SOUTH AFRICAN RADIO LEAGUE

SARL NEWS SUNDAY 29 APRIL 2007

You are listening to Amateur Radio Station ZS6SRL of the South African
Radio League, the National Body for Amateur Radio in South Africa, with
a news bulletin that is broadcast every Sunday at 08:15 CAT in
Afrikaans and at 08:30 CAT in English. This broadcast can also be heard
on Echolink by connecting to ZS6FCS. To listen to a web stream go to
www.sarl.org.za, click on ARMI and follow the links. This, and previous
bulletins, can be downloaded from the web site of the SARL i.e.
www.sarl.org.za. You can also read or download previous bulletins from
there and subscribe to receive future bulletins by email.

This transmission is by Hans, ZS6KR, on 145,725 and 7,066 MHz from
Pretoria with relays on 3,695, 10,135, 14,235 and 51,400 MHz as well as
438,825 MHz in the Pretoria area. (Other news readers please change to
suit).

In the news today:

SIEMENS RADIO AMATEUR OF THE YEAR AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED

EXAMINATION DETAILS AVAILABLE ON THE WEB

PRESIDENT'S NET AND INTECNET ON THE AIR NEXT SUNDAY

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

SIEMENS RADIO AMATEUR OF THE YEAR AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED

The Board of the South African Amateur Radio Development Trust met last
week to review the nominations for the various awards annually
sponsored by Siemens.

As over the past few years not many nominations have been received for
the Young Radio Amateur of the Year Award, the Board has therefore
decided to change the award structure and from this year will present a
Radio Amateur of the Year Award for Technical innovation and another
award for the promotion and development of Amateur Radio.

The Siemens Radio Amateur of the Year Award for the promotion and
development of Amateur Radio will be bestowed on Dave Reece, ZS1DFR,
and the award for Technical Innovation will be presented to Hannes
Coetzee, ZS6BZP.

The Siemens Amateur Radio Community Service Award goes this year to
Davy Smeda, ZR1FR. The awards will be presented at a gala lunch to be
held in Midrand on 15 May 2007. Congratulations to the recipients.

EXAMINATION DETAILS AVAILABLE ON THE WEB

The examination details and examination numbers have been posted on the
SARL web at www.sarl.org.za. Click on RAE down the left hand side
column on the home page and when the page opens click on Candidate exam
numbers. Letters will be mailed to individual candidates within the
next few days.

DON'T LET YOU'RE MAIL GET LOST

Have you checked that the SARL has the correct mailing address details
for you? Please look up your entry in the online call book on
www.sarl.org.za and advise the office of any changes. Please also check
that we have your correct email address as most of our correspondence
will be sent by email. It is more reliable and less expenses than
ordinary post.

The office is currently preparing the membership invoice for the
2007/2008 financial year and we would like to make sure the invoice
reaches you in good time.

Changes to your email and postal addresses can be sent to
or faxed to 088 011 675 2793. Please always use the
full 13 digits.

PRESIDENT'S NET AND INTECNET ON THE AIR NEXT SUNDAY

The next President's net and Intecnet will be on the air next Sunday
evening 6 May 2007. The President's net starts at 19:00 followed by the
Intecnet at 20:00. Clubs are invited to apply for a link to the
teleconference bridge. Simply send an Email by next Saturday to
with the telephone number and details of the repeater
to be connected.

The Intecnet will feature a discussion on the extensive linked repeater
network covering the Eastern and Western Cape and parts of the Free
State. The guest speaker will be Chris Scarr, ZS2AAW. The network is
also the subject of an article in EngineerIT which can be read free
online at www.eepublishers.co.za.

SARL OFFICE CLOSED ON 30 APRIL

The SARL office will be closed on Monday 30 April and reopen on
Wednesday 2 May.

WHY BELONG TO THE SARL?

This question is so often heard. There are lots of good reasons, here
is just one: "Representing amateurs in the legislative, regulatory and
administrative processes that affect us all locally, nationally and
internationally".

DIVISION 6 BAND PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

The next meeting of the Division 6 Band Planning Committee will be held
at the NARC from 09:00 - 12:00 on Saturday 5th May 2007. All clubs in
the region are invited to send a representative.

For further information kindly contact Peter Hers, ZS6PHD, at 083 445
4634 or by email to .

US COMPANY OFFERS WI-FI-PROOF PAINT

An American company says it has successfully tested wireless-blocking
paint. EM-SEC Technologies, in a release
(http://emsectechnologies.com/press_releases/press1.php) a few weeks
ago, said its "Coating Solution", applied to a test facility, had
successfully protected "wireless devices and other electronic
equipment".

According to the company, "a one-time application of the coating
creates an 'electromagnetic fortress' by preventing airborne hackers
from intercepting signals".

EM-SEC reckons this would be useful for corporate offices, boardrooms,
server and computer rooms, and R&D labs. It seems that wireless nets
can be operated without trouble inside a painted building or room.

Products like this seem bound to find a wide market. Cinemas or
theatres might use such tech to cut off mobile phones, avoiding the
legal issues around jamming.

COMPETITION NEWS

ZS3 / ZS4 40 METRE SPRINT

On Sunday 6 May 2007, the ZS3/ZS4 40 Metre Sprint will be on the air.
This is a fun activity to promote contacts between radio amateurs in
the Northern Cape and Free State provinces and radio amateurs in
Southern African countries. The Sprint runs from 16:00 to 17:00 CAT
with phone, CW and PSK 31 activity. The exchange is RS(T) and province
or country abbreviation, e.g. 59EC.

Contacts with stations in the Free State and Northern Cape count two
points and a contact with ZS4BFN, ZS4SRK, ZS4B, ZS3ARK and ZS3FLY count
five points. The rules can be found in the 2007 SARL Contest Manual and
will be posted with HF Happenings during the week.

CLUB NEWS

The Centurion Radio Amateur Club held its AGM last Saturday, 21st April
and the following members were elected to the committee:

Chairman - Gawie Basson, ZS6GJJ:

Vice Chairman - Pam Momberg, ZS6APT:

Secretary - Billy Strumpher, ZR6ATC:

Treasurer - Pam Momberg, ZS6APT. Many thanks to the retiring committee
members for their services and congratulations and strength to the new
committee members.

PROPAGATION REPORT

Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, reports that the expected solar activity will
continue at very low levels. The geomagnetic field is expected to range
from unsettled to minor storm levels on 29 April. The expected
Effective Sun Spot number for the coming week will be less than 10.

20 and 15 metre will provide best opportunities for DX. There is a
possibility of 15 and 20 metre openings towards India from about 06:00
and again at 13:00 CAT. Conditions are going to be challenging towards
Australia. From about 15:00, there may be good 10, 15 and 20 m openings
towards Europe. Contacts to the USA are going to be very challenging.
For the CW and digital enthusiasts it may also be worth monitoring 10
MHz.

Although the predictions may not be too enthusiatic, HF always has the
capability to surprise you. You will never know what you are missing
unless you switch on your rig, listen and also call CQ.

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

DIARY OF EVENTS

27 April to 1 May - ZS3FLY, with the Land Cruiser Club at
Boegeoebergdam, on the air also ZS1 Amateur Radio Club active from
Verneukpan; 28 to 30 April - ZS3ARK active with the Voortrekkers at
Lohatla; 5 May - Cape Town ARC Flea Market and also the West Rand Radio
Club Flea Market; 6 May - ZS3/ZS4 40 Metre Sprint and President's Net
and Intechnet; 15 May - Closing date for applications for Itchen Valley
bursaries; 30 June - Closing date for updating of SA DX Survey.

SARL News depends on clubs and individuals for news items of importance
and interest to radio amateurs. The one and only way to ensure that
your contribution will reach the SARL News team, is to place it in
www.sarl.org.za/newsinbox.asp not later than the Thursday preceding the
bulletin date. It will be appreciated if you will do it in both
Afrikaans and English.

The SARL also invites all listeners to listen to the program Amateur
Radio Mirror International this Sunday morning at 10:00 CAT on 145,750
MHz in the Pretoria area with relays on 7 082, 7 205 and 17 695 kHz.
Audio is also streamed on www.zs6mrk.org and on Echolink from ZS6FCS as
for this bulletin. A repeat transmission takes place on Mondays at
21:00 on 3 215 kHz. Telkom and Sentech sponsor the ARMI transmissions
on the non-amateur frequencies.

You have been listening to a news bulletin by the South African Radio
League, which was compiled by George, ZS6NE.

A prosperous week to all, 73.

/EX

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