SARL NEWS - SUNDAY 30 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 news reader 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 KEY
It is with sadness that we have to announce that Eddie Smuts, ZS6BZN, passed away at the ripe age of 90 years. He was one of the 1st members to join the Kempton Park Amateur Radio Technical Society and was for many years a member of the SARL.
Our sincere condolences are extended to all his relatives and friends.
(PAUSE)
In the news today:
SATELLITE QSO BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICA AND BRAZIL
NOMINATIONS FOR COUNCIL
ETHICS AND OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR RADIO AMATEURS
You are listening to ZS6SRL. Stay tuned for more detail on these, and other important and interesting news items.
SATELLITE QSO BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICA AND BRAZIL
After some trying, Keith Laaks, ZS6TW, succeeded in making a satellite QSO with a South American station via AO-7 mode B.
Keith had a QSO with Angelo, PY1UNU, on Friday evening, 28 November, very good signals all-round, but with the as usual, highish 'noise-floor' from the satellite.
Their QSO lasted a good 4 minutes and 20 seconds - about the full duration of the mutual window. The elevation at the start of the QSO was about 5 degrees and the total distance between Keith and PY1UNU in GG86GX is about 7 155 km.
Visit www.sarl.org.za to listen to the QSO.
Keith told SARL News that there are some other stations in Brazil that we may be able to get 'active' for our mutual passes. "The Cape Town stations have a much longer window into South America and should be able to pick up a few more countries as well", he said. Congratulation to Keith.
PRESIDENT’S NET TONIGHT AT 19:30
Join Rassie Erasmus and Dennis Green on the President’s tonight at 19:30 for a report back on the recently held IARU REGION One conference held in Croatia. Clubs who would like to be connected to the conference bridge can still do so by sending an email to armi@sarl,org.za before 10:00 this morning.
RADIO ZS IN MAIL SOON BUT NOT FOR SOME
The November/December edition of Radio ZS will be in the mail soon but not for some members. If you have not paid your subscription which was due on 1 July 2008, your name has been removed from the mailing list. If you do not wish to miss this edition of Radio ZS, please make a arrangements with the office now and pay your subscription. Call Vee Antal on Monday between 09:00 and 13:00 on 011 675 2393.
NOMINATIONS FOR COUNCIL
Nominations for Council of the SARL close at midnight tonight.
At the Annual General Meeting of the South African Radio League all councillors retire and a new council has to be elected. Currently serving Councillors may be re-elected if nominated. Notice was given some time ago that nominations are called for.
Nominations must be submitted in writing to the secretary and signed by a Proposer and Seconder who must be members of the SARL in good standing. The document must include a statement containing details of the specific qualifications, abilities and membership of any related Amateur Radio organisations of their candidate. The full names, callsign and address of the candidate and a statement from the candidate that he or she is willing to serve on Council if elected must be included.
Nominations must reach the secretary by not later than midnight tonight and may be faxed to 088 011 675 2793 or signed documents may be scanned and sent by email to secretary@sarl.org.za.
ETHICS AND OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR RADIO AMATEURS
A special workshop was run at the IARU R1 Conference in Croatia on the publication "Ethics and Operating Procedures for Radio Amateurs" by John, ON4UN, and Mark, ON4WW. The conference took a decision to encourage member societies to use this booklet in the training of new and already licensed radio amateurs in good operating procedures. The authors have given permission that the booklet may be placed on member society web sites and that the booklet may be translated into the language of that society. The booklet will soon be available in almost 40 different languages.
Dennis, ZS4BS, would like to know whether there is interest to have the booklet available in Afrikaans. Dennis can provide the English booklet in MS Word format and the Dutch and French versions in PDF format. If there is interest, please contact Dennis at zs4bs@netactive.co.za.
COMPETITION NEWS
CORRECT DATE FOR THE PEARS HF QSO PARTY
The annual Port Elizabeth ARS HF QSO get-together is scheduled for Sunday 7 December 2008, and not on 14 December as stated in last week’s bulletin, from 12:00 to 16:00 UTC (14:00 to 18:00 CAT). It is a SSB only contest and the following frequencies will apply - 80 metres: 3,603 to 3,650 and 3,700 to 3,800 MHz and 40 metres: 7,043 to 7,100 MHz. There are four entrance categories:
Novice - stations in South Africa with ZU prefixes;
Restricted - stations in South Africa with ZR prefixes;
Unlimited -stations in South Africa with ZS prefixes, and
DX - stations outside of South Africa.
CLUB NEWS
The 40 metre beacon, ZS1AGI/B, is back on the air at 7,025 MHz. Power output is 0,2 Watt. It was previously located at the George Airport. Now it is has been moved and installed at the QTH of Saney, ZR1S, in Wilderness Height, about 15 km North-East of the previous site. Refer to the SARL Technical Forum for a history of this beacon. The beacon licence is in the name of the Garden Route Radio Club.
PROPAGATION REPORT
Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, reports that the expected solar activity will be very low. The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet levels till 3 December after which active levels are expected. The expected Effective Sun Spot number for the coming week will be less than 5.
20 m will provide best opportunities for DX. There is a possibility of 15 and 20 m openings towards India from about 14:00 and 18:00 CAT respectively. Short contacts with New Zealand are going to be possible on 15 m at 08:00.
At 14:00, weak 20 m contacts may be possible with Australia. From 14:00 weak contacts with Peru may be possible on 15 m followed by possible weak 20 m openings. Brazil may be worked on 15 m from 12:00 and on 20 m from 18:00. From 16:00 there may be weak 15 and 20 m openings towards Europe. Contacts with the USA East Coast are possible on 20 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 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
30 November - Closing date for submission of nominations for SARL councillors;
30 November - Last day for updating repeaters database;
30 November – President’s net om 19:30 about the IARU R1 conference;
7 December – PEARS HF QSO PARTY;
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 items of interest to radio amateurs and shortwave listeners. Submit news items - 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.
Gustav, ZS6BWN, compiled today's South African Radio League news bulletin.
Thank you for listening, 73.
/EX
