RADIO TECHNOLOGY IN ACTION  GAUTENG SYMPOSIUMS - Two RTA symposiums will be held in Gauteng. On 23 August at the National Amateur Radio Centre at Radiokop (limited to 30 delegates) and on 13 September at the Innovation Hub in Pretoria, ( 200 delegates can be accommodated) Get programme and booking form here

Yes, Switzerland does have lighthouses – they are found on Lake Geneva and on Lake Constance. The Asian region so far Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand have registered. Others come from sea-going nations include South Africa and New Zealand.

 

South Africa has 9 lighthouses registered to date. They are Cape Infanta, ZA0002; Robben Island, ZA0008 (this also counts as IOTA AF-064); Green Point, Cape Town, ZA0006; Slangkop Point, ZA0015; Danger Point, ZA0005; Cape Hangklip, ZA0010; Donkin Reserve Lighthouse, ZA0023, Cooper Lighthouse, Durban Bluff, ZA0004 and Green Point, ZA0018. Unfortunately the Seal Point Lighthouse, ZA0021 and Cape Recife Lighthouse, ZA0022 activations have been cancelled

Each registration from has a history to tell. Simple guidelines or online registration for the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend on 16 and 17 August are on the website www.illw.net 

New amateur bands for Thailand. According to the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand, new rules to govern amateur radio include the opening of the 6 m band from 50 to 54 MHz, the expansion of two metres to 146,5 MHz and giving Thai advanced class license holders privileges that will allow power output levels of up to 1 kW. Additional spectrum will also be authorised in the 160 and 80 metre bands with more club stations and contest call signs to be issued as well.

# Link to SARL VHF, UHF & MICROWAVES DX TABLE Click here 

SARL VHF, UHF & MICROWAVES DX TABLE – It was quite a surprise to learn that many South African radio amateurs were not aware of the SARL VHF, UHF and Microwaves DX Record Table that has appeared for many years on the SARL website. To view it, first click on General Info and then Local Information on the homepage, followed by VHF/UHF/SHF/EHF SA Records and VHF/UHF/Microwave SA Records – 30 June 2013. The SARL records cover the following bands: bands: 50 MHz, 70 MHz, 144 MHz 432 MHz, 1,3 GHz, 2,3 GHz, 5,7 GHz, 10 GHz, 24 GHz and 47 GHz. The world records are available from the IARU (Region 1), ARRL (Region 2) and Wireless Institute of Australia (Region 3). The SARL DX record table will be updated later this year when new records become available. The purpose of the VHF, UHF and Microwaves record table is to indicate how far a country has advanced in amateur radio technology, to throw down a challenge where records can be broken by other radio amateurs and to encourage further research. 

THE SUNSPOT COUNT REACHED ZERO – The K7RA solar update of the ARRL indicated that the sunspot number was zero on 17 July 2014 for the first time this year. There were only two days without sunspots in 2011 and 48 in 2010. Prior to that our Sun recorded 260 spotless days in 2009, 239 in 2008 and 152 in 2007. It was concluded that the peak of the current Solar Cycle was reached in February 2014. F2 propagation was almost impossible on 50 MHz in the northern hemisphere during the summer months despite high solar fluxes. Long distance DX contacts were made by multi-hop Sporadic-E, possibly with some chordal hops which could reduce signal loss as opposed to F2. 

BACAR II – Christo, ZR6LJ, reports: “The Secunda Amateur Radio Club will launch a Balloon Carrying Amateur Radio equipment from the Vryburg airstrip FAVB on 4 October 2014 at 06:00 to 08:00 CAT. This date marks the start of Spaceweek 2014. We will commemorate the launch of Sputnik on 4 October 1957 by attaching an active model replica of Sputnik to the balloon. The replica will transmit a Morse code message on 144,076 MHz. Please e-mail (christokriek461@gmail.com) a screen print of the decoded message with date, time, GPS location, radio and antenna used to receive a special certificate from the launch team. If you are one of the lucky ones that can ‘decode’ by ear please mail above info without the screen print. This is a flea power transmitter. I shall post more jnfo in future about payloads.” 

THE COLDEST WINTER IN MANY YEARS – It is generally agreed that this was one of the coldest winters experienced in many years. Unlike other years VHF activity continued through the winter months until July when it appeared that VHF activity might go into hibernation due to the very cold weather. But once gain Carl, ZS6BCQ, saved the day, he says: “A regular group of 2 metre enthusiasts is now well established on 144,300 MHz every weekend. We regularly call CQ in different directions during the QSO giving the far distant stations a chance to join the group. Saturday morning  (19^th July) we were 9 stations and it was nice to hear Hester ZS6PY (Vereeniging) and Gert ZS6GAS (Babsfontein) reporting in again. This Sunday morning 7 stations were on frequency. I also managed to work Danie ZS4JJ in Bloemfontein at about 08:30 am. Etienne ZS6Y set up a field station at Breedts Nek (KG34rd). Dick ZS6BUN and myself worked Etienne on 432,200 MHz and 144,300 MHz SSB and FM, signals were 5/9.” It is expected that VHF activity will pick up considerably in August when the weather gets warmer. 

50 MHz DXPEDITION TO BOTSWANA – A2, BOTSWANA. Gerhardt (Gert), ZS6AYU, will once again be active as A25GF between September 1 – 3. Activity will be “6 metres only”, this time from WW Locator KH22od beaming north. He hopes to be on the air between 13:00 UTC until around 19:00 UTC on 50,097 MHz CW. QSL via ZS6AYU direct or via Bureau. 

IS A MULTIVERSE POSSIBLE? – The majority of scientists believe that our Universe was created during the “Big Bang”, a derogatory term given to it by a disbeliever, Professor Hoyle, and the term stuck. Many people believe this theory where a singularity from a black hole inflated to become the present Universe, but just as many people do not accept it, so who is right? Now scientists are looking at a computer simulation that indicates the likelihood of numerous bubble universes. Four anomalies recorded in the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) suggested that collisions with other universes could have occurred in the ancient past.

SINGLE-OP HIGH (Output higher than 100 watts - all bands. Only one signal permitted at any time). MULTI-OP (Band changes are allowed every 10 minutes; this includes all activities of a main station, including QSO & QTC traffic and CQing). Off Times: Single Operator stations may only operate 36 out of the 48-hour contest period. Off times must be a minimum of 60 minutes during which no QSO is logged. Exchange: A contest QSO can only be conducted between a European and a non-European station (exception: RTTY, see §12). The exchange consists of RS/RST and a progressive serial number starting with 001. If the station worked does not send a serial number, log the contact with number 000. Each station can be credited only once per band. http://www.darc.de/referate/dx/contest/waedc/en/rules/ 

SARTG WW RTTY Contest: Sponsored by the Scandinavian Amateur Radio Teleprinter Group. Date: 16 - 17 August 2014. Time: Three (3) separate periods: 0000 - 0800 UTC Saturday, 1600 - 2400 UTC Saturday, 0800 - 1600 UTC Sunday. Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 m. Classes: Single Operator All Band / Single Operator Single Band / Multi Operator Single Band / SWL All Band / Single Operator All Band Low (max 100 Watts). Modes: RTTY only. Exchange: RST + QSO number, starting with 001. http://www.sartg.com/contest/wwrules.htm 

YO DX HF CONTEST 2014: Romanian Amateur Radio Federation (FRR). Objectives: All the radio amateurs around the world are invited to make as many possible contacts with YO amateurs and other amateurs from different DXCC countries. Having fun and improving the operating skills in a fair play competition are the main objectives. Contest Period: Saturday 12:00:00 UTC – Sunday 11:59:59 UTC (24 hours). Date: August 30 – 31: Bands and Modes: From 80m to 10m, except the WARC bands, in the band segments corresponding to the selected mode (CW and SSB). The same station can be worked once in CW and once in SSB, in the appropriate band segments according to the IARU band plan. Categories:

SO-AB-CW-LP / SO-AB-CW-HP /  SO-AB-SSB-LP / SO-AB-SSB-HP / SO-AB-Mixed-LP /  SO-AB-Mixed-HP / SO-SB-Mixed (3,5; 7; 14; 21; 28 MHz, regardless the power) / MOST-AB-Mixed. LP – no more than 100 W output / HP – more than 100 W output. Exchange:

Foreign stations will transmit RS(T) + serial number, starting with 001. Romanian stations will transmit RS(T) + abbreviation of the county or BU for stations from Bucharest.  

http://www.yodx.ro/en/english

Battery Clinic Midrand: Car batteries; truck batteries; alarm/gate motor batteries; Intelligent chargers & other accessories; new or ‘Re-new’ batteries. Discounts where possible for Ham Radio operators.  www.batteryclinic.co.za Contact Nigel (ZR6NGB) 011 028 1146, Email: nigel@batteryclinic.co.za 

MEGE electrical control & automation
Mege electrical control & automation is in the business of designing and manufacturing of control panels for the industry. Installation of frequency drives, PLCs, mimic panels. Temperature controllers, thermocouples, RTDs, electric and gas ovens.  Gas detectors, hygrometers. Fire, heat and smoke detectors. Back-up generators. Solar panels, regulators. Earthing and lightning protection. Contact Eddie (ZS6DAY) at 082 330 3558, or megecontrol@gmail.com 

Tell me more  about Amateur Radio

Radio Amateurs, or "Hams" use two-way radio communication to make contact with other radio amateurs all over the world. They are even able to use satellites and on occasion speak with astronauts. Radio Hams can do this from home or while mobile in cars, boats or on foot.

Radio Hams have a full range or communication modes at their disposal. These include plain voice, Morse code, numerous digital computer modes and even graphical modes like television. As a licensed amateur radio operator you will be able to join in experiments using all these modes.

Amateur radio can be enjoyed by young and old, male and female, even the most severely disabled can make friends around the world from their own home. This hobby knows no boundaries.

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