2024 Mills on the Air - 11 and 12 May. The list of Mills in Southern Africa can be found here. The list covers the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, Lesotho, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Northern Cape, eSwatini and the Western Cape. Find a mill in your area and activate it. 

 Subscription Rates for 2024 – 2025

¹ Use the online shop at https://mysarl.org.za/shop/ (preferred) or contact the SARL Secretary to pay via PayPal.

² SADC membership is limited to all electronic facilities available to ordinary members including download of electronic Radio ZS and the free weekly SARL News service.

SARL Services. Schedule represents the cost of providing services to the Amateur Radio Community and prices payable.

The April 2024 Radio ZS and the Radio ZS Index are available for download. Click on Publications in the lefthand menu and select Radio ZS Download.  

SARL ON-THE-AIR BULLETINS AND AMATEUR RADIO TODAY PROGRAMME 21 April 2024 

SARLNEWS  with Herman Erasmus  listen/download here

SARLNUUS  met Christo de Witt ZS3CDW  Laaiaf/luister hier

Amateur Radio Today - Programme about Amateur Radio and technology hosted by  Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV . The programme features news about amateur radio, reports on Hamnet, VHF and UHF, Satellites and HF plus technical features. One hour of Amateur Radio bliss. Listen/download here 

Transmissions: Sundays at 08:00 UTC on repeaters around South Africa including 145,750  and 145,725 MHZ in Pretoria. On HF 7 115 kHz by Louis, ZR4DJL. Amateur Radio Today on 80 metres on Mondays - On Mondays Amateur RadioToday is transmitted at 19:30 local time on 3 620 kHz by Andy, ZS6ADY.

Note when SARL website is not available programmes will be posted on www.amateurradio.org.za. Reception reports are invited. Please send your report to artoday@sarl.org.za. Please give details of the signal strength antenna and location. 

Text bulletins from 1 March 2020 to today can be found at https://sarlnewsbulletin.wordpress.com

ICASA LICENCE FEES

PLEASE take note that it is YOUR responsibility to pay your license fee directly to ICASA.

The new fee structure is: 1 Year - R188,00; 2 Years - R359,00; 3 Years - R515,00; 4 Years - R656,00 and 5 Years - R784,00. The SARL highly recommends that you pay for a five-year license. This ensures you have a valid license for the next five years.

Payment must be made via EFT directly to ICASA using the following account: ICASA, Nedbank Corporate Client services; Account no: 14 62 00 29 27; Branch: 146245. Use your ICASA license number No “******-******” as the payment reference. Do not pay the ICASA fees to the South African Radio League.

If your licence is managed by the SARL, please follow the instructions as e-mailed to you by Noel, ZR6DX, the RAE Manager.

All other license holders must log into their account on the ICASA Customer Portal https://online.icasa.org.za/, click on the “Manage” button and then the “Renew” button; and select the number of years for the license period you want to pay for. The ICASA system will then send you an invoice, or you can click on “Invoice” and the invoice can be downloaded. You can then click on the “Pay” button and pay via you credit card, or you can do an EFT. Note, if via EFT then you must click on the “Upload Payment” button and upload the proof of payment. If the POP is not uploaded, then ICASA will not issue the new license.

The SARL cannot help you if the ICASA Customer Portal is slow or not responding. The SARL has got nothing to do with the ICASA system, which is a government system of the State Information Technology Agency. Be patient and try in the evenings or early mornings.

WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE AWARD PRESENTATION HERE 

The SARL– AMSAT SA display at the Science Forum South Africa 2023 was awarded a special mention award for the best display and audience interaction. The award was presented at the closing ceremony of the forum on Friday afternoon. Hans van de Groenendaal ZS6AKV and Brian Jacobs ZS6YZ, who were responsible for developing and executing the display, received the framed certificate from the Dr Phil Mjwara, Director-General of the department of Science and Technology and Innovation. The forum at the CSIR convention centre was attended by over 4000 delegates.

The joint display, with the theme Science in Amateur Rado, featured the AMSAT SA dual band yagi antenna, a proto type of the AfriCUBE satellite, the SARL RF Noise monitoring system and the SARL two metre Karoo beacon project.

The RF noise monitoring system output was displayed on a large screen showing in real time the RF noise level at the convention centre.  It was significate to see the drop in the RF noise level at night when all the LED lighting and computers were switched off.

Brian Jacobs manned the stand full time assisted at various times by Hans van de Groenendaal, Cameron Eales , Koos Fick and Ruben Jansen van Rensburg.

The event was a worthwhile experience and a great opportunity to show that Amateur Radio is just not another hobby but a true technology pastime.

The 2024 SARL Diary of Events is available - click on the link in the yellow block on the left.

HOW TO CONQUER THE SARL HF CONTESTS - the presentaton by Chris Burger ZS6EZ is now available on YouTube.Watch it here

Video of contesting with ZS6EZ now on YouTube. A recording of the SARL Contesting with ZS6EZ is now available on YouTube. Click here 

Pay your SARL Membership fees online using PayFast. Go to https://mysarl.org.za/shop/ and select your membership category.

Interference from solar installations- As the South African public are realising that they are on their own and facing the many challenges of loads heading, self-generating electricity by households and businesses have become the norm. 

Generally, Radio Amateurs should not experience interference on HF or VHF from properly installed solar power installations but unfortunately it does occur when unqualified people do not install the system properly and use poor quality inverters and solar maximisers.

Often fitting ferrite beads and basic filters will solve the inference problem.

By design solar installations are not expected to radiate radio frequencies (RF) and cause interference as the necessary circuits suppress any RF radiation should be included in the design. There however are suppliers that will install equipment of inferior quality.  Solar installers are expected to issue COC’s, certificate of compliance, but these certificates generally only cover the electrical installation.

If a neighbour installs a solar system and it kills HF, there are two approaches. Point out to him or her that the installation is causing radio interference and that he should insist that his installer sorts out the problem. If that fails it is necessary  to send a written complaint with details of the interference to the manager of the local ICASA office. ICASA is fully quipped to do the necessary test and advise the owner of the installation to have the problem seen to or switch off his system.

The addresses of the local ICASA managers can be found on http://www.sarl.org.za/public/licences/licences.asp. Please your copy your letter to the SARL at secretary@sarl.org.za and Chris, ZS6GM at chris@crturner.net and keep the SARL informed of progress of the complaint.

A Template - Constitution and Rules for an Amateur Radio Club - get a copy here

Ethics and Operating Procedure for the Radio Amateur EN IARU ed3 2 Jan 2009 - download your copy here. Ongelukkig is dit nog nie na Afrikaans vertaal nie.

The IARUMS Region 1 Newsletters are available on iaru-r1.org and read it!

New Satellite Book now available - The new ARRL Amateur radio satellites for beginners is now available in South Africa. With the opening of e-commerce, Postnet is operating again and books can be sent to your nearest Postnet. You can make contacts through amateur radio satellites, and even with the International Space Station, using equipment you probably own right now! All it takes is the right information, which you will find in Amateur Radio Satellites for Beginners by Steve Ford

There are dozens of spacecraft in orbit just waiting for your signals, and more are being launched every year. This book is your guide to a whole new world of operating enjoyment.

Amateur Radio Satellites for Beginners will introduce you to new experiences that you may have thought were out of your reach. Start reading and discover how easy it can be! To order the book visit www.amateurradio.org.za. 115 pages plus index.

Guidelines for a non SARL member to use the SA-QSL system- Phone Kelley at NARC (011 675 2393) and check that your correct information is on the database – license number and e-mail address are important.

Click on SA-QSL system link (on the left-hand side of the web page) and then click on “Need to Register”. Follow the instructions on the screen. Your username and password will be e-mailed to you which you can use to logon in future.

SARL and not yet SARL Members are requested to check their Electronic QSLs on a regular basis.

2024 Advertising in Radio ZS and the SARL Web site

Radio ZS and the SARL web welcomes advertising, it is a source of information for readers. Send your advertisement to Dennis, ZS4BS at radiozs@sarl.org.za. 

Advertising Rates (effective 1 January 2024) 

Display (cameo) on home page and Radio ZS: R300 pm; R1 700 for 6 months; R3 000 per annum

Commercial Hamad on home page - R100 pm – R300 for 6 months – R700 per annum

Terms and conditions

All contract advertisements content may be changed monthly on 5 working day notice.

The rates are based on the complete supply of material in Jpeg unless otherwise negotiated. For artwork additional charges may apply as agreed. A design service is available at R400 per advertisement.

The content of the advertisements must comply with regulations and norms acceptable in South Africa

All advertisements are playable in advance by EFT to SA Radio League, ABSA, account no 4071 588 849 branch code 632 005.

All correspondence and material must be sent to radiozs@sarl.org.za

Uganda, 5X. Jack, NP2OR has been active as 5X3L from Kayabwe ("just a few steps from the equator line"), Uganda since 20 April, and will remain there until sometime in May. He will be active on 20, 10 and once in a while on 40 metres. QSL via LoTW, or direct via Club Log's OQRS. Updates will be posted to https://hamradiosafari.blogspot.com/.

Rwanda, 9X. Harold, DF2WO will be active again as 9X2AW from Rwanda on 2-17 May. He will operate CW, SSB and digital modes on the HF bands and 6 metres. QSL via M0OXO's OQRS.

Russia, UA. A very large number of Russian stations using special prefix RP79 (where the letter P stands for 'pobeda', i.e. 'victory') will be active between 1 and 9 May to celebrate the 79th anniversary of the end of World War II. More information, including the list of participating stations and their QSL routes, is expected to be available on https://pobeda.srr.ru/ in due course.

Poland, SP. Marking the 25th anniversary since Poland joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, special call sign HF25NATO will be active from 1 May to 31 August. A certificate will be available for download on https://hf25nato.spaward.pl. QSL via LoTW, or via Club Log's OQRS (only 100 "limited edition QSL cards" will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis)

Czech Republic, OK. Sixteen special event stations, representing the teams competing in the 87th Ice Hockey World Championship to be held in the Czech Republic between 10 and 26 May, will be active from 27 April to 26 May: OL87DL, OL87F, OL87G, OL87HB, OL87LA, OL87OE, OL87OH, OL87OK, OL87OM, OL87OZ, OL87SM, OL87SP, OL87UN, OL87VE, OL87W and OL87YL. Look for activity on 160 to 10 metres SSB, CW and digital modes. QSL via LoTW and eQSL; paper QSLs will not be issued, but 3 certificates will be available: see https://ol87whc.cz/ for information.

Austria, OE. Sylvia, OE5YYN will be active as OE20SOTA between 1 May and 31 October to mark the 20th anniversary since Austria joined the Summits on the Air programme. A certificate will be available, see https://www.qrz.com/db/OE20SOTA.

Belgium, ON. Members of Club Radio Durnal (ON4CRD) will be active as OR90AL between 1 and 31 May. The special call sign marks 90 years since the death of Albert I, King of the Belgians, who died in a mountaineering accident at the age of 58. QSL via the bureau.

France, F. Special call sign TM13JO will be active between 8 and 15 May as the Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay passes through the French Department of the Bouche du Rhone. QSL via F5SDD. Also active during the same time frame are expected to be TM83JO from the Department of Var (8 to 12 May) and TM04JO from the Department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. QSLs via operators' instructions. They will be followed by many other special call signs, which in the following weeks will cover the progress of the Olympic Torch as it crosses other Departments and Territories until its arrival in Paris on 26 July. The Association des Radioamateurs Vauclusiens (F5KPO) organizes the "Olympic Torch Relay Challenge" for contacts made with those stations – see https://www.qrz.com/db/TM00JO for the details and https://www.oly24.fr/awardform.html for the certificates.

Svalbard, JW. Knut, LA9DSA will be active as JW9DSA from Svalbard from 29 April to 5 May. He will operate mainly SSB, with plans to go portable for SOTA and possibly also POTA activations. QSL only via LoTW or eQSL.

Greenland, OX. Bo, OZ1DJJ will be active again as OX3LX from Greenland between 26 April and 9 May. In his spare time, he will operate CW, RTTY and other digital from Kangerlussuaq (grid GP60), Nuuk (grid GP44) and Paamiut (grid GP51). QSL via OZ0J; QSOs will be uploaded to LoTW and Club Log.

Spain, EA. Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Union de Radioaficionados Espanoles (URE), Spanish amateurs are allowed to replace their normal prefix from 1 to 31 May as follows: EA stations can use AO#75, EB stations can use AN#75, and EC stations can use AM#75, where "#" is the digit of their call area. For example, EA1FMJ will use AO175FMJ, EC5BUH will use AM575BUH, EB7KA will use AN775KA.

Spain, EA. Once again, the Federacion Digital EA will operate special call signs AO1EU, AO2EU, AO3EU, AO4EU, AO5EU, AO6EU, AO7EU, AO8EU and AO9EU between 3 and 12 May to celebrate Europe Day, the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration (9 May 1950) that paved the way to the European Union. See https://www.fediea.org/eudota/ for more information. QSL direct to EA3RKF.

Mexico, XE. Special event station 6E0RM will be active between 17 and 26 May during the 10th edition of the Rally Maya Mexico. Activity is expected to take place on 40 to 6 metres from Merida (17 and 18 May, grids EL50, EL51, EL40), Campeche (19 May, grid EK49), Uxmal (20 and 21 May, grid EL50), Valladolid (22 and 23 May, grid EL50), and Cancun (24 to 26 May, grid EL61). QSOs will be uploaded to LoTW and Club Log.

N5J: JARVIS ISLAND IOTA/POTA News

“Since the Dateline DX Association announced plans for activating Jarvis Island this summer, many have asked if we could arrange with IOTA and POTA programme organizers to secure approval of our DXpedition.
Jarvis is one of the rarest of the IOTA counters, having been off the air for 34 years. It is needed by 82% of IOTA program participants.
Because of the requirements set by the permit of the USFWS, while the stations, antennas and power are all set up on Jarvis Island, the local operators must conduct the DXpedition from the MV 'Magnet' which will still be in the Jarvis Island National Wildlife Refuge, just offshore.
Both the IOTA and POTA programmes have agreed to recognize QSOs made by the local operators but will not allow QSOs made by internet remote operators to count. Therefore, QSOs made by AA7JV, HA7RY, N1DG, KO8SCA and KN4EEI will count for the awards (IOTA OC-081 and POTA K-0115).
Daily uploads by the N5J team to Club Log will identify the operators. Additionally, at the beginning of each operator shift the team will endeavour to post on the cluster the call sign of the operator so chasers have some real time notice. At this time, all phone operations are expected to be by the at island team as well, giving that mode 100% IOTA/POTA certainty.
In addition to the five operators mentioned above, there is an experienced team of 24 operators from 8 countries operating up to 6 stations around the clock, ensuring DXers around the globe have ample opportunity to add an ATNO or band fill to their DXCC totals.”
Website: https://jarvisisland2024.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1359664908071770/

http://www.sarl.org.za/SAQSL/Default.asp

http://www.sarl.org.za/members/interest/interest.asp#Software

Direct importer of a wide selection of SWR meters, H.F., V.H.F. and U.H.F. base and mobile antennas. Amateur radio transceivers, antenna analyzers, etc. Affordable shipping costs for out of town customers and subsidized shipping to SARL members.Check out all my amateur radio goodies here. 0720268909. 

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Visit our website and online shop for more information on our wide range of products at www.curiousdesigns.co.za or email us sales@curiousdesigns.co.za

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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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