RSSLNEWS
April 2001
NOTICE OF MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING APRIL 25th 2001
Please be informed that the General Meeting for April 2001 will be held on 25th April 2001 at the German Cultural Institute at Gregory’s road, Colombo 7 at 0530 PM.
AGENDA.
1 Call to order
3 Adoption of the minutes of the previous meeting.
Matters arising out of the minutes of the previous
meetings.
4 Requests from Associate members – if any.
6 Conclusion
7 Technical Discussion or Lecture.
Hony. Secretary.
The Radio Society of Sri Lanka.
MONTHLY MEETINGS
Please note that unless otherwise notified, monthly General Meetings will continue to be held at the German Cultural Centre on the last Wednesday of the month at 0530.pm. Please also monitor the RSSL net regularly on 145.625 MHz at 0900 p.m. for RSSL announcements
ELECTION OF NEW TREASURER
OM Jagath Bandaranake 4S6JB was unanimously elected as the new Treasurer of the RSSL. We welcome Jagath to the BOD of the RSSL.
Council news
A delegation from the RSSL met with the TRC and discussed matters pertaining to the Amateur Service in Sri Lanka in general and the following.
More details will be provided at the monthly meetings.
Editorial Coomment
It is indeed heartening to note that many members have come forward to push the level of radio-activity in Sri Lanka in recent months. 4S7RF Romesh , 4S7EA Ernest, 4S7NS Nihal are doing a great service to the RSSL to put in that extra effort needed to make the RSSL and Ham Radio more active. Once again we urge you to join in and create more amateur radioactivity from Sri Lanka. Through these Nets Associate members (SWLs) can easily hear these stations communicating with one another daily. It is the best way to get familiar with operational techniques and also learn amateur jargon. Most of us were motivated to get our tickets after regularly listening in to the Sri Lankan hams. SWLs can also send reception reports to the local hams and get QSL cards. If you listen to the bands regularly you will find that it will help you greatly in getting through your examination. In addition it will make you impatient to get your license, which is the surest way of motivating yourself.
We need more and more members to come forward to promote every aspect of Amateur Radio. You out there ought to have various ideas. Either come for the general meetings and put forward your ideas or even write in. We need to be positive in our approach and we need a new dynamism.
Last but by no means least, please help us to put the membership list and mailing list in order. There are members who are not receiving Newsletters and there might be members who have sent in membership applications and are awaiting action. The RSSL being a voluntary organisation obviously will have lapses on the part of those running the affairs of the club. I can assure you that they are unintentional if there maybe such. Today all of us are struggling to keep our commitments. A little understanding, a generous attitude and meeting of minds will I am sure, make us all at least a little happier. Editor 4S7VK
CW/ Morse Code Speed
In recent years with CW being phased out of commercial usage, many countries have voiced their desire to bring down the CW speed from 12 WPM to 5 WPM. Some countries have already implemented it while others are in the process of deciding whether to follow suit or not. The RSSL wishes to know the views of her members. We publish below some information gleaned by Paddy for the information of RSSL members.
.
1) Industry Canada (Canada's Radio Administration) has already announced that it proposed to adopt the 5wpm code speed standard. On their inquiry from the Ham Radio fraternity in Canada, 80% indicated support of the move to 5wpm. (See IC website- http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/pics/sf/comments.pdf)
2) The IARU.R3 Conference in Darwin (Aug.2000) resolved to support the lowering of the Morse Code test speed to 5wpm as a temporary measure, ahead of the pending revision of the ITU regulations at WRC.2003.
3) Hong Kong recently announced the intention to lower code speed to 5wpm.
4) Australia, PNG and New Zealand have already taken action to switch to 5wpm, thus giving full band access below 30MHz.
5) Europe, earlier this year, through CEPT recommendation, effectively lowered code speed from 12wpm to 5wpm for more than 40 European countries.
(see Morse Code Watch at www.wiavic.org.au/mcw )
(#2 to #5 above via VK3PC, Jim Linton, President, WIA Victoria, Australia).
6) IARU.R3 Conference in Darwin (Aug.2000) concluded that-
". The Conference supported Morse Code as an effective and efficient mode of communication. However, it believed that the position of Morse as a qualifying criterion for an HF Amateur licence is not relevant to the healthy future of Amateur Radio. Therefore the Conference urged societies to seek, as an interim measure, the reduction of all Morse code testing speeds to 5Wpm."
(From IARU-R3 Newsletter - 1/2000 December 2000 ).
This info hardly justifies the view that a code speed reduction in 4S7 would lead to a devaluation of our Licence status vis-à-vis Europe, Canada etc. Any other views welcome.
PADDY - 4S7PB, IARU Liaison
Officer - RSSL.10 April 2001.
The RSSL DX NET ON 14180 1630z Every Sunday
At the last general meeting it was proposed to run a RSSL DX Net. 4S7NS Nihal boldly undertook to start it. Nihal has been running it on the last 2 Sundays at 1630 UTC. So far we have had 4S7MM, RF, VK and DA joining Nihal and putting 4S7 on the DX net map. Many stations have been checking-in and making use of the opportunity to work 4S7. It is interesting to note that 14180 was used by 4S7JA and the group for their DX round-tabe many years ago. We urge 4S7s to join the net and give it all the support it richly deserves.
40M Sri Lanka Net Daily 7060 0130z 7.30 AM SLT
4S7EA Ernest suggested starting up the old 4S7 net on 40m. It has been running for more than 2 weeks now. On 7060 at 0130z (7.30 a.m. SLT). Many 4S7s and a greater number of VU2/3s have been checking in daily to the net. The net goes on for about 20 minutes after which the usual 4S7 round tables takes over. Stations who regularly join in are 4S7EA, DA, NB, GV, GF, MM, SKR, NS, VK, AI and a few more. Once again we urge you to join in and create more amateur radioactivity from Sri Lanka.
VHF NET 146.625 YATIYANTOTA REPEATER
It is really encouraging to see the RSSL net being conducted regularly, even braving the lightning and thunder that plagues our evenings. 4S7RF Romesh has been ably assisted by 4S7s MM,TZ, AA, NS, EA and others. Please check in as often as you can. It is so very heartening to see members like Romesh, Nihal, Ernest giving that little extra to the community to push up the level of activity.
HF PROPAGATION-
In the last month there have been several propagation fade-outs when HF signals have completely faded out. When these Sudden Ionospheric Storms (SIDs) hit the Earth’s upper atmosphere HF signals get absorbed by the ionosphere. Sometimes one will not hear anything on the band. Depending on the intensity of the storm the fadeout can vary in length of time, before signals start to fade in. The effects of SIDs are experienced during daylight hours. SIDs take place most often during the top end of the solar cycle. The top end of the solar cycle also result in higher Maximum Usable Freqs (MUFs). Therefore 6 Metre signals and 10Metre propagation improves.
Your Ed. received a report from a VHF/TV Dxer in Sydney Australia of reception of TNL TV on Ch 3, 54 MHz 3 weeks ago.
RADIO AMATEUR EXAMINATION
Members of the RSSL who are preparing for the RAE Examination, may if you wish visit me for demonstrations of HAM radio and discussions on regulations and allied subjects. You are cordially invited. Please contact me on 852466- Ernest 4S7EA.
RADIO AMATEUR CLASSES
4S7WP Shanthi conducts theory classes at his residence at 11A Vijaya Road, Kolonnawa. Those interested, please contact Shanthi on 572248
MEMBERS REACTIONS
Subject:
Re.RSSLMarchNewsletter
Dear Om Victor,
Thanks for e-mailing March Newsletter & pls continue sending newsletters to me on my e-mail. Please accept my appreciation and thanks for the excellent manner it has been presented. Please feel free to ask me if there is anything that I can do to help to continue the good work you are doing for the Society.
Meantime, pls note two Associates 4S5DD (Achira) & 4S5FM (Fouzulla) who followed classes at 4S7WP's QTH have passed Gen. Class and now on the air. Malaka from Matale too have passed Adv. Class & is yet to apply for his ticket. Currently five more students are following classes. I too will be sitting Novice & Gen. exams due to be held in May/June 2001.
VHF Evening Net is on course now and getting popular with more checking-ins. 4S7RF is doing a good job. Sena Fernando. (Tnx Sena. Keep sending in info about members. Tnx. Ed)
RSSL NEWS VIA E-MAIL
Anyone wishing to receive the monthly Newsletter via e-mail can contact the Ed. I will be glad to add your name to the list of about 50 people world-wide who receive it already. No extra charge! You are free to forward copies to anyone you like.
Ed’s Note: I hope the small print will be excused by the older members. I am attempting to make maximum use of space.
.CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE RSSL NEWS
RSSL NEWS is a forum for RSSL members’ amateur radio
and electronics technical experiments, experiences, opinions and
news. Manuscripts with drawings and/or photos (including those of
the authors) are always welcome. Articles on computer disk or
Internet e-mail with text formatted using Microsoft Word® or
WordPerfect® for Windows and diagrams formatted using Visio®
are especially welcome. They should be forwarded to : G.Victor
A.Goonetilleke 4S7VK, Shangri-la, 298 Madapatha Rd. Piliyandala.
(Tel. 614098) or via e-mail to victorg@slt,lk to be received not
later than two weeks before the last Wednesday of the month of
issue.
PUBLISHER'S NOTICE
Views and opinions contained in articles and other material published herein are of their respective authors’ and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Publisher.
The Publisher has taken all reasonable care in the preparation of this journal to ensure that all advice and data contained herein are safe and reliable. The Publisher does not guarantee it or accept legal responsibility in any way for it including in respect of any damage or injury that may be caused; nor does the Publisher accept responsibility in any way for the failure to obtain specified components.
RSSL NEWS ON THE WEB
Current and back issues of RSSL NEWS are
available on the World Wide Web at the URL: http://www.anugency.bizhosting.com/rssl
and also through the RSSL URL: http://www.qsl.net/rssl
RSSL NEWS is published monthly by The Radio Society of Sri Lanka (RSSL) as its official journal and is sent free of charge and post paid to all its members and selected libraries world-wide. It is posted on the penultimate Wednesday of each month at the Central Mail Exchange, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Edited and designed by Victor 4S7VK with the assistance of Jagath 4S6JB, printed at The Commercial Printing Department, The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited, Colombo 10 and published by The Radio Society of Sri Lanka.
© The Radio Society of Sri Lanka 2000