SARL NEWS SUNDAY 21 DECEMBER 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 regret that we have to announce that Craig Thom, ZS6UM, passed away on the 2nd December some two months short of his 83rd birthday. Our sincerest condolences to his children, grand children, other relatives and friends.
(PAUSE)
In the news today:
SEASONS GREETINGS FROM THE SARL PRESIDENT
ICASA CLARIFIES RECIPROCAL AGREEMENTS
EXPANDED 40 METRE BAND STILL ON TRACK FOR MARCH 2009
WOULD YOU LIKE TO LECTURE THE RAE?
You are listening to ZS6SRL. Stay tuned for more detail on these, and other important and interesting news items.
SEASONS GREETINGS FROM THE SARL PRESIDENT
For the festive season upon us we start the SARL news with a message from SARL President Rassie Erasmus, ZS1YT:
"I salute you at the end of this year as president of the SARL. At this time of rejoicing and celebration let us all give a thought to those less fortunate who for one reason or another are unable to join us in our celebrations. Let us resolve in the coming year we, as Hams, will make every effort to promote our hobby in such a way that we can say with pride that we have done nothing on the air to cause hurt or offence to anyone.
May the new sunspot cycle be one that you will always remember as a high point in your life.
ICASA CLARIFIES RECIPROCAL AGREEMENTS
When South Africa signed the CEPT agreement to allow visiting radio amateurs from countries that are part of the CEPT agreement to operate in South Africa for a period of three months in any one year using their own call signs with the ZS- and the area digit prefix with it, meant exactly that. The processes are that a visiting radio amateur is required to send an e-mail to admin@sarl.org.za with the dates of his/her visit, call sign and contact details while in South Africa. Permission to operate under the same conditions as specified for his/her home call sign is automatic.
For foreigners who wish to obtain a permanent call sign in South Africa, the person has to comply with the standard RAE process writing the examination, and if required, a ZS go though the standard upgrade process.
If however, the person has a licence from a country with which South Africa has a reciprocal agreement, an equivalent class license can be obtained by submitting an ICASA license application with copies of the relevant documents to the SARL, or directly to ICASA. Presently, South Africa has a reciprocal agreement with the following countries:
The United Kingdom;
Germany;
Israel;
The Netherlands;
Switzerland;
Chile;
Portugal;
Botswana, and
Swaziland.
Originally South Africa also had a reciprocal licence agreement with Rhodesia, but the Zimbabwean Government cancelled the agreement.
To establish a reciprocal license agreement is a complicated process and is handled through the departments of foreign affairs in both countries. At the time of signing an agreement with the USA, the process involved intensive lobbying with the US state department and lobbying by the late senator Barry Goldwater, who was a prominent radio amateur in the USA.
There are opportunities to start a process to establish reciprocal license agreements with other countries. From a SARL point of view it would require a motion at the AGM to give the Council a mandate to start the process. Members have until 31 January to submit motions for discussion at the AGM. A motion needs a Nominator and a Seconder to get onto the Agenda. Motions can be e-mailed to secretary@sarl.org.za.
EXPANDED 40 METRE BAND STILL ON TRACK FOR MARCH 2009
The SARL has received assurances from ICASA that the issue of making 7 100 7 200 kHz available from 28 March 2009, should be finalised by the end of January, as well as the correction of the ZR allocation in the 20 metre band. The various changes have been included in the national table of frequency allocation, which is expected to be gazetted soon for comments.
In the final process, the Minister of Communication has to approve the table of frequency allocation for implementation. ICASA and the Department of Communication have committed to follow the ITU WRC decisions.
The SARL and ICASA will meet in January on various issues including the compilation of a permanent liaison committee.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO LECTURE THE RAE?
Ad-hoc vacancies exist for RAE lecturers in various parts of South Africa. A RAE course will typically run full-time for 10 days at various venues. Lecturers will be required to prepare students for the RAE, which will be written at the end of the course. Lecturers will be remunerated and paid a travel allowance commensurate with AA rates. For details send an e-mail to armi@sarl.org.za. The first courses will be in the February to March timeframe.
GET ON THE AIR ON CHRISTMAS DAY
Traditionally Radio Amateurs used to get on the air on Christmas mornings to exchange greetings. It was a great tradition that over the years has dwindled. Give a call on 25 December and share the magic that amateur radio provides converse with the world.
SARL OFFICE CLOSED OVER FESTIVE SEASON
The SARL office at the National Amateur Radio centre will be closed for the Christmas- and New Year period. The office reopens on 5 January 2009. For urgent matters, than can not wait till 5 January, please e-mail to the secretary@sarl.org.za
HF PROPAGATION REPORT
Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, reports that the expected solar activity will be very low. The geomagnetic field is expected to increase to unsettled levels. The expected Effective Sun Spot number for the coming week will be less than 5.
15 and 20 m will provide the 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 will be possible on 15 m at 08:00. At 8:00 and 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 can be worked on 15 m from 12:00 and on 20 m from 19:00.
At 18:00 there may be short, weak 20 m openings towards Europe. Contacts with the USA East Coast are possible on 15 m from 18:00 and with the West Coast after midnight on 20 m.
10 MHz looks promising in the late afternoon and after dark for the CW and digital enthusiasts.
Local conditions will 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. Even 20 m may perform well over the longer distances before morning tea time.
80 m is the frequency of choice in the evenings. With summer here the thunderstorms and static may be challenging.
Remember that this is only a prediction and that HF always has the ability 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
10 and 11 January Hunting Lions on the Air;
16 to 18 January PEARS VHF-/UHF-competition;
31 January 2009 Last day for submission of motions and agenda items for 2009 SARL AGM;
During January Submit your nominations for SARL awards.
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.
George, ZS6NE, compiled today's South African Radio League news bulletin and it was edited by Jannie, ZR6PHD.
Thank you for listening, 73.
/EX
