About ZS6RO

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I have been a Radio Amateur since the late 60's, first as ZS1RO, then ZS5RO, now as ZS6RO. I still hold my ZS1RO callsign, probably for sentimental reasons. Though I did my share of CW and SSB operating, my favourite mode has been 'data over radio'.

I experimented extensively with RTTY in the 70's, and ran a totally homebrew SELCAL RTTY BBS, including the radio, on 14075 kHz for many years. ZS2LR, ZS3B, Z21CE and a few others also ran SELCAL RTTY BBS's on the same channel and I had a lot of fun broadcasting the South African Radio League HQ weekly bulletins on yellow reperforated tape and taking reports afterwards.

When Packet Radio and personal Computers entered the scene, this opened up data communications like never before and it wasn't long before a Packet Radio Network started in South Africa at most of the major cities.

The Packet Radio BBS's (Bulletin Board Systems) update themselves, either by radio (HF, VHF or UHF), Internet by E-Mail, or Gateways. In Cape Town, the Packet Radio Network included a SATGATE that relayed traffic via Radio Amateur Satellites. This was sent out worldwide and allowed messages of a personal nature, or bulletins of varied topics, to be conveyed to their respective destinations. The Satgate is now closed due to the satellite not being available.

Often the 'Mail' gets through from one side of the globe to the other within a few hours! And the majority of these tasks are automated. BBS Sysops are a dedicated bunch of Hams and usually own, finance and maintain their BBS's to ensure that the 'Mail' gets through.

I run a Packet/Pactor Radio BBS (ZS0MEE) and like most BBS's around the world including South Africa, a large amount of traffic passes through it on a daily basis. My Packet Radio BBS 'radio address' is ZS0MEE.SRJ.GAU.ZAF.AF .

I have a DX-Cluster Node (ZS6RO-1) which is connected to other Nodes worldwide.This allows for quick DX-Spotting when DX'ing.

I also have a 10 MHz HF APRS iGateway (ZS6RO-4). This allows HF mobiles to be tracked by their friends when mobiling Africa.

I run a PSKMail Server (ZS0MEE) which is mainly for emergency use but can be used for normal use as well and scans 7048 and 10148 kHz 24/7. One can send and receive emails via HF. The current ARRL and SARL bulletins can be downloaded and read. If one is mobile on this network, the vehicle's radio beacons will be sent to the APRS Internet netowrk where it can be tracked.

I have a receiver connected to the GlobalTuner's Internet Network. Users can log onto the Radio Node and remotely tune the receiver to any frequency from below medium wave up to 1300 MHz.

I built a PIC-based weather station which can be viewed on this web site. It's data is also sent to the APRS network.