CTARC Ragchew - March '21

The March 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 March 2021 Newsletter as a PDF file [here];

Ragchew is also on our Newsletters Page

 

 

CTARC Updated Club History - Aug '18

An updated PDF file of the Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre's history is available [here].

CTARC Further Club History - 2 Jun '18

Here's another photo, kindly provided by Dennis ZS1AU.

At a JOTA-type outreach activity are, L to R. Ted Baker ZS1RA (former Cape Town Branch chairman) and Sydney Smith ZS1PF at the microphone, along with two avid Lakeside Sea Scouts.

CTARC Club History - 2 Jun '18

Here is some club history, kindly provided by Dennis ZS1AU.

In the photo (right) from (we guess) the 1960's, L to R: Sydney Smith ZS1PF standing, telling us about his homebrew project (it was an electronic keyer), Ray Alexander ZS1IM (then CT Club Chairman) & Jack Meerburg ZS1FM (Secretary) seated. Note the Trophies!
Syd, who was a Mechanical Engineer by profession and who built beautiful homebrew equipment, was the winner in the photo. He also built (for his company, Cape Steel Pty Ltd ) the connecting bridge walk through, over Darling Street, from Cape Town Railway Station to the OK Bazaars/Golden Acre complex.

Sadly, both Syd and Ray have since passed on, but Jack is still around and living in Constantia.

In the photo (right) are Muriel Alexander (Ray's XYL) and Mac Mclure ZS1VN.

Thanks so much, Dennis!

CTARC Old Clubhouse Tower - 1981

Thanks to Paul / ZS1S, for this photo of the tower at the Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre, as it was in 1981. It will be immediately apparent just how clear the surrounding terrain is! Since then the trees have grown somewhat and there have been some building developments too.

ZS1CT Photos from the past - ZS1AGH

We gratefully  include these photographs, kindly supplied by John / ZS1AGH, from his formative years...

CTARC has a Blog! - 20 Jan '14

Welcome to the Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre's blogspot!

It is intended to provide the following:

• Notification of forthcoming CTARC events;
• Feedback and photos of past CTARC events;
• Links to recent editions of Ragchew, the CTARC's bi-monthly newsletter;
• Links to our club's history and archival publications;
• (Hopefully) interesting articles and commentary on our club and the greater Radio Amateur community;
• Remembrances of members and friends who have become Silent Keys

This CTARC blogspot differs from the CTARC Website in that here we can post time-specific notifications quickly, whereas the website is for more generic club information.

We welcome your contributions and photos of CTARC members and activities. Please e-mail them to the CTARC Secretary for the attention of the webmaster.

Both the website and blogspot be under perpetual construction, so please revisit both regularly.

CTARC Some History

Bernie, ZS1BW, kindly sent us the following...

A LITTLE LOCAL HISTORY

Going back in time is a good way to show newcomers what it was like in the ‘Good Ole’ Days’. Those were the days when clubs were called ‘Branches’, you paid your SARL subscriptions and nominated which ‘Branch’ you wanted to support. The SARL HQ was then based in Cape Town, Sorry about the picture quality but they were not taken with a digital camera Hi!

Here (below) we have the Cape Town Branch committee: (also 1975/6 vintage)



Above, left to right: Ivo Waher /ZS1DD, Geoff Tinker /ZS1LM, Mike Obeler, /ZR1AG, Howard Green /ZR1BQ, (Yes, we had ZR’s back then)













Front row, left to right: George Doudney /ZS1SP, Greg Roberts /ZS1BI, Uli Denning /ZS1UD (Chairman), Ian Simpson /ZS1IS, and missing is Dave Perry /ZS1SG. (Dave must have been somewhere in the mountains with his beloved repeaters when this photo was taken.)

The Cape Town club had quite a number of venues for the monthly meetings but eventually settled with a clubhouse of their own in Rondebosch.

There is such a lot in the history of Amateur Radio in the Cape. It would fill too many pages for this newsletter. I think it would be a good idea to get it down in black and white for the benefit of those who follow in our footsteps. I’m asking all old timers with faded memories to put something down on paper so that whatever it is can be recorded for future generations. There must be hundreds of photographs but they need some sort of explanation so get your pens and paper out and make a start. Don’t worry about spelling mistakes, the computer looks after that side. Get your copy to me in whichever way you prefer. Contact Bernie / ZS1BW [here].

CTARC Lighthouse Weekend - 24 Aug '97

We received this QSL card from John ZS1AGH who, while operating ZS1WTC with Ron ZS1RON, confirmed a QSO with Pieter ZS1PDT at Slangkop Lighthouse. The date was 24 August 1997 and the time was 12h36 UTC, on the 40m band.

This must surely be one of the earliest Lighthouse Weekend contacts in Cape Town!

CTARC Archives - Radio ZS April 1957

Here is a Radio ZS from April 1957, which is included for interest's sake. Take a note of the prices in the advertisements (and the rigs, too!). Thanks to Paul / ZS1S for submitting it.

Download a PDF file [here].