CTARC Ragchew - May '20

The May 2020 edition of the Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre's bi-monthly newsletter "Ragchew" is now published.

Grateful thanks once again to our editor, Anne, for all her excellent work in putting together this month's edition, and to all those who contributed articles.

Remember please, Anne is always on the look-out for articles to publish in Ragchew!

You can advertise ham-related articles for sale or swop in Ragchew, including colour photos, details and prices.

To do so, contact the editor [here].

Download the current Newsletter PDF file [here];

Ragchew is also on our Newsletters Page

CTARC Government Coronavirus Website - Apr '20

Following a recent announcement, every South African website must prominently promote
the South African Government Portal on Covid-19.

On this website you will find news, statistics, resources and contact information
about the Coronavirus in the South African context.

Here is the link:

COVID-19 Corona Virus

South African Resource Portal

 https://sacoronavirus.co.za/

CTARC Morningstar's QO-100 Satellite Station - 2 May '20

A dish antenna to work the Es-hail 2 /  QO-100 geostationary satellite has recently set up at the CTARC's remote station at Morningstar. This amazing feature has been discovered by many of our club members, enabling them to work transcontinental DX via satellite. If you are a licensed radio amateur, you can too!

To gain access to this great feature, you need to be a CTARC member [details here] and have also taken out the annual subscription to access the Morningstar Remote Station. However, those with access to Morningstar get free access to the QO-100 Satellite transceiver as well.

Working the Satellite has a learning curve - you need to be able to ensure that activating QO-100's linear transponder doesn't transmit downlink signal on the wrong frequency! Therefore all those members with Morningstar access who would like to also us the QO-100 feature need to contact the CTARC Secretary [here] to register. She will then send you links to an instructional PDF by Tjerk ZS1J and video by Chris ZS1CDG that explain how the system works.

CTARC Next RAE Course - 8 Aug '20

The next available RAE [Radio Amateurs Examination] course begins on the Saturday 8th August from 10h00 to 12h30 at the CTARC clubhouse at the Round Table / Belvedere Community Centre off Laidlaw Lane, Rondebosch.

For all people in Cape Town who would like to take their Radio Amateurs Examination, Chris ZS1CDG will run a nine-week course.

At the end of the course, candidates will write the Radio Amateurs Examination, successful passing of which is required to obtain the Radio Amateur's License from ICASA.

The next Radio Amateurs Examination takes place in October 2020.

For further details, please contact the CTARC Secretary [here]. A PDF file of the course details and curriculum will be sent to the applicants.

Should the Covid-19 lock-down require a change in dates or venue, these will be announced in due course.

CTARC New Membership Form for 2020 / 2021

The Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre continues to grow. New members are always welcomed into our sociable community!

Membership of the CTARC has many benefits, including:

• Fellowship with like-minded radio enthusiasts and involvement in the CTARC's interesting meetings, bulletins, radio nets and activities;
   
• The CTARC's bi-monthly newsletter, Ragchew;
   
• Access to people highly experienced in amateur radio technology, radio station assembly, construction and operating skills;
  
  
• Use of the CTARC's amateur radio station ZS1CT [for licensed radio amateurs];
   
• Optional access to use the Remote-Controlled Station at Morningstar [for licensed radio amateurs];
   
• Access to our regular ham radio equipment Swop Shops and car boot sales;
   
• And much, much more...

The Application Form for membership of the Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre, for the period 2020/2021, details current membership fees in the document.

Prospective members are requested to download and fill in the application form and return it to the Secretary, Anne or to hand it in to the CTARC chairman, Rob ZS1SA, at one of our monthly meetings.

Download the correct Application Form PDF file [here].