SARL NEWS – SUNDAY 8 FEBRUARY 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 we must announce that the keys of two radio amateurs have become silent.
The key of John Whitfield, ZS6WL, became silent on 29 January at the age of 65 years after losing the battle against cancer. We extend our sincere condolences to his wife, Sue, daughter, Sam and son, Chris, family and many friends.
The key of Hennie Pottas, ZS3HP, became silent on Thursday 29 January 2009. We extend our sincere condolences to his mother, his wife, Rita, son, Abrie, ZR3AAM, family and many friends
(PAUSE)
In the news today:
DIRECTOR GENERAL LEAVES THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION
BOOK FOR THE GAUTENG AND CAPE PIC PROGRAMMING COURSE
SARL BROCHURE – CLUBS SLOW IN REQUESTING SUPPLIES
THE NAMIBIAN DX-PEDITION A GREAT SUCCESS
You are listening to ZS6SRL. Stay tuned for more detail on these, and other important and interesting news items.
DIRECTOR GENERAL LEAVES DOC
Lyndall Shope-Mafole has vacated her position as director-general of the Department of Communication (DOC). Her appointment as the most senior public servant within the DOC was supposed to run until 2011. Lyndall was well disposed towards amateur radio. During her Chairmanship of the ITU Council several years ago, she worked closely with the then IARU President, Dr. Larry Price, W4RA.
FEW DAYS LEFT TO BOOK FOR THE GAUTENG AND CAPE PIC PROGRAMMING COURSE
There are still vacancies on the Gauteng and Cape PIC programming courses. The NARC can still accommodate nine participants. The date is 7 March 2009. The Cape course in Bellville on 14 March still has 10 vacancies. The closing date for bookings is 10 February 2009 for Gauteng and 12 February for the Cape course.
Visit the SARL website for full details at www.sarl.org.zxa, select ‘activities’ and click on ‘RTA’. Follow the instructions on how to register. No bookings can be confirmed until the payment advice is received. E-mail all correspondence to rta@sarl.org.za and not to any other address.
The Durban course is fully booked. Please note that the venue has been changed to the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Howard College campus. Details and a map are on the RTA pages on the SARL website.
SARL BROCHURE – CLUBS SLOW IN REQUESTING SUPPLIES
Last year the SARL printed a full-colour brochure which can be used to promote amateur radio. It is also available for download from the website. During the recent President's Net some comments were made: "Wouldn't it be nice if we had a brochure?"
Some time ago clubs were invited to contact the office to order a supply of the full-colour brochure for local use. Only very few did. This is a reminder to clubs that they can order the brochure by calling the office or sending an e-mail to Mariska Faasen requesting a supply of 50 or 100 copies. Mariska's e-mail address is admin@sarl.org.za. The brochure is intended for promotion of amateur radio to non-amateurs.
DESPITE SETBACKS THE NAMIBIAN DX-PEDITION A GREAT SUCCESS
Heavy winds, lack of mains power, and equipment going up in smoke were not enough to dampen the enthusiasm of the January 2009 Namibian VHF and Satellite DX-pedition. It was a great success.
Expectations where exceeded on the earth-moon-earth (or EME) side, but some of the original goals were not reached for a variety of technical and operational reasons. The EME operation was impressive. On 144 MHz EME, 231 different stations were contacted in 47 DXCC entities on all continents. Of these contacts 230 were made using the WSJT and JT65B modes and one on CW. On 432 MHz EME, 18 different stations in 13 DXCC entities, 16 using JT65B and five on CW were contacted. On 1 296 MHz EME, 18 different stations in 12 DXCC entities, 17 using JT65B and one on CW were worked. The SARL was one of the sponsors of the DXpedition.
For a more detailed report read the next edition of Radio ZS which will be mailed during the next two weeks. A detailed day-by-day report by Hal Lund, ZS6WB, is available on www.amsat.org.za
DON'T MISS THE SARL'S CONVENTION
The SARL's National Convention in the greater Cape Town area from 23 to 26 April 2009, is not to be missed. Programme details are now on the website and will be published in the January/February edition of Radio ZS.
Up-country members are encouraged to do their travel arrangements early to benefit from the early-bird discounts offered by various airlines for online bookings. A list of bed-and-breakfast accommodation is being compiled and will soon be available on the website.
CONTEST NEWS
The first leg of the SARL HF Field Day will be on the air on 14 and 15 February, with phone and CW activity on 10 to 160 metres. The Field Day starts at 12:00 CAT on Saturday 14 February. The aim of the contest is to involve Southern African stations in a competitive and sociable event held under simulated emergency conditions. The contest is open to all licensed radio amateurs in Southern Africa.
The SARL Hamnet 40 metre Simulated Emergency Contest will be on Sunday 1 March 2009 from 14:00 to 16:00 CAT. This SSB Contest is open to all Radio Amateurs in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Mozambique, Lesotho, Marion Island and South Africa’s base on Antarctica. Only contacts with these areas will count.
The rules for both these contests can be found in the 2009 SARL Contest Manual at www.sarl.org.za. The new rules for the 2009 SARL VHF/UHF contest will be available very soon and the Contest manual will be updated.
CLUB NEWS
The Bloemfontein Radio Amateur Club has acquired a new clubhouse at the Leeuwberg Museum south of the city. The club will get involved with activities at the Museum and advertise amateur radio. The Leeuwberg Museum was visited during the 2008 SARL National Convention.
The Magalies Radio Amateur Club will present classes for would-be radio amateurs from 14 February 2009. The classes will be presented at three different venues, viz. the clubhouse in Waverley, the John Vorster Technological High School in Queenswood, and in Centurion. Interested persons should contact Marten du Preez at 012 332 2104.
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. The expected Effective Sun Spot number for the coming week will be less than five.
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 CAT. Contacts with New Zealand are going to be challenging. 20 m contacts may be possible with Australia at 08:00. Contacts with Peru are highly unlikely. Brazil may be worked on 15 and 20 m from 14:00 and 19:00 respectively. At 14:00 there may be short, weak 15 m openings followed by weak, short 20 m openings towards Europe. Contacts with the USA East Coast are possible on 15 m from 18:00 followed by 20 m openings. 10 MHz looks 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 daytime. 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 at its peak, thunderstorms and static discharge 0noise may be challenging.
Remember that this is only a prediction and that HF can 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
14 and 15 February – the SARL HF Field Day;
15 February – closing date for the Tinus Lange award entries;
21 February – PIC course in Durban and HAMNET Gauteng South meeting;
01 March – Hamnet 40 metre Contest;
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. 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, compiled by Dennis, ZS4BS, and edited by Jannie, ZR6PHD.
Thank you for listening, 73.
