SARL NEWS - SUNDAY – 31 AUGUST 2008
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 transmitted every Sunday at 08:15 CAT in Afrikaans and at 08:30 CAT in English. To listen to a webstream, visit www.sarl.org.za, click on ARMI and follow the links for details. PLEASE NOTE! For audio via Echolink, connect to ZS0JPL-R.
You can download this and previous bulletins from www.sarl.org.za and subscribe to receive future bulletins by e-mail.
Your newsreader this morning is (name), (call sign), 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:
ICASA PROPOSED TABLE OF FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS INCLUDES CHANGES TO SOME AMATEUR FREQUENCIES
SARL HMO 40 METRE BEACON PROGRAMME TO BE FEATURED AT THE RTA
WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMENT BY SOUTH AFRICAN AMATEUR IN CQWW CW CONTEST
You are listening to ZS6SRL. Stay tuned for more detail on these and other important and interesting news items.
ICASA PROPOSED TABLE OF FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS INCLUDES CHANGES TO SOME AMATEUR FREQUENCIES
On 22 July 2008 ICASA published the revised table of frequency allocations, a process that is mandated by the Electronic Communication Act. The SARL has studied the table and has submitted its comments to the regulator. The next step is for ICASA to review all the comments received and to hold public hearings if required. Once the final table has been agreed, it will be published in the Government Gazette together with the date of when the new table will replace the old table.
The SARL has reviewed the table in accordance with a world-wide document entitled Spectrum Requirements for the Amateur and Amateur-satellite Services published by the IARU Administrative Council on 22 August 2008.
The proposed South African table already includes the expansion of the 40 metre band to 7 200 kHz as well as a new allocation of 135,7 - 137,8 kHz in the long wave spectrum.
In the table the limitation that currently exists for ZRs in the 14 MHz band has been removed.
Some time ago the SARL made a representation to ICASA to have the 160 metre band expanded to 2 000 kHz as well as a new allocation in the 5 MHz spectrum. The SARL has put forward a further proposal to be considered as part of the table of allocation review process.
The SARL has also addressed spectrum needs in the 2 300 - 2 450 MHz band and an allocation in the 3 300 - 3 500 MHz band, to align South Africa with other parts of the world where this band is being considered for amateur satellite use. This allocation is not generally allocated in ITU region one except in some individual CEPT countries who have an allocation for amateur satellites in the 3 400 - 3 410 MHz band.
The South African table of frequency allocations include an interesting allocation for use by radio amateurs in the 40 MHz band. The frequencies 40,675 - 40,685 MHz may be used for propagation studies with a maximum power limit of 10 Watt EIRP, limited to ZS licensees.
Please note that all current regulations and allocations remain in force and that any new allocations will only become available when published in the Government Gazette.
SARL HMO 40 METRE BEACON PROGRAMME TO BE FEATURED AT THE RTA
The SARL-HMO 40 metre beacon programme is soon to end its pilot status and will be ready to be rolled out. Some serious technical challenges had to be overcome which required prolonged testing of all 30 units. A paper discussing these challenges and their solutions will be discussed at the RTA in Gauteng on 13 September. All 30 beacons will be on display showing how their timing sequence works. The paper will be presented by Lindsay Magnus of the Hermanus Magnetic Observatory.
The RTA is being hosted at the National Amateur Radio Centre at Radiokop. The full programme, details of how to get there and the large range of attendance prizes to be won in a lucky draw can be found on www.sarl.org.za or send an email to armi@sarl.org.za with your fax number or email address and a copy of the programme will be sent to you. Attendance is R20 per person. Learners and students attend free of charge.
TAKE AMATEUR RADIO TO SCHOOL ON 8 OCTOBER
The world is celebrating Space week 2008 from 4 - 10 October. On Wednesday 8 October the SARL is planning to take amateur radio to as many schools as possible. The help of clubs and individual radio amateurs is needed to make this happen. An Intecnet type link up is being arranged between 10:00 and 12:00. The event will also be supported on HF for areas where repeater access is not available.
Your help is needed to set up a station at a school near you. Get more details on www.sarl.org.za.
HELP US AT INSITE 2008
INSITE 2008 is an exhibition about science, innovation and technology. It is being held at Sandton Convention Centre from 15 - 17 September and open from 10:00 - 17:00. Amateur Radio will be there and we need assistance in manning the stand. Come and share your enthusiasm for amateur radio for a few hours, or the day. Please drop an email to armi@sarl.org.za and ZS6AKV will contact you to work out the details with you.
SARL MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS HIT A NEW RECORD
On Friday the SARL membership reached 1132, a new record for the number of members who have renewed by the end of August. The special discounted rate is still available till Sunday night for electronic transfers. If you are paying by cheque, all cheques received in mail dated 1 September or before will be accepted at the lower rate. From 1 September the rate for ordinary members increases to R320 and for senior members to R200.
For details on how to pay, visit www.sarl.org.za or contact Vee Antal on 011 675-2393 between 09:00 and 13:00.
Thanks to all who have renewed and special welcome to all new members.
WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMENT BY SOUTH AFRICAN AMATEUR IN CQWW CW CONTEST
Andrew, ZS6AA, achieved tenth place in the world in the single operator all band low power category of the CQWW CW contest for 2007. His score of 2,36 million points from 2 717 QSO’s also breaks the South African record of 582 920 points for this category, which was set by ZS6AJS in 1995.
Well done Andrew and congratulations.
PROPAGATION REPORT
Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, reports that the expected solar activity will be very low. The geomagnetic field is expected to be mostly at quiet levels untill 4 September after which it will rise to active levels. The expected Effective Sun Spot number for the coming week will be less than 5. DX conditions will generally be good to the North and poor in the general North-Westerly directions.
20 m will provide best opportunities for DX. There is a possibility of 20 m openings towards India from about 15:00 CAT. There is the possibility of weak 40 and 80 m openings to New Zealand at 20:00. Otherwise contacts with Australia and New Zealand will be very challenging. From 16:00 there may be 20 m openings towards Europe. Contacts with the USA are going to be very challenging.
10 MHz is looking promising late afternoon and after dark for the CW and digital enthusiasts.
Local conditions are going to be good on 40 m during the day time. 80 m may perform well during the early mornings and late afternoons over the shorter distances, e.g. between ZS5 and ZS6. 30 m may perform well during the middle of the day between ZS6 and ZS1.
80 m is the frequency of choice in the evenings. With summer approaching it is now an excellent time to make those 80 m contacts for your WAZS before the thunderstorms and static start again . 160 m will also perform well during the evenings.
Remember that this is only a prediction and that HF always has the capability to surprise you, but you will never know unless you switch your rig on, listen and also call CQ.
Please visit www.spaceweather.co.za for further information.
DIARY OF EVENTS
31 August – Last day for subs at discount rates;
06 September - West Rand Flea Market;
11 September – Last date to enrol for the October RAE;
15 – 17 September – INSITE 2008 at Sandton Convention Centre;
13 September – Radio Technolgy in Action at the National Amateur Radio Centre;
03 October – Young Ladies meet SA starts;
08 October – Set up a school station for Space Week activity.
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 webstream 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 George, ZS6NE.
Thank you for listening. 73.
/EX
