HAMNET THE SOUTH AFRICAN RADIO LEAGUE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION BULLETIN FOR DECEMBER 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
NEW LICENSING PROCEDURE
NO ANTENNA’S PLEASE!
DECEMBER/JANUARY HOLIDAY’S
HAMNET conforms to and abides by the IARU discipline of engaging in emergency communication locally and worldwide during and after disasters as internationally Amateur Radio is regarded as a National Resource!
HAMNET, as a group of volunteers, supports Disaster Risk Management in South Africa and serves on the sub committee of the South African Search & Rescue Organisation – SASAR!
It is recommended that when becoming a member of HAMNET, you also become an SARL member to abide by and conform to the IARU International and HAMNET rules regarding emergency communication!
All HAMNET information is available on www.hamnet.co.za alternatively www.sarl.org.za just follow the link! Weekly updates are supplied to Amateur Radio Today on Sunday’s and a monthly bulletin is supplied to members and available on the SARL website and as a podcast!
You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter
NEW LICENSING PROCEDURE’
At the ICASA/SARL Liaison committee meeting held this month, ICASA informed the SARL that following a qualified audit by the Auditor General, ICASA has been instructed to implement regulation 15 of the Radio Frequency Spectrum Regulations which stipulate that an amateur radio license can only be renewed for up to five years after which a new application has to be submitted. All Radio Amateurs will be required to re-apply for a license for the period of 1 April 2013 till 31 March 2018. Payment of the annual license fee can be made annually or for the full 5 year period in which case a discounted rate applies.
Details are expected to be gazetted in the next few weeks. Do nothing right now. SARLNEWS and HAMNET will keep you informed and the requirements, procedure and the necessary forms will be made available on www.sarl.org.za after the publication of the Government Gazette.
It appears from comments received that this is common practice in other parts of the world and we should just adapt to changing situations. More to follow!
NO ANTENNA’S PLEASE
I recently had an interesting conversation with Bob Lech – AF2Q. Bob is an American citizen but is currently working on assignment in Sri Lanka.
Through a comment I made regarding emergency communication, Bob responded that he himself is involved with Emergency Communications but that due to the inconsiderate attitude and misinformation of so many people in the USA, many amateurs are considering giving up the hobby and no longer getting involved in emergency communication!
But it goes a lot further than that; also giving up valuable experience, equipment and input to a simple thing yet a critical aspect of our hobby called ‘emergency communication’
This in itself is very sad! It is a well-known fact, all over the world, that amateur radio really is your only ‘fail safe’ communication system when it comes to supplying that much needed facility, when all else is down or fails! People tend to forget that cell phones, landlines, satellite phones and all other established and accepted means of communication are not infallible! They do fail!
If you have a neighbour who has an issue with your antenna(s) – even if it is a simple inverted V, unobtrusive and if well-tuned, should not cause any ‘interference’ to any electrical or radio, hi fi equipment near to your ‘station’.
Yes, it is difficult to explain to any neighbour, it is not your antenna but his inexpensive (though expensively purchased) equipment that has not been adequately screened or filtered to reject interference!
If all else fails, get your station cleared by the authorities but leave it to the authorities to explain to your neighbours it is their problem and not yours!
But, towers are another problem and we will have to wait for new legislation to be formulated. However, the SARL and its legal team are involved in all and any discussion related to this issue at present!
Please watch the SARL website for further updates and press releases!
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
The ‘silly season’ is again upon us.
All schools close on the 7th of December and by all accounts our first weekend for monitoring will be the weekend of 14 through 17 December. The next period will be from 21 through 26 December.
This is longer than usual as we anticipate that many businesses will close leaving the Monday the 24th as forming part of that break period.
Planning a monitor period from now becomes a bit of a gamble as some will return after the Christmas week period whilst others will leave it to the 1st or 2nd or January – depending in which Province you reside as in the Cape, 2nd of January is also regarded as a public holiday.
But, whichever way you look at it, HAMNET members will be monitoring all its emergency frequencies on an on-going basis from Friday 7 December to the first week in January up to and including Sunday the 6th of January 2013.
To report an adverse or poor road conditions, please remember the JAMLINE number listed under emergency numbers.
GENERAL
Hamnet did an investigation into any amateur radio enthusiast being questioned/harassed by any Police Officer regarding radio equipment in his/her vehicle at a road block!
We spoke to a senior Police Captain – who himself is an amateur radio enthusiast and he indicated that at any roadblock, the Police have no authority to ask you why or what you do with the equipment in your vehicle.
It has absolutely nothing to do with them what so ever. They are not there to query your equipment; they are there to search for the assignment issued to them by their Commanding officer of the day – which invariably will be drugs, dagga, stolen vehicles, etc.
However, we do suggest that you be polite, show them your amateur radio licence if necessary and if they are still reluctant to let you go, you have every right to take his name rank and number and report him to your nearest Police Station as he is overstepping his authority!
FINALLY
This is a pretty long insert/article, submitted by Gordon Forbes, ZS6FI, he came across and so vividly describes the value of not only amateur radio but also being involved in an emergency group like HAMNET! It makes for very interesting reading!
http://ulsterherald.com/2012/11/15/benny-prevents-airline-disaster/
Enjoy the December/January break!
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 ZS1V
083 302-3366
WESTERN CAPE
Dave Reece ZS1DFR
083 270-6843
NORTHERN CAPE
Daniel Swart ZS3DS
082 884-1200
NORTHERN 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
076 430-5082
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.
Bulletin ends.
No comments:
Post a Comment