SOUTH AFRICAN RADIO LEAGUE
SARL NEWS SUNDAY 27 AUGUST 2000

This is Amateur Radio Station ZS6SRL transmitting Amateur Radio News , a service by the South African Radio League for the interest of all Radio Amateurs, Short-wave Listeners and Electronic Enthusiasts. For a complete
list of broadcast times and frequencies please send a SASE to Amateur Radio News, SARL, P O Box 1721, Strubensvallei 1735.

This bulletin is also available on the SARL's web pages hosted by Intekom
at www.sarl.org.za, as well as the packet radio bulletin board system. You
may also request sarlnuus@mweb.co.za to e-mail it to you in either text or MSWord 6.0 format.

SILENT KEY

It is with regret that the Durban Amateur Radio Club announces the passing
away of Bob Lloyd, ZS5BL, on Sunday August the 20.th.

Bob was active on H.F. and packet. He had moved to div 6 due to ill
health.

Our deepest sympathy to his family and friends.

PAUSE.

Here are the headlines of today's news:

IARU DARWIN CONFERENCE

70 CM LOST IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

RAE COURSE FOR SCIENCE TEACHERS TO BE HELD DURING SEPTEMBER HOLIDAYS

PIRATE ALERT

You are listening to ZS6SRL, the news follows in detail.

IARU DARWIN CONFERENCE

QNEWS reports that Fred Johnson ZL2AMJ President of the IARU Region III
area has said, "The work of the IARU is vital. Without frequencies the
Amateur Service can't exist."

He said although the IARU operates on a voluntary basis, it has been
effective in ensuring the interests of the Amateur Service are protected,
at international conferences where big business seek spectrum.

"It is only by banding together, forming associations or societies such as
the WIA, that we can collectively work together to retain what frequencies
we have and work out policy's to obtain what we would like to have."

Although the IARU does not have voting rights at World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) and other international meetings, it is regarded as a responsible body which thoroughly investigates problems and comes up with concerns and solutions.

He went on to say "the work of the IARU is very important, and must
continue. Membership of the WIA is the way of individual radio amateurs to contribute to the well-being of their hobby, and ensure it continues for
future generations."

70 CM LOST IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

According to a news item in QNEWS, the Manager Spectrum Planning Team for
the ACA has written to the President of the SA & NT Division with some supplementary information that should assist in clarifying aspects of the article relating to the use of 420 - 430 MHz of the 70cm band in WA for
police traffic.

The Western Australia Police Service, on behalf of the Government of
Western Australia including the State emergency services, has been
negotiating with the Department of Defence regarding access to the band 420
- 430 MHz for an integrated trunked land mobile network supporting these essential and emergency services in the greater Perth area. It is expected
to commence operation later this year.

Preliminary studies indicate that transmissions from amateur systems within
200 km of Perth may cause interference to the proposed WA Government
trunked land mobile system. Amateur receivers in this area may also
experience interference. It is also mentioned that the ACA is experiencing increasing pressure from a number of essential and emergency services organisations in the Eastern States of Australia that aspire to access this spectrum for similar purposes to that in Western Australia.

It has been suggested (again) that Amateurs are not making full use of the
70 cm band. The ACA wants to give 420 to 430MHz to the Police in WA.

A meeting will be held with the WIA for discussions on migration
implications for amateur services, on regulatory options, and on ways in
which the WIA could assist.


RAE COURSE FOR SCIENCE TEACHERS TO BE HELD DURING SEPTEMBER HOLIDAYS

The SARL and South African Amateur Radio Development Trust are joining
forces to present a RAE Course for Science Teachers. The course will be
held at the National Amateur Radio Centre and includes practical on-the-air sessions with the aim of introducing good operating practices and
familiarising teachers with the Hamradio culture. The first two
introductory sessions are on Saturday 16 and 23 September. The main body
of the course will be presented from 26 to 29 September. On the last
afternoon the candidates will write the RA examination.

Interested teachers are invited to send their address details to arisas@intekom.co.za or fax the information to 011 675-2793. On receipt of
the details, a course application form will be despatched.

RADIO AMATEUR EXAMINATION CLASSES IN WESTERN CAPE

Remember the course of lectures for the November RAE that will be run as
from the middle of September at the Signals Unit near Acacia Park in
Goodwood under auspices of the Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre in
co-operation with the Boland Amateur Radio Club.

Interested parties are requested to contact Pierre Tromp, ZR1PDT on 083-229-7795 for full details.

REPORT ON LIGHTHOUSE/LIGHTSHIP ACTIVITY WEEKEND

Ron Marlow, ZS1RON, organiser for the Lighthouse/Lightship Activity Weekend
has the following to say:

"Salutations to all Lighthouse/Lightship Activity Weekend Participants.

I take this opportunity of thanking all clubs and individual operators in
the RSA and Namibia, who so willingly and efficiently gave of their time
and expertise in participating in the International Lighthouse/Lightship Activity Weekend during 19-20 August. As in previous years, your efforts
have once again contributed, not only to placing the Amateur Radio Service
in Southern Africa on the international map but, have also enhanced the
image of the Lighthouse Services in our neck of the woods.

Sincere thanks also go to Mr James Collocot and the staff of Portnet who,
once again, excelled in providing three star accomadation for operators at
all lighthouse stations, arranged ferry transport to Robben Island and made
us feel most welcome.

That your efforts were once again a success goes without saying.

The total number of contacts and countries worked will be promulgated as
soon as the expected reports are received. If any operators have
photographs or video footage from which digitised images can be made,
please send copies to me for inclusion in an article for Radio ZS.

The lessons learned this year, I am sure, will stand us in good stead when preparing for our participation in this satisfying and worthwhile event
during Agust of 2001."


SARL HF CW CONTEST

Remember the CW contest which runs from 15:00 to 18:00 SAST this afternoon.
All radio amateurs in southern Africa may participate.

There are four trophies, unique to the CW contest, to be won.

Logs for both the SSB and CW contests should only be submitted to the
following address: SARL HF Contest Committee P O Box 48052 Hercules 0030

PIRATE ALERT

The SARL received complaints about the use of amateur call signs and QSOs
on the Amateur frequencies by 3 individuals. The SARL HF Manager contacted
the national societies in the three countries concerned and two confirmed
that their Telecommunications Authorities had not issued the call signs.
During the past week the HF Manager received an e-mail from the father of
the third person (3DA0AT) who apologises for what has happened and stated
that his son would not be active on HF again. His son is now in Trinidad.

The other two call signs mentioned are not valid and are being used
illegally:

HP3PRB, the operator's name is Pieter and he is aboard the Alchemy. He is heard on 14,316 and 21,316 MHz.

TI3HM, the operator's name is Marlese on board Telkentar and is heard on
7,045 and 14,316 MHz.

Do not engage in QSOs with these stations, as they are not legally
licensed.

NEW CLUB COMMITTEE

At the AGM of the Vaaldriehoek Amateur Radio Club held on Saturday 19
Augustus, the following members were elected to serve on the committee of
the club:

Chairman - ZS6PAK - Kobus;
Vice chairman - ZS6AXL - Albert;
Secretary - ZR6ASA - Riaan;
PRO - ZS6CAU - Louis;
Treasurer - ZR6AWJ - Fanie;
CW Tutor - ZS4X - Bill;
Technical - ZR6ASA - Riaan;
Editer for QSY - ZS6TJB - Theuns;
Assistant Editer - ZR6ZYM - Jannie;
News reader - ZS6AXL - Albert assisted by ZS6PAK,-Kobus and ZR6EU,-Koos.

Council and Sarlnews extends our thanks to the retiring committee and
wishes strength to the new committee for the ensueing year.

SUNSAT SCHEDULE

The passes for SUNSAT, SO35, for Southern Africa, all in Mode J and times
in UTC, are as follows: 27/08 15:04 30/08 16:22; 02/09 16:01; 03/09 15:21.

PROPAGATION REPORT

The past week was characterised by a very quiet sun with the lowest sunspot count for the current year.

Only one fairly big solar flare occurred on Friday afternoon. It is
however expected that most of the material ejected from the solar corona
will miss the earth.

The solar flux looks like it wants to rise again. A slow steady rise is expected for the coming week with a solar flux value of around 160 being reached by next Sunday.

A fairly large coronal hole is moving into a geoeffective position. It is expected that the combination of the energy coming from this hole, plus the
bit of mass from Friday's flare that will reach the Earth, should be enough
to affect the earth's magnetic field tomorrow.

It is expected that the Maximum Usable Frequency will be reduced by 10 to
15 percent on the predicted monthly values.

Stations to the far south, such as ZS1 and ZS2 and of course those further South will still feel some effects on Tuesday.

With the rising solar flux the bands above 20 MHz will again come into
there own. Look for good contacts on 15 metres and expect 10 metres to
give very good contacts over distances as short as 2 500 km.

DIARY OF COMING EVENTS

The Alberton Amateur Radio Club will be holding its AGM at 15:00 (fifteen hours) on the 9 th September at the club house in the Alberton Civic
Centre. Please make an effort to attend. Tea and cake will be served.

A committee meeting will also be held on the 7 th September, ie the
Thursday preceding the AGM at 19:00 (nineteen hours) at the club house.

The Bloemfontein Amateur Radio Club will be holding its AGM at 14:00 for
14:30 on Saturday 9 September 2000 at the Clubhouse at the Bloemspruit Air Force Base. Following the AGM a bring-and-braai will be held.

The SARL News Service invites Clubs and individuals to contribute
information regarding Amateur Radio to sarlnuus@mweb.co.za with a copy to gth@mweb.co.za. Please submit in Afrikaans and English wherever possible.

Also join us in the following activities: * The President's Net on Sundays 12:00 on 7082 kHz * Amateur Radio Mirror International Sundays at 10:00 on
9750 and 21560 kHz which is repeated Mondays at 20:00 on 3215 kHz. Correspondence for Amateur Radio Mirror International is via armi@intekom.co.za. Include your telephone number to allow the producers
to call you for a possible interview. Send written reports to PO Box 90438 Garsfontein 0042 and include a self-addressed envelope and sufficient
postage so that you may receive a QSL card.

These transmissions are sponsored by Sentech, the common carrier for broadcasting signals in South Africa and Telkom who provides the
transmission lines. Various local repeater frequencies on 2 metres and 70
cm are also used in your area.

We thank all contributors to this bulletin and all stations who so reliably relay these bulletins. This bulletin was compiled by George, ZS6NE, and
read by ZS.... in ....... You have been listening to ZS6SRL. This transmission now ends and we wish you a pleasant week.

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Internet feed from ZS6NE moved by Richard de ZR6CK

Regards,
Richard.

--- Msged/Q 1.60
* Origin: QTHR KG44DG, Novell User Group, Pretoria, RSA (5:7106/22)