SARL NEWS SUNDAY 11 NOVEMBER 2007

You are listening to ZS6SRL the official Radio Station of the South African Radio League, the National Body for Amateur Radio in South Africa, with a news bulletin that is transmitted every Sunday at 08:15 CAT in Afrikaans and at 08:30 CAT in English. To listen to a web stream or Echolink by ZS6FCS visit www.sarl.org.za, click on ARMI and follow the links for details.

You can download this and previous bulletins from www.sarl.org.za and you can also subscribe there to receive future bulletins by email.

Your newsreader this morning is Hans, ZS6KR, on 145,725 and 7,066 MHz from Pretoria with relays on 28,325, 14,235, 10,130, 7,066 and 3,695 MHz SSB as well as 51,400, 438,825 and 1 296 MHz FM in the Pretoria area. (Other newsreaders please change to suit).

In the news today:

REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE TODAY

WRC-07 NO 5 MHz AMATEUR ALLOCATION

FIVE RUNNERS-UP CHOSEN IN ESSAY COMPETITION

You are listening to ZS6SRL. Stay tuned for more detail on these and other important and interesting news items.

REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE TODAY

The annual remembrance service for radio amateurs who died in service for South Africa will be on the air today 11 November at 10:45 during the ARMI program. Ds Hannes Enslin, ZS6JDE, will conduct the service. It will be relayed by many stations in RSA as well as on Echolink via ZS6FCS. We request that all radio amateurs will observe radio silence during the transmission.

WRC-07 WEEK 3: HF BROADCASTING EMPTY-HANDED, NO 5 MHZ AMATEUR ALLOCATION

As the International Telecommunication Union’s 2007 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07) in Geneva headed toward its fourth and final week, Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, Secretary of the IARU reports that the proponents of additional allocations to HF Broadcasting conceded defeat and accepted that there will be no additional allocations made to HFBC at this conference. The slim possibility of a 5-MHz allocation to the amateur service also evaporated late Friday evening.

HFBC has been a contentious issue at ITU conferences for decades. At WRC-07, additional HFBC allocations between 4 and 10 MHz were supported by 25 European administrations and a few outside Europe but were strongly opposed by every other regional organization. Opposition to additional HFBC allocations was based mainly on a desire to protect military and other government fixed and mobile communications, although some of the administrations that were the most outspoken opponents of HFBC expansion, authorise HFBC stations under their jurisdiction to operate out-of-band in the fixed and mobile allocations. Some HFBC proponents predict that the unsatisfactory outcome of the conference on this issue will lead to even more out-of-band broadcasting.

A footnote specifically authorising administrations to allow amateur stations to use spot frequencies in the 5-MHz range was considered Friday evening at the Sub Working Group level as one of the last items of business concerning the 4 - 10 MHz range. The footnote failed to attract sufficient support and was withdrawn from consideration by its sponsor, the European regional organization (CEPT). This has no effect on the administrations that have authorized amateur operations under the no-interference provisions of Radio Regulation 4.4.

On a more positive note for radio amateurs, a secondary allocation of 135,7 – 137,8 kHz to the amateur service was approved on first reading in Plenary on Friday afternoon, 9 November. This marks the first time since allocations to radio services began that the amateur service has had an allocation below the medium wave broadcasting band. The effective date is not yet set but is likely to be the date of entry into force of the Final Acts of the Conference. Of course, amateurs must wait until their own administrations authorize the new allocation before they can use it. Some administrations, while not wishing to block the international allocation, have indicated a reluctance to implement it in their countries because of various interference concerns.

Work continues on the agenda for future WRCs, tentatively scheduled for 2011 and 2015. There are many more proposals for agenda items for the next conference than can be accommodated, so only those with broad support are likely to be included. Committee work on the future agendas is scheduled for completion early next week.

FIVE RUNNERS-UP CHOSEN IN “INTO SPACE WITH AMATEUR RADIO” ESSAY COMPETITION

Joining the winner of the “Into Space with Amateur Radio” Essay Competition, Katlego Zabala, a learner at the Sekano-Ntoane Secondary School are five runners-up who will each receive a 40 metre Direct Conversion receiver kit. They are two brothers from the John Vorster Technology High School, Jan Louw Kampman, ZU6JLK, and Rieks Kampman, ZU6HK, Sebastian Cooper from the George Campbell School of Technology and Cameron Mckenzie who is a learner at the Northwood Boys High School in Durban. The only girl amongst the runner-ups is Natalie Vermaak who is a learner at the Newton Park Technical High School in Port Elizabeth. Congratulations to the winners. The prizes will be presented as soon as the kits are available. All participants will receive a certificate, which will be mailed during the first week in December.

The standard of all entries was very high. The learners did thorough research on their chosen subject and presented the judges with a very difficult task to decide on the winning essay and the five runner-ups. The six essays are available on the web at www.amateurradio.org.za.

ARRL HANDBOOK WINNER

A surprising few entries were received in the identify the mystery message on the ZS6SRL 40 Metre beacon. The lucky entry drawn was that of Clive Bean, ZS6AVP. Congratulations Clive. For those who can not read CW, the message was: "de zs6srl amateur radio is communications technology in action sarl hmo beacon project is perfect example”.

SARL AWARDS

Tjerk, ZS6P, the SARL Awards Manager invites members and clubs to submit nominations to Council for the following SARL awards:

Honorary Life Membership - the SARL's highest honour.

Willie Wilson Gold Badge - awarded by Council to the amateur that gave exceptional and meritorious service to the League.

Jack Twine Award - this prestigious Award will be made to Amateurs who, in the opinion of their fellow amateurs and the League's Council, exemplify the qualities desirable in a Radio Amateur.

Arthur Hemsley 2 metre Trophy - this award is made for extraordinary performance on EME or modes such as tropospheric propagation.

Barney Joel Trophy - awarded for the best performance during the year whilst working HF mobile.

Icom Excellence Award – awarded to the amateur who through his/her activity in the Amateur Service has brought international recognition to South Africa.

Joseph White Plaque - awarded for exceptional achievements in the 432 MHz band during the past year.

Bert Buckley Six metre Trophy - awarded for individual achievements with transmissions in the six metre amateur band.

The names of nominees and the award together with a short motivation must be sent to The Secretary, SARL, PO Box 1721, Strubensvallei, 1735 or by e-mail to secretary@sarl.org.za or by fax to 088 011 675 2793 before 16 February 2008.

QSL BUREAU NEWS

There is no question regarding the important service the QSL bureau performs in getting your QSL cards to you and dispatching them worldwide. All this thanks to those who willingly give up their spare time, amateurs, just like you, who sort and dispatch cards countrywide!

The bureau currently needs to fill two vacancies of two sorters, who after 10 years of service feel it is time to stand down. Ron, ZS6BHH, and Viv, ZS6CAA, have decided to stand down and we thank them for all the time and effort they have spent sorting cards for the benefit of all amateur radio operators around South Africa.

All we need is 2 days per month out of your life, namely the second and last Tuesday of every month. It will be appreciated if you would like to offer your services so please phone Francois, ZS6BUU, at 011 679 5260 or phone Vee at the office at 011 675 2393.

SARL HF FIELD DAY

The second leg of the SARL HF Field Day will take place on the weekend of 17 and 18 November 2007. This CW and phone contest starts at 12:00 CAT on Saturday and ends 24 hours later with activity on 160 to 10 metres. The exchange is a RS or RST report and S, M or G depending on the category of participation. The rules are available in the 2007 SARL Contest Manual.

PROPAGATION CONDITIONS

Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, reports that the expected solar activity will be at very low levels. The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet in general except from 14 until 16 November when the geomagnetic field can reach active levels. The expected Effective Sun Spot number for the coming week will be less than 5. Fortunately, the DX conditions are warming up a bit, especially towards India and the USA.

15 m and 20 m will provide best opportunities for DX. There is a possibility of 10, 15 and 20 m openings towards India from about 08:00 CAT. There may be short, weak 20 m openings to Australia at about 06:00. From 16:00, there may be 15 and 20 m openings towards Europe. From 18:00, there may be 15, 20 and 80 m openings towards the USA. For the CW and digital enthusiasts, it will also be worth monitoring 10 MHz. Locally conditions on 40 m are going to be good during the day. 30 m may perform well over the longer distances.

It is once again time to work towards your 80 m WAZS award in the evenings, thunderstorms and static permitting! Remember that this is only a prediction and that HF always has the capability to surprise you. You will never know what you are missing unless you switch your rig on, listen and also call CQ.

Please visit www.spaceweather.co.za for further information.

CLUB NEWS

The West Rand ARC is holding a flea market starting at 08:00 CAT on Saturday 24 November 2007 at their club house in Kroton street, Weltevreden Park, Roodepoort. Everybody is welcome and for further information, contact the chairman, Stuart, ZS6OUN, at 082 573 3359 or sbaynes@iafrica.com.

The Battle Group South has an exhibition at the Military museum in Johannesburg on the 24th and 25th of November. Leon Lessing, ZR6ANA, is looking for radio amateurs to assist him in setting up a 1980’s long-range patrol camp and operate the radios. There are going to be German, Afrika Korps, British and American exhibits as well, there may even be First World War exhibits. Please contact Leon if you could assist or if you need more information, his telephone number is 082 440 7733.

The Centurion Radio Amateur Club is hosting a Test Your Radio Equipment Day, mini flea market and potjiekos competition on Saturday 1st December at the clubhouse in Duncan Street, Hatfield. More information in next weeks bulletin.

DIARY OF EVENTS

Today – Remembrance Day service during the ARMI program this morning;
17 to 18 November - SARL HF Field day;
24 November – West Rand Flea market;
24 to 25 November - Battle Group South exhibition at Johannesburg War Museum;
25 November - Intecnet about ARDF;
30 November - Closing date for nominations for SARL Councillors and motions for 2008 AGM.
01 December – Centurion ARC Test You Equipment Day

SARL News invites clubs and individuals to submit news stories of interest to radio amateurs and shortwave listeners. Submit news stories if possible in both English and Afrikaans to www.sarl.org.za/newsinbox.asp not later than the Thursday preceding the bulletin date.

The SARL also invites you to listen to the programme Amateur Radio Mirror International, on the air every Sunday morning at 10:00 CAT on 145,750 MHz in the Pretoria area with relays on 7 082, 7 205 and 17 590 kHz. For the web stream and Echolink by ZS6FCS visit www.sarl.org.za, click on ARMI and follow the links. A repeat transmission can be heard Mondays at 21:00 CAT on 3 215 kHz. Sentech sponsors the ARMI transmissions on the non-amateur frequencies.

Today's South African Radio League news bulletin was compiled by Dennis, ZS4BS, and transmitted by (your name and call sign).

Thank you for listening. 73.

/EX