SARL NEWS - SUNDAY 12 APRIL 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 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 bulletin and previous ones 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 52,750, 438,825 and 1 296 MHz FM in the Pretoria area. (Other newsreaders please change to suit).
SILENT KEY
It was with sadness that the SARL learned of the passing away of Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, Minister of Communication. To her family and the Department of Communication we offer our sincere condolences
(PAUSE)
In the news today:
DEADLINE FOR NATIONAL CONVENTION BOOKING EXTENDED
AMENDED REGULATIONS EXPECTED SOON
BIG EVENT AT THE NARC NEXT SATURDAY
NOMINATIONS FOR THE NSN RADIO AMATEUR OF THE YEAR AWARDS INVITED
You are listening to ZS6SRL. Stay tuned for more detail on these and other important and interesting news items.
The deadline for bookings for the National Convention to be held in Cape Town from 24 to 26 April has been extended to 17 April to give latecomers an opportunity to get their bookings in. It is an event that you do not want to miss.
The booking form can be downloaded from www.sarl.org.za. The AGM documents are available from the member's only section of the web. Click on the member's only button on the top right hand corner of the home page. You will also find a proxy form. Any member who cannot cannot attend the AGM, please appoint a proxy. Complete the form and fax it back to the office at the NARC. The fax number is printed on the form.
The National Convention starts on Friday evening 24 April with a spit braai. The AGM starts the next morning with registration at 08:00. The actual meeting starts at 09:00. Beside the usual matters discussed at an AGM, there will be a discussion on the draft document setting out the SARL's objection to the proposed licence fee increases. The President in his annual report will also highlight the SARL strategies for the coming financial year.
On Saturday afternoon you have a choice of going on sea cruise or a visit to Cape Town Radio. The annual dinner starts at 19:00 at the Oakdale club and features Sias Mostert as the guest speaker. On Sunday the National Convention will conclude with a leisurely breakfast at a restaurant in an idyllic Cape setting.
Get all the details from www.sarl.org.za, but more importantly don't miss it! Be there!
During the past week ICASA completed the draft input for the Government Gazette with changes to the regulations. The two major items are the correction of ZR access to more of the 20 metre band and the expansion of the 40 metre band to 7 200 kHz. The document will have to be approved by the ICASA Council before it will be sent to the Government printer for publication in the Government Gazette. Watch this space and the SARL web for details as they become available.
Next Saturday, 18 April, the SARL will be celebrating world amateur radio day with a big event at the National Amateur Radio Centre. Watch how we generate hydrogen for the next Bacar mission and see how the experimental payload is lifted into to the sky on a tethered baloon. The payload includes a 2 metre APRS beacon and an HF beacon. The HF beacon will operate on 7 022 kHz and will send a voice message. Get the download on the BACAR activity on www.amsatsa.org.za.
Copy the voice message and send it to armi@sarl.org.za as soon as you receive it. At 13:00 all messages received will go into the draw for a 2008 ARRL Handbook.
Hamnet and ZS6SRL will be active from the National Amateur Radio Centre, give them a call on 7 082 kHz or 14 150 kHz.
The activities start at 10:00 and will end at 14:00. Join in the fun. There will be free refreshments.
The South African Amateur Radio Development Trust is inviting nominations for the Nokia Siemens Networks Radio Amateur of the Year Awards. There are three categories:
GARTH MILNE TECHNICAL INNOVATION AWARD:
The award is made for the support, development and application of Technological Innovation in Amateur Radio in South Africa. The recipient will be a person who has promoted the use of technology in amateur radio at club level, nationally, at schools or tertiary education institution.
NSN RADIO AMATEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD:
The award is made for the support and development of the Amateur Radio Service in South Africa, not for individual achievements such as DXCC and other operational awards or contests. The recipient will be a person who has given of his or her expertise and time to the promotion of Amateur Radio in South Africa.
NSN AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD:
Annually the South African Amateur Radio Development Trust is recognising a radio amateur or a group of radio amateurs for service to the community. Community service can be assistance to a handicapped radio amateur, communications support during a sporting event or a disaster situation like a road accident or a natural disaster like a flood, veld fires, or an earthquake. Nominations are invited for an individual or a group of people like a radio club, or an association.
The entry form is available on www.amateurradio.org.za. The closing date is 15 May 2009.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
The first symposium in the Radio Technology in Action series will be held at the SARL National Amateur Radio Centre in Gauteng on Saturday 9 May 2009. Attendance is R30 per person which includes a ticket in the attendance prize draw. There is no charge for students and learners. Full details are now available on www.sarl.org.za, scroll down and click on the RTA item.
This weekend presents great weekend opportunities for ZS Worked All Grid Square hunters. Many rare grid squares will be activated over the weekend.
KG02, KG03 and KG04 will be activated by Gerhard, ZS3TG. KF09 will be activated at Verneukpan by the ZS3ARC team and KG47 will be activated by John, ZR6HLT, as A25HLT.
On Monday 13th April, you can hear Charles, ZS1CF, from JF86, and ZS1RAP will be active from JF87.
Most activity will be on 80 m early in the morning and during the evening and on 40 m during the day time.
Refer to the postings on the SARL forum for more detail.
The Antique Wireless Association will be having it's annual Open Day on Saturday 25 April at the Lions Clubhouse in the Boulders Shopping Centre in Midrand.
A Map with GPS co-ordinates is available from Andy, ZS6ADY, and you can obtain this by email to andy.cairns@xsinet.co.za or a call to 082 448 4368.
Unfortunatley the usual venue at the TAC at Rand Airport is not available due to problems with the renewing of the lease agreement.
Flea market tables are available and one should contact Rad, ZS6RAD, if you need to use one. In addition, there will be Radio Displays, good company, a cash bar and the shopping center for Mom and the kids. All are invited to come along and enjoy themselves.
Thanks a lot and the SARL looks forward to all these young people becoming radio amateurs.
CLUB NEWS
The Oakdale ARC (ZS1OAK) will be experimenting with propagation on the 12 m band.
During their weekly club news bulletin, every Tuesday evening at 20:00, they will be relaying the bulletin on 24,965 Mhz as well. This will start from Tuesday 14 April 2009. Oakdale requests that anyone who hear them report in to them.
During the recent annual "Veldkamp", a grade eleven Voortrekker camp at Doornloof, eighty five Voortrekkers earned their radio badges. Effective radio communication and proper radio procedure are key elements contributing to the success of this event. The young people spent lots of time in the veld and received many of their instructions by radio. Andries, ZS6VL, Cornι, ZU6C, and Butch, ZR6SPB, (all members of the Sasolburg Amateur Radio Club) acted as instructors.
PROPAGATION REPORT
Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZ, reports that the expected solar activity will be very low. The geomagnetic field is expected to be predominantly at quiet levels. The expected Effective Sun Spot number for the coming week will be less than 5. The sun's failure to produce sunspots is playing havoc with some frequency prediction programs that use stored sunspot values, and of course, with our HF comms as well. The frequency prediction programs tend to give optimistic results and must be treated with caution.
The emminent change of season with less energy from the sun reaching the Southern ionosphere is having an impact on propagation as well. 15 and 20 m will provide best opportunities for DX. There is a possibility of 15 m openings towards India from about 13:00 CAT followed by 20 m at 16:00. 17 m may also be very usefull to the east in the afternoons. Contacts with New Zealand and Australia are going to be very challenging. Contacts with Peru are unlikely. Brazil may be worked on 15 m from 14:00 till 18:00. At 16:00 there may be good 15 m openings followed by 20 m openings at 18:00 towards Europe. Contacts with the USA are going to be challenging.
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. With winter on its way 20 m is preparing for hibernation but may still give surprising results before lunchtime.
80 m is the frequency of choice in the evenings. Unfortunately the static noise levels are still a bit high making contacts on the longer distances 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
9 12 April ZS3ARC active from Verneukpan and other WAZS activities;
17 April Last day to register for SARL AGM functions;
18 April Bacar demonstration at the NARC and ZS6SRL and Hamnet active for World Amateur Radio Day;
19 April - Autumn QRP Sprint;
23 APRIL Last day to enter for the May RAE;
24-26 April SARL National Convention, Cape Town.
25 April - Open Day of the Antique Wireless Association;
9 May RTA at the NARC;
15 May Closing date for SARDT award nominations.
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 Amateur Radio Mirror International programme every Sunday morning at 10:00 CAT on 145,750 MHz in the Pretoria area, with relays on 7 082, 7 205 and 17 570 kHz. There is also a podcast by ZS6RO. 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 George, ZS6NE. Thank you for listening, 73.
/EX
