SARL NEWS - SUNDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2011
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 'Amateur Radio Today' 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 KEYS
It is with deep regret that it must be reported that the keys of two radio amateurs went silent recently. They are:
Charlie Stevens, ZS1AWG, member of the South Cape Amateur Radio Club on Thursday 18th August 2011 in George in the age of 81 years.
Dennis Hugo, ZS1UV (ex ZS6US), member of the Garden Route Radio Club, in the age of 87 years. Dennis was ininterruptedly an SARL member since 1948.
Our sincere condolences to the relatives and friends of the deceased.
(PAUSE)
In the news today:
SARL ICASA MEETING
EMAIL NEWSLETTER
SPECIAL RUGBY WORLD CUP CALLSIGNS DOWN UNDER
You are listening to ZS6SRL. Stay tuned for more details on these and other important and interesting news items.
SARL ICASA MEETING
A SARL delegation met with ICASA Spectrum Management staff on Thursday and discussed various regulatory issues. Representing the SARL were Colin de Villiers, Francois Botha and Hans van de Groenendaal.
ICASA shared some of their proposed corrections to the regulations with the SARL including the correction in the class B age issue and the table of amateur frequencies. The question of receivers with continuous tuning was discussed at length and agreement was reached that ICASA will relook at the specific regulation. Various proposals were put on the table. The SARL will engage ICASA again this week in an effort to finalise the matter. The SARL also requested that it be minuted that ICASA will not enforce the current rule and will not take any action against radio amateurs until the matter has been resolved. ICASA agreed.
It was agreed that the SARL will host a two-day workshop for Spectrum Management Staff and members of various other departments of ICASA. The objective is to develop a better understanding about amateur radio and its contribution to engineering and technology in South Africa. During the workshop the concept of an advanced licence with additional privileges will be discussed and a way forward developed. Mid to end February is indicated as a possible time frame of when the workshop will be held.
The question of licensing between the SADC countries was discussed. A discussion document for tabling at the next meeting of CRASA, the Communications Regulators Association of Southern Africa, will be prepared by ICASA. The SARL suggested that as an interim measure ICASA should allow visitors from SADC countries who are licensed in their country to operate in South Africa.
The question of a new allocation in the 5 MHz band was discussed and ICASA agreed to formulate a Government Gazette to invite public comment on the proposal.
The WRC12 agenda item 1.23 seeking allocations around 500 kHz were discussed. As Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV, is the SARL representative on the DOC WRC12 Industry committee and rapporteur for agenda item 1.23, he will update the South African position on as agreed at a recent DOC/Industry meeting and share it with ICASA for consideration to achieve an interim ad hoc South African allocation.
Colin de Villiers discussed the correction of the ICASA database. A progress report will be shared with the SARL during October.
Discussions took place regarding changes to the financial systems to ensure more accurate accounting of licence payments.
The next meeting will be held on 8 December.
SARL MEMBERSHIP BREAKS THE 1 200 MARK
The membership of the SARL broke the 1 200 mark this week and on Friday stood at 1 210. If you have not yet renewed you will still have a few more days before your membership benefits will end. Pay by cheque, by bank deposit or electronics transfer. Details are on the invoice you received or call Mariska on 011 675 2393,
EMAIL NEWSLETTER
To keep members more informed a regular newsletter will be emailed to members. Please ensure that your email address is recorded in the SARL member data base. If you do not receive the first edition of SARL UPDATE by Monday, please send an email to admin@sarl.org.za with your email address. SARL UPDATE will only be available to members by email and on the web.
SPECIAL RUGBY WORLD CUP CALLSIGNS DOWN UNDER
On the air, keep your ears open for some New Zealand radio amateurs to replace their ZL prefix with a ZM prefix throughout September and October. This, in celebration of the Rugby World Cup which runs from September 9th through October 23rd.
Also listen out for two special event stations in celebration of the Rugby event. The first has the unique call of ZL4RUGBY. It will be on the air through October 31st. QSL via ZL4PW.
The other is ZL6RWC. It will be operated by various members of the Papakura Radio Club, which will also be operational through October 31st. Please QSL ZL6RWC via ZL1VK, direct, via the bureau or electronically using Logbook of the World.
ANNUAL JAMBOREE-ON-THE-AIR 15th and 16th October 2011
Dave Gemmell, ZS6AAW, the SA National JOTA coordinator invites all interested radio amateurs and Clubs to "help" with this year's Jamboree-on-the-Air, to be held on 15th and 16th October 2011.
Do not wait for the young people to ask you !
Any amateur may make contact with JOTA/JOTI stations, but it will be better if Girl Guides and/or Boy Scouts are also invited to the station but the best will be if a station is erected at a Guide or Scout hall and involve the Guides and Scouts with the erection of antennas for instance. Also demonstrate the different modes for instance CW, SSB and possibly digital modes. The effort will probably be not more than that during club meetings en the young people will appreciate it and will have a beter understanding of amateur radio.
Please ensure that your station is registered as aan educational station with the SARL office as the unlicensed youngsters may then also operate the equipment on the amateur bands.
The following are web addresses where more information regarding the JOTA or JOTI events maybe obtained:
a) www.scout.org - Scout website for international scouting info.
b) www.jota.sub.cc - JOTA information only.
c) www.joti.org - JOTI information only.
PROPAGATION REPORT
Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP reports that Sunspot 1283 is producing flares so intense they are visible through solar telescopes in backyards 93 million miles away. Sunspot 1283 has a "beta-gamma-delta" magnetic field that harbors energy for X-class solar flares. Sunspot 1289 is expanding in size but is not as magnetically complex as 1283. This could however change and the week ahead is going to be very interesting!
For the people doing their own frequency predictions the expected effective sunspot number for the week will be less than 50.
20 to 15 m will provide the best DX opportunities with even some 10 m openings also possible due to the higher solar activity.
Please visit www.spaceweather.co.za for further information.
DIARY OF EVENTS
From today onwards - Make a financial contribution towards the 7P8EME DXpedition which takes place from 14 to 26 September.
15 September – Last day to send a high resolution picture of the participant operating during the ZS6JVT Youth Sprint to saardt@intekom.co.za.
18 September - Last day to submit logs for the ZS6JVT Youth Spring Sprint Competition. So far few logs have been received, thus submit yours without delay.
23 September – Take your hand-held to work today.
24 September – RTA in Gauteng.
25 September – Intecnet at 19:30.
15/16 October – Jamboree on the air.
Till 31 October – ZL-stations with ZM prefixes and ZL4RUGBY and ZL6RWC on the air.
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 Today every Sunday morning at 10:00 CAT on 145,750 MHz in the Pretoria area, with relays on 7 082, 7 205 and 17 750 kHz. There is also a podcast by ZS6RO. For a web-stream and Echolink by ZS6FCS, visit www.sarl.org.za, click on 'Amateur Radio TODAY', go down the green column and click on 'LISTEN ON THE WEB'. A repeat transmission can be heard on Mondays at 18:30 CAT on 3 230 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, Z6SNE.
Thank you for listening, 73.
/EX
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