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 .

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
. 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
. 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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