HAMNET Western Cape conducted a successful emergency radio communications exercise via the QO-100 satellite today to Europe and Middle Eastern countries

On 29th October 2022 various countries in Region 1 of the IARU (International Amateur Radio Union) conducted an exercise to test emergency radio communications via the QO-100 satellite. This exercise allowed us to test mobile deployment of our QO-100 stations, do signal checks, and a chance to pass and receive messages using the standardised IARU message form template.

James ZS1RBT deployed his station at Tyberberg Hospital (next to the Disaster Management Centre) on behalf of HAMNET Western Cape. It took about ten minutes to set up the dish and equipment, and align the dish towards the satellite. The station operated without any Internet or grid power.

A particular advantage of a QO-100 station is that as long as it is in the satellite’s footprint (Southern Africa up to Europe and part of the Middle East), it has a strong and clear signal from anywhere, and is not dependent upon times of the day which typically affect HF propagation. If properly configured, talking via the QO-100 satellite is as clear as speaking via a local VHF repeater. However, this service is only one of many tools available to radio amateurs, because as conditions or locations vary it may mean that various other modes need to be used, and it is for this reason why exercises are conducted at other times for the other modes of communication.

The Net Controller was based in Chester in England, and messages received and sent were perfectly audible. Although all tests today were voice tests, the satellite can also handle data such as Winlink e-mail, FT8, etc.

When the exercise was concluded at local time 13:10, James spent another 30 to 40 minutes explaining how all the components worked inside his “grey box”. As he explained, it is very much a “work in progress” as not only has he adapted quite a few components based on lessons learnt, but he also has a few other plans for further improvements.

In attendance with James today were Michael ZS1MJT (HAMNET Western Cape Director), Allan ZS1AL, and Danie ZS1OSS.

Some photos as well as videos are at https://bit.ly/hamnetwcqo100

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