SARL NEWS - SUNDAY 19 AUGUST 2012
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. 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 3,695 MHz SSB. (Other news readers change to suit).
In the news today:
INTERNATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE/LIGHTSHIP WEEKEND 2012
CLUBS INVITED TO AFFILIATE TO THE SARL
SARL HF DIGITAL CONTEST TODAY
SARL RTA COMES TO PORT ELIZABETH NEXT
You are listening to ZS6SRL. Stay tuned for more details on these and other important and interesting items.
INTERNATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE/LIGHTSHIP WEEKEND 2012
More than 400 lighthouses in almost 50 countries and territories - from Argentina to Wales - will be on the air for 2012 International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend (ILLW), organized by Scotland's Ayr Amateur Radio Group (AARG). The event, held for the 15th year in a row, takes place Saturday, August 18th 00:01 UTC through Sunday, August 19 23:59 UTC. While not a contest, the ILLW is more of a QSO Party and Amateur Radio demonstration. The ILLW aims to raise public awareness of lighthouses and lightships and the need for their preservation and restoration, promote Amateur Radio and foster international goodwill. Stations at more than 50 US lights are expected to be on the air for the event, and several stations will identify with special event call signs. Participating lighthouse/lightship stations do not have to be inside the structure or on the vessel itself; a Field Day-type setup at or adjacent to the light is sufficient.
There are still a few hours left to talk to one of the many lighthouses and ships on the air.
CLUBS INVITED TO AFFILIATE TO THE SARL
Radio Clubs in South Africa are invited to affiliate to the SARL and enjoy the benefit of having their activities published on the web, in SARLNEWS and in Radio ZS. Affiliated clubs are also assisted with special call sign applications and qualify to manage an RAE examination centre as well as having their web URL and email address linked from www.sarl.org.za.
To affiliate to the SARL a club should complete an application form and summit the form together with a copy of their constitution, and a list and contact details of the committee. If a list of current club members is supplied to the SARL we will be able to update the call book data base which shows a member's club affiliation. Send all the details to secretary@sarl.org.za. There is no charge to affiliate.
SARL RTA COMES TO PORT ELIZABETH NEXT
1 September may be officially Spring Day in South Africa, but for Port Elizabeth and surrounding areas there is an added attraction: "the SARL Radio Technology in Action Symposium". It will be held on 1 September at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. This year's hands-on programme has seen wide support in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. It is now up to the Eastern Cape to set a new attendance record. Pre-booking opens on Monday. Visit www.sarl.org.za for details. Watch the home page for more details.
JOIN THE RYRY ROOKIES THIS EVENING
On Sunday, August 19, the digital modes return to the Rookie Roundup. Created to give the budding operator a place to learn about contesting at an easier pace, the Rookie Roundup is a six hour contest open for all amateurs who have been licensed for three years or less; if you were licensed in 2010, 2011 or 2012, you qualify as a Rookie.
By popular request, a multi-operator category has been created for the Rookie Roundup. Several Rookies can operate from one location as a group. You use the same call and name in the exchange, regardless of which operator is at the keyboard. This category is perfect for clubs wanting to help their newer members get more active.
A team competition has also been created: Up to five single operator Rookies -- each operating from their own location -- can band together as a team and combine their scores. Team members are also recognized for their individual efforts. Multi-operator entries and non-Rookies are not permitted to be on a team.
Old Timers have a place in the Rookie Roundup, as well. Elmering is a critical component of the Rookie Roundup, and Old Timers are encouraged to not only get on and work the Rookies, but to host a Rookie and assist them with learning how to participate. Rookies can work anybody, but non-Rookies can only work Rookies. The contest exchange is easy: just send both call signs, your first name and your location (this is either your US state, Canadian province, Mexican call area or "DX" if you're not in the US, Canada or Mexico).
All official entries must use this form: www.b4h.net/arrlrr/index.php. But don't dally -- you only have three days to submit your score summary. All score summaries must be received by 23:59 UTC Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
The 2012 ARRL RTTY Rookie Roundup runs from 18:00 UTC through 23:59 UTC Sunday, August 19, 2012. Complete rules and score submission information can be found at www.arrl.org/rookie-roundup.
A great idea for a club to arrange a local Rookie activity in South Africa! May be PEARS would buy into the idea as they already run a beginners event.
NEW INFORMATION ABOUT QSL BUREAU ON THE WEB PAGE
Please take note of the changes to the QSL bureau information on the SARL web page. Please read this and keep it in mind. Pleasant DX-ing to you.
CONTEST NEWS
The SARL HF Digital Contest is on the air this afternoon from 13:00 to 16:00 UTC. The rules were published in SARL News last Sunday and can be found in the 2012 SARL Contest Manual. This afternoon you can operate PSK31 and RTTY on 20, 40 and 80 metres.
For the SARL HF Phone Contest the Contest Committee has received 26 single operator logs, 1 multi-operator log and 2 check logs. The number of logs received is lower than the past few years and a number of logs were received in the wrong format. Please read General Rule 5 and 6. The results will be made known early in the coming week.
PROPAGATION REPORT
Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, reports that the solar activity is declining again. There are currently few sunspot regions visible and none are posing a threat for strong solar flares.
If you want to do your own frequency predictions, the expected effective sunspot number for the week will be around 35.
All the bands from 20 to 10 m will provide lots of DX fun with 20 m providing the best openings with 15 m not far behind. 10 m openings will be less frequent due to the lower solar activity.
Please visit www.spaceweather.co.za for further information.
DIARY OF EVENTS
19 August - SARL HF digital competition from 13:00 to 16:00 UTC.
19 August - ARRL RTTY Rookie Roundup from 18:00 UTC to 23:59 UTC.
26 August - SARL HF CW competition.
27 August - Last day to submit logs for SARL HF digital contest to zs4bfn@netactive.co.za or Bloemfontein ARC, Box 33211, Fichardt Park, 9317,
1 September – RTA in Port Elizabeth at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, pre-booking starts tomorrow, visit www.sarl.org.za.
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 17:30 UTC 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 Honiball, ZS6NE.
Thank you for listening, 73.
/EX
