Connie L. Ballantyne, KB0ZSG — Kingwood, Texas
Photo via QRZ.com
🕊 In Memory
Connie L. Ballantyne, KB0ZSG, became a Silent Key on February 21, 2020, after a brave eight-month battle with breast cancer. She was a warm, generous, and deeply loved member of the amateur radio community. Connie is best remembered as the founder and Lead Net Control of the International D-Star Net — the oldest and longest-running net on D-Star — which she ran every Sunday evening for years, welcoming operators from around the world with kindness and enthusiasm.
Connie had a gift for making people feel welcome on the air. She believed that amateur radio could make the world feel smaller and friendlier, and she lived that belief every time she keyed up the microphone. Her net, her voice, and her warmth are deeply missed. In her honour, the net was renamed the KB0ZSG International D-Star Net and continues to this day, carried forward by KC9SIO and the CIRCLE Amateur Radio Club — Connie's International Radio Communicators Linking Electronically.
Forever on the air. Forever in our hearts.
📋 About Connie — KB0ZSG
Connie Ballantyne grew up surrounded by amateur radio. Her father was a licensed ham operator before she was born, and as a child she would talk to him on the auto-patch from home. She worked as an electronics assembler for her father's company for several years, soldering parts — including tiny surface-mount components on circuit boards — a tedious task she genuinely enjoyed.
Connie obtained her Technician licence in 1997 after moving to Missouri, and later upgraded to her General Class licence. During her time in Missouri she was actively involved in C.E.R.T., A.R.E.S., R.A.C.E.S., Weather Spotting, and Emergency Management. She volunteered communications support for the MS Bike Tour for approximately ten years, serving as the radio operator at one of the rest stops.
In the summer of 2007, Connie was part of a group that formed OMAR — Ozark Mountain Amateur Radio Group, which put up a 2-metre D-Star repeater in Ozark, Missouri under the callsign W0OMD. Her very first D-Star contact came at a hamfest in Springfield, Missouri, where she reached two stations in California — WA6YTD and WW6USA. From that moment, she was, in her own words, "hooked on D-Star."
— Connie, KB0ZSG
Connie later moved to Kingwood, Texas, where she became a member of the Texas Emergency Amateur Communicators (TEAC) radio group and a Digital Radio Support Group based in the Houston area. She was also proud to serve as the American Representative to the GB7SF group in Sheffield, England — who sent her a shirt with their logo and her name and callsign embroidered on it.
📡 The International D-Star Net
Connie founded and ran the International D-Star Net — held every Sunday evening at 7:00 PM Central Time on D-Star Reflector 1C (REF091 C). The net drew check-ins from operators across many countries and US states. It became one of the most beloved and longest-running nets in all of D-Star, a testament to the community Connie built through her warmth, consistency, and love of the hobby.
📅 Net Day & Time
Every Sunday evening at 7:00 PM US Central Time
📻 Reflector
D-Star Reflector 091 C (REF091 C)
🌍 Reach
Check-ins from multiple countries and US states every week
🏅 Legacy
Oldest and longest-running net on D-Star. Now the KB0ZSG International D-Star Net
After Connie became a Silent Key in February 2020, KC9SIO — who had served as her main back-up Net Control — stepped in to carry the net forward. The net was renamed the KB0ZSG International D-Star Net in her memory, and the CIRCLE Amateur Radio Club was founded to keep her legacy alive.
🔧 Radio Equipment
Connie was a dedicated D-Star enthusiast and put together a capable and creative station:
Radios: Icom IC-2820H · Icom IC-80AD with GPS Mic ·
Icom Anniversary 51A handheld · Icom 51A Plus handheld
Digital Node: Raspberry Pi running the D-Star Commander image with a
440 DVAP, enclosed in a clear Pelican case for portable and mobile use. Powered by a
RAVpower bank and connected via a Verizon MiFi internet device — allowing her to link
to D-Star from anywhere.
Other Modes: Blue DV Dongle for D-Star via computer ·
EchoLink node #391464
Favourite Mode: D-Star — and also a proud
American Representative to the GB7SF group, Sheffield, England.
🏅 Memberships & Service
Connie gave generously of her time to the amateur radio community throughout her life. Her service included:
Emergency Service
C.E.R.T. · A.R.E.S. · R.A.C.E.S. · Weather Spotting · Emergency Management (Missouri)
Community Events
MS Bike Tour communications volunteer — approximately 10 years at a rest stop
Texas Groups
Texas Emergency Amateur Communicators (TEAC) · Houston Digital Radio Support Group
International
American Representative — GB7SF, Sheffield, England · D-Star community worldwide
✉ Her Own Words
"Thanks for looking me up and if you hear me on the radio, DV dongle, or EchoLink please push that button and say hi."
73 from Connie, KB0ZSG
🔗 Related Links
KC9SIO — KB0ZSG International D-Star Net Page · KB0ZSG on QRZ.com · KC9SIO on QRZ.com · VE7LEE Amateur Radio Home