SARL NEWS - SUNDAY - 21 SEPTEMBER 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:
SARL PRESIDENT’S NET TONIGHT AT 19:30
DON'T BUY GREY IMPORTS
SARL GETS AN AWARD AT INSITE 2008
You are listening to ZS6SRL. Stay tuned for more detail on these and other important and interesting news items.
SARL PRESIDENT’S NET TONIGHT AT 19:30
Join SARL President, Rassie Erasmus and SARL Awards Manager Tjerk Lammers as they discuss awards on this evening's president’s net starting at 19:30 on a repeater near you. To join via echolink or to listen to the web cast go to www.sarl.org.za, click on publications, select ARMI and follow the links.
DON'T BUY GREY IMPORTS UNLESS YOU WANT TO FORGO GUARANTEES
Radio Amateurs are advised not to buy grey imported products, if they do it is at their own risk as these products carry no guarantee and will not be serviced by the authorised dealer in South Africa. This warning came from Multisource, distributors of ICOM amateur equipment.
Multisource told the SARL that the company will in no way whatsoever support any Icom Amateur product that was not originally supplied by them or their approved dealers - this pertains to Warranty, After-Sales Service and Repairs. For all Warranty exchanges or repairs, a serial and invoice number MUST be supplied together with a fully completed RMA form. If the serial number/s of the equipment does not reflect on the records at Multisource, the Warranty will not be honoured. The same applies to equipment bought overseas.
By law, grey importers must inform their customers that their products do not carry the manufacturer’s warrantee.
ARE YOU TAKING AMATEUR RADIO TO SCHOOL ON 8 OCTOBER
Have you approached your local school to set up an amateur radio station as part of World Space week on 8 October? Is you club participating in promoting amateur radio to the youth? Visit www.sarl.org.za ad click on Youth Activity to get more information.
The essay competition in which big prizes can be won, including an Acer laptop computer, closes on 30 September. Learners are invited to write an essay on the subject: "Man's habitation of the moon: can Amateur Radio play a role?” Full details about the competition can be found on www.amateurradio.org.za.
SARL GETS AN AWARD AT INSITE 2008
The SARL stand received recognition for participation at INSITE 2008, a technology exhibition held in Sandton last week. The SARL received the Exhibitors Award from the Department of Science and Technology in recognition of the SARL's contribution to the success of the INSITE Exhibition.
WHAT IS AMATEUR RADIO? A BIG CONCERN
Young visitors from all communities to the SARL stand at INSITE 2008 asked the question "What is Amateur Radio?”
It appears that the concept of it being a hands-on technology hobby or past time is alien to today's youth. When discussing this at the Chairman's forum at last week's RTA in Gauteng the consensus was that amateur radio must be more visible. It still however raises the question "What is Amateur Radio.” We all knew what it meant to us when we became involved but that clearly does not cut with today millennium society.
The SARL is working on a 2009 Amateur Radio Promotion campaign and we need your input. How do we tell the youth of today "What is Amateur radio.” Send your ideas on the subject to armi@sarl.org.za.
HERITAGE DAY COMMEMORATIONS AND BLOCKHOUSE PROJECT
The Sasolburg Radio Club, ZS4SRK, and the Vaal Triangle ARC, ZS6VTB, will be active on the 24th September 2008 celebrating Heritage Day and Blockhouses on the Air. The Sasolburg ARC will be at the Witkop Blockhouse on the R59, while the Vaal Triangel ARC will be active with a Special Event call sign, ZS08TV, to commemorate the Treaty of Vereeniging.
ZS4SRK will be working on CW up to 7,020 MHz and on SSB from 7,050 to 7,090 MHz from around 13:00 to 15:00 CAT. Please see the SARL discussion forum for full details on the Blockhouse project.
ZS08TV plans to be active on CW 7,015 – 7,030 MHz and +/- 14,025 MHz and for SSB, above 7,055 MHz and around 14,225 MHz respectively depending on conditions from about 10:30 CAT.
INTERNATIONAL YL MEET SOUTH ARICA 2008
An International YL Meet is scheduled to be held in South Africa during October 2008. Radio Amateurs, both YLs and OMs will be arriving from Japan, Korea, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Canada, Australia, France and other parts of the world.
They will be arriving on 3 October 2008 and will be staying at Lesedi Cultural Village until 5 October 2008, they will then leave for Pilanesberg Game Reserve on the 6th and then for KZN on the 8th and then Cape Town on the 13th.
Janet Musto, ZS5JAN, and Vee Antal, ZS6ZEN, were appointed as Official Organizer's of the International YL Meet South Africa 2008 at the International YL Meet Mumbai, India 2006 and would like South African amateurs to join them.
In Johannesburg, local Radio Amateurs are welcome to attend a Dinner at Lesedi Cultural Village and meet with the International Radio Amateurs on Saturday 4 October 2008. The dinner starts at 19:00 and costs R130-00 per person. Please RSVP latest 26 September 2008 by fax to 088 011 675 2793.
In Durban, local Radio Amateurs and their partners are invited to join us at the Barnyard Theatre, Gateway, on Sunday 12 October 2008 for the 14:00 show of "Dancing Queen.” Afterwards, there will be an early dinner at a local restaurant in Gateway. The cost of the Barnyard Show is R70-00 per person and the cost of the Dinner depends on what is ordered. Please RSVP direct to Janet by 26 September 2008 to cellphone 082 321 1158 or e-mail to accsol@thenet.co.za.
In Cape Town, local Radio Amateurs are welcome to attend a Dinner and Get-together and meet with the International Radio Amateurs on Friday 17 October 2008 at 19:00 at the Breakwater Lodge. The Buffet Dinner costs R125-00 per person, please RSVP by the latest on 26 September 2008 to fax 088 011 675 2793.
The YL Meet Group will also be visiting Hermanus HMO on 15 October 2008. Local Radio Amateurs in the Hermanus vicinity are welcome to come and meet the International Radio Amateurs.
Payment to be made at the Venue, if you RSVP and do not attend you will be held liable for payment. Janet and Vee hope to see you all there!!!
NEW SARL BROCHURE NOW AVAILABLE IN PRINT
The new SARL brochure that has been available for download on the web is now available in a full colour printed format. Clubs can order brochures by requesting the quantity required from the SARL office. Send an Email to admin@sarl.org.za with the quantity you require and the postal address. Clubs in the vicinity of the NARC can collect their requirements. Please first arrange with Vee Antal by calling 011 675 2393.
WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS
We did not quite make the 1 200 mark. By Friday the membership stood at 1 197. This week we welcome the following new members:
John Waberski, ZSL558, Jaco Steyn, ZSL559, Donald Bowen, ZSL560, Brian McKenzie, ZSL561, Alan Harington, ZSL562, Alan Dial, ZSL563, Liam Harrison, ZSL564, Courage Mudsingwa, ZSL565, and Nico Truter, ZS1KT.
Last week we started to catch up in welcoming new members who joined since 1 July. This week a special welcome to Deon Erwin, ZS1ZL, Thomas Theron, ZS2TF, A de Reuck, ZS4ADR, E Jansen van Vuuren, ZS6AVV, Andries van Wyk, ZS6CEG, Coalfields Amateur Radio Club, ZS6CRC, Yasuhiro Hiruma, ZS6GUH, Richard Stapelberg, ZS6RGS, Yogi Botha, ZS6YGI, Constant de Villiers Volschenk, ZSL549, Friedrich Metz, ZSL550, Jacques Prinsloo, ZSL551, Patrick Msomi, ZSL552, and Rory G.V. Meyer, ZSL553.
We trust that your membership of the winning team will be enjoyable and rewarding.
CLUB NEWS
The East Rand Branch will be hosting the East Rand Flea Market on 4 October 2008 behind the Civic Centre in Plantation Road in Springs. Proceedings are between at 08:00 - 12:00 SAST with an APRS Special Interest Group meeting at 10:00 inside Echo Charlie. Tables can be booked at R 20-00 each and eats and drinks will be available. To book your table e-mail zs6erb@gmail.com or call the Branch Chairman Chris, ZS6COG, at 083 543 5668.
The East Rand Branch AGM was held recently and after an unanimous vote it was decided that the East Rand Club should once again become a branch of the SARL. This was discussed with the SARL and the application was approved. A number of forms and admin is still outstanding, but the East Rand Club will henceforth once again be referred to as The East Rand Branch.
At the AGM the following people were elected onto the committee:
Chairman: Chris Gryffenberg, ZS6COG;
Vice Chairman: Harry Harris, ZS6HHH;
Secretary: Lydia Upfold, ZS6MTB;
Treasurer: Ria Olivier, Call sign pending;
Overseeing treasurer: Pieter Jacobs, ZS6XT;
Marcel Upfold, ZS6OTB, is taking care of PR and related matters.
Congratulations to the new committee and many thanks to the outgoing members.
The Highveld Amateur Radio Club AGM was held on 6 September 2008. We thank the previous chairman and wish him well on his new adventure.
Chairman; Frank van Wensveen, ZS6TMV;
Vice Chairman; Frank Mercier, ZS6MER;
Secretary / Treasurer/: Berridge Emmett, ZS6BFL;
Assistant Secretary: Marianne Treyvellan, ZR6JMT;
Shacknews: Berridge Emmett, ZS6BFL, Marianne Treyvellan, ZR6JMT, Harry Lautenbach ZS6LT;
Website: Yvonne van Dijk, ZR6TBL, and Marianne Treyvellan ZR6JMT;
Repeater/Packet Radio/Technical: Ton Van Dijk ZS6ANA.
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 29 September after which it will rise to unsettled 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 Northwesterly directions.
20 m will provide best opportunities for DX. There is a possibility of 15 and 20 m openings towards India from about 14:00 CAT. There is the possibility of weak 40 and 80 m openings to New Zealand at 19:00. From 07:00 20 m contacts may be possible with Australia. From 16:00 there may be good 15 and 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 ZS2. 80 m is the frequency of choice in the evenings. With summer approaching fast it is now an excellent time to make those 80 m contacts for your WAZS before the thunderstorms and static start again.
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
21 September - President's Net;
20 - 21 September - SARL VHF/UHF Contest;
24 September – Blockhouses on the Air;
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 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.
Dennis, ZS4BS/1, compiled today's South African Radio League news bulletin.
Thank you for listening. 73.
/EX
