SARL NEWS - SUNDAY 18 JULY 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 web stream, 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 also subscribe 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 10,130, 7,066 and 3,695 MHz SSB.
SILENT KEYS
It is with deep regret that we must announce that two radio amateurs became silent keys recently. They are:
Don, ZS6ABC, on the 9th July and Fanna Botha, ZR6FPM, on the 15th July. We extend our sincere condolences to their relatives and friends.
(PAUSE)
In the news today:
RADIO AMATEUR EXAMINATION PROCESS STREAMLINED
CONTESTING SIMPLIFIED
GAREC 2010 ON CURAÇAO IN OCTOBER
You are listening to ZS6SRL. Stay tuned for more details on these and other important and interesting news items.
RADIO AMATEUR EXAMINATION PROCESS STREAMLINED
The Council of the SARL has streamlined the Radio Amateur Examination Process in order to deliver the results and call signs to successful candidates faster. With immediate effect candidates can only enter for one examination, in other words for the class A or Class B. It will no longer be possible to write both examinations at the same time. The closing date will be strictly adhered to. No late entries will be accepted. "It will be necessary that candidates submit all documents as set out in the RAE guidelines published on the web including the HF assessment", said SARL RAE Manager, Mark Zank, ZS6YES. A candidate who's Registration is incomplete by the closing date will not be able to write the examination and not receive an examination number.
"While it may sound harsh, the reality is that it is the few candidates who do not comply with the guidelines who delay the callsign and licensing process of all the other candidates as was experienced with the May examination", Mark said. Ensuring that all documentation is received by the entry deadline will also assist ICASA in speeding up the licensing process.
"In future successful candidates will receive their callsign with the results and they will be able to go on the air immediately. The SARL will also issue certificates to all successful candidates and will engage with Echolink administrators to recognize the SARL certificate as being fully licensed. "This process can only be successful if clubs assist candidates to do their HF assessments before the examination closing date”, Mark said.
THERE WILL BE A BUZZ AROUND IN CAPE TOWN NEXT SATURDAY
Call it a buzz or a noise, whatever you like, it is a demonstration of D-Star, the digital revolution hitting amateur radio. It is all happening at the SARL Radio Technology in Action 2010 at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology on Saturday 24 July. Registration starts at 08:15. Get the full programme on www.sarl.org.za, click on rta and down load the PDF file. You can also send a request to www.rta.org.za with RTA CT in the subject line and a copy will be mailed you.
The programme includes presentations by the Hermanus Magnetic Observatory, and Multisource. Learn more about Digital Signal processing and Amateur Radio Direction Finding and visit the laboratory where South Africa's first CubeSat is being built. Entrance is R50 including refreshments and a ticket in the attendance draw sponsored by RS. Students and learners attend free. Just get there!
The ARRL 2010 Handbook and the ARRL antenna book will be available at the RTA in Cape Town. You are advised to pre-order and collect the book at the RTA. Get details from www.amateurradio.org.za.
COMPETITION NEWS
Results of the Top Band contest held from the 17th June 2010 to 20th June 2010
A total of 10 logs were received. Stats from the 10 logs received show that at least 52 call signs were active but why were only 10 logs submitted?
Problems encountered with the logs were incorrect RST reports and wrong frequencies. Please read the rules of the contests.
1st ZS6YI - Gary Immelman 143 points
2nd ZS6GRL - Geoff Levey 137 points
3rd ZS6PVT - Phillip van Tonder 110 points
The full results will be published on the forum and in HF Happenings.
CONTESTING SIMPLIFIED
Over the next few weeks, SARL Contest Manager Geoffrey Levey will highlight details of the up and coming contests. This week SARLNEWS focuses on the SARL HF Contests.
The aim of the SARL HF Phone Contest is for participants to contact as many amateurs in Southern Africa as possible on the 20, 40 and 80 m bands. The HF Phone contest takes place on Sunday 1 August 2010 from 13:00 to 16:30 UTC. The following frequencies may be utilized - 14,125 to 14,350 MHz; 7,060 to 7,100 and 7,130 to 7,200 MHz; 3,603 to 3,650 and 3,700 to 3,800 MHz.
There are four categories of participation - a) Single Operator Single Band; b) Single Operator All Band; c) Multi Operator Single Band or d) Multi Operator All Band. The exchange is a RS report and a consecutive serial number starting at 001. A multi-operator station transmitting on several bands simultaneously may at their discretion use separate number sequences for each band.
Each contact counts 1 point, each call area worked on each band counts 2 points and each station contacted on all three bands counts 2 points. Contacts with stations outside these areas are allowed, QSO points may be claimed but no zone or three-bander points may be claimed. More details including the call areas are available in the contest manual. Download it from www.sarl.org.za and select contests in the left hand column.
There are trophies and certificates awarded for the highest overall score as well as the highest score on a single band. Logs must be submitted within 15 days to the Bloemfontein Radio Amateur Club, Box 12104, Brandhof, 9324 or sent by e-mail to zs4bfn@netactive.co.za. The closing date for the log submissions is 16 August 2010.
Participants under 19 years old and participants over 18 years old will take part in two separate draws for a 2010 ARRL Handbook and an ARRL Antenna book respectively.
Get those antennas in order and get radio active in the SARL HF Phone contest on 1 August.
BOLAND 40 METRE SPRINT NEXT WEEKEND
The aim of the Boland ARC 40 metre Sprint is a fun activity to promote contacts on 40 metres between radio amateurs in Southern African countries. The Sprint runs from 13:00 to 16:00 UTC on Sunday 25 July 2010. Radio amateurs can participate as fixed or mobile stations, mobile stations include field stations and portable stations. The exchange is your call sign, a RS report and the year in which you were first licensed. Full details on www.zs1BAK@bark.org.za.
The next SARL 80 m Club Contest is on the air on Wednesday evening 28 July from 17:30 to 18:30 UTC. This is a phone contest and the exchange is a RS report and a consecutive serial number starting at 001. Which club will have the most participants?
To celebrate National Women's Day on Monday 9 August, the SARL YL Sprint will be on the air on 40 metres from 09:00 to 10:00 UTC. The exchange is a RS report and YL or OM. Contacts between YL stations are worth 5 points; contacts between YL and OM stations are worth 3 points and contacts between OM stations are worth 1 point.
The rules for these contests are available in the 2010 SARL Contest Manual.
Join Geoffrey and Derek tonight as during the intecnet they will discuss contests and contesting. Intecnet is on the air at 19:30 CAT on various repeaters and on HF on 3 718 kHz.
GAREC 2010 ON CURAÇAO IN OCTOBER
The 2010 Global Amateur Radio Emergency Conference or GAREC will be held on 11 and 12 October on the island of Curaçao in the Netherlands Antilles.
The missions of the conference are to get radio amateurs better prepared for emergency communications. This, by creating what can best be called universal operating practices at both national and international levels. The conference is also a place to exchange information and experiences between radio amateurs and groups that are interested in emergency communications. SARL Hamnet will be represented at this important meeting. In August 2011 the SARL will host GAREC 2011 in South Africa.
The planning for the event is progressing with the first draft program of events available from the GAREC website at www.garec.net. The program will continue to change as speakers and activities are confirmed in coming months. Registration and hotel information can also be found at the Website.
CLUB NEWS
The Centurion Radio Amateur Club held a very successful Annual General Meeting on Saturday 10 July 2010 at the Scout Hall in Wierda Park. The following Committee members were elected:
Chairman: Pam Momberg, ZS6APT;
Vice Chairman: Ben Booysen, ZS6BTB;
Secretary: Sakkie Schoonraad, ZS6IJS;
Treasurer: Pam Momberg, ZS6APT;
Technical Coordinator: Pieter du Toit, ZR6ZDT.
The Club thanks the outgoing committee and chairman for their good work during 2009-2010.
PROPAGATION REPORT
Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, reports that the solar activity is still at low levels. Sunspot 1 087 is starting to slowly shrink in size. The effective sunspot number is expected to be less than 15 for the coming week.
20 m will provide the best opportunities for DX followed by 40 m. Conditions to India will be good from the afternoon till sunset. During sunset it will be good towards Europa. Contacts with the USA are still challenging. Contacts with Australia are possible on 40 m after sunset. Contacts with Brazil and South America are challenging.
For the CW and digital enthusiasts 30 m may be very rewarding with openings to many parts of the world.
Local conditions are going to be good during the day time on 40 m. With the change of season 30 m has taken over from 20 m for contacts over the longer distances during the middle of the day. With the decrease in noise levels 80 m is best for the shorter distances and also during the early mornings and late afternoons and evenings.
Please visit www.spaceweather.co.za for further information.
DIARY OF EVENTS
18 July - Intechnet tonight at 19:30 on competition matters;
23 - 24 July - Preparation and launch of the HABEX balloon project;
24 July - RTA symposium in Cape Town;
25 July – Boland ARC 40 m Sprint 13:00-16:00 UTC;
28 July –SARL 4th 80 m Club Contest 17:30-18:30 UTC;
1 August – SARL HF Phone Contest 13:00 to 16:30 UTC;
2 August - Closing date for PIC course in Pretoria on 14 August;
2-7 August – National Science Week at Sci Bono and ZS6SCI on the air from 09:00 till 14:00 CAT;
9 August – SARL YL Sprint on 40 m 09:00 to 10:00 UTC;
12 - 14 August - International EME Conference, Dallas, Texas;
14 August – PIC course in Pretoria;
16 August – Logs for SARL HF phone competition must be in.
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 17 560 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. 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
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