SARL news 08 June 2014
Good morning and welcome, you are tuned to ZS6SRL the official voice of the South African Radio League. The South African Radio League broadcasts a weekly news bulletin on HF and many VHF/UHF repeaters every Sunday morning at 08:15 Local Time in Afrikaans and at 08:30 Local Time in English. Listeners on Echolink may connect to ZS0JPL for a streamed version.
You may download an audio version of this bulletin by following the link on the front page of the South African Radio League website at www.sarl.org.za. While you are there, you may also obtain a text version of this bulletin. You may also sign up to receive future bulletins via e-mail.
This bulletin is read by __________________________ (your name, call sign and QTH where applicable)
Please note that a full list of websites mentioned in thie bulletin will be available in the printed edition of this bulletin
Unfortunately we start this morning’s newscast with a silent key: It is with regret that wę learnt via George ZS6NE of the departure of Gert White ZS6AGJ, in the ripe age of 93 years, on Monday 2 June 2014. Gert has suffered from ill health for the past 3 years. At the time of death Gert lived in Baberton.
We express our deepest sympathy to his relatives and friends.
** Pause **
== In the news today
HABEX On the air next Saturday
A New 5MHz beacon on air from Switzerland
KARTS beacon to be back on air this week
as well as all the regulars
== After a successful test on 31 May 2014, HABEX, the high altitude balloon experiment will once again take to the skies on Saturday 14 June. Radio Amateurs are requested to arrange with their local schools for groups of learners to come to their shacks and participate in the HABEX 2014 exercise.
HABEX aims to raise awareness of the electrical technology curriculum in schools and to showcase amateur radio as a research and development platform. The launch is set to take place at 06:00 local and should continue till around 14:00. The launch will take place from Klerksdorp Airport.
On board experiments include a parrot repeater on 437,900 MHZ FM: Wait for the "Beep-Beep" before calling CQ. You may also follow HABEX on the internet at aprs.fi Search for ZS6ERB-11, ZS6ERB-08
A high altitude glider, built by House4Hack from Centurion, is also included in the payload. You may find a link to their website in the print version of this. Tune in to Amateur Radio Today this morning at 10:00 to find out more when we speak to Chris Greyvenberg. The interview will also be available on our podcast page
== There is photographic competition linked to the current HABEX experiment. Two categories of entry is open and radio amateurs are invited to enter:
** The most learners in my shack - The picture must include the learners in the photo and show the APRS tracking in the back ground. The name and call sign of the radio amateur involved, the names of the learners and the schools represented must be included in the entry.
** The coolest HABEX - 09 Shack Picture - This is a picture where the radio Amateur and learners are shown in the most innovative manner - with the focus being on High Altitude. The name and call sign of the radio amateur
involved, the names of the learners and the schools represented must be included in the entry.
The winning picture in each category will each receive a Timewave 59+ DSP Audio Filter valued at R1500-00. Entry into the contest is free. The closing date for pictures to be sent in is on Monday 16 June 2014. The winners will be announced on the SARL NEWS. Entries must be sent to zs6erb@gmail.com. Pictures must not exceed 1MB in size.
== A new 5MHz beacon has become active at 00:00 UTC on 1 June 2014 from Switzerland. Although the 60 meter band has not been released for ham radio use in Switzerland, the Sursee Amateur Radio Club has obtained the necessary authorizations for a 5 MHz Experimental Beacon project.
Its sponsors expect that the beacon should be heard during the day and night hours across Switzerland including the Alpine valleys but would appreciate reception reports from anywhere in the world that the HB9AW signal is heard.
== The Kempton Park Amateur Radian Technical Society 5MHz beacon on 5250 kHz should once again be operational from early next week. The beacon operates mainly on WSPR freeware. Find out how to install WSPR on the SARL propagation webpage.
The results of the "fun" part of the 5 MHz activity weekend showed that 37 stations were on the air, while only 11 logs were received. Participants who sent in logs will receive their special participation's certificate shortly.
Photographs of participants in their radio room will be judged at the RTA in Durban where further information on the propagation analysis will also be presented.
You are tuned to a newscast of the South African Radio league, we now continue with news from the league.
== The latest subscription invoice for the 2014/ 2015 term has been mailed to members during the week. If required members may pay the membership fee in three installments, one now, the second one end June and the third one end of July .When using the three payment option please advise the office by email.
Also note that there was no increase in the membership fee instead subscription to a hard copy of Radio ZS was separated for the annual subscription. If a printed version of Radio ZS is required, an additional fee of R150 per year applies. Members will have access a free copy of RADIOZS from the membership only page.
== The South African Amateur Radio Development Trust invites prospective radio amateurs under the age of 26 interested in writing the Otober 2014 Class A Radio Amateur Examination to apply for the Tony Reumerman bursary.
Each bursary is valued at R1000.00 which includes the RAE examination fee, cost of the first year license with the balance towards tuition cost. Two bursaries are available for the October RAE. Passing the RAE with a minimum of a “B” symbol will also entitle the candidate to a ARRL Basic Antenna book valued at R350. To claim the book the successful candidate must submit the pass letter received from the SARL to the bursary scheme. Find out more on the website in the print version. Please note that the closing date for applications is 30 June 2014.
== The first SARL Technology in Action symposium will be held at the University of KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday 21 June. The program features a great variety of subjects of interest to radio amateurs and electronic enthusiast. A number of presentations will be supported by practical demonstrations. For an RTA to be a viable activity a minimum of 35 delegates are required. If you have not booked as yet do so before 17 June 2014. Walk -in registration will be accepted at a surge charge of R50 over and above the pre-booking . Get more details on the SARL webpages.
== The South African Amateur Radio Development Trust has a number of interesting books available from their bookshop. Visit the website mentioned in the print edition of this newscast.
== This afternoon you may participate in the ZS4 Sprint, which is a fun activity to promote contacts between radio amateurs in the Free State and radio amateurs in Southern African countries. The Sprint takes from 14:00 to 15:00 UTC with phone activity on 7 130 - 7 190 kHz and CW activity on 7 000 - 7 040 kHz. Log sheets shall be submitted by 16 June 2014 to zs4srk@gmail.com. A certificate will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the competition.
== The news team has received information about summits to be activated during the upcoming long weekend. From Secunda comes the news that Gert, ZS6GC, Lucas, ZS6ACT, Sid, ZS5AYC, Adele, ZS5APT, Willie, ZS6WBT, Hoffie, ZS6BAB and Christo, ZR6LJK, will activate Wynberg, MP-005 on Saturday 14 June. On Sunday 15 June, they are planning to activate Kanonkop, MP-007 and there is a possibility of activating Ossewakop, MP-004 on Monday 16 June. They will be active on 7 090, 14 160 kHz and 145.525 MHz after 09:00 local time on each day.
Sid, ZS6AYC, and Adele, ZS5APT, have indicated that they may activate a few summits later in the week. Sid mention Mount Anderson, MP-002 as a possibility.
Then Dennis, ZS4BS, plans to activate Mount Paul, FS-012 on Saturday 14 June with activity from about 09:30 local time on 7 090, 14 160 kHz and 145,500 MHz. There is also a possibility of him activating Platberg, FS-004 on Sunday 15 June.
It is hoped to make the first summit to summit QSO in South Africa on Saturday 14 June. A challenge is issued to activate other summits during the long weekend. The South African Association Reference Manual is available at the web address supplied in the printed version of this newscast. Also visit the SARL and Zone 38 Facebook pages for updates.
You are tuned to ZS6SRL and we now look at the propagation report by Hannes Coetzee ZS6BZP. Hannes reports that the expected solar activity will be at low levels. All of the visible sunspots are stable and quiet.
If you want to do your own frequency predictions, the expected effective sunspot number for the week will be around 50.
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.
Please visit the website spaceweather.sansa.org.za for further information.
Diary
This afternoon, Sunday 8 June, work the Free State during the ZS4 Sprint. 17 June is World QRP day
19 to 22 June is the SARL top band QSO party, On Saturday 21 June you can attend the RTA in Durban, visit the South African Radio League website and book you place.21 and 22 June ARRL Field day.
You can get more information on these and other happenings on the South African Radio League website.
We end this newscast with a look at our top story: The high altitude balloon experiment will once again take to the skies on Saturday 14 June. Radio Amateurs are requested to arrange with their local schools for groups of learners to come to their shacks and participate in the HABEX 2014 exercise.
With that we have come to the end of this mornings newscast, you may find more information on these and other stories on the SARL website.
The South African Radio League invites you to listen to Amateur Radio Today every Sunday morning at 10:00 local time on 145,750 MHz in the Pretoria area, and on the 145,650 network in Johannesburg with relays on 7 082, 7 205, and 17 660 kHz. There is a podcast by Dick, ZS6RO. For web-streaming and Echolink by Chris, ZS6FCS, visit the SARL website 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 3 230 kHz. The website also lists various other retransmissions. Reception reports, comments and suggestions are invited. Send us an email. Sentech sponsors the transmissions on the non-amateur frequencies
South African Radio League 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 the newsinbox on the SARL webpage no later than the Thursday preceding the bulletin date.
We continually need the services of accomplished news compilers, proofreaders and translators. If you are able to assist in these then please contact the SARL secretary to arrange for inclusion into the bulletin roster
You have listened to a bulletin of the South African Radio League compiled by Dawie Conradie ZR6DHC
Thank you for listening, 73’s
Websites and e mail addresses mentioned in this bulletin:
SARL website www.sarl.org.za
SARL Newsinbox www.sarl.org.za/newsinbox.asp
RTA Email adress rta@sarl.org.za
SARL Office admin admin@sarl.org.za
SOTA Info www.zs4bfn.co.za/sota.asp
SAARDT Bookshop www.amateurradio.org.za/books.htm
House4hack www.house4hack.co.za
