SARL News – SUNDAY 25 APRIL 2010

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.

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Your newsreader this morning is (name), (call sign), on 145,725 and 7,066 MHz from Pretoria, with relays on 10,130, 7,066 and 3,695 MHz SSB.

Today’s news focuses on the highlights of the SARL National Convention held in Port Elizabeth:

NEW SARL COUNCIL ELECTED
NON-MEMBERS JOINING NOW GET MAY AND JUNE FREE
2009 AWARDS PRESENTATION
CONTEST AWARDS


NEW COUNCIL ELECTED

At the AGM held in Port Elizabeth yesterday Dennis Green, ZS4BS, was elected as President with Mark Zank, ZS6YES, as Vice Chairman. Henry Chamberlain, ZS1AAZ, was appointed to the new Council as Secretary and Louw Erasmus ZS6LME as the legal adviser. The Council will meet in the next two weeks to assign portfolios to the other councillors. Rassie Erasmus, ZS1YT, the immediate past President, will continue as Treasurer.

Besides the normal AGM business, the main item on the agenda was a motion by Council to update the constitution. After explaining the changes, a brief discussion followed. There was a proposal from the floor requesting Council to withdraw the motion. The update motion was eventually approved by a large majority with 218 votes in favour and 31 against. The new constitution comes into effect immediately. As explained by the legal advisers, the changed constitution does not materially affect the operation of the SARL, as the changes are mainly cosmetic. The web will be updated as soon as possible.

The AGM approved the new subscription rates for 2010/2011. The ordinary membership fee will be increased from R340 to R360 per annum. The other classes of membership have been increased with similar percentages. The web will be updated during next week. Club affiliation fees have been standardised and are now only R120 per year.

In his annual report the President highlighted the activities of the past year. The full report will be published on www.sarl.org.za on Monday.

NON-MEMBERS JOINING NOW GET MAY AND JUNE FREE

If you join the SARL today at the new 2010/2011 rates, you will get May and June free of charge. As a full member the next 14 months will only cost you R360, less than 85 cents per day, little enough to protect your hobby.


THE FUTURE OF AMATEUR RADIO IS WITH THE YOUTH

The future of amateur radio is with the youth and we need to adapt if we want to attract them. This was the message from IARU Region 1 President Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T. He delivered the after-dinner address at the SARL Awards Banquet in Port Elizabeth last night

He said that the expectations of the youth were very different from those that moved the current generation to become radio amateurs. What interested us at that time no longer enthuses the youth of today, said Timmerman. He continued to say: "My advice is let go on much of what we know and love and let them do what they love. Their focus is more visual. They are keen on new technologies but also want it to happen fast.

"Clubs can do much to promote amateur radio. Start a junior section with a young leader in your club. Focus on visual, virtual and new technologies.

Promote amateur radio as an art and a science, different from the Internet and cellphones. Senior members should provide the resources and support and let youngsters off the leash. We urgently need a new appoach."

Timmerman commented that on the regulatory front we, as IARU and national societies, must justify our spectrum requirements. “Focus on the emergency communications support radio amateurs provide. Society needs technically skilled people; we must lead young people in that direction. We must produce papers on our technical work and participate in scientific research."

In summary the youth is our future. Timmerman stressed that we must be proud of our achievements and that amateur radio is alive – but radio hams should not sit and wait. We can do much better!

2009 AWARDS TO OUR STARS

At the gala dinner the SARL awards were presented for technical achievement, support of amateur radio and achievements in contests. The SARL’s highest award, honorary life membership, was presented to two long-serving members of the Association.

George Honiball, ZS6NE, received the award for his support and dedication to the SARL news service, SARLNEWS, and the promotion of the use of Afrikaans. Rassie Erasmus, ZS1YT, received the award for his many years of service on Council as councillor, treasurer, Vice-President and President.

The Willy Wilson Gold Badge award was presented to Karl Heinz Canitz, ZS1KC, for his many years of service to amateur radio, teaching newcomers and bringing them into amateur radio.

A number of Jack Twine Merit Awards were presented to recognise qualities such as unselfishness, clean operating and a genuine interest in amateur radio and its affairs. The awards went to:

Paul Johnson, ZS1BR
Peter Henochsberg, ZS1PMH
James Timoney, ZS1TK
Martin Cyril Schwella, ZS4MS
Chris Gryffenberg, ZS6COG
Johann du Plessis, ZS6PSS
Mark Zank, ZS6YES
Craig Symington ZS6RH
Bruce Robinson, ZS1FX

The Icom Excellence Award was presented to John Willescroft for his continued efforts and activities to develop technological expertise in the amateur radio community. He is recognised for his presentations at the Radio Technology in Action symposium, the development and presentation of the PIC and home construction courses and the development of construction kits.

The Arthur Hemsley Two-metre Trophy was awarded to Pine Pienaar, ZS6OB, for his arrangements in the Namibia VHF, EME and Satellite DXpedition, In the citation particular mention was made of the construction of the antenna supports and various antenna arrays.

The Joseph White Plaque was awarded to Derek Gravett, ZS5Y, for completing the first ever Réunion to South Africa QSO on 70 cm.

The Buckley Six-metre Trophy was presented to Willem Badenhorst, ZS6WAB, for the first ever 4 m EME contact, which also was a world record.

The Radio ZS Two-metre Floating Trophy for the longest distance on the 2 m amateur band during the year went to Andre Botes, ZS2ACP, for setting a new 2 m Tropo record.

The Radio ZS Shield for the best support of Radio ZS during the year was presented to Frank van Wensveen, ZS6TMV/PA3GMP.

The JJ Pienaar Trophy recognising the best article published in Radio ZS during the past year was awarded to Vincent Harrison, ZS6BTY, for his article "Vertical and Horizontal Antennas: A Performance Comparison”.

The Gary Immelman RA Heritage Award Floating Trophy awarded by for the best article of a historic nature of an event that occurred more than five years previously or an interesting personality that has played an important part in the development of Amateur Radio in years gone by was presented to Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV, for his article “Africa's First EME”, recognising the work of the late Peter Carey, ZS6JT.

The Arland Ussher Gold Pen Award which is presented to the student who achieved the highest marks in the RAE went to Louis Mitchell, ZS6LWM.

The Tinus Lange 7066 Technical Excellence Award was presented to Andre Botes, ZS2ACP, for his "The PW MEON 70 MHz Transverter Revisited”.

The Hamnet Award was awarded to the Hamnet Western Cape team. Under the leadership of Bruce Robinson, ZS1FX, Hamnet Western Cape has become a very effective and proficient team who have been supportive of many sporting and other events over the years.

CONTEST AWARDS

The SARL contest committee has awarded the following trophies and award for excellent performance in contests.

The Silent Keys Memorial Trophy SSB recognising the highest score during the annual HF Phone Contest was presented to David Hutchinson, GI4FUM.

The Silent Keys Memorial Trophy CW for the highest score during the annual HF CW Contest was won by the West Rand Amateur Radio Club, ZS6WR.

The Joseph White Trophy for the highest score on any one band, during the annual HF Phone Contest, went to Rosalie van Loggerenberg, ZR2RL (now ZS2DN).

The Fred Mills Trophy for the highest score of a contestant who has never won a SARL contest before went Daniel Mans, ZS3D.

The Anon Trophy for the highest score on any one band during the annual HF CW Contest was won by Vidi la Grange, ZS1EL.

The HOS Trough awarded to the amateur who achieves the highest aggregate score in both annual HF Contests was presented to David Hutchinson, GI4FUM. David was leader of the 3DA0DJ DXpedition. David is a member of the SARL.

The Club Participation Award went to the ZS Contest Group.

The Ray Webber ZS6RSW VHF/UHF Trophy was presented to the Magalies Amateurradioklub.

The SARL President Award was presented to two radio amateurs who excelled in satellite communication in achieving world records working long distance on OSCAR 7. Congratulations to Andre van Deventer, ZS2BK, and Pierre van Deventer, ZS6BB, for setting new distance records via AO-7. The two brothers displayed true ham spirit.

First Pierre, ZS6BB, broke his brother's long-standing record with a distance of 7 630 km working Luciano, PY5LF, on 2 January 2001. It was not long thereafter when André, ZS2BK, reclaimed his lead with a world record distance of 7 694 km on 8 January when he made a historic contact with Piraja, PS8RF. Not to be outdone, Pierre on 18 January again surged ahead with an SSB contact with Josep, EA6SA, over a distance of 7 766 km.

The SARL Congratulates all the award winners.


PROPAGATION REPORT

Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, reports that the solar activity is still at very low levels. The week's tiny proto-sunspot dissolved before it could be numbered. Officially the sun has now remained blank for more than eight days in a row. The effective sunspot number is expected to be between 10 and 15 for the coming week. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is beaming back stunning new images of the sun, revealing our own star as never seen before. Even veteran solar physicists say they are amazed by the data. "SDO is working beautifully," reports project scientist Dean Pesnell of the Goddard Space Flight Centre. "This is even better than we could have dreamed."

Launched on February 11 from Cape Canaveral, the observatory has spent the past two months moving into a geosynchronous orbit and activating its instruments. As soon as SDO's telescope doors opened, the spacecraft began beaming back scenes so beautiful and puzzlingly complex that even seasoned observers were stunned. To have a look, go to www.spaceweather.com and click on the link under "Stunning images of the sun".

15 m will provide the best opportunities for DX followed by 17 and 20 m. Conditions to India will be good from the afternoon onwards. During the late afternoon and early evenings conditions will be good towards Europe. Contacts with the USA are once again becoming challenging. Contacts with Australia are possible at around 08:00 while contacts with New Zealand will be challenging. During the afternoons and evenings good 15 m contacts may also be possible with Brazil.

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. 30 m will perform well during the middle of the day. 20 m is very useful for contacts over the longer distances during the majority of the day.

80 m is the frequency of choice in the evenings. With the change of season the noise levels are also decreasing and some top band activity will once again become possible.

Please visit www.spaceweather.co.za for further information.

DIARY OF EVENTS

7 May – Closing date for stage 2 of the Construction Competition.
8 May – Technological High School John Vorster Amateur Radio Club flea market.
29 May – RTA symposium in Durban.
24 July – RTA symposium in Cape Town.
21 August – RTA symposium in Port Elizabeth.
31 August – Closing date for submission of proposals for the 2011 SARL Contest Manual.
18 September – RTA symposium in Gauteng.

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 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 webstream 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. Sentech sponsors the ARMI transmissions on the non-amateur frequencies.

You have listened to a bulletin of the South African Radio League compiled by Leon, ZS4V, and edited by Hester van der Walt.

Thank you for listening, 73.
/EX