HIGHWAY HOTLINE - FEBRUARY 2003

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Cordelia Johnston
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1 HIGHWAY HOTLINE - FEBRUARY 2003 BITS AND BOBS. 1. Antenna Manufacturers RFI Industries based in Centurion, Gauteng advise that supply all 2 meter and 70cm mobile and base equipment in the form of Folded dipoles, Ground Plane (3 12 db gain), Yagis, 2 & 4 stacks, Harnesses, End Feds, Mobiles ( Mhz), Portables (54 470Mhz), HF Mobiles and coils, HF Base Antenna, Fibreglass collinears and light weight Base Antenna ( Mhz) and they are very excited to supply the FOX 600 with the following specs: Frequency range 1.5 to 30 Mhz, VSWR better than 1.5 to 1 throughout the range, impedance 50 ohms power capability of 600 watts Assessories supplied are: Mast offset bracket (flagpole option), 30 meters of RG213 feeder cable, 6 meters polyester securing cable and 300 mm of vulcanising tape. The price: Your guess is as good as mine but you can find out by telephoning (012) or (012) A visit to their website might be interesting. 2. Membership Recognition Awards. Did you know that the SARL recognises the loyal membership of it s members and makes the following awards for continuous service with the league. For those members having completed 5 year, 10 year, and 15 year unbroken membership gets a car sticker with a certificate. After completing 20 years, a desk plaque is awarded and for every 5 years thereafter a small sticker for mounting on the plaque. After 25 years unbroken membership a desk plaque and Silver Pen are awarded and after 50 years a desk plaque and a gold pen are awarded. (This information has been extracted from the SARL publication titled MANUAL FOR CLUBS AND ORGANISATIONS Editor) 3. News Items for the SARL news bulletins. We have been notified that news items for SARL bulletins must as of February 2003 be directed to the e.mail address news@sarl.org.za and no longer to their hotmail address. 4. Phil Unterhorst wishes to notifies all concerned that he has cancelled his contract with the internet server DVI with effect from 28 February 2003 and can now be contacted by e.mail at any of the following addresses philbea@harc.org. za zs5rj@harc.org.za and hotline@harc.org.za 5. We hear that Bill Venn (ZS5DBV) is leaving the shores of South Africa to take up a position in the Seychelles. We all wish you every success Bill. 6. A Reminder that the 2003 SARL AGM will be held in Bloemfontein on the 29th March. Agenda items should be in the hands of the secretary by not later than the 15th February. FOR YOUR DIARY February 2003 file:///c /Documents%20and%20Settings/Brad/Desktop/HARC_...ver/Newsletters/Highway_Hotline/2003/Hotline_ htm (1 of 9)21/03/ :03

2 01/ International SSB Winter Contest Technical Evening with Eric (ZS5EWM) SARL Kids day (delayed from 18th January) & FISTS Winter Sprint Sat 12.00Sun SARL HF Field Day (See SARL Web for Rules) Dutch PACC Contest RSGB 1.8 MHz CW Contest Committee Meeting : Westville Clubhouse for Hamnet General Meeting Disaster Management Centre : Jelf Taylor Crescent : Durban ARRL International DX CW Contest Monthly Club Meeting : Westville Clubhouse CQ 160 Meter SSB Contest for Swop Shop : Westville Civic Centre Car Park UBA DX CW Contest SARL Presidents Net BIRTHDAY BOOK February Linda Smit ZR5AJS also spouse of Cobus 02 Claire Mawhinney Daughter of Eric (ZS5EWM)/ Yvonne 03 Laura du Pont Daughter of Charly (ZS5DU) 05 Lynda Pietersen ZS5LD also spouse of Steve (ZS5HP) 08 Melvyn Slater ZS5MF Resident in the U.K.) file:///c /Documents%20and%20Settings/Brad/Desktop/HARC_...ver/Newsletters/Highway_Hotline/2003/Hotline_ htm (2 of 9)21/03/ :03

3 12 Vicki Fox ZS5VF and spouse of Tony (ZS5TF) 14 Mouri Bean Spouse of Clive (ZS6AVP) 24 Bill Venn ZR5DBV 27 Tony Mayall ZS5GR BULLETIN PRESENTERS February Bill ZR5DBV Lawry ZS5HV Sean ZR5SEP Bruce ZS5BR A QUOTATION. A man of words and not of deeds, is like a garden full of weeds ENTRIES COPIED FROM THE H.A.R.C WEBSITE GUEST BOOK 1...Greetings to all at HARC,best wishes for Having lots of snow abt 200mm deep and very cold. Moving QTH 30th Jan to the highest point in West Yorks so hope DX will be much improved, 73's take care Mel. Mel Slater <melslateruk@yahoo.co.uk> Keighley, U.K. - Saturday, January 04, 2003 at 19:42:50 (SAST) 2..Wishing all at H.A.R.C a pleasant year ahead Marcel Montile <montile@xtra.co.nz> Hamilton, New Zealand - Friday, January 03, 2003 at 11:00:07 (SAST) file:///c /Documents%20and%20Settings/Brad/Desktop/HARC_...ver/Newsletters/Highway_Hotline/2003/Hotline_ htm (3 of 9)21/03/ :03

4 Thanks to Mel and to Marcel for thinking of us and passing on their good wishes which are heartily reciprocated from the Chairman, Committee and all the members., Editor SARL CONTEST RULES What has become to be known as the Blue Book containing information regarding contest schedules and rules appertaining thereto has been updated by Councillor John Fielding (ZS5JF) and is now valid for 2003, 2004 and There have been a few changes to the schedules, the rules and a new item namely The Kids Day has been introduced twice a year. Full details will be available on the SARL website soon if not already there. CLUB ANNUAL AWARDS The club has a number of floating trophy awards for members who have in some way excelled in, Dxing, (CW and Phone) UHF/VHF participation, Construction projects, Working of Satellites and Ham Spirit The criteria for these various awards outlined below are not cast in stone since circumstances do change. Should members feel they could qualify for one of these awards or know of someone you feel should be considered please submit your entries or your motivation for nominating someone else to the Awards Manager not later than the 30th June The Committee also awards certificates for outstanding contributions to the wellbeing of the club or its members. Should you be aware of any member who deserves such recognition please do not hesitate to drop a line to the Awards Manager at any time. Awards and Certificates are presented at the AGM to be held in August 2003 DX/SSB 1. Display a decided interest in DX communications 2. Have made contact with at least 200 DX stations in the past 12 months 3. Have QSL cards confirming at least 50 of the above contacts.* 4. Have worked at least 20 individual countries in the past 12 months 5. Have a placing in any of the local or international HF contests DX/CW 1. Show a keen interest in CW communications. file:///c /Documents%20and%20Settings/Brad/Desktop/HARC_...ver/Newsletters/Highway_Hotline/2003/Hotline_ htm (4 of 9)21/03/ :03

5 2. Have made contact with 75 or more DX stations in the past 12 months. 3. Have received QSL cards confirming at least 25 of the above contacts.* 4. Have worked at least 5 individual countries in the past 12 months 5. A placing in any of the local or international contests SATELLITE 1. Have made contact with at least 75 stations in the past 12 months 2 Have received QSL cards confirming 25 contacts worked in the past 12 months *. 3 Have made contact with a Space Station or manned space shuttle in the last 12 months VHF/UHF 1. Assisting with repeater repairs 2. Direction Finding local interference on repeater frequencies 3. Detecting strange phenomena such as DX openings and determining possible reasons therefore. 4. Using the laid down protocol and direction finding of the source of pirate communications and reporting to a committee member for further action. 5. Antenna building. 6. A placing in a contest CONSTRUCTORS. This trophy is for the purpose of encouraging the building of amateur related projects 1. The project must not be built from specially prepared kits. 2, Circuit diagrams/technical drawings and documentation prepared by the constructor must be submitted with the project and must be demonstrated the club meeting. 3. The project must have been completed in the past 12 months. file:///c /Documents%20and%20Settings/Brad/Desktop/HARC_...ver/Newsletters/Highway_Hotline/2003/Hotline_ htm (5 of 9)21/03/ :03

6 HAM SPIRIT This award will be made by the Club Committee based on the performance of any individual club member in terms of his fellow club members or service rendered to Ham Radio in the past 12 months CERTIFICATES Various certificates will be awarded for achievements as decided by the committee * The committee takes cognisance of the delay in obtaining QSL cards and will accept a certified copy of your log book. The judge s decision shall be final and no correspondence or argument shall be entered into/ SNIPPETS FROM S.A.R.L. BULLETINS NEW E.MAIL ADDRESS FOR SARL NEWS. The Radio League in Gauteng advise that they have a new address to be used with immediate effect for items to be included on their bulletins. It is ws@sarl.org.za and mews@sarl.org.za ARRL HANDBOOK. The SARL bookshop have a supply of the 2003 ARRL Handbooks for sale. These books have a wealth of electronic information and projects. The cost has not been quoted but more details can be obtained from Debbie at Headquarters on telephone number (011) SARL HF FIELD DAY This event which takes place on the 8/9th February 2003, but note, this year the rules for the contest have been amended and can be obtained in the recent issue of the BLUE BOOK which has been updated by John Fielding (ZS5JF) or a visit to the SARL Website on the internet. HIGH SPEED MULTIMEDIA HAMMING COULD BE THE NEXT BIG THING This item was condensed from the ARRL news. file:///c /Documents%20and%20Settings/Brad/Desktop/HARC_...ver/Newsletters/Highway_Hotline/2003/Hotline_ htm (6 of 9)21/03/ :03

7 John Champa, K8OCL, who chairs the ARRL High Speed Multimedia (HSMM) Working Group, said that high-speed multimedia hamming via the "Hinternet", derived from Ham and Internet, could be the next big thing for Amateur Radio. That's the hope of the HSMM Working Group, which is adapting the highly popular IEEE b Part 15 wireless Internet protocol to Part 97 amateur operating. Champa's team is calling the specific techniques, software and hardware involved "the ARRL b protocol" to distinguish it from the unlicensed, commercial protocol. Systems employ direct-sequence spread spectrum techniques and operate in the 2,4 GHz range. The term "Hinternet" (ham + Internet), Champa says, is a user-friendly way to refer to the development of high-speed Radio Local Area Networks (RLANs) capable of simultaneously carrying audio, video and data signals. Champa predicted that the development of the ARRL b protocol will significantly enhance Amateur Radio, especially with respect to emergency communication and support of public service activities. He and his HSMM Working Group colleagues also expect that it will attract many technically oriented users of the Internet and wireless LANs to get their amateur tickets. Working Group member Kris Mraz, N5KM, said that an emergency volunteer equipped with a laptop or a wireless PDA (personal digital assistant) with a microphone and a small video camera will have the tools to be a mobile set of eyes and ears in the midst of a communications emergency. Although other amateur allocations also would be appropriate for Hinternet operation, the use of 2,4 GHz was an easy choice, since Part 15 WiFi (wireless fidelity) devices already operate in that part of the spectrum, and inexpensive commercial equipment is widely available. Acting on an ARRL petition, the FCC has proposed elevating amateurs to primary at 2400 to 2402 MHz. The ARRL publications catalog now includes the book Wireless Networks: The Definitive Guide by Matthew S. Gast. The book covers the topics of creating and administering wireless networks. Champa says that taken in a nationwide context, the meaning of the term Hinternet goes deeper than just an amalgamation of words. "In nautical terms the word hinterland is 'the land beyond the coast,'" he said. "And so it is with us. 'The Hinternet' is the radio net beyond the Internet." A LITTLE HUMOUR There's a little old Christian lady living next door to an atheist. Every morning the lady comes out onto her front porch and shouts "Praise the Lord!". The atheist yells back, "There is no God". She does this every morning with the same result. As time goes on the lady runs into financial difficulties and has trouble buying food. She goes out onto the porch and asks God for help with groceries, then says "Praise the Lord". file:///c /Documents%20and%20Settings/Brad/Desktop/HARC_...ver/Newsletters/Highway_Hotline/2003/Hotline_ htm (7 of 9)21/03/ :03

8 The next morning she goes out onto the porch and there's the groceries she's asked for, of course she says "Praise the Lord". The atheist jumps out from behind a bush and says, "Ha, I bought those groceries - there is no God". The lady looks at him, smiles and shouts "Praise the Lord, not only did you provide for me Lord, you made Satan pay for the groceries!!" FROM AROUND THE CLUBS. PORT ELIZABETH THIRD PARTY TRAFFIC ON AMATEUR BANDS The following article appeared in the November of the QRX newsletter. With reference to the news item in the bulletin of Sunday 29th September in connection with 3rd party traffic on amateur bands, the SARL was approached by affiliated clubs to have the agreement to also include members who are not SARL members. The SARL would speedily convene a meeting with the authority, ICASA where the issue will again be discussed in order to achieve clarity. Sid Tyler ZS6AYC phoned us later to say the short and the long of it is that ZS6BUU gave a talk down in Capetown, an individual present got the bull by the horns and that gave rise to the bulletin that only Hamnet members may participate. Sid has confirmed with ICASA that nothing has changed rally comms are provided under the auspices of Hamnet, but any licenced amateur may participate. All that is required is for the organisers to inform SARL of the event (type, name, date, place) and the callsign of the operators. NB the blunder was none of the SARL s doing. it was and independent effort by somebody who shall rename nameless but who perhaps should have known better. Pity that items that might effect ICASA are not first forwarded to the President for approval. Note:- Keith advises that as far as KZN division is concerned any licenced radio amateur may participate in events provided he/she is a fully paid up member of the SARL ANYONE FOR DX Al Akers would like to hear from anyone who wants to establish a DX Club. He feels that HF is not properly catered for and that a lot of fun can be created by working DX. Anyone who wants to record his name on a local DX list should file:///c /Documents%20and%20Settings/Brad/Desktop/HARC_...ver/Newsletters/Highway_Hotline/2003/Hotline_ htm (8 of 9)21/03/ :03

9 contact Al. If it gets off the ground we will see a monthly DX column in QSX. Whilst it would appear that the suggestion is intended for Dxers in and around Port Elizabeth it could possibly be extended nationally. Edwin this is your forte..editor ANOTHER BIT OF HUMOUR Pat s young nephew Brian was going on his first date so he asked his uncle for advice. Should I kiss her unexpectedly, Brian asked him, or should I build up to it Look boy, smiled Pat, you can t kiss a girl unexpectedly, only sooner than she thought you would. file:///c /Documents%20and%20Settings/Brad/Desktop/HARC_...ver/Newsletters/Highway_Hotline/2003/Hotline_ htm (9 of 9)21/03/ :03

ARRL Author s Guide. Some additional advice on how to focus your articles:

ARRL Author s Guide. Some additional advice on how to focus your articles: ARRL Author s Guide By Steve Ford, WB8IMY, QST Editor/ARRL Publications Manager, and Becky R. Schoenfeld, W1BXY, QST Managing Editor Revised February 1, 2016 QST Despite the common misconception, QST is