CTARC is on ClubLog - 28 Apr '21

 The Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre has now joined ClubLog!

ClubLog is an online database with a suite of powerful tools supporting active DXers. Once you have registered on ClubLog and uploaded your log, you will be able to: 

• Generate personal reports, showing which DXCC countries you have worked and/or confirmed, when you first worked them, which ones you still need, and which are the most likely to QSL;
   
• See how you stand relative to your peers in various league tables and challenges; analyze your log for possible/likely errors in the DXCC allocations;
  
  
• Predict the bands and times on which you are most likely to work almost any DX station, based on actual QSOs in the logs uploaded to Club Log, and draw great circle maps;
  
  
• Set up a personal DX Cluster feed that filters out the DXCCs you have already worked, leaving just the ones you still need. 

Once you have registered with Clublog, under settings and club you will see CTARC.

Please join our league table to encourage HF activity and promote some healthy competition between our members. Additionally our club group can be ranked amongst other clubs around the world. Chris, ZS1CDG.

Follow the link [here].

CTARC Report on Meeting of 24 April '21

On Saturday, 24 April 2021, some twenty-five CTARC members and friends attended an open-air meeting at the clubhouse in Rondebosch.

The usual Covid-19 safety precautions were in place and everybody cooperated with the face mask and social distancing requirements.

It was a very casual meeting, and Rob ZS1SA gave a short 20 minute report on what is happening behind the scenes at the clubhouse and decisions taken by the Committee. Thereafter we had the opportunity to chew the proverbial rag and socialise together. It was great to see old friends and everyone had a good time. At 14h00 the meeting ended. 

A more complete report, with photos by Tony ZS1TK, is in the 2021 May edition of Ragchew, which you can download [here].

We look forward to our next outdoor meeting at the clubhouse, which will take place 9weather permitting) on Saturday, 22 May 2021.

CTARC Subscriptions: 2021/ 2022

Dear CTARC Members,

The good news is that the committee has given their permission for me to reduce club subscriptions for the coming year to R100 per existing CTARC member across the board. In other words whether you are a pensioner or an under 65 existing member, the subs for 2021 to end June 2022 will be R100.

Those who have recently joined have been given the extended time at the current subs, so if you paid now your subs are valid until June 2022, instead of being due this 30 June, so you will benefit as well. This is to say ‘thank you’ to you all for all the continuing support over the past year, a very difficult time for everyone and the fact we haven’t been able to have any fun events in the past 12 months.

An email reminding everyone for 2021/22 subs will be sent out several times starting in May, but you are welcome to send me the proof of payment now.

Best wishes to you all.

Anne
CTARC Secretary

CTARC Committee Meeting - 19 April '21

CTARC Committee members are reminded of the committee meeting to be held online at 19h00 on Monday, 19 April 2021.

Please do make an effort to attend the online meeting.

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

CTARC April Meeting - 24 Apr '21

We are looking forward to having a members' meeting at the clubhouse on Saturday, 24th April 2021.

At the forthcoming CTARC committee meeting the 19 April online committee meeting, the possibility and format of this meeting will be discussed. We will announce further details presently.

CTARC Report on Flea Market of 27 March '21

On Saturday, 27 March 2021, the long-awaited ham boot sale / flea market took place at the CTARC Clubhouse.

At first the weather threatened rain, and indeed there was a small shower early on, but it cleared up sufficiently for the flea market to go ahead without further disruption.

Committee members pitched up early to set up the event, barrier-tape the perimeter to ensure compliance with Covid-19 requirements. Other folk started arriving and by 10h30, the official start of the flea market, browsers were champing at the bit.

All people at the meeting had to wear a mask, maintain social distancing and sanitise their hands appropriately. They also were required to sign a Covid declaration form, which process was capably managed by our indispensable club secretary, Anne. She also sold fine embroidered CTARC face masks, setting new standards for sartorial elegance at our club meetings. While we all are getting tired of face masks by now, at least where we do need to wear them we can represent our Club with pride!

We're glad to report that everyone cooperated with the Covid safety requirements, which gives us hope for the possibility of further clubhouse meetings, subject to the official lockdown re-assessments.

In contrast with previous flea markets, catering and liquid refreshments were not provided this year, but members brought their own food and flasks of coffee.

While current circumstances reduced the number of vendors and attendees compared to previous years, the event was most successful. Tony ZS1TK counted fifty-two visitors in all. Around fifteen people were selling items. A number of happy campers walked away with nice bits and pieces, components, rigs and antennas. There were, as always, some great bargains to be had.

At around 14h30 the fleamarket started winding down and was done by about 15h00.

Most grateful thanks to Rob and Anne for managing the event work so well, and to all committee members for their contributions. And to all the buyers and sellers who were there too!

A more comprehensive report (with photos) is included in the April Ragchew here.

CTARC Ragchew - April '21

The April 2021 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 needs articles to publish in Ragchew! This is especially the case during the lock-down. Thank you to those numerous contributors in this edition!

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 April 2021 Newsletter as a PDF file [here];

Ragchew is also on our Newsletters Page