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SARL Today HF Update with ZS4BS Focus on VHF/UHF/Microwave The ZS CW Group SARL Forum current topics Commercial Hamads

SARL TODAY! 

The 2024 National Convention

The Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre (CTARC) will be hosting the 2024 SARL National Convention at the Garden Court Nelson Mandela Boulevard, corner of Melbourne and Coronation Roads in Cape Town. 

The 2024 SARL National Convention Booklet

The 2024 SARL AGM Proxy Form

The SARL Annual Financial Statements for the year ending 30 June 2023

Register for the SARL National Convention at https://forms.gle/iFMfeRUESfwx8y3N9 and and stand a chance to win a REDELL UV97 New Generation Dual Band Radio with the programming cable included. Do it today! The Pretoria AGM hold the attendance record – I wonder if the Western Cape can beat them? See you in Cape Town in April!


Register now for the SARL Technical symposium. 

The SARL Technical Symposium” Science and Technology in Amateur Radio” will take place on Saturday 6 April 2024 at from 10:00 to 15:00 SAST, (08:00 to 13:00 UTC). It is a virtual event on the WebEX platform.

To register free of charge click here Get the programme here

The Programme  includes: SDR—Homebrewing in the digital era, The Science and Technology around next generation beacons,) The cool—Community Online OPEN Logbook, Logbooks and QSLing in the Cyber World and the SARL Noise monitoring project. The full programme  will be available for download from Wednesday


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 24 March 2024 

SARLNEWS  with Herman Erasmus ZS6CTA  listen/download here

SARLNUUS  met Hannes Enslin ZS6JDE  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, ZR4DJLAmateur 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.


SARL/AMSAT SA display receives award at Science Forum South Africa 

 

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.


South African VHF, UHF and Microwave Record Table. The latest table of records is available from the VHF SA Record page. Compiled and updated by Paul, ZS6NK - send your record claim to zssixnk@gmail.com  


SARL Next Generation Beacon fund stands at R30 150 - The crowd funding initiative to collect funds for the SARL next generation beacon programme was initiated by AMSAT SA.  During the past week R2000 was received from two donors. The fund moved f past the half way mark which is still far short of the R60 000 target required to finance a beacon in the Karoo and the Western Cape.  

 

AMSAT SA and the SARL thank all who have thus far contributed. Help us make it happen by making your donation to the fund. Visit  www.amsatsa.org.za and make your contribution by clicking on one of the payment buttons for a R50, R250 or R1000 donation.  The button will take you to the Payfast website where you need to enter your credit card details. Please also add your callsign after your surname. 

Visit the  Next Generation Beacon web page for article, videos, updates. and a list of donors Click her

The SARL  Noise Floor Project - The presentation by Hans, ZS6AKV during the C7 - EMC meeting atthe Region 1 Virtual General Conference, can be seen here.


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


HF Update with Dennis, ZS4BS - 23 March 2024 

Lesotho, 7P. The confirmed dates for the EI DX Group's DXpedition to the Roma area, Lesotho are 20 to 29 March. A large team will be active as 7P8EI on 160 - 10 metres using CW, SSB and digital modes with up to eight stations. QSL via M0OXO's OQRS. Updates will be posted to www.facebook.com/groups/185038478993063/

St Helena Island, ZD7. Torsten, DL9GG will be active as ZD7GG from St Helena Island (AF-022) from 23 to 30 March. He will operate mainly CW and some SSB on 160 to 10 metres. QSL via home call, or eQSL.

Glorioso Islands, FT/G. Marek, FH4VVK will be active as FT4GL from Grande Glorieuse, Glorioso Islands (AF-011) from 24 May to 19 June. The most recent activity from the islands dates to 2009 (FT5GA), and the Glorieuses are currently ranked 8th on Club Log's DXCC Most Wanted List. This one-man operation will be carried out in parallel with Marek's professional activities. He hopes to be active daily with two stations at the same time - one on FT8 and one on SSB or RTTY (he lacks sufficient knowledge of CW to manage a huge pile-up). There
 will be no activity on 6 metres, EME, or via satellite. QSOs will be uploaded to Club Log daily; access to the Internet will be available for two hours a day, from 18 to 20 local time. QSL via F4FTV (direct or bureau); full LoTW upload will follow six months after the end of the DXpedition. Bookmark https://ft4gl.blogspot.com/ and www.facebook.com/61557262192352 for more information and updates.

Fiji, 3D2. Dom, 3Z9DX will once again be active as 3D2AJT from Nadi, Fiji Islands for 30-40 days starting on 18 March. The callsign is in memory of the late Yasuo "Zorro" Miyazawa, JH1AJT, who passed away on 23 March 2022. QSL via Club Log's OQRS.

Moldova, ER. ER30ARM is a special call sign celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Amateur Radio Society of Moldova (ER1KAA). Look for activity from 20 March to 30 April. QSL via the bureau, direct, and LoTW.

Italy, I. Launched in 1904, the "Elettra" was a two-masted steam yacht that Guglielmo Marconi used as a floating laboratory. Members of ARI Loano (IQ1LA) and the Marconi Club will be active as IY1EY between 1 and 14 April to commemorate the experiments conducted in the Ligurian Sea between 1919 and 1936. QSL via IQ1LA.

Italy, I. Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Guglielmo Marconi, members of ARI Asti will be active as IR1GM between 1 and 30 April. QSL via the bureau, LoTW, eQSL, or direct to IK1XPK.

Italy, I. Members of ARI Venezia (IQ3VE) will be active as IR3POLO between 1 April and 30 June. The special call sign commemorates the 700th anniversary since the death of Marco Polo, the Venetian merchant and explorer who travelled through Asia along the Silk Road (1271 - 1295). All QSOs will be confirmed automatically via the bureau.

The Netherlands, PA. Laurens, PF3X and Barry, PC1K will be active as PA24WAAD from 23 March to 7 April for the World Autism Awareness Day. QSL via Club Log's OQRS and LoTW.

Spain, EA. The Union de Radioaficionados Espanoles, Spain's IARU member society, was founded on 1 April 1949. Celebrating URE's 75th anniversary, a month-long activity will take place from 1 to 30 April. Look for AO75URE and 18 other special stations representing the Autonomous Communities and Autonomous Cities of the country:
 AO75AN Andalucia; AO75GA Galicia; AO75AR Aragon; AO75IB Islas Baleares, EA6; AO75CA Cantabria; AO75IC Islas Canarias, EA8; AO75CL Castilla y Leon; AO75LR La Rioja; AO75CM Castilla-La Mancha; AO75MA Madrid; AO75CT Cataluna; AO75MC Melilla and Ceuta, EA9; AO75CV Comunidad Valenciana; AO75MU Murcia; AO75EU Euskadi i.e. Basque Country; AO75NA Navarra; AO75EX Extremadura and AO75PA Principado de Asturias
 In addition, CQ75URE will be active from Portugal.
Many awards will be available, see https://75aniversario.ure.es for detailed information, log search and OQRS (to be activated after 30 April).

Sint Maarten, PJ7. Ken, KJ9B will be active as PJ7KB from Sint Maarten (NA-105) from 30 March to 6 April. He will operate SSB and digital on 20 – 10 m. QSL via home call.

Martinique, FM. Miguel, EA1BP will be active holiday style as FM/EA1BP from Martinique (NA-107) from 23 March to 1 April. He will participate in the CQ WW WPX SSB Contest as TO7O. QSL via LoTW, or via home call.

St Kitts, V4. Pete, G0TLE will be active again as V4/G0TLE from St Kitts (NA-104) from 23 March to 5 April. He will operate CW and SSB on 40 to 10 m. QSL via LoTW, or direct to home call; QSOs will be uploaded also to Club Log.

St Kitts, V4. From 26 March to 2 April, also look for V47NT (QSL via LoTW, or direct to W2RQ), V4/K5ZD (QSL via LoTW) and V4/HA1AG (QSL via home call) to be active from St. Kitts. They will operate CW and SSB on 160 to 10 metres and will participate in the CQ WW WPX SSB Contest as V47T (QSL via LoTW, or direct to W2RQ).

Providenciales, VP5. AF3K, KH6M and W2TT will be active from Providenciales (NA-002) from 26 March to 2 April, including an entry in the CQ WPX SSB Contest. Outside the contest they will operate SSB, CW and digital on 160 to 6 metres. QSL VQ5P via N2OO; all QSOs will be uploaded to LoTW and Club Log.

IOTA DXpedition Fund: Further News. “IOTA Ltd reported in early September 2023 the creation of a DXpedition Fund to help reduce the costs of expeditions to the rarer and less accessible IOTA groups. Since then, the Fund has made a number of applicants very happy.
However we want to do more to encourage operations from groups where there has not been a significant operation for at least 15 years. So in addition to making grants to operations from IOTA references confirmed by less than 25% of IOTA members based on the last 10-year listing in IOTA's Most Wanted List, we will also do the same for operations to groups confirmed by less than 30% of IOTA members on the same list that have not seen an activation for at least 15 years. It is estimated that these two categories cover some
250 IOTA groups.
The grant request should be submitted more than 30 days prior to the operation's start. The evaluation and grant process are based on various criteria, including the rarity of the IOTA reference, the length of the operation and number of operators, importantly the planned number of contacts, bands and modes to be used, and the estimated expedition cost. Applications should be addressed to
dxp-fund[@]iota-world.org". [The IOTA Board and DXpedition Fund Committee, 19 March 2024]
The Evaluation Criteria and the Grant Application Form can be found on the IOTA website (https://www.iota-world.org/) under the DXPEDITION FUND label.


CW News and Contesting 

 

SARL Forum Active Topics
The COOL CW Operator Club Newsletters  28/03/2024  11:41:08
by: ZS6BNE
Icasa online 
 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8
28/03/2024  04:23:20
by: ZS1F
Body Corporate permission to erect an Antenna Mast  26/03/2024  15:36:03
by: ZS1TT
Using USPS  26/03/2024  11:42:12
by: ZS6JPS
Enige Amateurs Naby Anlinn, Pretoria?  25/03/2024  16:07:39
by: ZS1F
2024 Hamnet 40m Contest results  24/03/2024  16:36:30
by: ZS6MSW
QRG? ( Will you tell me my exact frequency) 
 1  2
22/03/2024  19:33:23
by: ZS1AAZ
SARL QRP Contest- Chasers and Contesters get ready  22/03/2024  16:15:56
by: ZS6HI
Power Hour Tech Talk - Open Wire Transmission Line  22/03/2024  16:13:21
by: ZS6HI
Johan ZS1B SK 11 Maart 2024  22/03/2024  08:59:09
by: ZS1F


Commercial Hamads 

ZS2BL's S.A. HAMSHACK

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. 


Just Curious Designs

Promotional Branding & Gifts for all your requirements relating to:

*T-Shirts * Cards * Caps *Mugs *Banners *Etching *Canvas

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

Johan ZR6JC – 082 821 5759


Place your commercial hamads on the home page.  Book a six months space for R300 or 12 months at R500 prepaid with order   The advertisements will be  text only up to 60 words including address, telephone number and click through URL to advertisers' website and email address. Adverisement can be changed  Send your contact details to admin@sarl.org.za and we will contact you or call the NARC at 011 675 2393


What is Amateur Radio ? 

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.

A
mateur 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.


Random Photo from the Call book.


 Unknown Callsign, ZS5PB


     



 




                                       


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SARL AGM2023 

 
 
 
 
 
 


Sam's Radio 

visit our web here

Call us on 011 802 2976 

 



CDS Advert 

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 Click here to visit website www.cds.co.za/store/ 



Worked All ZS award
An interesting operating goal

The entry level for the WAZS award is 100 different call signs. The programme has recently been expanded to include higher level endorsements, such as WAZS-200, WAZS-300, etc. Endorsements may also be obtained for specific modes, eg: CW, SSB, etc.
Click here for more information...
 


lboat034a.gif (1979 bytes)SA Maritime Net

The South African Maritime Mobile Net provides weather reports and maintains contact with sailing vessels from around the coast and high seas.
The net operates 7 days a week.

There are two regular schedule times as follows:

  • 06:30 UTC and 11:30 UTC on 14 316 kHz – high seas net.
  • 06:35 UTC and 11:35 UTC on 7 120 kHz – coastal net - the net lasts approximately 30 minutes .
Visit the official SAMMNet Website or their facebook page for more information.
 
   

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This page last modified: 15/8/2023