SARL NEWS - SUNDAY 25 JANUARY 2009
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 KEYS
It is with deep regret that the passing of three radio amateurs must be reported this week.
The key of Gerry Capper, ZS6GM, went silent at the beginning of the week.
The key of Alfred Staegemann, ZS6ATN, went silent on Wednesday 21 January 2009. Alfred was one of the founder members of the Kempton Park Amateur Radio Club.
The key of Stan Zway, ZS6SDZ, went silent on 23 January. He was a long-standing member of the League and the Pretoria Amateur Radio Club. Despite his almost life-long disability he was always cheerful, a wonderful friend to the amateur community and an avid boat-anchor restorer. He leaves his wife Lorraine, children, grand-children, great- grandchildren and friends.
We extend our sincere condolences to the families and friends of these radio amateurs.
(PAUSE)
In the news today:
PRESIDENT'S NET TONIGHT AT 19:30
SARL NATIONAL CONVENTION PROGRAMME TAKING SHAPE
BACAR LAUNCH SCHEDULED FOR 21 MARCH 2009
ZS8T WILL BE ON THE AIR WHEN TIME ALLOWS
You are listening to ZS6SRL. Stay tuned for more detail on these, and other important and interesting news items.
PRESIDENT'S NET TONIGHT AT 19:30
Join the President’s Net tonight, Sunday 25 January 2009, at 19:30 to get the latest development on the regulatory front, Power Line Telecommunications, the SARL National Convention and an invitation to clubs to appoint a SARL Public Information Officer and become part of the SARL Public Information Officer Network.
PIC PROGRAMMING COURSE FOR DURBAN FULLY BOOKED
The PIC programming course for Durban is now fully booked and no more persons can be accepted on the course. There are still spaces on the Cape Town and Gauteng courses. Please visit the Radio Technology in Action pages on www.sarl.org.za for details about the course and the instructions on how to book. To get to the RTA pages select ‘Activities’ from the bar on the left of the home page and click on RTA.
BACAR LAUNCH SCHEDULED FOR 21 MARCH 2009
The BACAR launch is scheduled for Saturday 21 March between 07:00 and 07:30 CAT from the Irene weather station. While all the equipment for the launch is ready, analysis of the total weight and the availability of balloons and helium gas have resulted in delays. The BACAR team is now re-packaging the payload in an effort to reduce the weight. The payload will include an HF beacon on 7 023 kHz, a 2 m beacon and an APRS system.
A tracking and control station will be operating from the National Amateur Radio Centre and a number of radio amateurs are needed for mapping the path of BACAR as well as to coordinate reports from stations around South Africa. To join the BACAR team, send an email to saamsat@intekom.co.za to ensure that you receive regular updates on the project.
Cost is also a major factor. The estimated cost of the balloons and gas will be around R5 000. SA AMSAT last year set up a BACAR fund which currently has just over R200 in the kitty. Sponsorship to make this first flight in many years possible is invited. Your contribution to the project will be much appreciated. Donations can be made to SA AMSAT at ABSA Bank, branch number 632 005 and account number 560 153 171.
Visit www.amsatsa.org.za for more details.
SARL NATIONAL CONVENTION PROGRAMME TAKING SHAPE
The programme for the SARL National Convention to be held in the Western Cape over the weekend of 24-26 April 2009 is taking shape with events from Friday till Sunday. The guest speaker at the annual awards dinner will be Dr Sias Mostert. Dr Mostert is well-known for his work on SunSat and SumbandilaSat. The Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday morning at the Oakdale Club in Bellville.
Motions and discussion points for inclusion in the agenda must be received by the secretary not later than 31 January. Send the information to secretary@sarl.org.za.
The detailed convention programme and registration information will be posted on the SARL website during the next two weeks. Stay tuned to SARLNEWS for frequent updates but in the interim make a note of the dates 24 to 26 April, the beginning of the green season in the Cape and a good time to take a holiday break before or after the convention.
HAMNET HANDLES YACHT DISTRESS SIGNALS
When the SARL was contacted on Thursday afternoon by the American coastguard about a distress signal received from the Queequeg II, Hamnet took immediate action and asked Alistair Campbell, ZS6MU, who runs the daily maritime mobile net, whether he had received any information. The operators of the maritime mobile network did not know the yacht. Alistair contacted the Réunion coastguard, which initiated a search and rescue action.
The latest information from MRCC is that the yacht was found floating upside down. On Friday one survivor was picked up by a merchant vessel. Two other men apparently went overboard without life jackets.
ZS8T WILL BE ON THE AIR WHEN TIME ALLOWS
In an interview with Amateur Radio Mirror International, Petrus Kritzinger, ZS8T, said that his work schedule has not allowed him much time to get on the air. He also experienced antenna problems due to high winds and generally poor weather conditions. He has managed to erect the stepper vertical antenna and has made some test contacts with a station in South Africa and Russia. Look for him on 20 metres. He hopes to be active as work schedules allow, mainly on 20 metres. Listen to the interview on www.sarl.org.za.
SARL VHF/UHF CONTEST
Members of the Magalies Radio Club and Pretoria ARC have got together and are working through the rules of the SARL VHF/UHF Contest. The new rules will soon be published in the SARL Contest Manual. Thank you to Johan, ZS6JPN, and your committee.
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. The expected Effective Sun Spot number for the coming week will be less than 5.
15 and 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. Short contacts with New Zealand are going to be possible on 15 m at 08:00. 20 m contacts may be possible with Australia at 8:00. Contacts with Peru are highly unlikely. Brazil may be worked on 20 m from 18:00. 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. 10 MHz is looking promising in the 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. Even 20 m may perform well over the longer distances before morning teatime. 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 has the capability to pleasantly 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
25 January, tonight – President's Net;
31 January 2009 – Last day for submission of motions and agenda items for 2009 SARL AGM;
During January – Submit your nominations for SARL awards;
15 February – closing date for Tinus Lange award entries;
21 February – PIC course in Durban;
21 March – BACAR launch;
24-26 April – SARL National Convention, Cape Town.
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 17 860 kHz, NOTEN THE CHANGE IN NFREQUENCY. There is also a podcast by ZS6RO which can be listened to. 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.
You have listened to a bulletin of the South African Radio League, which was compiled by Dennis, ZS4BS.
Thank you for having listened, 73.
