SARL NEWS SUNDAY 05 JANUARY 2014
Good morning, you are listening to the first SARL News transmission of 2014. Thank you for tuning in, we appreciate your company.
The South African Radio League is 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 and call sign), on 145,725 MHz from Pretoria, with a relay on 7,066 MHz SSB. (Other news readers change to suit).
In today's SARL News:
KARTS CHALLENGES CLUBS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SA AMSAT CUBESAT PROJECT
CLOSE TO THIRTEEN THOUSAND RADIO AMATEURS HAVE MADE CONTACT WITH ZS9MADIBA
RULES FOR PEARS NATIONAL VHF/UHF CONTEST ON 17-19 JANUARY
CZECH REPUBLIC IS BACK ON 5 MHz
You are listening to ZS6SRL. Stay tuned for more details on these and other important and interesting items.
KARTS CHALLENGES CLUBS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SA AMSAT CUBESAT PROJECT
The Kempton Park Amateur Radio Technical Society, KARTS, has taken up the fund raising challenge for SA AMSAT's first CubeSat currently named KLETSkous by making a R500 donation to the fund. Chairman, Nico van Rensburg, ZS6QL, says although it may initially be a relatively small amount in relation to the funds ultimately required it is a start. "Our club challenges all other clubs to match or better our donation. Collectively we can help raising enough funds to make it happen".
SA AMSAT is appreciative of the KARTS donation and thanks the members of the club for their support and initiative. A donor list has been set up on the SA AMSAT website at www.amsatsa.org.za to acknowledge supporters of the project. The bank account for contributions is SA AMSAT, ABSA Bank, account number 560 153 171. The branch code is 632 005.
For contributions of R500 and over a certificate of appreciation is sent to the donor, however, all contribution, irrespective of the amount, will be listed on the www.amsatsa.org.za.
CLOSE TO THIRTEEN THOUSAND RADIO AMATEURS HAVE MADE CONTACT WITH ZS9MADIBA
ZS9MADIBA obtained a WAS (Worked All States) award within the first 2 weeks of being on the air which is a remarkable achievement and is close to achieving a DXCC in all the modes of operation, SSB, CW and Digital. At the time of writing SARLNEWS, ZS9MADIBA had achieved the following number of contacts and confirmations 12 846 QSO records and 4 370 QSL records. The DXCC mode status is as follows: Mixed 93, CW 80, Phone 65 and Digital 65.
The WAS mode status is as follows:- Basic 50, CW 49, Phone 45, Digital 39.
SARL Vice President, and Contest Manager, Geoff Levey, ZS6GRL, thanks the 12 local amateurs who have given their time and effort to make this event an success. The radio amateurs who operated ZS9MADIBA are as follows:- ZS6RJ, ZS2EC, ZS1AU, ZS1SA, ZS1VV, ZS1ZC, ZS6A, ZS6WN, ZR6K, ZR6O, ZS6OB, ZR6DX, ZS6C, ZS6APT, ZS1S, ZS6AKU, ZS5MAX and ZS6GRL. The radio amateurs who have achieved over a 1 000 contacts are as follows:-Roger Jones (ZS6RJ) 6 628 contacts, Theunis Potgieter (ZS2EC) 1 367 contacts, Dennis Wells (ZS1AU) 1 092 contacts, Karel Bezuidenhout (ZS6WM) 1 059 contacts. Including ZR6K and ZR6O.
If there was an award for the most enthusiastic radio amateur it would go to Theunis, ZS2EC. Theunis just keeps on going day and night. Well done Theunis. A special word of thanks to Roger, ZS6RJ. His tally of contacts says it all. ZS9MADIBA is still needing 8 ZS6 stations to obtain a WAZS 100. Thank you for your support. ZS9MADIBA will be active till 11 January 2014. More on www.sarl.org.za.
ARE YOU UNDER 20 AND A LICENSED RADIO AMATEUR?
If you are a young radio amateur under 20 years of age, we invite you to join in the debate during Youth Week which runs from 10 -15 February 2014. The debate will be held on Tuesday evening 11 February starting at 19:30. The topic of discussion is: "What does amateur radio offer young people?" To be considered as a panellist in the debate, send your thoughts about the subject and contact details including a telephone number to youthweek2014@sarl.org.za by 21 January 2014 and we will contact you. A telephone briefing session will be held a few days before the event. Here is a great opportunity to develop your debating skills and to share your ideas of where amateur radio should be heading. For more on Youth Week 2014 visit www.hamradio.org.za.
VOICE OF RUSSIA TO REMAIN ON SHORTWAVE
The Voice of Russia, formerly known as Radio Moscow, is not going QRT after all. A few weeks ago Newsline reported on an all-encompassing external media realignment edict that had been issued by Russia's President Vladimir Putin. One initiative that had, at least on the surface, spelled an end to Russia's external shortwave broadcast service.
But SWL blogger Tom Witherspoon, K4SWL, reports that he was curious if this move might have changed so he contacted the organization to see if it had any official word regarding its future. To his delight Witherspoon received the following response. We quote:
"We are glad to let you know that the Voice of Russia will stay on the air in 2014, however, considerable changes in our frequency schedule are expected. The information on the updated frequency chart will become available on the Voice of Russia's web site before the New Year at voiceofrussia.com/radio_broadcast/frequencies, so please stay logged in."
More is on Tom's SWLing Post blog at tinyurl.com/Russia-shortwave-2014.
IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO BOOK FOR THE SURFACE MOUNT TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP
Book now for next SARL@home. Conquer your fear for projects using Surface Mount Technology. The project will be presented by Frik Wolff ZS6FZ at the SARL National Amateur Radio Centre on 18 January from 09:00 - 13:00.
Cost is R150 which includes a PC board and components to construct a very low power FM transmitter. Use it to relay your amateur radio audio around the house on a portable FM receiver or music from an IPod. The fee includes a CD with tutorials, circuits etc. Non Members pay a premium at R250.
Booking is essential, and only 20 delegates can be accommodated. You will need to bring your own soldering station with a fine soldering bit, a tweezer, some hand tools and a magnifying glass. The SARL also has a special offer on a magnifying glass should you wish to buy one. Details are on the registration form which is available from the home page on www.sarl.org.za. You can also check the status of your booking. Bookings close on Monday 13 January 2014.
MORE TIME TO ENTER THE VIDEO COMPETITION
The South African Amateur Radio Development Trust invites amateur videographers to take part in a video competition and compete for some great prizes. Be creative with your camera or even your smartphone. Shoot a short video of an exciting Amateur Radio activity in South Africa and you could win a 5 watt CW MFJ 40 metre transceiver kit valued at R1 300 as well as one of many other prizes. The video format can be AVI, WMV or MPEG with a minimum resolution of 320 X 240. The length of the video should be between 3 and 5 minutes. The subject can be anything that illustrates the joy and excitement of amateur radio.
Entries should be sent on a CD or DVD. Don't attempt to e-mail it. Send your video to: Amateur Radio Video Competition, P O Box 90438, Garsfontein, 0042. The closing date was 31 December 2013 but as many peoples are on leave entries will be accepted up to 31 January 2014 more details on www.amateurradio.org.za.
CONTEST NEWS
Hunting Lions-in-the-Air. The event takes place on the weekend closest to 13 January, the birth date of Melvin Jones, the founder of the Lions organisation, for 2014 it will be the weekend of 11 and 12 January. It will not be a contest but merely a means for Lions to exchange greetings with other Lions and Lions Clubs. Radio amateurs and members of the various Lions Clubs get together and the Lions are allowed to exchange greetings with other Lions under supervision of the radio amateur. Normally the name and number of the Lions Club is the exchange.
Contact your local Lions Club and start the arrangements.
RULES FOR PEARS NATIONAL VHF/UHF CONTEST ON 17-19 JANUARY
The complete rules for the forthcoming PEARS National VHF/UHF Contest have been published on the SARL VHF Forum as well as in the SARL Contest Manual 2014.
This is an open invitation to all VHF amateurs to participate in this VHF/VHF contest, work as many stations from other divisions as possible, testing the effectiveness of your VHF/UHF equipment, enjoy the challenge and great fun of a VHF contest. Ask Allan, ZS2BO, and Terence, ZS2VDL, what it is like to set up a super field station and camp for the weekend, while making numerous contacts throughout the day and even at night, the wonderful outdoor life with braais and beers mixed with amateur radio!
Just give it a try as a field or base station at the best time of the year when there are many different modes of propagation present. If you are young and adventurous, then give the Rover category a go, it should be very exciting travelling from one high site to another making long distance contacts and increasing the number of grid squares.
CZECH REPUBLIC IS BACK ON 5 MHz
This item was received from Paul, G4MWO, Editor, The 5 MHz Newsletter.
“Happy New Year to All & Best Wishes for 2014.”
“OK! - Czech Republic is back on 5 MHz.”
At 00:00 hrs on January 1st 2014, Czech amateurs returned to 5 MHz after a break of two years following the conclusion of the original phase of their experimental activity at the end of 2011.
As a result of material presented on OK amateur 5 MHz operation following this and through subsequent discussions, Petr, OK1RP, is happy to report that CTU, the Czech telecommunications regulator, together with agreement of their Ministry of Defence (MoD), has allowed a further phase of experimental 5 MHz activity. This is by means of a small number of individual permits valid until the end of 2014. Only 10 permits are available for 2014 based on written request to CTU.
Whilst originally limited to only one channel, 5 260 kHz, OK amateurs issued with one of these special permits are now allowed use of six channels, common to many of the current amateur 5 MHz allocations. These are as follows:
5 288,5
5 330,5
5 366,5
5 371,5
5 398,5
5 403,5
All USB Dial Frequencies in kHz
Maximum Power: 100 W ERP, Modes: USB, CW (+ 1,5 kHz from USB Dial).
The permit holder is requested to prepare and send his experimental operation report to CTU no later than 31st. October 2014 in order that analysis of the operation on the different channels and modes can be made. This experimental operation permit on 5 MHz band is allowed on a strictly SECONDARY basis and ITU Secondary User rules for protection of the Primary users must be observed at all times in order NOT to disrupt primary users' operation on this band, therefore potentially jeopardizing amateur activity.
The permit holder should also follow IARU recommendations and agreements for 5 MHz operation (5 290 kHz allocation for beacon operation etc.).
More information will be available soon...
PROPAGATION REPORT
Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, reports that the solar activity is on the rise. Sunspot AR1936 have "beta-gamma-delta" magnetic field that harbors enough energy for X-class solar flares.
If you want to do your own frequency predictions, the expected effective sunspot number for the week will be around 95.
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 may even be some 6 m openings during the early evenings.
Please visit the website spaceweather.sansa.org.za for further information.
DIARY OF EVENTS
11 and 12 January - Hunting Lions in the Air
17 to 19 January - PEARS National VHF/UHF Contest
18 January - SARL@Home
21 January - Last day for prospective youth week panellists to submit their contact details to youthweek2014@sarl.org.za
25 January - SARL Summer QRP Contest
31 January - Last day to submit amateur radio video
31 January - closing date for nominations for SARL Councillors and motions for the AGM
28 February - Closing date for Youth Essay Competition
15 March - Last day to submit proposals for papers for the 2014 SA AMSAT space symposium to saamsat@intekom.co.za
The 2014 SARL Diary of Events will be available for download in the coming week from www.sarl.org.za. Get a copy and keep it handy in your radio shack.
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 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. The website also lists various other retransmissions. Reception reports, comments and suggestions are invited. Send an email 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 and edited by George Honiball, ZS6NE.
Thank you for listening, 73.
/EX
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