SARL NEWS – SUNDAY 22 NOVEMBER 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 web-stream, visit www.sarl.org.za, click on ARMI and follow the links for details. For audio via Echolink, connect to ZS0JPL-R.
You can download this bulletin and previous ones from www.sarl.org.za and subscribe there to receive future bulletins by e-mail.
Your newsreader 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 is with deep regret that the passing of John Hughes, K6MB, on 16 November, after suffering a stroke, is announced. Many South African contesters and DXers knew John. We extend our condolences to his family and many friends.

(PAUSE)

In the news today:

INTECNET RETURNS TONIGHT

GET AN EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT

ESSAY COMPETITION – CLOSING DATE EXTENDED

You are listening to ZS6SRL. Stay tuned for more detail on these and other important and interesting news items.

INTECNET RETURNS TONIGHT

This evening the SARL Intecnet returns after a few months’ absence. The subject is "SO67 – SumbandilaSat,” South Africa's second satellite. Presenting the subjects are Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, who, with Andrew Roos, ZS6AA, were responsible for the amateur radio payload. Other participants are Jan-Albert Koekemoer, ZR1JAK, of Sunspace, who is the kingpin in the commissioning of the satellite and Allan Saul, ZS1LS, who has done extensive testing.
Intecnet is on the air at 19:30 CAT on a repeater near you. It will also be available on Echolink and web-casting by ZS6FCS. Check www.amateurradio.org.za/armi.htm for details.

GET AN EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT

If you are not a member of the SARL or you’re membership expired more than 18 months ago, you can get yourself a Christmas present by becoming a member before 5 December at a half-year rate and get December free, as well as a copy of the November/December edition of Radio ZS.
This offer is not available to those whose membership fees were due on 1 July this year. If you fall in that category, pay the arrears now and make sure you get the next edition of Radio ZS.
Occasionally, one hears the question: “why should I join the SARL?”
The South African Radio League is the National Body of Amateur Radio in South Africa and a direct interface with the Department of Communication, The Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and other government- and non-governmental organisations. In everyday life many people belong to associations – some because the law requires it and others because the benefits accrue to their profession, sport or hobby. Here are three of many good reasons why a serious radio amateur should be a member of the National Body, the SARL:
(1) REPRESENTATION AT NATIONAL LEVEL
The SARL represents all radio amateurs when dealing with the authorities to ensure that the amateur spectrum is protected. It is the number of members that gives the SARL the muscle to confer representatively.
(2) INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATION
The SARL is a member of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU), who represents Radio Amateurs at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) – the organisation that watches over the radio frequency spectrum allocation and usage. The IARU works constantly at World Radio Conferences behind the scenes to ensure that amateur allocations are protected and even expanded. The IARU derives its muscle from National Member Societies, such as the SARL, who have representation in their respective countries.
(3) KEEPING ABREAST OF THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY
Through an interactive website, weekly news bulletins, Radio Technology-in-action symposia and a bi-monthly publication – Radio ZS – the SARL keeps Radio Amateurs abreast of new technologies.
Wouldn’t it be great if you are part of the action and not just an onlooker? We are sure that if you look at the three reasons presented here, that you too should become a member. If you are already one, thank you for your support.

MEMBERSHIP FEES PAID INTO THE WRONG ACCOUNT

Mariska requests that the radio amateurs whose call signs are listed below contact her promptly at the NARC regarding their payments to the SARL into the closed Standard Bank account, instead of the ABSA account. Mariska can be contacted at 011 675 2393 or e-mail to admin@sarl.org.za.
The following must please contact Mariska: ZS1ZU, ZS2AG, ZS2KW, ZS2-0273, ZS3G, ZS4NS, ZR5SEP, ZS5DCF, ZS5R, ZS5UA, ZR6APX, ZR6ARV, ZR6DG, ZR6NHA, ZS6BHE, ZS6BYQ, ZS6DGB, ZS6EU, ZS6IGR, ZS6KO, ZS6PHW, ZS6POT and ZS6TAF.
Mariska’s contact details again: 011 675 2393 or e-mail to admin@sarl.org.za.

NOMINATIONS FOR THE SARL COUNCIL

This is a reminder that nominations close on 30 November. Is your area represented? It is now the time to take action.

ESSAY COMPETITION CLOSING DATE EXTENDED

The closing date for the Space Essay competition for learners has been postponed until 15 January 2010 to give students, who spent the past two months writing exams, more time to complete the essay. In the meantime, the list of prizes has grown. Visit www.amateurradio.org.za for more details.

HAMNET WESTERN CAPE

It has been decided, as of 25 November 2009, to change the Wednesday evening bulletin back to the summer time of 20:30 CAT. David, ZS1DDK, provides a relay on 80 m, on 3 760 kHz, and reports that the bands are opening later now. This means any distant stations listening on 3 760 kHz at 19:30 CAT, will find the band still closed and not hear it at all. The bulletin is open to all those interested in Emergency Communications in Southern Africa, and there are regularly call-ins from ZS2, ZS3, ZS4, ZS5, ZS6 and V51. Please call in on 3 760 kHz, and join Hamnet Western Cape on Wednesday evenings.

CONTEST NEWS

PEARS hosts two contests each year. The annual PEARS HF Contest will take place on Sunday 6 December from 14:00 to 18:00 CAT on 40 and 80 metres. The PEARS National VHF/UHF contest will be held from 15 - 17 January 2010. More detail in future bulletins.

The Antique Wireless Association HF QSO Party. The contest committee has released the results of the Antique Wireless Association HF QSO party held on 10 and 11 October 2009.
AM
1st Jan Botha, ZS4JAN, with 213 points;
2nd Don Radford, ZS5DR, 195; and
3rd Marius Preston, ZS4MP, 56 points.
SSB
1st Jan Botha, ZS4JAN, 354 with points;
2nd Rob Cohen, ZS5LA, 168;
3rd Marius Preston, ZS4MP, with 131.
Thanks to all who entered the QSO party and made it a great weekend. Certificates will be mailed to the winners shortly.

The ZS6JVT 40 m HF Contest. The competition drew a lot of support, but very few, only ten, log sheets were received, one was used as a check log and one was disqualified.
The results are:
ZS/ZR GROUP
1st Andrew Mans, ZR3AM (20 years), with167 points;
2nd Mitchell Mynhardt, ZS6YH (12 years), 29;
3rd Phillip Cronje, ZS6JPC (16 years), 52 and
4th Tiaan van Eeden, ZS6TVE (16 years), and Wessels Welgens, ZR6WEW (16 years), 38 points.
ZU Group
1st Hugo Coetzee, ZU3H (15 years), 97;
2nd Ruan Maritz, ZU3R, (16 years), 62, and
3rd Jean-Pierre Coetzee, ZU6PJ (9 years), 58 points.
Congratulations and thanks to all the youngsters who participated. The certificates will be mailed shortly. Mr. Chris Steinman, the principal of the John Vorster Technical High School, drew the name of the winner for the lucky draw. Congratulations to Mitchell Mynhardt, ZS6YH, whose name was drawn. The prize will be mailed soon. The motto of ZS6JVT is fittingly: “Youth striving for high quality technological advance”.

CLUB NEWS

The West Rand Amateur Radio Club is hosting its next flea market at 12:00 on Saturday 5 December 2009 at the clubhouse in Kroton Street, Weltevredenpark, Roodepoort. Everyone is very welcome. For more information, contact Willem at 082 890 6775.

The Port Elizabeth Amateur Radio Society (PEARS) is presenting a raffle for an ICOM IC718. This draw is open to all licensed Amateurs and they invite members of other clubs to join in the fun. Tickets are R50 each and can be ordered from Clive, ZS2RT, on 041 367 3203 or at cfife@absamail.co.za. There are still tickets available, so reserve yours now. The draw will take place on 18 December and the winner announced on Sunday, 20 December. Someone WILL have a new HF rig for Christmas. Remember tickets are a meagre R50.

PROPAGATION REPORT

Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, reports that the solar activity is still at low levels. Fortunately, two sunspots made their appearance during the week.
15 and 20 m will provide the best opportunities for DX. Conditions to India will be good from the afternoons onwards. During the late afternoons and early evenings, it will be moderate towards Europe. In the afternoons there are good possibilities of contacts with the USA on 15 m. Contacts with New Zealand and Australia will be challenging. During the afternoons and evenings, 15 and 20 m contacts may be possible with Brazil.
Local conditions will be good on 40 m during the daytime. 80 m may perform well during the early mornings and late afternoons over the shorter distances. 30 m will perform well over the longer distances during the middle of the day. With summer here, 20 m is also becoming very useful for contacts over the longer distances. 80 m is the frequency of choice in the evenings. Please visit www.spaceweather.co.za for further information.

To end SARL News today – IT’S ALL GREEK TO ME

Ask any high school physics student and they will tell you that electrons govern pretty much everything we do. We call electrons in motion an electrical current, and those radio waves that we radio amateurs are so fond of, are the result of high frequency electrons travelling in our antenna conductors. Think of a 40 metre wave as an accidental tourist who wants to go somewhere. But how does it get there? It needs some mode of transport – and electrons serve as the transport providers.
We use our transmitters to resonate electrons in our antennas to-and-fro to produce radio waves – and transmit them – hopefully to that rare DX destination. When the radio waves get there, they set electrons in another antenna in motion. That current – electrons in motion – is then amplified and detected at the receiving end – a QSO is achieved.
But, why do we call them electrons? The ancient Greeks noticed that amber attracted small objects when rubbed with fur. Apart from lightning, this phenomenon is thought to be man's earliest known experience of electricity. Back in the year 1600, the English physicist William Gilbert – in his thesis De Magnete – coined the new Latin term ‘electricus’ to refer to this property of attracting small objects after being rubbed. Both ‘electric’ and ‘electricity’ are derived from the Latin. (From an ARRL letter.)

DIARY OF EVENTS

Tonight at 19:30 CAT – Intechnet with SumbandilaSat as subject;
30 November – closing date for SARL Council member nominations;
5 December – West Rand Flea market;
6 December – PEARS HF Contest;
18 December – closing date for PEARS raffle;
15 January 2010 – closing date for essay competition; and
15 - 17 January 2010 – PEARS VHF/UHF Contest.

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 only to www.sarl.org.za/newsinbox.asp, not later than the Thursday preceding the bulletin date.
The SARL also invites you to listen to Amateur Radio Mirror International 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. For a web-stream and Echolink by ZS6FCS, visit www.sarl.org.za, click on 'ARMI' and follow the links. A repeat transmission can be heard on Mondays at 21:00 CAT on 3 215 kHz.
/EX

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. The editor was Jannie, ZR6PHD.

Thank you for listening, 73.
/EX