SARL NEWS - SUNDAY 24 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 deep regret that the passing of V C Quixley, ZS1HU, ex ZS6BEO, at the end of July is announced. We extend our sincere condolences to his wife Rina, family and friends.
(PAUSE)
In the news today:
ICASA WORKING ON LICENSING BACKLOG
SARL MEMBERSHIP UP AGAIN THIS WEEK
EXAMINERS, INVIGILATORS AND ASSESSORS MUST REGISTER
You are listening to ZS6SRL. Stay tuned for more detail on these and other important and interesting news items.
ICASA WORKING ON LICENSING BACKLOG
ICASA has started a process to reduce their licence applications backlog. The agency receives as many as 2 000 applications per month. Once the backlog has been cleared, the office handling license applications will be reorganised and staff dedicated to handle only a specific type of license irrespective from where in the country the application is received. Dedicated ICASA employees will handle amateur radio licenses. While ICASA is working on the backlog please be understanding that applications may take a little longer. The SARL is working closely with ICASA to speed up the process.
SARL MEMBERSHIP UP AGAIN THIS WEEK
The SARL membership is up again this week. It now stands at 1 067, not quite the target we set in last week's SARL News. Help us to get to 1 100 by next Friday. Thanks to all who have renewed and are supporting the wellbeing of Amateur Radio. Renew or if you are not a member join the SARL before 31 August and enjoy a discount. Get the full details on the SARL web at www.sarl.org.za.
ANOTHER EDITION OF RADIO ZS FULL INTERESTING ARTICLES ON ITS WAY
Later this week the July/August edition of Radio ZS will be mailed and after that be available on the web. Like the last few editions this one is again full of interesting articles.
Read about a soda pop 2 metre vertical antenna, or even better build one. Dennis Wells looks at the good old days while ZS6BFH tell readers how to build hula hoop antennas. Vidi La Grange writes about the improvements on 17 m of the Force 12 antenna and ZS6BNE takes us back to the basics of the digital modes. Henry Chamberlain asks the question "where to with packet radio".
Radio ZS is available on the web, free to members. Non members have join the SARL if they wish to receive a printed copy or get access to Radio ZS on the web.
EXAMINERS, INVIGILATORS AND ASSESSORS MUST REGISTER
On September 30 the registrations of all examiners, invigilators and assessors will expire. This applies to all who have not submitted new registrations during this year. If you have registered after 1 January 2008 your registration will be valid till 30 September 2009. If you have not re-registered, please do so without delay and submit your registration before the end of September. Visit www.sarl.org.za for the necessary forms.
OCTOBER 2008 RAE
A reminder to all clubs to advise their RAE students that applications for the October RAE need to be receieved by the SARL office by no later than 12:00 on 11 September 2008. No late entries for the RAE examination will be considered. Any late entries will deny a student an opportunity in writing the October RAE examination and they will then have to wait for the next set of National examinations which will be taking place in 2009.
We urge all clubs to ensure that when the application forms are sent to the SARL office, they are to ensure that the required documentation has been completed correctly, especially the ICASA application form.
As a reminder the SARL office expects to receieve the following forms for registration:
1) Completed examination application form with the choice of at least three call signs
2) A fully completed ICASA application form, special note must be made that the Next of Kin details must be completed accurately.
3) A copy of the ID document or Birth certificate, in the case of a non South African Citizen a copy of their passport.
4) Where a person has decided to join the SARL, a completed SARL application form.
The SARL office would like to thank everyone in advance for assisting in making the registration and completion of the relevant documents run smoothly.
Any queries relating to the completion of the forms and any other information required, should be addressed directly to Vee at the SARL office.
CONTEST NEWS
RESULTS OF THE BOLAND AMATEUR RADIO CLUB 40 METER COMPETITION
The results of this competetion which took place on Sunsday 27 July are as follows;
1st place with 112 points goes toe Barry, ZS2EZ. In 2nd place, with 101 points, is Mitch, ZS2DK. Jan, ZS4JAN, occupies 3rd position with 100 points. Barry and John thus also achieved the highest scores in their respective divisions. Highest scores in other divisions are 1, Jacques, ZS1WC, in Division 1, Gerhard, ZS3TG, in division 3, John, ZS5J, in division 5 and Hans, ZS6KR, in division 6. Certificates will soon be mailed to these participants.
A total of 44 log sheets were received on 38 of which were more than 20 entries. The winner of a beautiful Yaesu VX3 portable radio, which was sponsored by Lets Play Radio, and which was determined by means of a lucky draw, is Tiffany, ZU1PPG. Congradulations to Tiffany.
BARK thanks the sponsor for this prize and trusts that there will be more competitors next year.
VHF/UHF CONTEST
The current rules of the VHF/UHF contest will remain the same for the second leg of this year's contest taking place over the weekend of 20 and 21 September. As preparation for the 2009 Contest Rule Book is starting soon VHF/UHF contest enthusiast are invited to send in their ideas and input for next year's event to vhf@sarl.org.za.
CLUB NEWS
MAGALIES RADIO AMATEUR CLUB COMMITTEE
At the AGM of the Magalies Radio Amateur Club, which was held on the 16th August, the following members were elected to their management committee for the 2008/2009 term of office:
Chairman Johan, ZS6JPN;
Vice Chairman Nico, ZS6OI, until recently ZR6AFJ;
Secretary Nick, ZR6NSP;
Treasurer Thomas, ZS6TJS;
Other members Sam, ZS6JZ, Hannes, ZS6JDE, Johan, ZS6PSS, Jenny, ZS6JWN, Pieter, ZS6LC, Marco, Z66MJ and Hester van der walt, still vithout callsign.
Our thanks to the retired committee members for your valuable contributions and we wish strength to the committee which consists of re-elected and newly elected members for its term of duty.
WEST RAND FLEA MARKET
The West Rand Amateur Radioclub is holding it`s next flea market on Saturday 06 September 2008 at the club house in Kroton street, Weltevredenpark, Roodepoort at 12:00. Everyone is very welcome.
For more information contact Willem at 082 890 6775.
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 to unsettled levels untill 3 September after which it will decrease to quiet levels. 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 15:00 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. 80 m may perform well during the early mornings and late afternoons over the shorter distances, e.g. between ZS5 and ZS6. 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. With summer approaching it is now an excellent time to make those 80 m contacts for your WAZS before the thunderstorms and static start again. 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
30 August East Rand Radio Club AGM;
31 August Last day for subs at discount rates;
06 September - West Rand Flea Market;
11 September Last date to enrol for the October RAE;
13 September Radio Technolgy in Action at the National Amateur Radio Centre;
03 October Young Ladies 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.
/EX
