SOUTH AFRICAN RADIO LEAGUE
SARL NEWS SUNDAY 29 APRIL 2007
You are listening to Amateur Radio Station ZS6SRL of the South African Radio League, the National Body for Amateur Radio in South Africa, with a news bulletin that is broadcast every Sunday at 08:15 CAT in Afrikaans and at 08:30 CAT in English. This broadcast can also be heard on Echolink by connecting to ZS6FCS. To listen to a web stream go to www.sarl.org.za, click on ARMI and follow the links. This, and previous bulletins, can be downloaded from the web site of the SARL i.e. www.sarl.org.za. You can also read or download previous bulletins from there and subscribe to receive future bulletins by email.
This transmission is by Hans, ZS6KR, on 145,725 and 7,066 MHz from Pretoria with relays on 3,695, 10,135, 14,235 and 51,400 MHz as well as 438,825 MHz in the Pretoria area. (Other news readers please change to suit).
In the news today:
SIEMENS RADIO AMATEUR OF THE YEAR AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED
EXAMINATION DETAILS AVAILABLE ON THE WEB
PRESIDENT’S NET AND INTECNET ON THE AIR NEXT SUNDAY
You are listening to ZS6SRL. Stay tuned for more detail on these and other important and interesting news items.
SIEMENS RADIO AMATEUR OF THE YEAR AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED
The Board of the South African Amateur Radio Development Trust met last week to review the nominations for the various awards annually sponsored by Siemens.
As over the past few years not many nominations have been received for the Young Radio Amateur of the Year Award, the Board has therefore decided to change the award structure and from this year will present a Radio Amateur of the Year Award for Technical innovation and another award for the promotion and development of Amateur Radio.
The Siemens Radio Amateur of the Year Award for the promotion and development of Amateur Radio will be bestowed on Dave Reece, ZS1DFR, and the award for Technical Innovation will be presented to Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP.
The Siemens Amateur Radio Community Service Award goes this year to Davy Smeda, ZR1FR. The awards will be presented at a gala lunch to be held in Midrand on 15 May 2007. Congratulations to the recipients.
EXAMINATION DETAILS AVAILABLE ON THE WEB
The examination details and examination numbers have been posted on the SARL web at www.sarl.org.za. Click on RAE down the left hand side column on the home page and when the page opens click on Candidate exam numbers. Letters will be mailed to individual candidates within the next few days.
DON'T LET YOU'RE MAIL GET LOST
Have you checked that the SARL has the correct mailing address details for you? Please look up your entry in the online call book on www.sarl.org.za and advise the office of any changes. Please also check that we have your correct email address as most of our correspondence will be sent by email. It is more reliable and less expenses than ordinary post.
The office is currently preparing the membership invoice for the 2007/2008 financial year and we would like to make sure the invoice reaches you in good time.
Changes to your email and postal addresses can be sent to admin@sarl.org.za or faxed to 088 011 675 2793. Please always use the full 13 digits.
PRESIDENT’S NET AND INTECNET ON THE AIR NEXT SUNDAY
The next President’s net and Intecnet will be on the air next Sunday evening 6 May 2007. The President’s net starts at 19:00 followed by the Intecnet at 20:00. Clubs are invited to apply for a link to the teleconference bridge. Simply send an Email by next Saturday to armi@sarl.org.za with the telephone number and details of the repeater to be connected.
The Intecnet will feature a discussion on the extensive linked repeater network covering the Eastern and Western Cape and parts of the Free State. The guest speaker will be Chris Scarr, ZS2AAW. The network is also the subject of an article in EngineerIT which can be read free online at www.eepublishers.co.za.
SARL OFFICE CLOSED ON 30 APRIL
The SARL office will be closed on Monday 30 April and reopen on Wednesday 2 May.
WHY BELONG TO THE SARL?
This question is so often heard. There are lots of good reasons, here is just one: "Representing amateurs in the legislative, regulatory and administrative processes that affect us all locally, nationally and internationally”.
DIVISION 6 BAND PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
The next meeting of the Division 6 Band Planning Committee will be held at the NARC from 09:00 - 12:00 on Saturday 5th May 2007. All clubs in the region are invited to send a representative.
For further information kindly contact Peter Hers, ZS6PHD, at 083 445 4634 or by email to zs6phd@mweb.co.za.
US COMPANY OFFERS WI-FI-PROOF PAINT
An American company says it has successfully tested wireless-blocking paint. EM-SEC Technologies, in a release (http://emsectechnologies.com/press_releases/press1.php) a few weeks ago, said its "Coating Solution", applied to a test facility, had successfully protected "wireless devices and other electronic equipment".
According to the company, "a one-time application of the coating creates an 'electromagnetic fortress' by preventing airborne hackers from intercepting signals".
EM-SEC reckons this would be useful for corporate offices, boardrooms, server and computer rooms, and R&D labs. It seems that wireless nets can be operated without trouble inside a painted building or room.
Products like this seem bound to find a wide market. Cinemas or theatres might use such tech to cut off mobile phones, avoiding the legal issues around jamming.
COMPETITION NEWS
ZS3 / ZS4 40 METRE SPRINT
On Sunday 6 May 2007, the ZS3/ZS4 40 Metre Sprint will be on the air. This is a fun activity to promote contacts between radio amateurs in the Northern Cape and Free State provinces and radio amateurs in Southern African countries. The Sprint runs from 16:00 to 17:00 CAT with phone, CW and PSK 31 activity. The exchange is RS(T) and province or country abbreviation, e.g. 59EC.
Contacts with stations in the Free State and Northern Cape count two points and a contact with ZS4BFN, ZS4SRK, ZS4B, ZS3ARK and ZS3FLY count five points. The rules can be found in the 2007 SARL Contest Manual and will be posted with HF Happenings during the week.
CLUB NEWS
The Centurion Radio Amateur Club held its AGM last Saturday, 21st April and the following members were elected to the committee:
Chairman - Gawie Basson, ZS6GJJ:
Vice Chairman - Pam Momberg, ZS6APT:
Secretary - Billy Strumpher, ZR6ATC:
Treasurer - Pam Momberg, ZS6APT.
Many thanks to the retiring committee members for their services and congratulations and strength to the new committee members.
PROPAGATION REPORT
Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, reports that the expected solar activity will continue at very low levels. The geomagnetic field is expected to range from unsettled to minor storm levels on 29 April. The expected Effective Sun Spot number for the coming week will be less than 10.
20 and 15 metre will provide best opportunities for DX. There is a possibility of 15 and 20 metre openings towards India from about 06:00 and again at 13:00 CAT. Conditions are going to be challenging towards Australia. From about 15:00, there may be good 10, 15 and 20 m openings towards Europe. Contacts to the USA are going to be very challenging. For the CW and digital enthusiasts it may also be worth monitoring 10 MHz.
Although the predictions may not be too enthusiatic, HF always has the capability to surprise you. You will never know what you are missing unless you switch on your rig, listen and also call CQ.
Please visit www.spaceweather.co.za for further information.
DIARY OF EVENTS
27 April to 1 May – ZS3FLY, with the Land Cruiser Club at Boegeoebergdam, on the air also ZS1 Amateur Radio Club active from Verneukpan;
28 to 30 April – ZS3ARK active with the Voortrekkers at Lohatla;
5 May – Cape Town ARC Flea Market and also the West Rand Radio Club Flea Market;
6 May – ZS3/ZS4 40 Metre Sprint and President’s Net and Intechnet;
15 May – Closing date for applications for Itchen Valley bursaries;
30 June – Closing date for updating of SA DX Survey.
SARL News depends on clubs and individuals for news items of importance and interest to radio amateurs. The one and only way to ensure that your contribution will reach the SARL News team, is to place it in www.sarl.org.za/newsinbox.asp not later than the Thursday preceding the bulletin date. It will be appreciated if you will do it in both Afrikaans and English.
The SARL also invites all listeners to listen to the program Amateur Radio Mirror International this Sunday morning at 10:00 CAT on 145,750 MHz in the Pretoria area with relays on 7 082, 7 205 and 17 695 kHz. Audio is also streamed on www.zs6mrk.org and on Echolink from ZS6FCS as for this bulletin. A repeat transmission takes place on Mondays at 21:00 on 3 215 kHz. Telkom and Sentech sponsor the ARMI transmissions on the non-amateur frequencies.
You have been listening to a news bulletin by the South African Radio League, which was compiled by George, ZS6NE.
A prosperous week to all, 73.
/EX
