SARL NEWS SUNDAY 23 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 KEY
It is with regret that it is announced that Darryl du Randt, ZS6DLD, was shot dead on 1st December 2012.
Our sincere condolences to his family and friends.
(PAUSE)
IN THE NEWS TODAY:
SARL PRESIDENT’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE ON AMATEUR RADIO TODAY
SA AMSAT SPACE SYMPOSIUM - CALL FOR PAPERS
SARL ANTENNA DEFENCE FUND NOW OVER 50% OF THE R50 000 TARGET
You are listening to ZS6SRL. Stay tuned for more details on these and other important and interesting items.
SARL PRESIDENT’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE ON AMATEUR RADIO TODAY
This morning the SARL President's Christmas and New Year Message will be transmitted on Amateur Radio Today. It will also be available in both written and audio format on the SARL web at www.sarl.org.za today.
In his Christmas message Rassie Erasmus, ZS1YT, said that amateur radio spirit is amateur radio's Ubuntu. He said that when Paul M. Segal, W9EEA, wrote the Amateur's code he gave real meaning to what is meant by amateur radio spirit. "Amateur Radio gives us this wonderful opportunity to reach out to many people and I urge you to do so on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Make one or two contacts and wish the other station and his or her family a happy festive season. From my family and I, I send you good wishes for a merry Christmas and Happy and prosperous New Year. Mag die wonder van Kersfees ook u en u familie aanraak. Ek wens u almal 'n Geseënde Kersfees en 'n voorspoedige nuwe jaar toe."
Read the full message on www.sarl.org.za.
SA AMSAT SPACE SYMPOSIUM - CALL FOR PAPERS
The 2013 SA AMSAT Space Symposium will be held on Saturday 18 May 2013 at the Innovation Hub in Pretoria. This is the first call for papers. The theme of the symposium is Satellites- the new Amateur Radio Frontier. If you are planning to present a paper, send a brief outline to saamsat@sarl.org.za by 31 January 2013. For full details and the various deadline dates visit www.amsatsa.org.za.
SARL ANTENNA DEFENCE FUND NOW OVER 50% OF THE R50 000 TARGET
The SARL Antenna Defence fund has surpassed the 50% mark of the R50 000 target. On Friday the fund stood at R25 100. 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. 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.
THE BPL-PLT WAR: DARC TO HOLD STRATEGY MEETING ON THE DANGERS
On Saturday, 12 January 2013 the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC) will be sponsoring a one-day workshop dealing with the possible hazards to amateur radio from electromagnetic power lines. The workshop slated for the DARC headquarters in Baunatal will cover all aspects of power line Internet transmission and its likely effects on amateur radio operations. The SARL is keeping a keen eye on the outcome of the workshop.
South Africa has no PLT regulations, they are still in draft form. The draft can be downloaded from www.amateurradio.org.za/PLT Standard Notice.pdf.
SARL MEMBERS GET DISCOUNT ON ARRL BOOKS
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.
IARU NEWS
Two new societies have joined the IARU as members. On 1 November 2012 voting was completed on the admission of the Federation of Radio Sport of Azerbaijan (Proposal No. 247) and St. Vincent & Grenadines Amateur Radio Club (Proposal No. 248) to IARU membership. With 53 affirmative votes required for approval there were 60 votes in favor of Proposal No. 247 and 61 votes in favor of Proposal No. 248. Accordingly, both proposals were adopted.
COMPETITION NEWS
In the last Sunday’s bulletin it was erroneously stated that ZS6PAM took 2nd overall position in the PEARS HF DX CONTEST of 11th November 2012. The 2nd position is in fact occupied by Pam Momberg, ZS6APT. Our sincere apologies to both Pam and ZS6PAM. Congratulations to Pam, ZS6APT.
PROPAGATION REPORT
Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, reports that the expected solar activity will be at low to moderate levels. All three visible Sunspots are currently stable. There is no chance for strong solar flares at this time.
For those who want to do their own frequency predictions, the expected effective sunspot number for the week will be around 67.
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
31 January 2013 – Last day for submission of nominations for councilors for the next term and motions for the 2013 AGM.
31 January 2013 – Last day for submission of a brief outline of a proposed paper at the SA AMSAT Space Symposium on 18 May 2013 to saamsat@sarl.org.za.
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.
The SARLNEWS team wish all our readers and listeners a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. We will be back with another news cast next Sunday 30 December 2012.
You have listened to a bulletin of the South African Radio League compiled and edited by George Honiball, ZS6NE.
Thank you for listening, 73.
/EX
