AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY OF KENYA
POSTAL ADDRESS: P.O. Box 45681, Nairobi - 00100, KENYA

 

 

WELCOME TO KENYA AND THE ARSK WEBSITE.
IN KISWAHILI WE SAY "KARIBU", OR IN THE
PLURAL "KARIBUNI!"
WE HOPE THIS INFORMATION
WILL BE OF USE TO EVERYONE
INTERESTED IN KENYA - 5Z4 LAND.

 

Index

Important Addresses
Club Activities
Licensing Information
General Information

ARSK Callbook

Awards

Updated 7th APRIL, 2013

 

SK.  With great sadness we have to record that Hermann Sachse, 5Z4RT, passed away on Thursday, 4th April.  He had been in poor health for several months.    He was a Life member of ARSK and ran the Sunday morning nets for many years.   A fitting obituary is being prepared and will be placed here as well as in our newsletter QTC.

    
          The Annual General Meeting took place successfully on Saturday 19th January.   The Committee went forward as before to this year with the exception of The ARSK Net Manager’s place being taken over by Wolfgang, 5Z4WD and Hemant 5Z4HP taking over the Shack.    The line-up is: Chairman and Secretary Ted 5Z4NU; Deputy Chairman, Hon. Treasurer and Shack Hemant 5Z4HP; QSL Bureau and Awards Don 5Z4DE; ARSK Net Wolfgang 5Z4WD; and Technical Manager Enrico 5Z4ES; IARU representative Max 5Z4MR.

          We are sorry to hear that Hermann 5Z4RT is ill and unable to continue with the Sunday net which he has run most effectively for many years, and wish him a quick recovery.  Tim 5Z4DV is also off the air for health reasons.   The Sunday nets have suffered much reduced attendance recently.

 

Some confusion has followed the recent publication by the CCK of changes in the Amateur license application form, and ARSK was neither consulted nor informed beforehand.          After discussions with CCK it is now known that foreign applicants outside Kenya are required to have their passport and license photocopies certified by a Commissioner for Oaths or Notary Public, as before, but are NOT required to submit a sworn affidavit attesting to the validity of the documents.   A visa was shown to be a requirement for visitors ((it has never been so) but it as been dropped as many visitors obtain them on arrival at the airport and it is simply not a feasible option for short term visitors who need to get their license before leaving home, not least for assistance with Customs and Security.    All local applicants will be required to submit a sworn affidavit but will no longer need to have their documents attested.   The CCK website is to be edited as soon as possible but it may take some days.   

          The NCDXF beacon 5Z4B which was struck by lightning last year as been repaired but as at this time the power attenuation schedule is not functioning.   All four transmissions are at the full power but an antenna problem may bring it all down to 20 watts.

           

        Applicants sending US Dollars for license payments should be aware that notes dated earlier than the year 2000 are often refused for exchange here, but if accepted they are liable to a much reduced rate - the full rate is about Shs.85 but they may be valued at a lot less.   The Pound Sterling is presently valued at around Shs.137.00     

               

        PAYMENT OF ARSK DUES ETC.

        Subscriptions become due on 1st January.   Unless private arrangements can be made the advice of the Secretary or Treasurer should be sought on transmission of subscriptions in foreign currency.  Western Union is one good transfer system, but naturally charges are quite high.   Cheques drawn on foreign banks attract high charges, however.  Current (November 2012) exchange rates at Forex Bureaux for US$1 is around Shs.83.50 and £Stg.1 about Shs.135.   Dollar notes under $10 are not popular and all rates vary daily (if not hourly) and should be checked.  

     

        PAYMENT OF LICENSE FEES

        We have pressed for a fixed US Dollar fee for applicants from outside Kenya, to ease the variable exchange rate and remittance problem, but so far the CCK have been unable to accept this except to agree an interim standard fee of US$.50, which is high.  

 

        CCK WEBSITE AND LICENSE APPLICATION FORM      

        The Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) website may be seen at www.cck.go.ke and a copy of the Kenya Amateur Radio license application form RF2 should be downloaded from that site.   In case of any difficulty ARSK will send a copy of the new form by e-mail on request.   

 

        UGANDA AND TANZANIA

           Licensing information available to us for Uganda and Tanzania has been added below the Kenya information on the Licensing page, for the benefit of potential visitors to East Africa.   Tanzania information should be available at www.dit.ac.tz and http://tarc.dit.ac.tz/index.php .  This URL also lists conditions for reciprocal licenses in Tanzania (http://tarc.dit.ac.tz/foreigners.php).    Please note than this information may change without our knowledge.  (Thanks to Michael Fuchs, DL6MAF, for this information on Tanzania.)

NB: These offices are completely separate from the Kenya authority and must be dealt with directly.            

*************

        CUAGN SN! We look forward to working you on the air, seeing you here in person and hopefully in the not too distant future we may be able to assist and advise in getting visitors' licenses. Watch this space in case we get further good news for intending visitors.

        As we say here: "Kwaheri ya kuonana!" - we'll be seeing you!

- 73, GD DX -