SARL NEWS - SUNDAY 25 DECEMBER 2011
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 every Sunday at 08:15 CAT in Afrikaans and at 08:30 CAT in English. To listen to a web stream, visit www.sarl.org.za, click on 'Amateur Radio Today' and follow the links for details. PLEASE NOTE: for audio via Echolink, connect to ZS0JPL-R.
You can download this bulletin and previous ones from www.sarl.org.za and also 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 7,066 and 3,695 MHz SSB.
In the news today:
137 kHz SIGNAL GENERATED IN GERMANY SEEN IN ALASKA
NEW TIME FOR AMATEUR RADIO TODAY'S MONDAY TRANSMISSION
ARISSAT-1 MISSION MAY END DECEMBER 31
You are listening to ZS6SRL. Stay tuned for more details on these and other important and interesting items.
ITS CHRISTMAS
The President and Council of the South African Radio League as well as all the co-ordinators and the news team wishes all members and listeners a blessed Christmas and we wish our Jewish members and listeners a happy Hanukkah. May the spirit of this special time of the year touch you all. Happy Holidays.
137 kHz SIGNAL GENERATED IN GERMANY SEEN IN ALASKA
It is nearly 10 years since a low frequency signal from Europe has been received in Alaska. Now, the RF generated by Stefan Schaefer, DK7FC, of Heidelberg, Germany has been seen on 136,172 kHz at the remotely operated station of Laurence Howell, KL7UK near Wasilla, Alaska.
Howell also holds the UK call sign G4DMA, he used Spectrumlab software to decode Schaefer's transmission. Using this system, a full callsign using dual frequency 30 second per dot CW was seen.
This is believed to be a first for this type of transpolar path as it has to cross the Auroral zone twice. Conditions have to be very stable with low geomagnetic and Proton levels, and the path only appears to be open in the deepest part of the winter.
KL7UK who is part of the WE2XPO low frequency experimental license group is using a 2 turn directional K9AY array and a remotely tuned ICOM R75 receiver controlled from his residence in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. DK7FC in Germany had an Effective Radiated Power of only a few Watts.
The last signals across this path were seen were in 2003. At that time G3AQC, G3LDO and DF6NM made the rare path. More about these low frequency transmissions is on-line at kl7uk.com. (KL7UK)
The 137 kHz band is available to South African Amateurs. If you are experimenting on 137 kHz we would like to hear from you. Drop an email to artoday@sarl.org.za.
NEW TIME FOR AMATEUR RADIO TODAY'S MONDAY TRANSMISSION
From next Monday, January 2, the retransmission of Amateur Radio TODAY will change to 17:30 - 18:30 UTC which is 19:30 - 20:30 CAT. The transmission will remain in the 60 metre band on a frequency of 4 895 kHz. The transmitter power will be 100 kW feeding an omni-directional antenna. Reception reports are invited and can be emailed to artoday@sarl.org.za. All reports received of the January 2 transmission by 5 January will be participating in a lucky draw for a ARRL book on RFI. You can also fax your report to 012 991 5651.
ARISSAT-1 MISSION MAY END DECEMBER 31
ARISSat One may fall out of orbit sooner than originally predicted. Jim De Young, N8OQ, reports on the AMSAT on-line Bulletin Board that the new estimated date for the re-entry of the ARISSat is December 31st plus or minus about three days.
PROPAGATION REPORT
Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, reports that the solar activity is at low levels with a slight chance for a M-class event. Sunspot 1 384 remains the largest visible sunspot group. The sun's surface is still peppered with smaller sunspots promising exciting HF conditions.
For the people doing their own frequency predictions the expected effective sunspot number for the week will be around 92.
All the bands from 20 to 10 m will provide lots of DX fun with the higher bands typically opening first and the lower bands opening later during the day. 6 m is also active with TEP openings from time-to-time.
Please visit www.spaceweather.co.za for further information.
DIARY OF EVENTS
15 January 2012 - Last day for submission of summaries of proposed papers for the Radio Technology in Action Symposiums 2012 to artoday@sarl.org.za.
31 January 2012 - Last day for submission of nominations for Council members and also for submission of motions for the 2012 SARL AGM.
31 January 2012 - Closing date for submitting papers for SA AMSAT Space Symposium.
Remember also to submit nominations for SARL awards which will be presented at the gala dinner which will take place over the weekend of the 2012 SARL AGM.
SARL News invites clubs and individuals to submit news items of interest to radio amateurs and shortwave listeners. Submit news items - 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 Amateur Radio Today every Sunday morning at 10:00 CAT on 145,750 MHz in the Pretoria area, with relays on 7 082, 7 205 and 17 760 kHz. There is also a podcast by ZS6RO. For a web-stream and Echolink by ZS6FCS, visit www.sarl.org.za, click on 'Amateur Radio TODAY', go down the green column and click on 'LISTEN ON THE WEB'. A repeat transmission can be heard on Mondays at 16:30 UTC on 4 895 kHz. Sentech sponsors the ARMI transmissions on the non-amateur frequencies.
You have listened to a bulletin of the South African Radio League, compiled by George, Z6SNE.
Thank you for listening, 73.
/EX
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