SARL NEWS SUNDAY 25 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).

SILENT KEY

It is with deep regret that the passing of Bernie Ginsberg, ZS6ANU, on Thursday 22 November 2007 at the age of 71 in Nelspruit is announced. We extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends.

(PAUSE)

In the news today:

INTECNET TO FOCUS ON ARDF

SARL- HMO BEACON PROJECT

WORKED ALL ZS AWARD

BUMPER EDITION OF RADIO ZS

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

INTECNET TO FOCUS ON ARDF

This evening the INTECNET staring at 20:00 will focus on ARDF. Rainer Floesser, DL5NBZ, will be the guest speaker. He has been involved in ARDF in Germany since 1976, he later became the trainer and the ARDF Manager for DARC and in 1999 was elected as Chairman of IARU Region 1 ARDF Workgroup, a position he still holds today.

Rainer will talk about the various facets of ARDF and how to develop teams that can compete internationally.

Join the Intecnet tonight and become part of the SARL initiative to introduce ARDF in South Africa. If you thought that DF hunting was fun, wait until you see what is involved in ARDF. Yes, it requires somewhat of an athletic inclination but in every competition, there is always a section for those of us that like to take it a little more leisurely.

The SARL President’s Net, staring at 19:00, will precede the Intecnet. Graham Hartlett, ZS6GJH, will talk about the new RAE instruction Guide that will be launched in early December and how clubs can become examination centres for the introductory ZU license.

SARL- HMO BEACON PROJECT SEQUENCE TIMING A NEW HEADACHE QUICKLY SOLVED

"On launching the SARL HMO beacon project we were aware that there was a possibility of time synchronization problems occurring. It was obvious that the problem was not a major problem, and could be contained.” John Williscroft told SARL News. "We however decided to move ahead and redefine the problem after gaining real practical experience.

After careful analyses, several solutions were developed and discarded because they were either too complex or too expensive to implement on 30 and ultimately 60 beacons. After systematic reviewing each possible corrective solution, the team found the right one.

The final solution now being implemented utilises a dial in procedure using either a Telkom phone or a cell phone with the necessary equipment set up at the base station. "The operation is surprisingly simple and takes less than a minute,” John said.

John has shared, in great detail, how the problem was resolved. It is available on www.sarl.org.za, select services and click on beacon project. It makes interesting reading.

ANOTHER BUMPER EDITION OF RADIO ZS ON ITS WAY

There is another bumper edition of Radio ZS on its way. If you are a member of the SARL, check it out on the web. If you are subscribed to receive a printed copy watch the mail, the magazine was posted earlier this week.

In his regular column Ham Pride: Our legacies and Traditions Dave Ingram, K4TWJ is looking at various morse code keys. Nostalgia to say the least! Hans van de Groenendaal wrote about D-Star, a digital system that is making a fast entry, particularly now that it has proven successful in message handling by emergency communicators. Hannes Hanekom, ZS6LW, describes how to build an eleven-metre crank-up tower. Start your own I-gate is Eddie Leighton, ZS6BNE's, call. Mike Hanslow, ZS1RMS, takes us direction finding and Ian Retief, ZS1PR/TR8, lifts the veil on ALC in his article entitled "Wat presies is ALC, en wat maak mens daarmee?” There are also the regulars.

You do not want to miss this edition. If you have not renewed your subscription you may just loose out. If you are not a member of the SARL yet, it is a good time to join now. Get all the details from www.sarl.org.za. While about it, join online.

The closing date for submission of contributions for the next edition, which will be published late in December, is Tuesday 27 November.

WORKED ALL ZS AWARD

The goalposts on the Worked All ZS awards programme have been relocated in one fell swoop. WAZS requires confirmed contacts with 100 ZS stations, representing all call areas according to the number of amateurs in those areas.

In 2000, the WAZS rules were rewritten to make provision for a series of advanced awards beyond the entry level of 100. These awards are called WAZS-200, WAZS-300 and so on, with no upper limit specified.

At the time, Pretoria Contest Club announced that it would sponsor trophies for the first two stations to reach WAZS-500. It took almost two years for a claimant to step forward, with Chris Burger, ZS6EZ, claiming WAZS-500 number 1 in December 2002. Until now, the runner-up has been Harald Pfeffer, OE6HPD, who claimed WAZS-400 in December 2001.

The standings have now changed in spectacular fashion. Jan Botha, ZS4JAN, has submitted his application for WAZS-600, using predominantly electronic confirmations through the SA-QSL system on the SARL Web site. He has achieved an SSB endorsement, with over 600 ZS call signs confirmed.

He has also claimed WAZS-500 using 7 MHz alone and WAZS-200 on 3,5 MHz alone. On 7 MHz, the previous record was a WAZS-200, and no-one has ever claimed the award on 3,5 MHz.

Jan has indicated that he intends to achieve WAZS-1000 in the near future. Pretoria Contest Club has responded by offering to donate another trophy, this time for the first station to reach the 1000 mark. Jan will receive his WAZS-500 trophy soon.

CLOSING DATE FOR MOTIONS AND NOMINATIONS

The closing date for motions for the 2008 SARL AGM and nominations for the SARL Council is Friday 30 November 2007. The motions and nominations must be sent to The Secretary, SARL, PO Box 1721, Strubensvallei, 1735 or by e-mail to secretary@sarl.org.za.

ACTIVITY FROM IRAQ

Following the return of amateur radio to Iraq on 20 November, Pierre, ZS1HF, has notified SARL News that he is active from Baghdad, Iraq, using the call sign YI9HF. He is active around 14,340 MHz and 21,340 MHz. Contact Pierre via e-mail to pierre.tromp@gmail.com to arrange a sked. He would like to work South African stations.

JOTA/JOTI REPORTS

Dave Gemmell, ZS6AAW, the National JOTA Co-ordinator requests all radio amateurs who were involved with JOTA and/or JOTI activities to submit a short report to him as soon as possible. Dave must draw up the South African report that must be submitted to the World Scout HQ by 31 December 2007. Submit your report to davegemmell@bmknet.co.za.

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. The expected Effective Sun Spot number for the coming week will be less than 5. Fortunately, the DX conditions are still warm, especially towards India and the USA.

15 and 20 m will provide best opportunities for DX. There is a possibility of 10, 15 and 20 m openings towards India from about 06:00 CAT. There may be short, weak 20 m openings to Australia at about 08:00. From 16:00, there may be weak 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. 80 m is the frequency of choice 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 call CQ.

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

CLUB NEWS

Allan, ZS6TDF, has informed SARL News that a new amateur radio club has been established in Middelburg, Mpumalanga. The club is known as the Digital Amateur Radio Club using the call sign ZS6DRC. The club has a 70 cm repeater on 438,750/431,150 MHz on the air and have Echolink and an IRLP node active. The node number is 8 432. Contact Allan at zs6tdf@vodamail.co.za for more information.

DIARY OF EVENTS

Tonight – President’s Net and 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.
09 December – PEARS HF QSO Party;
14 December – NARC closes for holiday period.

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