SARL NEWS SUNDAY 16 December 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. The SARL broadcasts 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 there to receive future bulletins by e-mail.
Your newsreader this morning is (name), (call sign), on 145,725 from Pretoria, with relays on 7,066 MHz and 3,695 MHz SSB. (Other news readers change to suit).
SILENT KEYS
It is with regret that it must be announced that the keys of two radio amateurs became silent recently. They are:
Philip Conradie, ZS1CON, recently and Thys van Vollensteen, ZS6TVV, on the 11th December.
We extend our deepest sympathies to the relatives and friends of the deceased.
(PAUSE)
IN THE NEWS TODAY:
SARL ANTENNA DEFENCE FUND BREAKS THE R20 000 MARK
TWO SARL EXPERT WORKGROUPS TO MEET SECOND WEEK JANUARY
CONFRONTATIONAL WORLD CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COULD AFFECT AMATEUR RADIO
SENIOR SCOUT ADVENTURE CELEBRATED WITH ZS9SSA
You are listening to ZS6SRL. Stay tuned for more details on these and other important and interesting items.
SARL ANTENNA DEFENCE FUND BREAKS THE R20 000 MARK
After only two weeks of the establishment of the SARL Antenna Defence Fund over R20 000 has been raised. Radio Amateurs and clubs have rallied to support the SARL's campaign to have building and zoning regulations changed to enable radio amateurs to put up antenna structures under 15 metres without having to go through a lengthy process of applying for re-zoning and building approvals which are now required in most major centres of South Africa.
The target is to collect at least R50 000, this means that the campaign has thus far raised over 40% of the target. Thanks to radio amateurs and clubs who have made contributions to the fund. Full details on the campaign and a list of donors can be found on www.sarl.org.za, select Antenna Defence Fund from the left hand menu on the home page.
NOT A QUICK FIX
A campaign of this nature is a long process and requires the employment of various experts. The SARL under the leadership of the Legal Adviser, Johann Marais, ZS1JM, has already liaised with an attorney who is an expert in planning matters to develop the line SARL should take and what the approach should be. The holiday period is working against us as many professionals take their major leave this time of the year.
"We expect that the major thrust of the campaign will only take place after mid-January" said SARL President Rassie Erasmus. ZS1YT. "We will keep members informed through SARLNEWS, Newsletters and the web. If there was ever a time to join the SARL, the national body for amateur radio, then there is no better time than the present", he said. He thanked all who have contributed and said "I challenge all clubs and individual radio amateurs to make a contribution to the fund." The names of clubs who have to date contributed are listed on the ADF webpage.
TWO SARL EXPERT WORKGROUPS TO MEET SECOND WEEK JANUARY
The two SARL work groups, the Technology workgroup and the Regulatory work group will meet second week in January. The two groups are being formed to ensure that amateur radio remains in the forefront of SARL's focus.
The Technology workgroup will focus on new developments; interact with the various SABS technical committees to monitor the development of standards that may impact on amateur radio and keep the amateur radio community abreast of new developments. One of the immediate tasks will be to coordinate the proposed 5 MHz sharing and propagation research project.
The Regulatory workgroup will focus on various regulatory issues such as frequency allocations, environmental and zoning regulations and building standards as well as any other regulations that may impact on amateur radio.
After last week's announcement in SARL News, nominations have been received for the Regulatory Workgroup but no one has as yet come forward to join the technology workgroup.
Radio Amateurs with the expertise and/or interest in these or related fields and who are interested in joining one of the workgroups are invited to submit their names, background and contact details to the secretary of the SARL to secretary@sarl.org.za.
CONFRONTATIONAL WORLD CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COULD AFFECT AMATEUR RADIO
A confrontational United Nations internet regulation treaty being discussed at a gathering in Dubai may impact on amateur radio operators. At the heart of the issue is the term operating agencies. Currently the international telecommunication regulations apply only to recognized operating agencies. This really means the large telecommunications operators in each country such as Telkom in South Africa.
News Line's Bill Pasternak explains that some countries want that term changed to just the term agencies. This would mean the International Telecommunications Regulations would become applicable to a vastly larger number of groups. So rather than just ATT, British Telecom or Italia Telecom or Telkom, the international treaty would then apply to entities such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft and eBay just to name a few. In reality, just about every Internet company, as well private network operators, leased-line operators, government agencies and even amateur radio operators would be included in this new definition.
But this idea is not sitting well with many developed nations. Opposed so far are the United States, Canada, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Poland and the pan-European CEPT and the Inter American Telecommunications Commission which is better known by the acronym Citel. On the other side in favour of the change are the Arab States, African States, Brazil, India, Philippines and several others.
In the meantime the entire conference risks grinding to a halt until this issue can be decided.
SENIOR SCOUT ADVENTURE CELEBRATED WITH ZS9SSA
The Senior Scout Adventure is well under way from Matjiesrivier, Cedarberg and uses the callsign ZS9SSA. The station is active on 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, and 6 m throughout the day until 21 December 2012. The base is hosting the scout patrols every evening at 17:00 and 20:00 CAT for around two hours. Amateur radio technologies are discussed and hands-on participation allows the scouts to work SSB, Morse and PSK digital modes from the base. All contacts will be confirmed with a special QSL card. The event is a collaboration between the Scouts and the SARL as part of a campaign to promote amateur radio to the youth. Various international scouts are participating in the events, and they are also now exposed to the brilliant world of technology and what South Africa has to offer.
ORDER YOUR BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS NOW
The SA Amateur Radio Development Trust has a large number of ARRL books in stock. Details are available on www.amateurradio.org.za. SARL members qualify for a discounted rate. On the web site there are two order forms. If you an SARL member, download the SARL Member order form and you will see the discounts available. Currently the two most popular books are the 2013 Hard cover ARRL Handbook and the Hard cover Antenna Book. If you are planning to write the Radio Amateur Radio Examination in May next year, the ARRL Basic Radio is the ideal book to assist in your studies.
SARL OFFICE CLOSED
The SARL Office is closed for the Christmas and New Year period and will re-open on 7 January 2012. For any urgent matters only send an email to secretary@sarl.org.za. Please hold over any general administrative matters such as address change over till the office reopens in January.
CLUB AFFILIATION
The Zululand Amateur Radio Club and the Port Elizabeth Amateur Radio Society have also affiliated to the SARL. This brings the number of clubs affiliated to the SARL to 33. For a list af affiliated clubs, visit www.sarl.org.za/public/ClubTalk/default.asp.
NEW MEMBERS
The SARL welcomes the following persons as new members and wish them a long and fruitful association with the South African Radio League:
André Shaw, ZS1AN
Ivan Rossi ZSL1054
Johan Latsky ZSL1055
COMPETITION NEWS
Results of the PEARS HF DX CONTEST held 11th November 2012 for which only 4 logs were received:
General stations
1st ZS2DX 1 300 points
2nd ZS6PAM 527 points
3rd ZS2EC 108 points
Field Station
1st ZS2U 140 points
Overall winners
1st ZS2XD
2nd ZS6PAM
Congratulations to the winners in each category, your certificates will soon be forwarded to you.
Results of Digital Contest held on the 2nd December. Six logs were received.
1st - Noel Hammond, ZR6DX - 213 points
2nd - Dirk Els, - ZS6AKU - 147 points
3rd - Marius Snyman, ZR6MS -126 points
The combined results after the three digital contests are as follows:-
1st - Pierre van Deventer ZS6A - 890 points 2nd - Marius Snyman ZR6MS - 879 points 3rd - Brendon Muller ZS4BM - 522 points
Congratulations to Noel and Pierre.
PROPAGATION REPORT
Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, reports that the expected solar activity will be at very low levels. All four visible sunspot regions are stable.
If you want to do your own frequency predictions, the expected effective sunspot number for the week will be around 63.
All the bands from 20 to 10 m will provide lots of DX fun with 15 m providing the best openings with 20 m not far behind. There will also be frequent 10 m openings.
Please visit www.spaceweather.co.za for further information.
DIARY OF EVENTS
21 December – Last day to contact Senior Scout Adventure station ZS9SSA.
31 January 2013 – Last day for submission of nominations for councilors for the next term and motions for the 2013 AGM.
SARL News invites clubs and individuals to submit news items of interest to radio amateurs and short-wave 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 18:30 UTC on 4 895 kHz ((A new time and frequency!). Reception reports are invited. We are particularly interested in reports of the 4 895 kHz transmission on Mondays at 16:30 UTC as the frequency is close to the proposed new amateur allocation near 5 MHz. Reception reports from all areas in South Africa would be useful in our bid to ICASA for frequencies pilot studies. Send reports to artoday@sarl.org.za.
Sentech sponsors the 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
