Update: What progress is being made with the ZS1I - 6 Meter CW Beacon in the Southern Cape Area?

Well I have been asking this question to myself several times since this project was launched.  The project has not been shelved although due to other "gremlins" in the shack the priority and importance was down-scaled a few times until other breakages were fixed.  I am sure that you will agree with me that the 6m Band in the middle of Winter is fairly dead and the priority is on the low side.  Just to re-cap here is the links to the project for those that might have missed it.

1.  Building Low Budget Antennas - DIY Delta Loop Antenna for the 6 Meter Band ( 50 - 54 Mhz)

2.  Building Low Budget Antennas - DIY Moxon Antenna for the 6 Meter Band (50 Mhz)

3.  The ZS1I - 6 Meter Magic Band Project in the Southern Cape Area of South Africa. (Part 1)

4.  Heads Up - Here comes the Next Generation Amateur Radio Beacon (s) for the Southern Cape!! (Part 2)

5.  Update: Next Generation Amateur Radio Beacon (s) for the Southern Cape!! (Part 3) 

Now when I found the time I worked on the 6 Meter CW Beacon.  I also ordered a few parts that I am waiting for to continue the project.  The image below depict the work done so far on the beacon.  There is not many things left to do, that's if the "gremlins" stay away from the work-bench.

I will keep those interested updated about the project and when the beacon is switched on and on the air.  Updates to follow!

 Image:  ZS1I 6m Meter CW Beacon - work in progress

The ZS1I 40M WSPR Beacon is back on the air in Mossel Bay, South Africa

My previous post relating to the 40m WSPR Beacon available HERE refers.

The ZS1I 40 Meter Beacon located in Mossel Bay, South Africa is back on the air using the solar power supply.  So far the supply is running smoothly without any hick-ups.

Particulars of the ZS1I Ultimate 3S Beacon:

• Call: ZS1I
• Freq.: 7.038 600 Mhz
• Band:  40 Meters (7 Mhz)
• Grid:  KF15BT
• Power:  250 mW
• Mode: W-2  (WSPR2)
• Antenna:  EFHW (49:1 Balun)
• TX Period:  Every 10 Minutes
•  Beacon on the air from:  7 October 2025 @ 10h00 SAST
  
•  First Spotter: 10h20 ZS5SAM (Div 1)   Barrydale. (Distance 134 km)

Time to get the 6m CW Beacon on the air.  I will be working on this beacon in the coming days if "Murphy" stay out of my Shack. 

Image: ZS1I DX Report - Pedro LU7ABF  (Click on image for larger view.)  

The 40m WSPR Beacon needed a new Power Supply - AKA Solar Power Supply

Image: Solar Power Supply  (Click on image for larger view.) 

The ZS1I 40M WSPR Beacon has been off the air for the last two weeks due to the failure of a cheap 220v AC - 12v DC switch mode power supply.  I opted not to replace the power supply with another switch mode power supply.  I decided to go the solar power supply route and constructed the above supply for the beacon.

You might ask but why such a tall format solar power supply.  As usual I use what I have available in the junk box.  This power supply can also be used as a all in one supply.  The solar panel for the beacon is installed outside apart from the supply itself but if I want I can add the panel to the two aluminium stays at the back of the supply.  The solar supply can then be moved in the direction of the sun but not only that the operator will have access to the solar controller display information at any time while operating his radio from the supply. 

There is really no need to explain how the solar power supply was constructed.  The photos below provide you with more than enough information to build your own.  Remember to add fuses on the input and output of the supply should anything go wrong.

Herewith further information about the power supply: 

Model:  TX1210

Battery Voltage:  12 v

Charge Current:  10 A

Discharge Current:  10 A

Max Solar Input: <50 v

Equalization:  14.4 v

Float Charge:  13.7 v (Adjustable)

Discharge Stop:  10.7 v (Adjustable)

Discharge Connect: 12.6 v (Adjustable)

USB Output:  5 v / 3 A

The WSPR Beacon is now back on the air and running of the solar power supply. I am monitoring the beacon as well as the solar power supply to ensure that the beacon is now functioning optimal again.

More information about the beacon available HERE and HERE

Images:  (Click on images for larger view.)

Node / Repeater UP and Down Time Announcements - ZS1I HUB, Mossel Bay

As of the 1 May 2026, several significant updates and changes are impacting amateur radio node and repeater operations in the Southern Cape, particularly regarding nodes, repeaters and new digital voice incorporation into the ZS1I HUB.

If a repeater or node is silent, it is often due to an Internet outage or power failure. Always monitor the ZS1I Hub 145.550 Mhz Simplex and ZS1I Amateur Radio Projects / Activities Blog for specific announcements.  Visit the link page below for more information in this regard.  Gone are the days of using social media groups to keep interested radio amateurs informed.  Real radios, nodes and this blog will be used to keep radio amateurs informed and NOT social media!  Time we use less social media  ......  rather use the airwaves instead.

Link with more information:  Node / Repeater Announcements - ZS1I HUB, Mossel Bay

 

Update: ZS1I 6 Meter CW Beacon Project (Part 2)

In Part 1 available HERE I gave a short overview of the Next Generation Amateur Radio Beacon (s) for the Southern Cape.  You can read more HERE about the ZS1I 6 Meter Magic Band Project in the Southern Cape Area of South Africa.  This past few days I have been working on the 6m CW Beacon Amplifier.  As I said before this is not an elaborate beacon but more of a modular / practical beacon.  The amplifier for the beacon was damaged.  More on this available HERE.  Although the 6 meter " magic band season" is diminishing work must continue on the "Simple Simon" Beacons.  After all the hobby is about having fun  .... aint it?

Today it was time to see if the magic smoke will come out of the amplifier.  Well I soldered the power cables to the unit and ensure that the polarity is correct.  The buck converter power supply was installed in a 3d printed enclosure.  A word of warning.  Although the "manual" indicated that this amplifier is rated for 12 v DC power,  I found several sources that indicate that the unit must be powered by 9 v DC.  Rather safe than sorry I set the DC power output to 9 volts.

I connected the amplifier and switched the buck converter on.  LEDS  came on both on the buck converter as well as the amplifier and thankfully no magic smoke escaped from both units.  I switched off and connected the rest of the beacon modules except the low pass filter.  Switched on again and again no smoke, just the harmonious tones of CW filled the Shack.  I setup the SDR Receiver and a simple dipole antenna to receive the signals.  Well all went well and the beacon chimed on for more than an hour.  The amplifier was not hot to the touch and the CW was also picked up from an adjacent room without any antenna connected to the beacon.  See images and video.  Unfortunately I do not have a QRP / ORPP Watt Meter but the signal strength reflected via the computer and SDR Receiver was more than enough to satisfy my "taste-buds".

So far so good.  I now need a project cabinet and will install the modules which will include the low pass filter.  Once every module is installed I will test the 6m CW Beacon to the full.  So far I am quite impressed but the proof lies in the pudding!!  Stay tuned!!

ZS1I 40 Meter WSPR Beacon Activity on the Increase before G2 Solar Storm

Image:  Dr. Tamitha Skov via GEOCRON

With a G2/Moderate storm intervals (Kp =6) currently in progress WSPR activity might decrease as from 5 May 2025. Just before the current Solar Storm the following activity were spotted relating to the ZS1I 40 Meter WSPR Beacon.

 

Quality Control - Electronic Modules and Equipment

Image:  Fixed RF Amplifier  (Click on image for larger view.)

I embarked on the Next Generation Amateur Radio Beacon (s) for the Southern Cape!! I am currently working on the 6m CW Beacon.  While it is operation on the workbench  I need  more RF power output for this specific beacon.  I had two options (1) Buy a Power Amplifier or (2) Construct a Power Amplifier. I decided to opt for the first option to buy a power amplifier.  Well it arrived a few weeks ago and as per usual I had to open the parcel.  The parcel was well packed against damage but the actual package for the power amplifier was only encased in a small anti-static envelope.  I cut open the envelope and out fell the SMA connector on the workbench.  I took the unit out and saw the the soldering was bad where the SMA connector sit.  No problem I would just solder the SMA connector back on but before I did I noticed something else on one of the fixed inductors.  It was cracked and some of the compound that surrounds the inductor was missing.  Put two and two together.  Mass production and modules are thrown into boxes without protection or before packaging into the static envelope the module is mishandled in some form.  This resulted in the damage to this specific RF amplifier.  I searched the Internet and low and behold this is not the only same RF amplifier damaged upon receipt of the unit.

Well the unit need to be fixed.  No option to return as it would take to long or get lost.  I ordered a few 33 uH inductors and fixed the worse for wear RF Amplifier.  I purposely left the SMA connector detached as I might directly solder coax to the PCB tracks when I link all the modules together. The only thing that remains is to test the amplifier to see if the magic smoke is going to escape from the unit.  Update in this regard to follow.

Images  (Click on images for larger view.)