SARL NEWS - SUNDAY 12 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).
In the news today:
INTECNET TO FEATURE SPREAD SPECTRUM COMMUNICATION
RTA DATES FOR 2009 ANNOUNCED
SUMBANDILASAT TO BE LAUNCHED FROM BAIKONUR
OCTOBER RAE HITS CLOSE TO RECORD ENTRANTS
You are listening to ZS6SRL. Stay tuned for more detail on these and other important and interesting news items.
INTECNET TO FEATURE SPREAD SPECTRUM COMMUNICATION
The next Intecnet will be held on Sunday 19 October and will feature a discussion on spread spectrum communication with John Williscroft, ZS6EF. An extensive PowerPoint presentation will be available on the web this week. To download it, visit www.sarl.org.za, select publications and click on RTA or follow the links from the home page.
Clubs wishing to link to the teleconference server should send an email to armi@sarl.org.za before Wednesday 22 October.
RTA DATES FOR 2009 ANNOUNCED
The dates for the SARL Technology in Action programme have been finalised as follows:
Gauteng 9 May 2009;
KwaZulu Natal 30 May 2009;
Eastern Cape 20 June 2009;
Western Cape 15 August 2009.
Please have a look at the diary of local events in your area and let us known if there are any conflicts. Please send the information to armi@sarl.org.za.
CALL FOR PAPERS
This is the first call for papers to be presented at the RTA. If you would like to present a paper please send a synopsis by 31 October to rta@sarl.org.za. Input to what you would like to see on the 2009 RTA agenda is also invited. Send it to the same address rta@sarl.org.za.
SUMBANDILASAT TO BE LAUNCHED FROM BAIKONUR
It is official, South Africa's second satellite, SumbandilaSat, will be launched from the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome in the December to March time frame.
Baikonur Cosmodrome is the launch complex where Sputnik 1, Earth's first artificial satellite, was launched.
All space station flights using Russian launch vehicles are launched from Baikonur. Baikonur is also the only Russian launch site capable of launching the Proton launch vehicle, which was used for Zarya, the first element launched for the space station.
The name Baikonur is misleading. The former Soviet Union used the name and coordinates of a small mining town, Baikonur, to describe the location of its rocket complex. In fact, the launch complex is about 322 kilometres southwest of the mining town near Tyuratam in Kazakhstan. This misrepresentation was done intentionally to hide the actual location of the launch complex. Although the true location is now known, the launch complex is still referred to as Baikonur.
SumbandilaSat was first scheduled for launch on a Sthil rocket from a Russian submarine but due to political issues between various departments in Russia the plan was aborted and DST began a search for a new launch opportunity. Some concerted behind the scenes diplomatics resulted in the Russian agreeing to honour the contract and shift the launch to Baikonur.
SumbandilaSat has been unpacked and is undergoing testing at SunSpace in Stellenbosch before it will be shipped to Russia for integration with the launch vehicle. Engineers at the launch site are preparing a special adapter ring to accommodate the Sumbandila structure on the rocket.
The main payload of SumbandilaSat is a Multi-spectral imager which has a 6,5m Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) with 6 spectral bands and is supported by an on-board storage of 6 Gigabyte, expandable to 24 Gigabyte.
There are several experimental payloads including:
SA AMSAT – 2 m/70 cm amateur radio transponder and digitalker. This payload will find not only use by the amateur radio fraternity but also has a large educational aspect of bringing space science into the class room. It will wow young people!
OCTOBER RAE HITS CLOSE TO RECORD ENTRANTS
The national RA examination will be taking place on 16th October 2008 at various examination centres throught the country.
Normally the October RAE is fairly small but we have a close to record of 97 Students that will be writing the examination.
Remember that all students writing the Class A examination will have an opportunity to write the Class B paper as well in the event that they feel that they may not have done as well as they expected.
The SARL wishes all students good luck with their examination and looks forward to welcoming new call signs and new Amateur Radio Operators into this wonderful and exciting hobby.
CQ HOU KOERS
The Voortrekkers' CQ Hou Koers takes place on Saturday 18 October 2008.
Listen for Voortrekker stations from Kathu, Kuruman, Bloemfontein, Somerset-West, the Zwartkops air force museum, Brits and De Bank camping site at Oranjeville. The preferred frequencies are 7 050 and 3 670 kHz.
These frequencies are intended only as a guideline, please listen across the band.
08:30 CAT - Activities start, contacts with other Voortrekkers, Scouts and radio amateurs across the country.
11:30 CAT - Voortrekker leader Piet Strauss's message on 7,050 MHz (alt. freq. 7,065 MHz), 3,670 MHz and via Echolink from ZS4HG-R, also on 145,750 MHz in the Pretoria area. Afterwards ZS4MS will handle call-ins from Bloemfontein.
Fellow amateurs are encouraged to spend some time talking to the young people - there are also a few young hams amongst the Voortrekkers. Thank you for your support.
CONTEST NEWS
The Antique Wireless Association would like to announce Leg 2 of the AWA Valve QSO Party 18 & 19 October 2008
Due to the Jota and Hou Koers stations being on frequency on 40 and 80 m, it has been decided to change the format of the QSO party. Saturday 18th is being restricted to SSB and Sunday 19th to AM. This will minimise the chances of QRM from all sectors.
Times are from 15:00 - 19:00 SAST (13:00 - 17:00 UTC) on both dates.
Frequencies are 7 050 to 7 100 and 3 603 to 3 650 kHz.
The output power may not exceed 100 Watt, unless the rig itself has a fixed higher output power (FTDX400, etc).
Exchange Call sign, RS and consecutive serial numbers starting at 001, plus type of radio used, eg HT37 Tx.
Scoring shall be as follows:
Contacts between:
All valve radios - 5 points per contact;
Hybrid (valve & transistorised) - 2 points per contact; Transistorised Radio - 1 point per contact.
Multipliers for your station:
All valve rig - 3 points;
Hybrid - 2 points;
Transistorised - 1 point.
Do come up and join us and lets keep the bands active.
Log sheets can be addressed to Andy Cairns, either by email, snail mail or Fax. Details are available on the SARL Website or call book.
CLUB NEWS
ZS75PTA FLEA MARKET IN PRETORIA
The Pretoria Amateur Radio Club will be hosting its Summer flea market on Saturday 1 November 2008. The flea market will be held at the usual place at the South Campus of the University of Pretoria, at the corner of University and Lynwood roads. The starting time is 08:00.
Everyone is welcome to attend. Come and visit this Mega Flea Market in Pretoria. Phone Almero, ZS6LDP, on (H) 012 567 3722 or 082 908 3359, if you want to book a table or if you need more details about the flea market.
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 till 27 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.
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 on 20 m may be possible for a few minutes.
Brazil may be worked on 15 m from 14:00. From 15:00 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 from 18:00.
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 here the thunderstorms and static may be a bit challenging.
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
16 October - Radio Amateur Exam;
17 - 19 October - CQ Hou Koers and JOTA;
18 - 19 October - Leg 2 of the AWA Valve QSO Party;
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.
Roger, ZR6RC, compiled today's South African Radio League news bulletin.
Thank you for listening. 73.
/EX
