, clarity, stability, and code quality. The judges also recognized his enthusiasm for software development and creativity by awarding him a new MacBook Neo to encourage his continued exploration of programming and technology.
“The ARRL Student Coding Competition was created to encourage young radio amateurs to apply their skills to a real-world opportunity that will benefit the amateur radio community and future entrants,” said ARRL Senior Director of Marketing and Innovation Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R. “Ben’s project demonstrated the kind of problem-solving skills and creativity that will help shape the future of amateur radio.”
The judges were also impressed with the strength of Leovy’s technical approach and the potential value of continuing its development. ARRL has offered him a consulting project this summer, to further refine and improve the application in collaboration with ARRL employees – an opportunity to gain professional experience. Upon successful completion of the project, Leovy will earn an additional $5,000. He will also be eligible for a $5,000 ARRL scholarship when he enrolls in college after high school.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to continue improving the application and working with ARRL,” said Leovy. “I hope it helps more people, particularly students my age, to get involved in amateur radio and to join ARRL.”
Leovy became interested in amateur radio through his grandfather and through friends involved with the scouts who shared an interest in the hobby. In addition to amateur radio and programming, Leovy participates in his school’s robotics club and enjoys exploring technology through hands-on projects.
The ARRL Student Coding Competition was launched in January 2026 as part of ARRL’s ongoing commitment to developing the next generation of radio amateurs. The competition encouraged ARRL Student members ages 21 and younger, who already have ham radio licenses, to combine their interests in amateur radio and software development.
“Programs like this help young people discover that amateur radio is more than a hobby — it is a pathway that inspires hands-on, practical, and technical experiences,” said ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA. “By investing in students and their ideas, ARRL is investing in the future of amateur radio.”
The competition is another ARRL program intended to develop student interest in future education and careers in STEM/STEAM fields. Other ongoing initiatives include the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology, the ARRL Collegiate Amateur Radio Program, and the ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program.
The competition judges were ARRL First Vice President Kristen McIntyre, K6WX; Hudson Division Director Ed Wilson, N2XDD; previous Director of Education and Learning Steve Goodgame, K5ATA; ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM; and Education & Learning Support Specialist Max Freedman, N4ML. Additional support was provided by past Pacific Division Director Anthony Marcin, W7XM.
Since 2024, ARRL Student Membership has been free for full-time students ages 21 and younger. This no-cost membership opportunity makes it easier for students to become involved in amateur radio and access ARRL resources while they explore radio, technology, and STEM-related learning opportunities.
For more information about ARRL Student Membership, visit www.arrl.org/student.
- ARRL
4. Paper Logging
As an amateur radio operator, logging and QSLing are topics that keep me busy all the time. While I recently stopped confirming my radio contacts (QSLing), it’s still very important to me to log my QSOs. I’ve tried many different options for this and most recently used Wavelog, with which I was generally satisfied. However, I’m currently trying (not just in amateur radio) to simplify things and return to the original ways. That’s why I’ve decided to switch to paper logging, even though the drawbacks are obvious: no automatic generation of statistics, no search options, and no quick way to tell if I’ve had a QSO with a station before. However, I like having the maximum freedom to enter whatever I want into the logbook, however I want. It also feels somehow more personal to log the QSOs by hand.
After testing this out for a while with an existing paper logbook, it turned out that while I like this approach, existing logbooks don’t suit my needs. I make contacts both on shortwave and via satellites. For the latter, I need fields such as the locator or the name of the satellite. That’s why I first designed my own logbook template in OpenOffice Calc, exported it as a PDF, and then had it bound into a ring binder by a professional printing service.
The following image shows the finished logbook with 100 pages, a transparent plastic cover page, and a black plastic page as the last page for less than 10 Euro:
My logbook design is based on the template by WD8DAS, which can be found here: https://www.wd8das.net/HamLogs/HamLogs.html
If anyone would like to use my template, they can download it from my server as an ODS file (logbook_a5.ods) or as a PDF file (logbook_a5.pdf)
Now all that's left is to see how long paper logging will keep me happy...
- DK1MI
5. The Technology We Killed in the 1960s Is Now Worth $3.3 Billion
In 1904, a British engineer built the first vacuum tube in a London laboratory. Within decades, it became the foundation of modern electronics. Radio, television, military radar, and the first computers all ran on vacuum tubes. Then in 1947, Bell Labs demonstrated the transistor, and by the 1960s the entire industry had moved on. Factories closed permanently, and the vacuum tube was declared dead.
But it never actually disappeared. It survived in places most people would never think to look, and in 2022 a geopolitical crisis exposed just how dependent the modern world still is on a technology it supposedly abandoned sixty years ago.
This is the full story of the vacuum tube, from the invention that started it all to the billion-dollar market nobody sees.
6. Listen to FreeSTAR SystemX Live No App Required [2026]
Stream the conversation. Anywhere. Anytime.
FreeSTAR SystemX Live Activity Feature Directly From Your Browser, No App is Required
Listen To Any FreeSTAR SystemX Talk Group Or Set Up A TG To Listen Once It becomes Active.
Web Brower Tool: http://hosepipe.freestar.network
7. The End of DMR Codeplugs? Z3DMR Application
Z3DMR is a free, mobile push-to-talk application designed for licensed amateur radio operators to communicate over Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) networks directly from their smartphones.
Developed by the Radioamateur Club Z37CPR, it eliminates the need for physical DMR hardware, a hotspot, or an HT (handheld transceiver) to access digital ham radio networks
Key Features:
Network Support: Connects directly to major DMR networks, including BrandMeister and Homebrew
Talkgroup Management: Features network-specific talkgroup lists, alongside manual configuration options for master servers, contacts, and custom talkgroups.
Call Types: Supports both group calls and private calls.
Advanced Automation: Automatically activates Auto-Static talkgroups and allows multiple user profiles with Extended Service Set Identifier (ESSID) support.
Built-in APRS: Includes integrated Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) functionality for location data transmission
Accessibility: Available in 24 languages with a modern, clean, user-friendly interface.
Platform Availability:
Android: The app is fully released and can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.
iOS: An Apple iOS version is actively under development
Official Resources:
For the latest updates, configuration guides, and community support, you can visit the Official Z3DMR Website or join their support community via the Z3DMR Telegram Group.
Z3DMR Website
https://z3dmr.com/
Facebook Group - Click HERE.
- END
