CTARC Christmas Greetings - 25 Dec '20

To all our CTARC members and to radio hams world-wide, we convey Seasons Greeting and a Happy Xmas for the 25th December and hope for a far better New Year in 2021! Stay safe, everyone!

CTARC Tony Baard ZS1APB Silent Key - 24 Dec '20

It is with sadness we must announce that the key of Anthony P Baard ZS1APB went silent early this morning, 24 December 2020, at the Intensive Care Unit of a Cape Town hospital.

While not a current member of CTARC, Tony was well known to many of us in the Cape Town radio amateur community. He took part in the 7P8DX DXpedition to Lesotho along with Shaun ZS1RA and Barry ZS1FJ. He attended several of our monthly CTARC meetings and was a regular call sign (ZS1 "All Points Bulletin") on our call-ins on two metres. He worked in a technical capacity at UCT.

Tony will be sadly missed. Our condolences go to his wife Rene, the rest of his family and his friends.

CTARC QO100 Satellite Frequency Calculator

Our Remote Station at Morningstar has a UHF transceiver and dish antenna that can reach the QO100 geostationary ham satellite, enabling QSOs with many hams worldwide who also can reach it.

Peter ZS1PT has devised a handy calculator spreadsheet to work out where to transmit on the QO100 transponder input and where it will output on the other frequency. He has kindly made it available to the CTARC. Thank you, Peter!

Download the spreadsheet [here].

The file is also available on the CTARC Website's Downloads Page.

CTARC Ragchew - December '20

The December 2020 edition of the Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre's bi-monthly newsletter "Ragchew" is now published. Grateful thanks to the editor, Anne, for another fine edition.

Remember please, Anne is always on the look-out for articles to publish in Ragchew! This is especially the case during the lock-down. Please submit them to the editor in MS-Word format.

You can advertise ham-related items - for sale, swop or wanted-to-buy - in Ragchew, including colour photos, details and prices. To do so, please contact the editor at zs1ct@ctarc.org.za

Download the December 2020 Newsletter as a PDF file [here];

Ragchew is also on our Newsletters Page

CTARC November Meeting Photos - 29 Nov '20

Yesterday, Saturday 28th November, the Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre held its final social gathering of the year. The meeting was well attended, considering the unique circumstances. The weather was good and the breeze outside contributed to the safety as CTARC members met outside the Clubhouse for a bring-and-braai. (For safety reasons, the clubhouse door remained locked so people remained outside.) Covid-19 safety regulations were adhered to - visitors were registered, wore masks (except when tucking into their food!) and practised social distancing.The braai arrangements worked well - people brought their own food, plates and braai utensils. Liquid refreshments were provided at no costs until the stocks ran out.

 

A fleamarket was set up with some interesting bits of equipment available at nominal prices. Because of safety regulations this was only for CTARC members, some of whom walked away with bargains! The next big fleamarket will be in March 2021, where everyone else will also get the chance to bring and buy.

Special CTARC Calendars for 2021 could be purchased from Anne for a reasonable price. The proceeds of such sales will go to assist Club funds.

Thank you to Anne and Rob for organising the event, to the Committee for setting things up before the meeting (and taking things down again afterwards), and to all the members who attended, to make this an enjoyable and safe final meeting of the year. A special thank you to all, who by wearing their masks and keeping a safe distance, kept the meeting safe for all who attended.

Future club gatherings, under the current regulations, are still possible and safe provided we adhere to the anti-virus guidelines.

We look forward to seeing you all in the new year which (we all do hope) will bring some sense of normality once more. Details of forthcoming meetings will be announced through the usual channels.

Below are some photos of the event, kindly provided by Tony ZS1TK. Unfortunately as folk wore masks (as requested), identification of them remained difficult for the captions...

The flea market provided some interesting items...
 

...and for once the tables weren't crowded with competing bargain hunters!

Anne, Paul ZS1S and Rob ZS1SA

Everybody brought and braai'd their own food.

Rob ZS1SA

Anne registers Hans-Jurgen ZS1HJH and Wolfgang ZS1WLH

Committee members set up the meeting area

CTARC Calendars for 2021 - Nov '20

Once again, the CTARC calendars for the following year will be available at the November meeting and thereafter. 

Printed in full colour, these useable, compact format calendars for 2021 contain the usual days and months of the year, public holidays, the dates of the forthcoming CTARC club meetings and events, as well as the committee meeting dates (which have changed from their previous Monday evenings format). 

Calendars will be available for purchase at forthcoming CTARC meetings for a very reasonable price. All proceeds of sales of these calendars will go to CTARC club funds.

Further enquiries to the CTARC Secretary, Anne, [here].

Hi Everyone

Our end of year function will go ahead on Saturday, 28 November 2020, (weather permitting). 

It will be in the form of a braai held on the lawns outside the clubhouse. Start time 13h00. (The fires will be lit at 13h00). 

The results of the survey are in, and we had 50 replies. (I would like to thank everyone who took the time to complete the survey for me).

We had 22 "yes" replies and of those 18 replied to "bring your own meat".

Therefore the committee have agreed that the club will supply the fires and socially-distanced chairs, plus all liquid refreshments will be complimentary until the stock runs out!

That means you will need to bring along... your meat and accompaniments, plates, cutlery, glasses and braai tongs and extra liquid refreshments if required. Even if you do not intend to braai, please come out and say hello to your friends at the event. 

COVID 19 Precautions

Having the function in this format will be the safest for all and following the Covid-19 protocols. If you have been in contact with someone suffering from Covid-19 or feeling the symptoms yourself please do not attend.

Everyone must sign in and wear a mask at all times except when eating. The club will provide hand sanitiser for entry and at the braai area. It is imperative that social distancing of 1.5 metres be maintained especially at the braai area. Please do not be offended if a committee member asks you to please wear your mask correctly or social distance should they see you are too close to another member. It is for our mutual protection. Remember that wearing of a mask is mostly for the protection of fellow club members, not yourself. Show that you care. 

The committee will have some donated items for sale on a table. If you have items you wish to sell, you may do so providing you only set up your goods from 13h00. Sellers will need to supply their own bottle of hand sanitiser for the protection of their customers to handle goods and cash. To keep the event small and safe we are not inviting non-members to buy or sell. (They will be invited to our usual March bumper flea market).

So that's where we are at right now, it will be great to see some of you again and we hope 2021 may get us all back to some kind of normality without all of these health safety restrictions.

Further updates may be sent out once the weather for the 28th has been confirmed.

 

(As of 25 December, the weather for Cape Town is predicted to be sunny, with a maximum temperature of 22 degrees.)

Regards, 

Anne Bareham
(CTARC Sec:/ Treasurer / Editor)
Mobile: O72-268-12O7

___________________________________________________________________

 

Note: This event has now taken place. A report-back with photos is [ here ].

CTARC RAE held on 5th Dec '20

The forthcoming Radio Amateurs Exam will be written at the CTARC clubhouse on Saturday, 5th December 2020. 

 Candidates must please be at the venue at 09h30 for 10h00 on the Saturday morning.

Chris ZS1CDG will be in attendance to oversee the exam.

For those candidates who have yet to do their necessary HF Assessment, they will get the chance to do so via the CTARC's facilities from 13h00 after the exam is finished.

CTARC End-of-Year Meeting - 28 Nov '20

The last formal meeting of the Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre will take place on the lawns in front of the clubhouse on Saturday, 28th November 2020. Bookmark your diaries now!

This is traditionally held in the form of a bring-and-braai meeting. The Committee is deliberating as to how the event - your last chance to chew the proverbial (and literal!) fat with CTARC members before the new year - may be organised in the context of the Lock-down and health restrictions with which we all must comply.

Owing to the Coronavirus regulations, all persons attending will be required to wear a mask and maintain social distancing of at least 1.5 metres from one another.

Please RSVP to our stalwart Secretary, Anne, if you (and family and friends) are going to attend; logistics need organising in terms of food and braai facilities.

Further details will be announced on the CTARC Bulletins on Sunday mornings.

CTARC Ragchew - November '20

The November 2020 edition of the Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre's bi-monthly newsletter "Ragchew" is now published. Grateful thanks to the editor, Anne, for another fine edition.

Remember please, Anne is always on the look-out for articles to publish in Ragchew! This is especially the case during the lock-down. Please submit them to the editor in MS-Word format.

You can advertise ham-related items - for sale, swop or wanted-to-buy - in Ragchew, including colour photos, details and prices. To do so, please contact the editor at zs1ct@ctarc.org.za

Download the November 2020 Newsletter as a PDF file [here];

Ragchew is also on our Newsletters Page

CTARC ZS1TA & ZD7GWM Set New 70cm Distance Record - 16 Oct '20

In the SARL morning news bulletin of Sunday 18 October, we learned via Paul ZS6NK that a new South African 70 cm band long-distance record has been set.

 

On Friday evening 16 October 2020, at 18h06 UTC, CTARC member Tom ZS1TA in locator JF95EX (in the Cape Peninsula) contacted Gary ZD7GWM in locator IH74DB (on St Helena Island) on 70 cm FM. The distance between the two stations is 3 136,7 km. 

 

Very well done, Tom and Gary!

 

 

CTARC Committee Meeting - 17 Oct '20

CTARC Committee members are reminded of the committee meeting to be held at the clubhouse at 12h00 on Saturday, 17 October 2020.

Masks are to be worn, please.

Please do make an effort to attend the meeting.

(If you can't be there, please remember to send in your reports and apologies to Rob or Anne.). 

CTARC Ragchew - October '20

The October 2020 edition of the Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre's bi-monthly newsletter "Ragchew" is now published. Grateful thanks to the editor, Anne, for another fine edition.

Remember please, Anne is always on the look-out for articles to publish in Ragchew! This is especially the case during the lock-down. 

You can advertise ham-related items - for sale, swop or wanted-to-buy - in Ragchew, including colour photos, details and prices. To do so, please contact the editor [here].

Download the October Newsletter as a PDF file [here];

Ragchew is also on our Newsletters Page

CTARC Course for Radio Amateurs Examination - Oct '20

Chris ZS1CDG has been running a very successful Radio Amateurs Examination course for newcomers to the hobby, at the CTARC and at other venues. In the recent (August/September 2020) batch, Chris's RAE students achieved a 100% pass rate!

The next Radio Amateurs Examination will be held on 5 December 2020.

With the Coronavirus restrictions making classroom meetings difficult, we are pleased to announce that CTARC will be running a nine-week online course, which will start on Saturday, 10 October 2020. It will take place from 08h00 to 10h30 every Saturday morning. 

The HF assessment will be done on the same day as the examination (Saturday 5th December) so you only need to come into Cape Town once. Please contact Anne, the CTARC club secretary for course information zs1ct@ctarc.org.za

More general details about the Radio Amateurs Examination on the CTARC web site are [here].

CTARC Ragchew September '20

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

Grateful thanks to the editor, Anne, for another fine edition.

Remember please, Anne is always on the look-out for articles to publish in Ragchew! This is especially the case during the lock-down.

You can advertise ham-related items - for sale, swop or wanted-to-buy - in Ragchew, including colour photos, details and prices. To do so, please contact the editor [here].

Download the September Newsletter PDF file [here];

Ragchew is also on our Newsletters Page

CTARC Radio Amateurs Exam - 29 August '20

Prospective radio amateurs will be able to write the RAE (Radio Amateurs Examination), which must be passed in order to obtain the Amateur Radio License, on Saturday, 29th August 2020.

Chris ZS1CDG, who has conducted the current RAE course, will of course be present at the venue.

The venue is the hall next to Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre clubhouse (which is part of the same building), at the Belvedere Community Centre, located on the V.O.B. Sports Grounds, Keurboom Park, in Rondebosch.

Directions to the CTARC clubhouse.

There will be two sessions:

• The morning session starts at 09h30 for 10h00;
• The afternoon session starts at 13h00 for 14h00.
   

HF Assessments

In addition to passing the RAE, prospective radio amateurs must also pass the HF Assessment Test. For those who still have not done this (easy) test, there will be a final final chance to do the test at the CTARC Clubhouse between the morning and afternoon sessions of the RAE.

We wish good luck and to all the RAE candidates!

CTARC RAE HF Practical HF Assessments - Aug '20

The RAE HF Practical assessment will go ahead under strict social distancing conditions on the 22nd of August 2020 at the CTARC club house.

Any RAE candidates who have not yet completed the HF assessment are welcome to join Chris ZS1CDG, the RAE course coordinator, at 10h00 at the club house.

Please ensure that you bring a mask.

CTARC members and other radio amateurs are very welcome to help us out - please listen out for "CQ CQ CQ ASSESSMENT THIS IS ZS1CT" around 7070 to 7090 kHz on the 40m band and work us! 

There will be many candidates so please be patient and remember many of these people may be quite nervous, remember your first time on the air? Help them out and show them what a great hobby we have.

Chris ZS1CDG

CTARC International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend - 22 Aug '20

The Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre will once again take part in the International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend, on the weekend of Saturday/Sunday 22/23 August  at Green Point Lighthouse in Mouille Point, Cape Town - but with a difference. Owing to the Coronavirus lockdown requirements, the Lighthouse's premises are unavailable this year. However, we may nevertheless do the following...

Going Ahead With Social Distancing...

Members are welcome to set up their own stations and operate parked from their cars near the Green Point Lighthouse and are free to use the ZS1CT/L call sign provided they fill out a Google form and ask Rob ZS1SA our chairman for formal permission.

What is the ILLW? Is it a Contest?

The event is NOT a contest. There are no prizes, certificates or other enticements to participate and therefore, participation is free. Each station's operators decide how they will operate their station regards modes and bands. Participants are not committed to being on the air during the entire period - only as much as they can. There are no restrictions on aerials or power. We wish operators to enjoy themselves and have fun whilst making contact with as many amateur radio stations as possible. We request that stations take time to work other lighthouses or lightships as well as the slow operator, or the newly-licensed or QRP stations.

How close to the Lighthouse do I have to be?

As most available space in many lighthouses is usually filled to capacity, our activity does not have to take place inside the tower itself. Field day type set-up at the light or other building next to the light is OK. Our guidelines require that the station must be AT or ADJACENT TO the lighthouse. Adjacent means next to or as close as possible. The intention behind this requirement is that the station should have a visible presence to the passing public who may be visiting the lighthouse over the weekend.

Please note that the exchange is CALLSIGN (ZS1CT/L), Report, and lighthouse reference ZA0006. Kindly send your call logs to Chris ZS1CDG.

To register your intention to setup a station kindly fill in the Google logging form here: shorturl.at/fhkmo

Note: There is no access to mains electrical power at the lighthouse this year, so operators must provide their own power sources / batteries.

Chris ZS1CDG

CTARC International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend - 22 / 23 Aug '20

Every year our club has activated the Green Point Lighthouse on Cape Town's western seaboard for the International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend (ILLW).

While the Coronavirus lock-down has imposed restrictions on access to the lighthouse premises and buildings, the CTARC Committee hopes to still take part in the event this year.

The ILLW takes place on the weekend of Saturday/Sunday 22/23 August 2020.

An announcement on the format of this forthcoming event, in compliance with the lock-down regulations, will be made shortly.

CTARC Indian Radio Kits - 7 Aug '20

DON'T GET BORED DURING LOCKDOWN! GET BUILDING...

INDIAN RADIO KITS: uBITX

The CTARC is organising an exciting construction project for interested club members:

A QRP HF transceiver covering the HF bands, with the following features:

• Up to 10 watts PEP on lower HF bands, dips to 5 watts on 28 MHz;
• SSB and CW modes;
• Simple to build and align;
• Minimal controls;
• Based on Arduino Nano controller and a Si5351 for all local oscillators;
• Double-conversion, superhet architecture

The cost of this HF radio transceiver is $209-00 (USD) = R3500-00 ZAR (at today's  exchange rates), excluding RSA taxes and VAT. The final costs  will be conveyed to purchasers on the kit's arrival in South Africa. We are hoping a bulk order will reduce these costs).

The full uBITX version 6 Kit is comprised of:

1. The Main uBITX board;
2. Main uBITX board with mounting hardware;
3. TFT - Arduino Board with Display with mounting hardware for the front panel;
4. Encoder with pre-soldered cable;
5. Tuning knob;
6. Volume control knob;
7. USB extender cable;
8. Mounting screws & nuts;
9. Microphone;
10. Power Supply jack;
11. Speaker;
12. Cabinet (box) - chassis, front, back & top panels.

Take a look at their website for all the specifications of the transceiver:

https://www.hfsignals.com/

TO ORDER, PLEASE CONTACT CTARC SECRETARY, ANNE BY E-MAIL WITH YOUR PROOF OF PAYMENT

 E-MAIL: ctarccapetownarc@gmail.com

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PLACED YOUR ORDER NO LATER THAN
31 AUGUST 2020

CTARC Fox Hunt - Aug '20

As our members will all be aware, actual meetings during the Coronavirus lock-down period have had to be cancelled owing to the stringent limitations on meeting logistics in our clubhouse.

However, there is still a meeting format that is possible, safe and legal, and that is the Radio Fox Hunt! The hunts we have organised at the CTARC in the past have been great fun.

The CTARC is planning to hold another fox hunt at or near our clubhouse (but not inside it!) in the near future. We would like, first, to get an idea of how many would be interested in  taking part in such an event.

If you would like to take part in a Fox Hunt at the CTARC, please e-mail our Secretary, Anne.

CTARC Ragchew - Aug '20

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

This edition contains the Chairman's AGM report. Due to the Coronavirus lock-down, our club has been unable to hold a proper meeting, but will do so when circumstances permit.

Grateful thanks to the editor, Anne, for another fine edition.

Remember please, Anne is always on the look-out for articles to publish in Ragchew! This is especially the case during the lock-down.

You can advertise ham-related items - for sale, swop or wanted-to-buy - in Ragchew, including colour photos, details and prices. To do so, please contact the editor [here].

Download the August Newsletter PDF file [here];

Ragchew is also on our Newsletters Page

CTARC Online Course for Radio Amateurs Examination

Chris ZS1CDG has been running a very successful Radio Amateurs Examination course for newcomers to the hobby, at the CTARC and at other venues.

The next Radio Amateurs Examination will be held in October 2020.

With the Coronavirus restrictions making classroom meetings difficult, Chris is now offering this course online.

The next available course will start on Saturday, 8 August 2020.

Download the PDF with the course and registration details [here].

More general details about the Radio Amateurs Examination on the CTARC web site are [here].

CTARC Ragchew - July '20

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

Grateful thanks to the editor, Anne, for another fine edition.

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

You can advertise ham-related items - for sale, swop or wanted-to-buy - in Ragchew, including colour photos, details and prices. To do so, please contact the editor [here].

Download the July 2020 Newsletter PDF file [here];

Ragchew is also on our Newsletters Page

CTARC Charles Oertel ZS1CJO - Silent Key - 6 June '20

Dear CTARC Members,

It is with great regret and sadness that I have to inform you of the passing of our friend and fellow club member Charles Oertel ZS1CJO. As many of you knew Charles had been battling with cancer for a couple of years. Charles dutifully looked after our club's electronic QSLing responsibility for some time now and was always there to lend a hand at our annual Lighthouse Weekend events and functions. I think it was about two years ago that he came and gave a talk about Electronic Logging and QSLing at our club house.

Always a smiling face and a kind word for everybody. Charles will be well remembered and sorely missed by all who knew him. I would like to thank a past member of CTARC, and neighbour of Charles and Julie, Frank ZS1CM, for letting us know early today.

Rob ZS1SA
Chairman CTARC

Here is a message we received from Julie, Charles' XYL:

Our beloved Charles passed away on Saturday 6 June, at 18h10, losing his two and a half year battle to pancreatic cancer.

Due to current Lockdown restrictions, we will be postponing his Memorial until further notice.

This group is just to keep everyone informed. Thank you to everyone for your overwhelming support and love.

(You are welcome to message Julie on via her e-mail or cellphone, which information will be supplied on request by Anne, the CTARC Secretary.)


Here is another eulogy we received from Julie. It was read out on the CTARC Sunday Morning Bulletin of 08h30 on Sunday 14 June 2020, by Paul ZS1S:

Thank you for sharing your moments you had with Charles.

I am so glad he had the years he did with the club, before he became too tired and ill to participate. He really enjoyed the time spent with you all, learning new things along the way, building up his collection of ham radio equipment with the help and advice from you all, pottering around in his study and listening to the Sunday broadcast. My sons, who live with us, used to always smile when they heard all the strange bleeps coming from his study, and fondly say that Dad was communicating with his alien buddies again. He took such joy away from all the interactions he had, whether it was over the radio, at club meetings or club events, his life was enriched.

I think the last time he was involved with radios was when he was in the Antarctic as part of the SANAE team from Dec 1988 to Feb 1990 - his job was to film the Aurora.

He was, by training, a space physicist (a genuine Rocket Scientist - a good icebreaker when asked what he studied). He did his undergrad degree at Natal University and his honors at Wits in Applied Maths and Theoretical Physics, winning a gold medal, for being the top student. He then represented Natal University, as the one of the scientists on the SANAE team.

For many years he spoke of getting back into it and I am so glad he did, and am so grateful for all the club members that made his time with the club so enjoyable.

Charles packed more into his 56 years than most people do in a few lifetimes -

‘A flame that burns twice as bright, burns half as long’  quote by Lao Tzu

We are missing him terribly, but also know, that although, physically he is gone, he is still with us in every other way.

Our sincerest condolences to Julie and her family for their sad loss. We will all miss Charles greatly.

CTARC Ragchew - June '20

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

Grateful thanks to the editor, Anne, for another fine edition.

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

You can advertise ham-related items - for sale, swop or wanted-to-buy - in Ragchew, including colour photos, details and prices. To do so, please contact the editor [here].

Download the June 2020 Newsletter PDF file [here];

Ragchew is also on our Newsletters Page

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