SARL NEWS - SUNDAY 2 NOVEMBER 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 regret that we have to announce the passing of two radio amateurs.
Noel Donaldson, ZS6X,C went silent key on 28/10/2008. There will be a memorial service held on Monday at 11:00 at the Methodist Church Rustenburg. His son, Philip’s contact number for any info is 083-234-8898.
From an amateur in the USA news was received that Ken Groom, ex ZR5AAD, and who was living in the USA since 2000, died some time during October.
Our heartfelt condolences go to the relatives and friends of the deceased.
(PAUSE)
In the news today:
RADIO ZS IN THE MAIL - ANOTHER GREAT READ
IMPORTANT MESSAGE ABOUT REPEATERS - YOUR URGENT ACTION REQUIRED
PRESIDENT'S NET TODAY AT 19:30
You are listening to ZS6SRL. Stay tuned for more detail on these and other important and interesting news items.
RADIO ZS IN THE MAIL - ANOTHER GREAT READ
The September/October edition of Radio ZS is in the mail. It is another great read. For a quick one hour construction project there is the one transistor marvel in Dave Ingram's regular feature "Ham pride and our legacies". Read about Glen Kraut, ZS2GK's, tropo QSO in "VHF can be full of surprises". Adding the 5th band to the Force 12 antenna, Getting on APRS with ZS6BNE, a mini SWR meter and a coffee can 4 - 1 balun are amongst the other interesting articles to read.
Members will have access to Radio ZS on the web at www.sarl.org.za. If you are not a member yet find out what you are missing. Send an email to armi@sarl.org.za with Radio ZS in the subject line and we will mail you a PDF copy to sample.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE ABOUT REPEATERS - YOUR URGENT ACTION REQUIRED
ICASA and the SARL have commenced a process of bringing the records of repeaters, beacons and unattended radio stations, that are required by law to be licensed, up to date. Clubs and repeater groups are urged to update the information on the SARL web and to confirm by email to vhf@sarl.org.za that the information is correct or has been updated.
Your feedback is required by 30 November 2008. If no confirmation or changes are received by 30 November 2008, the license will be cancelled and details will be removed from both the SARL and ICASA databases.
It also has come to the notice of the SARL that several APRS and other repeaters have been set up without being licensed. If you or your club are at fault, please start the licensing process immediately. Operating a non licensed radio station is an offence and can result in a large fine and confiscation of the equipment. Please take this request seriously. Your cooperation is much appreciated. If you have any queries or concerns, please write to Nico van Tonder, ZS6AQ, with email address vhf@sarl.org.za.
PRESIDENT'S NET TODAY AT 19:30
Join the SARL President's Net this evening at 19:30 for a discussion on the agenda items for the IARU Region One conference that will take place in Croatia later this month. Rassie Erasmus and Dennis Green will be representing South Africa. There are a large number of Agenda items on which the SARL delegates would like your input. You can down-load the various agenda items from the SARL web www.sarl.org.za, select publications and click on ARMI.
CONTEST NEWS
The second leg of the SARL HF Field Day will be on the air from 12:00 CAT on Saturday 15 November to 12:00 CAT on Sunday 16 November with phone and CW activity on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 metres. This is an ideal opportunity to get your Radio Club/Branch out for the weekend and set up a field station to participate. What about "shack in a sack" and "chasing maidens" on this weekend?
The rules are available in the 2008 SARL Contest Manual.
CLUB NEWS
SASOLBURG AMATEUR RADIO CLUB AGM
At the AGM of the Sasolburg Amateur Radio Club that was held on the 25th of October 2008, the following members were elected to the club committee:
Chairman: Marius Preston ,ZS4MP;
Vice-chairman: Malcolm Kriel, ZS4SM;
Technical: Johan Steyn, ZS4SS, Ockerd Taljaard ZS6LZ;
Secretary: Riaan Greeff, ZS4PR;
Webmaster & newsletter editor: Andries Visagie, ZS6VL;
Treasurer: Corné Cronje, ZU6C.
We thank the members of the outgoing committee for their hard work and wish the new committee well for the task ahead.
PROPAGATION REPORT
Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZ,P reports that the expected solar activity will be very low. The geomagnetic field is expected to be mostly at quiet levels till 6 November after which minor storm levels are possible. 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. Contacts with New Zealand are going to be very challenging. From 08:00, 20 m contacts may be possible with Australia. From 10:00 contacts with Peru on 15 m may be possible for a few minutes. Brazil may be worked on 15 m from 10:00. From 15:00 there may be weak 15 and 20 m openings towards Europe. 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 ZS1.
80 m is the frequency of choice in the evenings. With summer here the thunderstorms and static discharges 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
2 November - This evening - President's Net;
15 November - Closing date for submission of comments on draft competition manual;
15 November - Closing date for learner's essay "Man's habitation of the moon: can Amateur Radio play a role?";
15/16 November – SARL HF Field Day;
29 November - Working with PICs course;
30 November - Closing date for submission of nominations for councillors;
30 November – Last day for updating repeaters data base;
31 January 2009 - Last day for submission of motions and agenda items for 2009 SARL AGM.
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.
Gustav, ZS6BWN, compiled today's South African Radio League news bulletin.
Thank you for listening, 73.
/EX
