SARL NEWS - SUNDAY 22 August 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 7,066 and 3,695 MHz SSB.

SILENT KEY

Louw du Plessis - ZR6ATZ passed away very suddenly at home on Monday 16th August 2010 at the age of 66. He will be sorely missed by his Wife Gwen, children and Grandchildren.

Senator Fransesco Cossiga, IqFCG, passed away on Tuesday the 17th in Rome. After being Italian minister of Interior affairs, he later became Prime Minister and then President of Italy from 1985 to 1992.

During his tenure as President he operated a station from his offices He was quite active as a DXer and hê was member of the "CQ Hall of fame".

Our sincerest condolences to the relatives and friends of the deceased.

(PAUSE)

In the news today:

ARRL/TAPR DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE

SAT NETWORK

ANOTHER LOOK AT PLT REGULATIONS

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

ARRL/TAPR DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE

Aficionados of digital communications are gearing up for the 29th annual ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference (DCC), September 24-26 near Portland, Oregon. The ARRL/TAPR DCC is an international forum for radio amateurs to meet, publish their work and present new ideas and techniques. Presenters and attendees will have the opportunity to exchange ideas and learn about recent hardware and software advances, theories, experimental results, and practical applications.

The DCC is for all levels of technical experience - not just for the expert. Not only is the three day conference technically stimulating, it is a weekend of fun for all who have more than a casual interest in any aspect of amateur digital electronics and communications; introductory sessions are scheduled throughout the conference to introduce new technical topics for both beginners and experts.
Topics at the DCC include, but are not limited to: Software defined radio (SDR); digital voice (D-STAR, P25, WinDRM, FDMDV, G4GUO); digital satellite communications; Global Position System (GPS); precision timing; Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS); short messaging (a mode of APRS); Digital Signal Processing (DSP); HF digital modes; Internet interoperability with Amateur Radio networks; spread spectrum; IEEE 802.11 and other license-exempt systems adaptable for Amateur Radio; using TCP/IP networking over Amateur Radio; mesh and peer-to-peer wireless networking; emergency and Homeland Defense backup digital communications; using Linux in Amateur Radio; updates on AX.25, and other wireless networking protocols.

SAT NETWORK

SA AMSAT has introduced SAT NETWORK, a regular discussion on satellite on an INTECNET basis. The first SAT NETWORK will discuss the payload options for the proposed SA AMSAT payload. It will be on the air on Sunday 29 August 2010 at 19:30. John Williscroft, ZS6EF, will introduce the subject with a presentation on an imaginary satellite and its multi payloads built on the back of fold-out solar panels. The idea is to set the scene for a useful discussion. You are invited to join the discussion. By courtesy of the SARL, SAT NETWORK will be facilitated by the same team as the President's Net and Intecnet on a repeater in the Cape Town area, the Eastern Cape repeater network, Durban and Gauteng. Marten, ZS6ZY, will relay ob 3 718 kHz and Chris, ZS6FCS, will take care of Echolink and the Webcast.

SO67 OPERATIONAL ON ALMOST A DAILY BASIS

SO67 will be operational over South African on almost a daily basis. The availability over South Africa is somewhat limited due the current image downloading schedule. Details are on www.amsatsa.org.za.

WHO SAYS CHRISTMAS COMES ONLY ONCE A YEAR?

For Fred Scheepers, ZS1FCS, it came early this when he was the lucky winner at the Cape Town Radio Technology in Action 2010 event of a surprise package donated by Kobus Conradie, ZS1K, of Let's Play Radio. Kobus donated a Yaesu FT60E, Twin-band Wide Receive Handheld Transceiver. The radio valued at R1 900 was one of the many prizes in the attendance draw. Attending a RTA can be more than fun, it could be profitable. Thanks to Kobus and congratulations to Fred.

ANOTHER LOOK AT PLT REGULATIONS

Towards the end of last year, ICASA technical staff finalised the PLT regulations and submitted them to the ICASA board for approval and publication in the Government Gazette. From the discussion at the SABS TC73 committee dealing with EMC matters held last week it appears that Workgroup 6 who originally dealt with PLT will have an opportunity to relook at the draft before it will be resubmitted to the ICASA Board. The delays were brought about by changes on the ICASA Board with the designated councillor having retired. The SARL is represented on TC73 and our representative is the convener of workgroup 6. The current draft, while not including all the SARL proposals, includes a reasonable mitigation clause should interference affect HF users in an area where PLT is employed.

PROPAGATION REPORT

Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, reports that the solar activity is still at low levels. The sun is nearly blank of sunspots and the current streak of daily spots which stands at 53 may soon come to an end. The effective sunspot number is expected to be less than 25 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 late afternoons till after sunset. During sunset it will be good towards Europa. Contacts with the USA are still challenging. Contacts with Australia and New Zealand are possible at sunrise on 20 m and on 40 m after sunset. Weak 15 m openings to Brazil and South America are possible during the afternoons.

For the CW and digital enthusiasts 30 m may be very rewarding with openings to many parts of the world.

Locally is 40 m the work horse for contacts around the country with 30 m also being very useful for contacts over the longer distances. 80 m will be best during the early mornings, late afternoons and during the evenings as well as over the shorter distances.

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

DIARY OF EVENTS

21/22 August – International Lighthouse weekend;
24 August – Logs for the YL sprint to be in to zs4bfn@]netactive.co.za;
29 August – SATNET at 19:30 on the air;
31 August - Closing date for submission of proposals for the 2011 SARL Contest Manual.

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 22:05 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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