SARL NEWS - SUNDAY 13 DECEMBER 2009

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 ARMI 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 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 52,750; 438,825 and 1 296 MHz FM in the
Pretoria area. (Other newsreaders please change to suit.)

In the news today:

MAKE YOUR INPUT INTO THE SARL STRATEGY FOR 2010

ONLY 4 SEATS LEFT AT THE CAPE TOWN HOME CONSTRUCTION COURSE

SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR ZS5MU

EAST RAND CLUB SET TO BREAK BOLAND RECORD FOR ZS10WCS

You are listening to ZS6SRL. Stay tuned for more detail on these and
other important and interesting news items.

MAKE YOUR INPUT INTO THE SARL STRATEGY FOR 2010

In early March 2010, the SARL Council and 2010 Council nominees will
meet at the National Amateur Radio Centre to develop the strategy and
activities for 2010 and 2011. The strategy plan will be tabled at the
National Convention and Annual General meeting to be held Port
Elizabeth from 23 - 25 April.

You have an opportunity to make input to what the SARL should be
focussing on. Join SARL President, Rassie Erasmus, ZS1YT, on the next
President's net to be held Sunday 31 January 2010 at 19:30. Make a note
of the date and discuss your ideas with fellow amateurs and at your
next club meeting.

ONLY 4 SEATS LEFT AT THE CAPE TOWN HOME CONSTRUCTION COURSE

There are only 4 seats left at the Cape Town Home Construction course
to be held on 23 January 2010. Those who wish to fill these seats,
visit www.sarl.org.za, click on activities and then on RTA for details
and a registration form. Bookings for Durban and Port Elizabeth are
also starting to fill up.

BUILD A LIGHTNING PREDICTION UNIT

You can now predict when lightning is close to you with this handy
lightning predictor. The handy construction project is available in kit
form from the South African Amateur Radio Development Trust at R120
including postage and packing. To read more about it and how to order
visit www.amateurradio.org.za.

ESSAY COMPETITION FOR LEARNERS

Following a request from the Gauteng Education Department, the closing
date for the essay competition to celebrate the launch of
SumbandilaSat, SO67, has been extended to 28 February 2010 to enable
learners, after returning to school in January, to participate in the
project. The main prize is an Acer Aspire One netbook with many
consolation prizes including construction kits and Symantec software.
Details on www.amateurradio.org.za.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR ZS5MU

SARL Councillor Francois Botha, ZS6BUU, has presented Alastair
Campbell, ZS5MU, with a framed certificate recognizing the support he
and his wife Davina have been giving the yachting fraternity for the
past 30 years. The citation reads: "SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO ALASTAIR
CAMPBELL ZS5MU who, supported by Davina ZS5GC ,has operated the South
African Maritime Mobile Net serving the yachting community at sea for
30 years".

EAST RAND CLUB SET TO BREAK BOLAND RECORD FOR ZS10WCS

December is the East Rand Branch's turn to operate ZS10WCS. The club is
going all out to break the record set by the Boland Amteurradioklub who
started the campaign in September and clocked up 2 639 contacts in over
100 countries. They made 1 522 SSB contacts, 1 050 on CW and 37 on
PSK31, indeed a tough act to follow by the East Rand Amateur Radio
Club. Look out for them on all bands.

2009 RAE SPONSORSHIP CLASS A AND B

Kobus Conradie of LetsPlayRadio in Cape Town informed SARL News that
the 2009 sponsorship has been been extended and was decided by an
impartial draw held at the year-end function of the Oakdale Club in
Bellville.

The lucky draw included both the Class A and B candidates for 2009.

The sponsorship comprises a Yaesu FTM10E Ruggedized Twin Band mobile
radio, donated by Verstay, the Yaesu importers.

The fortunate recipient is ZS6WWG, G Williscroft. Congratulations!

The SARL would like to thank LetsPlayRadio and Verstay for their
support towards amateur radio in South Africa.

HAMNET GAUTENG SOUTH

An in-promptu exercise for HAMNET Gauteng South members is scheduled
for 19 December 2009. Members who are available and willing to
participate are invited to take part.

Operation Water Save will take place between 08:00 - 10:00. The purpose
of the exercise is to determine and test mobile communications
abilities in preparation for 2010. Please RSVP on or before 18 December
2009 in order to participate.

For more information contact Chris Gryffenberg, ZS6COG, by email to
.

PROPAGATION REPORT

Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, reports that the solar activity is still at low
levels. A small but active sunspot appeared on Wednesday, breaking the
current spotless streak.

20 and 15 m will provide the best opportunities for DX. Conditions to
India will be good from the afternoon onwards.

During the late afternoons and early evenings it will be moderate
towards Europa. In the afternoons there are good possibilities for
contacts with the USA on 15 m. Contacts with New-Zealand will be
possible for a short while on 15 m during the mornings. Conditions to
Australia are challenging. During the afternoons and evenings 20 and 15
m contacts may be possible with Brazil.

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. 30 m will perform well over the longer distances
during the middle of the day. With summer here 20 m is also once again
very useful for contacts over the longer distances, especially during
the mornings.

80 m is the frequency of choice in the evenings.

Please visit www.spaceweather.co.za for further information.

DIARY OF EVENTS

13 December - ARRL 10 Metre Contest still on the go; 18 December -
Closing date for the PEARS raffle; 19 December - HAMNET Gauteng South
in-promptu exercise, 08:00 - 10:00; 1 January - Straight key night on
OSCARs; 15 to 17 January 2010 - the PEARS VHF/UHF Contest; 23 January -
Home Construction course in Cape Town; 31 January - President's net at
19:30; 28 February - New closing date for the Sumbandilasat essay
competition.

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 only 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 Mirror
International every Sunday morning at 10:00 CAT on 145,750 MHz in the
Pretoria-area, with relays on 7 082, 7 205 and 17 860 kHz. There is
also a podcast by ZS6RO. For a web-stream and Echolink by ZS6FCS, visit
www.sarl.org.za, click on 'ARMI' and follow the links. A repeat
transmission can be heard on Mondays at 21:00 CAT on 3 215 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, ZS6NE.

Thank you for listening, 73.
/EX