SARL NEWS - SUNDAY 20 NOVEMBER 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.
In the news today:
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS ACT ON SARL WEB
ANNUAL REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE TODAY
ANOTHER MILE STONE FOR 500 kHz
You are listening to ZS6SRL. Stay tuned for more details on these and other important and interesting items.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS ACT ON SARL WEB
The Department of Communications has published proposed amendments to the Electronic Communications Act for comment. The SARL is studying the proposals for any possible changes that may affect amateur radio. A copy of the proposed changes to the ECA can be downloaded from www.sarl.org.za, select Amateur Radio TODAY from the left hand menu. The SARL Council invites your input before 26 November 2011 to artoday@sarl.org.za.
ANNUAL REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE TODAY
The annual Remembrance Day service will be transmitted as part of Amateur Radio TODAY at 10:45 this morning. The service will be conducted in Afrikaans and English by Ds Jan Kramer, ZS6JRK, of the Nederduits Hervormde Kerk gemeente Elsburg. The service was not transmitted last Sunday because of a technical problem.
All radio amateurs are requested to keep radio silence between 10:45 and 11:00 this morning in memory of all who lost their lives in service of their country.
ARISSat-1 MAY DE-ORBIT IN APRIL 2012
According to predictions from Mineo Wakita, JE9PEL, the ARISSat-1 satellite is due to re-enter Earth's atmosphere in early April 2012. Launched from the International Space Station on August 8, the satellite is traveling in a low orbit and is steadily losing altitude. The rate of orbital decay may be accelerated by increasing atmospheric density caused by increased solar activity. With that factor in mind, some ARISSat-1 decay predictions suggest re-entry as early as February 1. ARISSat-1 remains quite active, sending voice messages, digital telemetry and Slow Scan TV images. Amateurs have also been able to enjoy contacts through ARISSat-1's linear transponder despite the fact that the UHF antenna was apparently damaged prior to (or during) deployment. Last month, AMSAT-NA announced a competition to see who can record the last bits of telemetry as ARISSat-1 makes its final plunge. To decode the CW or BPSK telemetry you must use the ARISSATTLM software for Windows or Mac OS. The CW signal is transmitted at 145,919 MHz and the BPSK signal appears at 145,920 MHz, plus or minus Doppler.
ANOTHER MILE STONE FOR 500 kHz
Preparatory studies for WRC agenda item 1.23 seeking a new amateur service allocation somewhere in the range 415 – 526,5 kHz reached a milestone with the approval of a Report on amateur experimental operations in the above frequency range.
Working Group 1, the group responsible for amateur radio issues, continued an updating and revision of Questions, Recommendations and Reports pertaining to the amateur services. The IARU continues to show leadership in the planning and implementation of these activities.
PROBLEMS WORSENING ON 10 METRES AS MUF RISES
A recent issue of the IARU Monitoring System newsletter reports that the intruder situation on 10 metres is getting worse as the Maximum Usable Frequency or MUF continues to rise in Solar Cycle 24.
The report said that it found much CB-like traffic using AM, FM and SSB between 28 and 29,7 MHz in September and again in October 2011. It pegs Europe, Brazil and the Far East as the primary originating points for most of the illegal 10 metre traffic. The report goes on to say that the band is also still filled with numerous taxi cabs operating FM.
The report says that with conditions on the upper High Frequency bands improving that we could soon witness what it calls the "apocalypse" on the amateur- exclusive 10 metre band. The newsletter also describes interference on the 24 MHz band from Codar Radar and numerous "CB" operators taking on those airwaves as well.
Last week Russia agreed to do all it can to remove illegal taxi radio operators from the 10 metre band but just how successful that move will be remains to be seen.
MEMBERSHIP EDGES TOWARDS 1 500
The current membership of the SARL is 1 414, still some way to go to the 1 500 mark. I you have not yet paid your dues, please do it now and get reinstated to receive member benefits and Radio ZS. By paying the full 2011/2012 fee now you will not loose your membership record.
If you are not a member, is it not time that you consider joining and supporting your hobby? In January 2012 the ITU meets in Geneva for WRC12, the IARU is making good progress on getting an allocation in the 500 kHz band, their strength at representing amateur radio lies in the strength of individual member societies. The SARL and ICASA are in talks about an allocation in the 5 MHz band. All this need the support of every radio amateur. Do it now, join the SARL and you support your hobby.
CLUB EVENTS
South Cape Amateur Radio Club.
On Saturday, 5 November 2011, the SCARC held their AGM at Wilderness with 30 members and non-members in attendance. The committee elected for 2012 consist of the following members:
Chairman: Jacques Vermeulen, ZS1WC
Vice Chairman: Casey Nootenboom, ZS1AAS
Secretary/Treasurer: Bets Meyer, XYL of ZS1M
Repeaters: Hans Potgieter, ZS6ALJ/ZS1ALJ
Additional members: John Fletcher, ZS1ZR
Chris Meyer, ZS1M, and
Chris Nortier, ZS1FA
Many thanks to the retiring committee members and strength to the new committee.
After the meeting a Bring-and-Braai was enjoyed and the day ended with a huge boot sale.
West Rand Amateur Radio Club.
The WRARC will host its next flea market at 12:00 on Saturday 03 December 2011 at the clubhouse in Kroton Street, Weltevredenpark, Roodepoort. Everyone is very welcome. For more information, contact Phillip, ZS6PVT, at 083 267 3835.
PROPAGATION REPORT
Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, reports that many sunspots are producing C-class flares and that sunspot 1 346 poses a slight threat for Earth directed M-class flares. The sun's surface is peppered with smaller sunspots promising exciting HF conditions.
For the people doing their own frequency predictions the expected effective sunspot number for the week will be around 103, slightly down on last week‘s record high for this solar cycle.
All the bands from 20 to 10 m will provide lots of DX fun with the higher bands typically opening first and the lower bands opening later during the day. 6 m is also waking up with some very nice TEP openings.
Please visit www.spaceweather.co.za for further information.
DIARY OF EVENTS
20 November – Field day competition still on.
20 November - CW leg of 80 m Club competition.
26 November - Last day to submit comments on the proposed amendments to the Electronic Communication Act to artoday@sarl.org.za.
27 November - Digital competition.
30 November - Last day to submit logs for Pears HF DX-expedition.
03 December - Flea market of the West Rand Amateur Radio Club at 12:00.
31 January 2012 - Last day for submission of nominations for Council members and also for submission of motions for the 2012 SARL AGM.
31 January 2012 - Closing date for submitting papers for SA AMSAT Space Symposium.
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 17 760 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 16:30 UTC on 4 895 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
======================= Message Ends =======================
To edit or remove your entry from this mailing list go to www.sarl.org.za/members/admin/maildat.asp.
