SARL NEWS - SUNDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 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. 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 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.

In the news today:

ARRL AWARDS COMMITTEE STATEMENT ON DISSOLUTION OF THE NETHERLANDS ANTILLES

SARL MEMBERSHIP ON THE MARCH .. BUT YOU CAN SPEED IT UP!

DO NOT FORGET TO TAKE YOUR HAND-HELD TO WORK ON FRIDAY

USA SUPPORTS ALLOCATION AROUND 500 kHz

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

ARRL AWARDS COMMITTEE STATEMENT ON DISSOLUTION OF THE NETHERLANDS ANTILLES

To clarify the administrative process by which the anticipated changes to the two existing Netherlands Antilles DXCC entities will be made, the ARRL Awards Committee has determined that at 04:00 Z (12:00 a.m. local time in the islands) on 10 October 2010, the two Netherland Antilles DXCC entities will be deleted.

Commencing at 04:00 Z (12:00 a.m. local time) on 10 October 2010, operation from the islands of Curacao, Bonaire, St Maarten, Saba, and St Eustatius will count for a yet to be determined number of new entities under the DXCC List Criteria, and Political Entities, Rule 1 and/or Rule 2 Geographic Separation Entities. When the Awards Committee determines what Rule 1 or Rule 2 actions apply, it will announce the final disposition of the entities on the DXCC list.

The DXCC desk will not accept confirmations for these new entities until after 1 January 2011.

SARL MEMBERSHIP ON THE MARCH .. BUT YOU CAN SPEED IT UP!

Last week the SARL Membership stood at 1 321, which is still 21% short of the 1 600 target for the 2010/2011 financial year. If you have not yet renewed please do so in the next few days before unpaid members are removed from the database. Being removed from the member data base also means that you will not receive the September/October edition of Radio ZS and future editions, have use of the QSL bureau and other membership benefits such as discount on courses and kits. Besides all the benefits of being a member, there is the bigger issue of ensuring that Amateur Radio has a strong voice at places where it matters. Your membership of the SARL also strengthens the position of the IARU in international forums.

DO NOT FORGET TO TAKE YOUR HAND-HELD TO WORK ON FRIDAY

Friday 1 October 2010 is “Take your hand-held to Work” Day. Show your colleagues what amateur radio is about; let them have a first-hand experience. If you are retired or work from home, be active on local repeaters and share your experiences. Make it a fun Friday.

USA SUPPORTS ALLOCATION AROUND 500 kHz

The spectrum regulators for United States private sector and government users have agreed to support a secondary MF allocation to the Amateur Radio Service at 461-469 kHz and 471-478 kHz. The proposal will be tabled at the 2012 World Radio Communication Conference (WRC-12), to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 23 January to 17 February 2012. The Federal Communications Commission and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration officials formally presented the proposal at a meeting of the Second Permanent Consultative Committee (PCC.II) of the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL), held from 30 August to 3 September in Fortaleza, Brazil.

According to ARRL Chief Technology Officer Brennan Price, N4QX, the proposal reconciles two widely divergent proposals for WRC-12 Agenda Item 1.23, adopted by consensus of the private sector and government users. Agenda Item 1.23 calls on WRC-12 "to consider an allocation of about 15 kHz in parts of the band 415-526,5 kHz to the amateur service on a secondary basis, taking into account the need to protect existing services. "The FCC's WRC-12 Advisory Committee had adopted a proposal for a secondary amateur allocation at 495-510 kHz, but the NTIA, acting on the advice of government maritime interests, initially supported no change from the status quo.

"I am pleased that the United States is taking an affirmative position on Agenda Item 1.23," Price said "While the proposed frequency bands differ from both what the ARRL proposed and the private sector supported by consensus during WAC deliberations, it is gratifying that government interests have backed off a no change position." Some maritime interests, both domestically and internationally, have expressed opposition to any amateur allocation in the range 415-526,5 kHz, citing existing narrowband direct printing applications at 490 and 518 kHz, as well as future plans for the band that have yet to be fully characterized, Price explained. To the extent future maritime uses of the band have been discussed, the focus has been on the 495-505 kHz segment. Despite the lack of plans for the remainder of the range under consideration, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted a draft position of "no change" and has communicated this position to the ITU.

IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH, has met with IMO officials in efforts to soften this position."The road to a favorable outcome for Agenda Item 1.23 at WRC-12 remains treacherous," Price said. "The IMO is a respected organization, and their opinion carries weight. It's up to us to continue to make the case that a secondary allocation can be made while protecting existing services, both to the IMO and to the ITU Member States who will make the decisions at WRC-12."

The SARL will in the next few weeks meet with the South African maritime authorities and other role-players to formulate a South African position to be taken to SADC and the African Telecommunications Union for support of an amateur allocation.

SA AMATEUR RADIO DEVELOPMENT TRUST EXTENDS CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRY IN THE INNOVATION INITIATIVE

Following requests for an extension to submit proposals in the Innovation Competition, the Board has decided to extend the closing date for entries till 15 January 2011.

To find out more about innovation visit www.amateurradio.org.za.

COMPETITION NEWS

The Antique Wireless Association is throwing an AM/SSB Valve QSO Party. It is a phone contest over two sessions on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 October 2010. The AM section takes place on Saturday 9 October, 15:00 to 19:00 CAT, with contacts on both the 40 m and 80 m bands for points. On Sunday 10 October from 15:00 to 19:00 CAT, the SSB section will be held with contacts on the 40 m and 80 m bands for points.

The frequencies are: 7,053 to 7,100 MHz on 40 metres. On 80 metres they are 3,603 to 3650 MHz. The exchange is a call sign, RS and consecutive serial numbers starting at 001, plus type of radio used, e.g. HT37 Tx.

Points can be scored as follows: all valve radio - 3 points per contact; hybrid (valve & solid state) - 2 points per contact; solid state radio - 1 point per contact.

On a multiplier, points will be as follows: all valve radio - 3 points per contact; hybrid (valve & solid state) - 2 points per contact; solid state radio - 1 point per contact.

Certificates will be awarded to the first three places in each category, namely AM and SSB.

Submit your logs to the Southern African Antique Wireless Association, PO Box 12320, Benoryn,1504, or e-mail them to andy.cairns@xsinet.co.za. The closing date for log submissions is 25 October 2010. Please refer to the SARL Contest Manual for any queries.

CLUB NEWS

The East Rand Amateur Radio Club is holding a flea market on 2 October 2010, from 8:00 to 11:00. Sale tables cost R20 and boot sales are also R20 per vehicle. Cold drinks, boerewors rolls and pancakes will be on sale. To book a table, contact Judy ,ZR6POP, on 074 177 0395 or e-mail her at zr6pop@vodamail.co.za. For any other info contact Francois, ZR6COI, at 079 932 7131 or email zr6coi@vodamail.co.za.

The next Pretoria Amateur Radio Club ZS6PTA mega flea market will be held on Saturday 9 October 2010 at the Pretoria Motor Club in Silverton from 08:00 to 11:00. Please also diarise 27 November 2010 for the last ZS6PTA flea market of this year. For more information or to book a table please contact Almero, ZS6LDP on 083 938 8955.

The Midlands Amateur Radio Club held their AGM on 18 September, and the newly elected committee members had their first meeting on 21 September. The following portfolios were assigned:

Chairman, HHN, Web, Email - Mike Lauterbach, ZS5ML
Vice Chairman, Technical - Shaun Rudling, ZR5S
Secretary, Treasurer - Ian Pearson, ZS5AZ
Events, Training, PR - Shaun Fisher, ZR5SF
Disaster Management - Des Mullen, ZU5DM

PROPAGATION REPORT

Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, reports that the solar activity is still at low levels. Sunspot 1108 is fairly quiet, while Sunspot 1109 is fortunately much more active. During the week some interesting 20 m openings were noted to Hawaii from South Africa, the most distant point on earth. 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 15 m. Conditions to India will be good from the late afternoon until after sunset. During the afternoon, conditions will be good towards Europe on 15 m, later followed by good 20 m openings. Early evening 15 m contacts with the USA are at last possible again. Contacts with Australia and New Zealand are possible at sunrise on 20 m and on 40 m after sunset. 15 m openings to Brazil and South America are possible during the afternoons. With the good 15 and 20 m openings, 17 m will also be full of surprises.

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

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

80 m is the frequency of choice during the evenings.

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

DIARY OF EVENTS

29 September - SARL 80 m digimodes club competition;
1 October – Take your hand-held to Work Day;
2 October – East Rand ARC flea market. For information phone Judy, ZR6POP, on 074 177 0395;
2 October - West Rand ARC flea market at the club house in Weltevreden Park. Contact Phillip, ZS6PVT on 083 267 3835.
9 October - Pretoria ARC Flea Market at Pretoria Motor Club in Silverton from 08:00. Contact Almero, ZS6LDP, on 083 938 8955
9–10 – October Antique Wireless Association AM/SSB Valve QSO Party;
15 October – Last day to enter your photos taken at “Take your hand-held to Work Day”.

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.

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 Gustav, ZS6BWN, The bulletin editor was Jannie, ZR6PHD.

Thank you for listening, 73.

/EX