SARL NEWS - SUNDAY – 10 AUGUST 2008
You are listening to ZS6SRL, the official Radio Station of the South African Radio League, the National Body for Amateur Radio in South Africa, with a news bulletin transmitted every Sunday at 08:15 CAT in Afrikaans and at 08:30 CAT in English. To listen to a webstream, visit www.sarl.org.za, click on ARMI and follow the links for details. PLEASE NOTE! For audio via Echolink, connect to ZS0JPL-R.
You can download this and previous bulletins from www.sarl.org.za and subscribe to receive future bulletins by e-mail.
Your newsreader this morning is (name), (call sign), on 145,725 and 7,066 MHz from Pretoria with relays on 28,325, 14,235, 10,130, 7,066 and 3,695 MHz SSB, as well as 51,400, 438,825 and 1 296 MHz FM in the Pretoria area. (Other newsreaders please change to suit).
SILENT KEY
It is with regret that we have to announce the passing on 6 August of OM Brian Weller, ZS2AB, who was chairman of the PE Club for many years. We extend our condolences to his XYL Marge, ZS2OB, other relatives and friends.
(PAUSE)
In the news today:
FABULOUS PRIZES TO BE WON AT THE RTA ON 13 SEPTEMBER
WHEN IS ET CALLING HOME?
PLT STANDARDS TO BE DISCUSSED AT THE SABS TC73 MEETING
You are listening to ZS6SRL. Stay tuned for more detail on these and other important and interesting news items.
FABULOUS PRIZES TO BE WON AT THE RTA ON 13 SEPTEMBER
The SARL Radio Technology in Action Symposium event, to be held on 13 September at the National Amateur Radio Centre, promises to be the highlight of the year with an action packed programme and fabulous attendance prizes.
Multisource and ICOM has sponsored the ICOM IC-706 Mark 2 G all mode transceiver covering all the HF bands plus 6 and 2 m and 70 cm. One lucky delegate will walk away with this state-of-the-art transceiver.
RS Components have sponsored a RS Soldering Station with LCD display and programmable temperature settings.
Comtest has sponsored the Meterman 38XR True RMS digital Multimeter with optical PC interface.
In addition there are several other prizes to be won. Check out the programme and prizes to be won on www.sarl.org.za. Diarise the date now, 13 September 2008 from 08:30 - 16:0. Entrance is only R20. Learners and students enter free of charge.
BALLOON SUPPLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANOTHER BACAR LAUNCH DELAY
While it is all system go for BACAR, the launch has been postponed due to a balloon supply problem. Balloons were ordered several months ago but seem to have disappeared somewhere in the parcel post system. An alternative supply is being checked and a new date will be announced only once the balloons have arrived safely in South Africa. "It is most disappointing that we have another postponement and frustrating for the BACAR team who have all the equipment ready to fly", SA AMSAT President Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV, told SARL NEWS.
BACAR is the acronym for Balloon Carrying Amateur Radio. The equipment ready to fly is an HF beacon operating on 7 022 kHz, a 2 metre beacon and an APRS system. Visit www.amsatsa.org for more details.
WHEN IS ET CALLING HOME?
Join the INTECNET next Sunday 17 August at 19:30 when Paul Shuch, President of the SETI League will be discussing the Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence. Just this past week Radio 702 was talking about UFO's.
The Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence is a scientifically based activity that you can participate in by turning antennas skywards and search for that elusive signal that may have been sent by intelligence a long time ago.
Paul Shuch is an interesting speaker and promises participants in the Intecnet an interesting Sunday evening.
Clubs wishing to join the network should send an Email to armi@sarl.org.za by 13 August 2008 with details of their repeater and telephone number to be linked.
SET UP AN AMATEUR RADIO STATION AT A SCHOOL ON 8 OCTOBER
As part of World Space Week, set up an amateur radio station at your local school and share the magic of amateur radio with learners. The event will take place on Wednesday 8 October from 10:00 to 12:00 UTC. Learners will have an opportunity to learn more about space and listen and talk to an astronaut sharing his space experiences.
A number of local repeaters will be linked and a number of HF stations will be operational. If your local repeater is linked it will be a simple two metre installation. Talk to the headmaster of your local school and get his or her commitment. Various documents are available on www.sarl.org.za, click on activity and select youth for full details.
Share your hobby with the new generations of radio amateurs!
SARL MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL BREAKS THE 1 000 MARK
On Friday morning the SARL membership renewals broke through the 1 000 mark. Current paid-up membership of the SARL for the 2008/2009 membership year stands at 1 012. Thanks to all who renewed promptly. There are still 3 weeks left to benefit from the discounted rate of R305.
All renewable or new subscriptions received before 31 August 2008 enjoy a discount. You only pay R305 and not the new fee of R320 which will be applicable from 1 September. Senior members pay only R184 if they remit by 31 August. After that date it will cost R200. For payment details contact Vee Antal on 011 675-2393. All fully paid up members receive a 2008/2009 membership certificate. If you are not a member yet, join the SARL now and increase the power of our voice with the authorities.
PLT STANDARDS TO BE DISCUSSED AT THE SABS TC73 MEETING
On Wednesday at the SABS TC73 electromagnetic compatibility meeting, PLT standards will come under the spot light when proposed CISPR 22 standards are discussed.
There has been a flurry of international activity to convince CISPR not to accept reduced standards when it meets later this year. The IARU has requested national societies to lobby their local CISPR representative to support the IARU's call to protect the HF frequency spectrum by setting standards that adequately protect the spectrum. The SARL has submitted documentation to the South African CISPR representative and will be represented at the TC73 this Wednesday.
CISPR is the Special International Committee on Radio Interference of the International Electro technical Commission, IEC, with central office in Geneva, Switzerland. It is concerned with the development of standards regarding electromagnetic interference and most of these standards are adopted by the European Union and many other countries. Disturbance limits for Power Line Telecommunications (PLT) systems are defined by the standard CISPR 22 and its European equivalent EN 55 022 entitled "Information technology equipment - Radio disturbance characteristics - Limits and methods of measurement".
The SABS last week also distributed a document entitled "IEC/CISPR Threatens Radio Services by a Planned 18 dB Relaxation of PLT Disturbance Limits" authored by Karl Fischer, DJ5IL. A copy is available on www.sarl.org.za, click on general info and select PLC/BPL.
SCI BONO AMATEUR RADIO FUND
Sci Bono Science Discovery Centre is in the process of putting up a complete radio tower with antennas, rotator and the like. Donations are requested and to assist radio amateurs that donate funds, Sci Bono will issue an X18 invoice that allows for tax deduction.
For more information visit www.zs6cog.co.za and download the information. Alternatively contact Chris, ZS6COG, with email address zs6cog@gmail.com for more information.
CLUB NEWS
71st AGM OF THE EAST RAND RADIO CLUB
The East Rand Radio Club (Formerly East Rand Branch of the SARL), ZS6ERB, will be hosting it's 71st AGM and in accordance with the club’s Constitution, notice is hereby given of this year's meeting on 30 August 2008.
The AGM starts at 14:00 at the club house in Springs. The AGM will be followed by an awards ceremony and social gathering in the form of a bring and braai.
PROPAGATION REPORT
Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, reports that the expected solar activity will be very low. The geomagnetic field is expected to be mostly at active levels untill 13 August after which it will reach quiet levels till 17 August. The expected Effective Sun Spot Number for the coming week will be less than 5. DX conditions will generally be good to the North and poor in the general North-Westerly directions.
20 m will provide best opportunities for DX. There is a possibility of weak 20 m openings towards India from about 16:00 CAT. There is the possibility of weak 40 and 80 m openings to New Zealand at 18:00. Otherwise contacts with Australia and New Zealand will be very challenging. From 16:00 there may be 20 m openings towards Europe. Contacts with the USA are going to be very challenging.
10 MHz is looking promising late afternoon and after dark for the CW and digital enthusiasts.
Local conditions are going to be good on 40 m during the day time, which is good for this afternoon's contest. 80 m may perform well during the mornings and late afternoons over the shorter distances. 30 m may perform well during the middle of the day between ZS6 and ZS1.
80 m is the frequency of choice in the evenings, especially now that the majority of thunderstorms and static is behind us. 160 m will also perform well during the evenings.
Remember that this is only a prediction and that HF always has the capability to surprise you, but you will never know unless you switch your rig on, listen and also call CQ.
Please visit www.spaceweather.co.za for further information.
DIARY OF EVENTS
10 August - SARL 40 Metre Mobile and Shack in a Sack Contest;
17 August – INTECNET;
30 August – East Rand radio Club AGM;
31 August – Last day for subs at discount rates;
13 September – RTA at NARC;
03 October - YL meet SA starts;
08 October – Set up a school station for Space Week activity.
SARL News invites clubs and individuals to submit news stories of interest to radio amateurs and shortwave listeners. Submit news stories 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 also invites you to listen to the programme Amateur Radio Mirror International, on the air every Sunday morning at 10:00 CAT on 145,750 MHz in the Pretoria area with relays on 7 082, 7 205 and 17 590 kHz. For the webstream and Echolink by ZS6FCS visit www.sarl.org.za, click on ARMI and follow the links. A repeat transmission can be heard Mondays at 21:00 CAT on 3 215 kHz. Sentech sponsors the ARMI transmissions on the non-amateur frequencies.
Today's South African Radio League news bulletin was compiled by George, ZS6NE.
Thank you for listening. 73.
