SARL NEWS - SUNDAY 05 OCTOBER 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).
SILENT KEYS
It is with deep regret that the passing of two radio amateurs must be reported.
Alan Franszen, ZS6BIK, also known as ZS1FG, became a silent key over the weekend of 13/14 September after going into a coma.
Wessel du Preez, ZS5BLY, of Himeville, previously ZS6BLY of Pretoria, passed away on the 2nd October due to long present, but only recently diagnosed cancer. Wessel was the current Chairman of the Midlands Amateur Radio Club. He also served previously in this position.
We extend our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the deceased.
[PAUSE]
In the news today:
SARL PRESENTS AMATEUR RADIO's OBJECTION TO ICASA
PREPARATION FOR WRC-11 STARTS
AMATEUR MISSING FOR 25 YEARS UNITED WITH FRIEND
WORLD SPACE WEEK 4 TO 10 OCTOBER 2008 - DECIPHER A SLOGAN
You are listening to ZS6SRL. Stay tuned for more detail on these and other important and interesting news items.
SARL PRESENTS AMATEUR RADIO's OBJECTION TO ICASA
Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV, and Francois Botha, ZS6BUU, made presentations at the ICASA PLT Hearing held in Sandton last Wednesday and Thursday. ZS6AKV presented the SARL's objection to the draft regulations and ZS6BUU presented how PLT could potentially interfere with emergency communication.
A strong point was made to have all amateur HF frequencies notched, which means that PLT carrier levels will be reduced by a sizeable factor on HF amateur frequencies.
ICASA said that by law they are tasked to protect licensed radio services against interference and as amateur radio is a licensed radio service, ICASA will protect amateur frequencies and take action against PLT operators that cause interference. ICASA then asked if the SARL would still insist on notching. ZS6AKV confirmed that the SARL was still insisting on notching as large scale PLT installation would create many complaints which ICASA would not be able to handle fast enough to prevent disruption of the amateur radio service.
ZS6BUU presented a convincing case why all emergency frequencies used by radio amateurs should be notched.
There were several other presentations which by and large all expressed concern about possible PLT interference.
ICASA will now deliberate and finalise the interim regulations which will be gazetted soon. The interim regulations will fall away and be replaced once CISPR has finalised the international standards. The latest CISPR proposals, on the table for discussion during their November meeting, include the notching of amateur radio frequencies but also a reduction of interference limits. The South African delegation has been instructed to vote against any relaxation in standards.
TAKE AMATEUR RADIO TO SCHOOL CANCELLED
Due to the lack of interest in setting up amateur radio stations in schools on October 8, the project has been cancelled. The essay competition in which a learner can win an Acer laptop will continue, with a new closing date of 15 November. Visit www.amateurradio.org.za for details.
PREPARATION FOR WRC-11 STARTS
The preparation for the World Radio Conference 2011 started last week. The Department of Communications hosted a two-day conference to review the lessons learned during WRC-07 and start preparation for the 2011 conference. There is currently one amateur radio-related item on the WRC-11 agenda which calls for a new allocation around 500 kHz. The SARL is part of the preparatory working group which will have its first meeting during November.
AMATEUR MISSING FOR 25 YEARS UNITED WITH FRIEND
It all started when Geoff, VK2KPK, in Australia spotted the e-mail address of Mike Bosch, ZS2FM, on their VK-VHF NET. VK2KPK e-mailed ZS2FM on Monday asking for his help to locate a lost amateur friend, Arthur White, who moved to the RSA many years ago.
On Tuesday morning ZS2FM started the search.
At 07:37 ZS2FM posted the topic MISSING HAMS and called for help.
At 07:56 John Kramer, ZS5J, replied with a call sign ZS6BZD for an Arthur White.
At 09:29 Rassie Erasmus, ZS1YT, supplied two telephone numbers.
At 10:20 ZS2FM established contact with an Arthur White, ZS6BZD, in Nigel.
Now came the 64 thousand dollar question, "Have you ever lived in Oman?" The answer, "Yes and I know Geoff and Mary!" Bingo, it took three hours to trace an amateur who was missing for 25 years!
Geoff, VK2KPK, (ex-A4XIY) and Arthur, ZS6BZD, (ex-A4XIH) were amateur friends in Oman, until Arthur moved to South Africa and Geoff returned to Australia. They lost complete contact with each other even though Geoff made many attempts to find Arthur in South Africa. ZS2FM has e-mailed the new address and telephone numbers of ZS6BZD to VK2KPK and is now awaiting a reply.
Kevin, ZS6KWD, summed it up very well with this comment: "Hey guys that is awesome...that is what amateur radio is all about….well done Mike, John and Rassie!"
SARL COMMUNICATION WITH ICASA
Members of the SARL may direct any query for ICASA to the SARL, except matters related to accounts or outstanding fee issues. The office adminstrator, Vee Antal, will forward all queries to ICASA on a weekly basis on a Monday. ICASA will reply to the SARL within 7 working days. The SARL will forward answers to queries the following week as soon as they are received.
WORLD SPACE WEEK 4 TO 10 OCTOBER 2008 - DECIPHER A SLOGAN
To promote communications via the AO-51 FM, LEO (Low earth orbit) satellite during the coming space week, an excercise will take place. This excercise is for radio amateurs and listeners alike. Communicating with participating stations, to date, Hal, ZS6WB, Roy, ZS6MI, and Eddie, ZS6BNE, they will give out letter groups which can be used to determine a four word slogan. Other stations may also be taking part and give out letter groups. Look for them on AO-51's downlink.
An example: For "Hams are great", I'd give to Roy, for example, "eat", Echo Alpha Tango, Hal may have, say "gr", Golf Romeo. Now within space week someone will have to hear or make contact with Roy and Hal (via the AO-51 satellite) to combine the letter groups to make up the word , "great" ..... something like that. Only Eddie, ZS6BNE knows the slogan.
If you have deciphered the slogan by the 10th of October either by communicating with these stations or listening in, you can send your result to zs6bne@nwinternet.za.org. The successful participant's names will be mentioned in SARL News the week thereafter.
Where and When should you listen? If you have not used the AO-51 satellite before, see www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/ControlTeam.php for frequencies. They are 145,920 Mhz for the uplink and 435,300 MHz+- 10 kHz for doppler for the downlink. See www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/predict/ for satellite pass times for your QTH.
Please note , do not transmit if you are unable to hear the satellite, the distinctive "Quieting" as the FM carrier gets stronger. Others may be in QSO whom you may not be hearing. Good luck!
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 11 October. 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. The good news is that Kobus Olckers has expanded the frequency prediction service to include two South American destinies.
20 m will provide best opportunities for DX. There is a possibility of 15 and 20 m openings towards India from about 12:00 CAT. There is the possibility of weak 40 and 80 m openings to New Zealand at 20:00. From 06:00 20 m contacts may be possible with Australia. From 08:00 contacts with Peru may be possible for a few minutes. Brazil may be worked on 15 m from 14:00. From 14:00 there may be good 15 and 20 m openings towards Europe. 10 m also shows signs of awakening. Contacts with the USA East Coast are possible on 15 m at 20:00.
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 Worked All ZS 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
03 October - Young Ladies meet SA starts;
04 October - East Rand Flea Market;
16 October – Radio Amateur Exam;
17 – 19 October – CQ Hou Koers and JOTA;
15 November – Closing date for learner’s essay "Man's habitation of the moon: can Amateur Radio play a role?”;
29 November – Working with PICs course.
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.
George, ZS6NE, compiled today's South African Radio League news bulletin.
Thank you for listening. 73.
/EX
