HAMNET Bulleting May 2012

HAMNET THE SOUTH AFRICAN RADIO LEAGUE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION BULLETIN FOR MAY 2012

This bulletin was prepared and produced by Francois Botha - ZS6BUU

HAMNET (IARU Region 1) dedicated emergency communication frequencies are:-
80m band - 3,760 MHz, 40m band, 7,110 MHz. 20m band - 14,300 MHz.

IN THE BULLETIN TODAY
WINTER AND VAN REENEN'S PASS
SASAR AND COMMUNICATION TRAINING
INTERFERANCE ON 40 m

The Hamnet Bulletin is distributed once a month to all HAMNET members and is also available in text format as well as an audio clip on the SARL web site. News updates are read on the Amateur Radio Today Sunday transmissions and posted on the SARL web site as well as our Facebook site. All Bulletin audio clips are also available as a Podcast. Follow the links on the SARL web site.

HAMNET is a voluntary group of amateurs who make their unique communication skills available to assist and help others in distress during and after disasters. HAMNET is represented on the sub-committee of the South African Search & Rescue Organisation. Training Modules are available either from your Provincial Director or from the National Director via e-mail and is also available on the SARL HAMNET Welcome CD.

HAMNET forms part of the Constitution of the South African Radio League which means that you have to be a member of the SARL to be a member of HAMNET. All information on SARL HAMNET is available on the web site of the SARL at www.sarl.org.za - follow the links!
You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter

VAN REENENS PASS THIS COMING WINTER

Whilst visiting KZN to attend the AGM in Durban, an item in one of the local newspapers caught my attention.

Remembering last winter when the van Reenen Pass was blocked twice due to heavy snow falls, apparently the N3 Toll Concession is taking a different approach this coming winter.

You may recall that during the first blockage, HAMNET was involved in the rescue of a Taxi with some of the occupants being children and a baby!

This year, from what I can remember about this article, the approach will be that at the first indication of snow or the possibility of a heavy fall, the pass will be blocked on either side to prevent heavy vehicles from accessing the pass.

This is being done to prevent heavy trucks being caught unawares in snowdrifts, causing jack knife problems and in general not being able to continue either up or down, blocking normal flow of light traffic and causing unnecessary long stoppages to clear trapped vehicles.

This is a good idea and it will ensure that the pass remains relatively clear of blockages due to heavy vehicles not being able to move because of heavy snow.

We do have the N3 Toll Concession help line number in our Bulletin telephone segment and we will ensure that at the first indication of snow over the Berg area, we will contact them for information of vehicles movement over the pass so we can pass it on to monitoring stations!

The thought crosses my mind that this sort of information could also be obtained for other passes like Lootsberg, Nico Malan, Wapadsberg, Penhoek and many other passes that gets snowed up after heavy falls!

SASAR AND RADIO TRAINING

A communiqué issued by ICASA which we received from both ICASA and from the Department of Transport reads as follows:-

"ICASA Radio Licenses",

The SASAR Executive Committee, at its 41st session, resolved as follows regarding above mentioned matter.

"That HAMNET provide the Training to Voluntary Organisations on radio licenses".

"You are requested to take note of the above resolution and respond positively to requests for training by other SASAR voluntary organisations".

This is a directive from Mr. Patrick Modiba, Director of Search & Rescue.

All of our Hamnet members are fully trained in radio communications. When it comes to the other volunteer groups, we will strongly recommend that should any one become interested in communications, we can supply basic training but if not a fully fledged amateur radio operators, we will recommend that they study through a club nearest to them for a full ZS license and then join HAMNET or any of the other volunteer groups.

We await notification for the next SASAR sub committee meeting when this will be discussed more fully but we thank the Dept. of Transport for their recognition of our facilities and experience!

INTERFERANCE ON 40 m

Radio Myanmar is broadcasting illegally on 7,110 MHz in AM from 15:30 every day and is causing interference on our emergency frequency.

Steps are being taken to issue a formal complaint in this regards but this takes time and the correct procedures need to be followed.

Hamnet has already sent an official complaint directly to Radio Myanmar (formally Burma) and requested that they move frequency as this is a Region One Emergency Communications Frequency.

INFORMATION FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES!

The following frequencies are purely calling frequencies-
'Eightynet' 3.695 MHz 'Fortynet' 7.095 MHz 'Thirtynet' 10.135 MHz
'Twentynet' 14.295 MHz

PROVINCIAL DIRECTOR AND 2ND IN COMMAND CONTACT LIST.

PROVINCE DIRECTOR/2nd COMMAND CELL NUMBER
WESTERN CAPE Paul van Spronsen ZS1PVS 083 302-3366
WESTERN CAPE Dave Reece ZS1DFR 083 270-6843
NORTH WESTERN CAPE Daniel Swart ZS3DS 082 884-1200
NORTH WESTERN CAPE Carel Oberholzer ZS3OBE 082 805-0181
EASTERN CAPE Serge Smetryns ZS2SJE 084 515-1077
EASTERN CAPE
KWAZULU-NATAL Keith Lowes ZS5WFD 082 685-6666
KWAZULU-NATAL Glenham Duffy ZS5GD 082 962-6681
FREE STATE Vacant
FREE STATE Martin Schwella ZS4MS 082 968-3765
NORTH WEST Chris Viljoen ZS6BYQ 082 857-8641
NORTH WEST Johan Bamberger ZS6LVG 018 297-1900
GAUTENG SOUTH Chris Gryffenberg ZS6COG 083 543-5668
GAUTENG SOUTH Andre van Tonder ZS6HE 082 554-7469
GAUTENG NORTH Johan de Bruyn ZS6JHB 082 492-3689
GAUTENG NORTH
MPUMALANGA Gert Botha ZS6GC 082 771-0663
MPUMALANGA Strauss Roux ZS6JFS 082 327-9064
MPUMALANGA Piet Badenhorst ZS6G 082 574-4829
LIMPOPO Vacant
LIMPOPO Vacant
NATIONAL DIRECTOR Francois Botha ZS6BUU 083 585-3847
NATIONAL DIRECTOR Jan Schubart ZS6ARV 082 458-1484

WEATHER INFORMATION -
www.sawdis1.blogspot.com
To send weather information - 076 251 3482 - Text Messages Only!!
Alternatively - sawois05@gmail.com
www.weatherphotos.co.za - Highly recommended for up to date information!

USEFUL NUMBERS IN EMERGENCIES:-

1. AMBULANCE - 10177
2. ER24 - 084 124
3. Werner Vermaak Direct ER24 real emergencies only (Gauteng) 082 907.4557
4. TRAFFIC - 112
5. WESTERN CAPE ALL EMERGENCIES 021 937-0300
6. JAMLINE - 084 5265463
7. CRIME LINE - 32211 alternatively 08600 10111. HAMNET actively supports the SAPS and CPF to fight crime!
8. N3 Toll Concession Help Line - 0800 N3 HELP or 080063 4357
9. Graham - Maritime Mobile Net 046 648-1071 (Maritime Emergency Only)
10. Sam Maree - Maritime Mobile Net 021 782-2840 (Maritime Emergency Only)
11. MRCC - 021 938-3300 (Only in dire Maritime emergencies)

Comments suggestions and contributions please contact or send to: jfbotha@iburst.co.za or zs6buu@gmail.com or at 011 679-5260 or 083 585-3847. Fax 086-580.6110.