The SARL - Jack Twine Merit Award bestowed on Thys Louw ZS1TBP

Image:  Thys Louw ZS1TBP

The South African Radio League (SARL),  Jack Twine Merit Award was bestowed on Thys Louw ZS1TBP and handed to him at the Eden Radio Radio Club meeting which took place on the 27 July 2024  Now what does this merit award entails?

 

Image:  The SARL Jack Twine Merit Award

The Jack Twine Merit Award: To recognize qualities such as unselfishness, clean operating and a genuine interest in amateur radio and its affairs. This award shall be made to amateurs who, in the opinion of their fellow amateurs and/or the League’s Council, exemplify the qualities desirable in a radio amateur. The award will be known as The Jack Twine Merit Award.

Thys ZS1TBP deserves the award in view of the fact that he performed some  outstanding services in the cause of amateur radio and/or in support of the League.  A truly well deserved recipient of this award.

Warmest congratulations on your achievement, Thys!

Image:  Eden Radio Club Meeting 

 

The “Hospital” 2 Meter Slim-Jim Antenna

 

Many radio amateurs are faced with the problem of being unable to erect any type of 2 meter outdoor antenna.  This means the only viable alternative is an indoor antenna. The simple antenna described in this article is easy to construct and needs little by way of materials.  These amount to brazing rods (or wire coat-hangers), two strips of 30A “chock-block” screw type connectors, a few wood screws and a piece of wood for a base.  No soldering is required except for a plug on the transmitter end of the coax cable.  It takes very little time to construct and, aside from its application as a permanent indoor antenna, it could be taken away on holiday or to the hospital and used for portable operation.  The antenna arrangement is based on the popular “Slim Jim” design, designed some years ago by F.C. Judd G2BCX. The method of construction and other modifications have not only allowed a significant reduction in size, but also provide a broader bandwidth, the SWR being virtually 1:1 right across the 2 meter band.

CONSTRUCTION:

The major part of construction is the matching line, which is fixed to the base board as shown in Fig 1.  The illustration shows the positions of the three electrical connector blocks which carry the matching line wires.  One of these connector blocks also provides a support and connecting point for the vertical radiating element, which is fitted at the points marked “X”.  However, before screwing down the connector blocks, cut from one of the lengths of brazing rod the sections that will form the matching line as given in Fig. 2.  These are connected, as in Fig. 1, to form a continuous pair of lines between the coaxial cable and the bottom of the radiating element.  The positions of the blocks may require shifting slightly to obtain a symmetrical layout.  After this has been achieved they may be screwed into place.  Next the radiating element, details for which are given in Fig. 3.  The two long wires are cut to the dimensions given, and then the electrical connector blocks are fitted.  These give the vertical element wires the correct spacing, as well as support and their positioning is not critical.  The very top section of the radiator is a separate “U” shaped piece of brazing rod.  (No 5 shown in Fig. 3)  This part is slotted into the top connector block, and consequently will provide a small variation in radiator length.  With this method of adjustment, the antenna can be made to resonate, allowing minimum SWR to be obtained.

TUNING AND SWR:

First, a few words about the coaxial cable which must be 50 Ohm.  Low-loss cable would be preferred if the cable  run is more than 6 meters long.  The lower the cable attenuation, the more r.f. power there will be available for radiation by the antenna.  Remember, for indoor operation every little bit counts, especially when it is realized that brick walls and tiled roofs may offer as much as 10 dB attenuation, even when dry.  Final adjustment should be carried out at mid-band with a SWR meter in line at the transmitter end. Stand the antenna on a table and make a quick check on SWR.  It may be a little too high, in which case adjust the top section of the radiator up or down until he SWR is brought to within respectable limits. Stand back from the antenna after each adjustment as “body capacity” can affect tuning.  Some experimentation may be necessary to find the best SWR reading.


FINALLY:

Why the name:  A “Hospital” Slim Jim?
I constructed this antenna in August 2004 for a fellow radio amateur who visited a Mossel Bay hospital quite regularly. He wanted to talk to fellow radio amateurs in the Southern Cape area while in hospital but was unable to activate the local repeater with his HT using a rubber duck antenna.  I decided to assist him by building this antenna and named it the "Hospital" Slim Jim Antenna.

Tests carried out under hospital conditions showed that reliable contacts with stations using outside antennas could be made over distances of 16km.



REFERENCES

THE SLIM JIM 2 METER ANTENNA  F.C. JUDD
PRACTICAL WIRELESS   AUGUST 1988
MULTI-WIRE DIPOLE ANTENNAS.  J.D. KRAUS 

Images:  (Click on images for larger view.)

Wat is 'n Raspberry Pi?

Tydens die Sonsakspan Net van 16 Julie 2024 op die 145.750 Mhz Aasvoelkop Herhaler is daar 'n versoek gewees dat daar so bietjie oor die Raspberry Pi gesels moet word. Nou wat is 'n Raspberry Pi nou eintlik?

Nee dit is nie 'n "Meat Pie" en ook nie 'n "Moerby Pasty" nie! 

Hier volg 'n kort oorsig rondom die Raspberry Pi.   Dit blyk dat daar heelwat belangstelling is in die Raspberry Pi en word daar beoog om in die toekoms in diepte te kyk na 'n verskeidenheid van moontlike gebruike van die Pi met betrekking tot amateur radio.  Kyk gerus uit vir toekomstige aankondigings in die verband.

Fotos en skakels waarna verwys word in die audio insetsel:

 Skakels:

Amateur Radio en die Raspberry PI = Jason KM4ACK  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1QTYT4Qo9cYb8-YkItrM_cQL6EdwRqWj

Hoe kry ek die Raspberry Pi aan die gang:  https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/getting-started.html

Audio Insetsel:  (Klik HIER om na audio te luister as onderstaande speler nie werk nie.)

Important: Echolink changes to the ZS Hub, Mossel Bay

As indicated in a previous article:  "Change is not always a good thing. It may force us out of tired habits and impose better ones upon us, but it can also be stressful, costly and even destructive. What's important about change is how we anticipate it and react to it."

Change allows you to explore new things and learn from different experiences."

Sometimes change is necessary whether we like it or not.  In order to improve and extend the current ZS Link Network I deem the following changes necessary to two of my Echolink Nodes:

• Echolink   ZS1I-R  ( Node No: 929614) -  This node is now the main Echolink Node for the ZS Hub in Mossel Bay.  This node will now be used to carry all VOIP traffic in the Southern Cape and other areas of South Africa.  If you listened to bulletins and automated connections in the past you must now connect to ZS1I-R via Echolink for all ZS-Link News Bulletins, Nets, Link Connections etc. 
• Echolink   ZS1I-L  ( Node No: 108551) -  This node is using SVXLink and is currently in a test phase.  This link will automatically connect to the ZS1I-R Node.  Myself and Curtis ZS6CMO is busy testing many of the futures of SVXLink.  I envisage to add a 70 cm Radio to this node.  More information will be provided in a future article.  Please feel free to connect to this node for test purposes only.

 Finally:  I would like to again draw your attention to the Notifications: ZS-Hub Network Outages where we inform users of system outage on the ZS Hub Network / Repeaters /links etc.

Down Memory Lane: Harnessing Technology for early warning - Amateur Radio and the SAWDIS

Image:  Front cover of the RADAR publication.  (Click on images for larger view)

In 2009 I was approached by the University of Cape Town to participate in the Disaster Mitigation for Sustainable Livelihoods Research Project.  This project resulted in the first Risk and Development Annual Review (RADAR) publication for the Western Cape. This mammoth undertaking reflected eight years of post-disaster research across the province. The Disaster Mitigation for Sustainable Livelihoods Programme would like to acknowledge the contribution made by the many individuals, groups and academics whose support and input made this first RADAR possible. We would specifically like to thank the many researchers and practitioners who contributed their time and input to the first post-impact studies from 2003-2007.  The Risk and Development Annual Review (RADAR) project was commissioned to investigate severe weather induced disasters experienced in the Western Cape province from 2003 – 2008.

Mr Anton Bredell,  Western Cape Provincial Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning  presented the foreword in RADAR.  

He explained:

“The Western Cape can be regarded as one of the most disaster prone provinces in South Africa. Since 2006, ten disasters were declared of which the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) classified eight as disasters. These disasters included mostly flooding events as
well as drought and the displacement of human beings. It is my pleasure to present the first Risk and Development Annual Review (RADAR) publication for the Western Cape. This publication is the first Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) report detailing disaster events and critical risk reduction issues for a wide range of public sector, emergency services and development planning professionals and practitioners. The project was guided by a Publication Advisory Committee (PAC) consisting of the PDMC, NDMC, Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEADP) and the Disaster Mitigation for Sustainable Livelihoods Project (DiMP) at the University of Cape Town (UCT). During the 2009/10 financial year, the PDMC worked with university partners to strengthen applied disaster risk scholarship and capacity in the Western Cape. This initiative foresees a phased collaborative process from 2009 to 2012 that progressively engages the Province’s higher education institutions in disaster risk reduction research, as well as formal and non-formal education activities. The project seeks to provide an institutional mechanism that brings together the Cape Higher Education Consortium (CHEC), the PDMC and the four Western Cape higher education institutions in a venture that generates human and institutional capacity to reduce recurrent disaster risks. It also aims at generating provincially relevant applied research outputs in disaster risk science and management. During 2009 the PDMC obtained funding from the NDMC in order to compile a RADAR publication for 2010. This publication aims to provide a consolidated summary of major Western Cape disaster events that occurred between 2003 and 2008. This will enable a wide range of practitioners, both within and beyond the Western Cape, to access post-disaster event analyses and associated data for risk reduction planning purposes. The first edition will focus on the province’s changing risk profile – with specific emphasis on severe weather events from 2003 to 2008 and their consequences – and link this with future climate variability and climate change / adaptation. There is a section on the changing urban risk profile, with a reflection on people who were internally displaced in 2008. It is envisaged that future editions will cover other hazards that may cause disasters in the Western Cape. A special word of thanks to the UCT/DiMP for producing the first scientific publication of its kind in South Africa and for supporting the Western Cape PDMC in its endeavours to make the Province a safer place for all to live in. This surely is an excellent example of pioneering work pertaining to research and it sets the trend for enhancing all aspects of disaster risk reduction and related management initiatives in South Africa.”

Lets now have a closer look at Emerging resources – linking up with local ‘movers and shakers’ where amateur radio also plays a vital roll.

The Western Cape is rich in often untapped human resources. These are local people with kindness and compassion; residents who willingly give of their own time and apply their particular strengths and expertise for the good of their communities. They are also often the ‘movers’ in that they seek creative solutions to the risks they face, often without additional resources.
These efforts by volunteers and civil society groups across the province have strengthened the
capacity of local municipalities in general, and disaster managers in particular. This is especially
the case in far-flung rural areas that lack financial resources. Often building on humble
beginnings and working patiently and tirelessly, these dedicated individuals and groups have
grown from strength to strength over the last few years.
In the course of our research for RADAR, we discovered many exciting local initiatives. This
chapter offers a snapshot of six of them. Each is unique, drawing on a variety of strengths and
expertise and showing how local residents and disaster managers can work together effectively.
Of course, these case-studies are not the only instances of community members actively
engaged in disaster risk reduction in the province. However, they emphasize the value that is
added when risk management efforts are energized by local ‘movers and shakers’.

Harnessing technology for early warning:  Location Mossel Bay, Western Cape

Image: Location of Mossel Bay

 

Amateur Radio and the South African Weather and Disaster Information Service (SAWDIS)

Good emergency management before, during and after severe storms depends on access to real-time weather warnings.  This example from Mossel Bay shows how radio amateurs and HAMNET members, as well as the general public, can play an important role in reporting real-time weather and disaster information – and offer a key public information service during emergencies.
It also illustrates how members of the public, using their own equipment, can contribute
positively to disseminating critical information when and where it is needed most.

Aftermath of floods – SAWDIS is established

Image: Johan ZS1I at his SAWDIS and Amateur Radio Station Desk

For Mossel Bay radio ham Johan Terblanche ZS1I, the poor quality of public information available during the 2006/2007 floods convinced him of the need for a local public weather and disaster information service, and especially an early warning system. With the support of other amateur radio operators (known as radio hams) and the general public, he established the South African Weather and Disaster Information Service (SAWDIS) and associated Internet blog in October 2008. The blog provides up to the minute weather reports, weather maps, photographs, satellite images, and relevant information on disasters around the world. This approach of harnessing the Internet for local disaster risk management caught on quickly, and as an awareness of SAWDIS spread, additional external links have gradually been added to the blog, making it an increasingly valuable resource.

How does the SAWDIS work?

SAWDIS allows information to be exchanged effectively by using the Internet, commercial entities and amateur radio operators. This two-way information flow helps to promote and improve scientific methodologies as well as helping to interpret weather and disaster observations at grass roots level. The ‘high-tech’ element of SAWDIS relies on the APRS RF global system. This is a combination of networks and terrestrial and satellite links that move weather-related information around the world. In South Africa, many areas lack the necessary infrastructure and knowledge to benefit from this global information. This is where the ‘low-tech’ side of SAWDIS steps in. Amateur radio operators receive and share information, linking isolated and marginalised communities with real-time weather forecasts from satellites and other sources. SAWDIS currently receives neither funding nor sponsorship, and is built on the dedication, imagination and skill of its volunteers.

 

Final Comments by Johan ZS1I:

I wish to express my deepest gratitude to the Disaster Mitigation for Sustainable Livelihoods Programme (DiMP) at the University of Cape Town (UCT), the Publication Advisory
Committee (PAC) officials from the National Disaster Management Centre, Western Cape Provincial Disaster Management Centre,

Now why would one write an article about yourself and also about a research project that was undertaken in the early two thousands?  

1.  Definitely not to brag or boast about it at my age as it is rather late to look for attention now.  Those who know me will know that I am not an attention seeker. Neither do I enjoy to be in the limelight.

2.  One reason is this "event" is now historically and forms part of my series of articles called "Down Memory Lane" that I publish on the ZS Link Network Blog to save it for future generations.

3.  Another and very important reason is that I am getting on in the years and this article serves to inform the younger generation that they have a responsibility to serve their local community in time of not only disasters but also when the opportunity arise to generally serve when there is a need for it. 

As the then Mr. Sicelo Shiceka, National Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs indicated:  "Historically households, communities and societies have continuously sought to protect their property and livelihood from extreme events and disasters. They investigated and found ways and methods to improve the sighting, positioning and building of their structures and ways to safeguard their economic activities against these destructive events. These search efforts tended to focus on threatening hazards and their impact on the communities and their livelihoods. However, as populations increase - with the consequence that the built environment increases in size - coupled with the effects of climate variability, there emerges greater pressure on the need for determining and addressing vulnerabilities and exposure to these extreme and disastrous events faced by societies."

4.  This article should be an example to the younger generation in Amateur Radio that there is always an opportunity where you can be of service to your local community.  We as Radio Amateurs have the resources to assist not only during severe weather events or disasters but also on a daily basis and not only in the Western Cape Province but throughout all the provinces of South Africa and even World Wide. I would like to see that radio amateurs increasingly become "movers and shakers" and be energized to assist their local community.

5. I trust that this article will kindle and energize radio amateurs anew to find ways to build  on humble beginnings like I did with SAWDIS and work patiently and tirelessly to grow from strength to strength but most importantly to be of assistance to local communities when the need arises. 

 

Example of the SAWDOS Blog Website looked like:  Click HERE

(Note:  The SAWDIS Blog name was changed to the South African Weather and Disaster Observation Service.  (SAWDOS)

 

Is the SAWDIS/SAWDOS Blog Website still functional and available?  Click HERE 

Johan Terblanche ZS1I

Mossel Bay

10 July 2024

Geskiedkundige byeenkoms van Radio Amateurs / Gades / Jongmense te Blandsdrif in die Suid Kaap (Saterdag, 6 Julie 2024)

Radio Amateurs:  (Links na regs agter)  Gerrit ZS1KLO, Danie ZS1DL, Jimmy ZS1RB, Henk ZS1AAD,  Thys ZS1TBP,   Marco ZS1NEU,  Johan ZS1I,  Ingo ZS1IB, Mark ZS1SSM.  (Regs na links voor)  Elna ZS1EAS,  Albie ZS1SE,  Nick ZS1NS,  Jasper ZS1WT,  Michael ZS1MMB,  Rassie ZS1RP,  Nick ZS1N,  Nicoleen ZS1HAR en Johann ZS1AAC.  Inlas fotos:  Lynnore ZS1DPW en Dolf ZS1DRP.

Radio Amateurs, Gades, Vriende en Jongmense:  (Links na regs agter)  Gerrit, Jan, Danie, Jimmy, Thys, Johan, Nick, Ingo, Mark, Joanie, Henk.  (Regs na links voor) Rassie, Rola, Nechita, Elna, Albie, Louisa, Jasper, Marco, Michael, Nick, Nicoleen en Johan.  (Sittende links na regs)  Jonge dame, Caro en Natasha.  

English version of this article available  HERE

Die byeenkoms van Suid Kaap radio amateurs, gades, vriende en jongmense op Saterdag, 6 Julie 2024 sal aangeteken word as 'n geskiedkunige gebeurtenis.  Die byeenkoms het plaasgevind op die plaas Blandsdrif, Mosselbaai van Jasper ZS1WT en sy LV Natasha wat as gasheer en gasvrou opgetree het tesame met hul twee jonge dogters.

Foto:  Jasper en Natasha vd Westhuizen (Gasheer en Gasvrou van die byeenkoms)

Ek verskaf graag inligting rondom die verloop van die byeenkoms.  Die weer was natuurlik die grootste faktor wat sou bepaal hoeveel mense opdaag vir die byeenkoms.  Met ligte oornag reen en gepaardgaande  koue wat voorgekom het vanaf Donderdag 4 Julie tot Vrydag 5 Julie was daar twyfel of die weer sou saamspeel.  Wel Saterdag 6 Julie 2024 was daar nie 'n teken van enige reen of koue wolke nie.  Die son het geskyn en gelukkig was daar nie sterk winde nie.  Die intense koue front wat voorspel is was glad nie te bespeur op Saterdag nie maar sou wel sy verskyning Sondag oggend maak in Mosselbaai.  Ons kon nie gevra het vir beter weer nie as daar in gedagte gehou word dat ons tans in die middel van winter is nie.  

Die byeenkoms was gereel vanaf 9h30 vir 10h00 maar teen 9h30 was daar al heelwat vriende wat reeds opgedaag het.  Teen 10h00 het meeste reeds gearriveer.  Koffie, koekies en beskuit was beskikbaar soos die vriende geariveer het. Nadat die koffie en verversings die innerlike gevul het is daar begin om die veldstasie op te rig.  Sien daar moet altyd iewers radios betrokke wees by enige  bymekaarkoms van radio amateurs.  Handstelle en mobiele radios en antennas was orals sigbaar en dit was nie lank nie of die eerste HF kontak is bewerkstellig vanaf die Kenwood TS450S radio van Michael ZS1MMB.    Twee HF antennas is opgerig,  n End Fed Dipole en 'n tuisgeboude vertikale antenna.  Band toestande was nie wonderlik nie maar daar is darm 'n paar kontakte gemaak.  Baie dankie aan Michael ZS1MMB en Nick ZS1N vir die beskikbaarstelling van toerusing asook bedryf van die stasie en al die ander helpers wat 'n bydrae gelewer het.

Is die Aasvoelkop Herhaler sigbaar vanaf Blandsdrif? Siende dat die plaas van Jasper en Natasha naby gelee was aan die herhaler wou van die vriende kyk of hulle nie die 145.750 Mhz Aasvoelkop Herhaler kon sien met 'n verkyker nie.  Marco ZS1NEU het die leiding hier geneem en gou gou is daar 'n driepoot verkyker staangemaak en het die manne en dames Aasvoelkop bespiet so neffens die twee plaas sleepwaens van Jasper.  Die radio toring was met die blote oog ook sigbaar maar die verkyker het die toring soveel nader gebring.  Volgens Marco was daar nie enige ongewensde elemente gesien nie en het hy die groen lig gegee dat alles nog in orde was by die herhaler.

Dit was duidelik dat die meeste vriende uitgesien het na 'n lekker kuier.  Radio besprekings is met tye opsy geskuif net om lekker te kon saam kuier en "lippe te klap".  Daar was nou behoorlik gekuier,  in die geskiedenis terug beweeg, oor die alle daagse gesels, staaltjies uit die verlede en vele meer, te veel om hier op te noem.  Ek kan net byvoeg dat ek lanklaas indien ooit opgemerk het dat manne, vroue en jongmense so lekker gekuier het. Elkeen teenwoordig het bygedra tot die aangename kuier maar later meer hieroor. Die tyd het te vinnig verby gesnel en voor ons besef het was dit tyd vir middag ete.

Lekker droe hout is staangemaak in die braaier en 45 minute later was daar wors in die rooster op die kole.  Maar daar is fout, die wors lyk nie soos die wat jy in die slaghuis of winkels koop nie.   Want sien dit is tuisgemaakte, skaap wors wat Jasper ZS1WT self gemaak het.  'n Besondere smaak want net die beste skaap vleis is uitgekies tesame met die nodig vet en speserye.  Verhouding 60:40 en net reg vir die kole.  Smaaklik geen senings of uitheemse speserye nie.  Soos die boere van ouds wors kon maak.  Sag en sapperig.  Moet se ek dink nie daar het veel indien enige wors oorgebly nie.  Maar wag, van die dames het gesorg vir die aller lekkerste slaaie en worsbroodjies.  Die worsbroodjies is spesiaal ingevoer vanaf Stilbaai, vars en lekker uitgebak.  Jy kon nie vir beter gevra het nie.  

Opmerklik was dat die gasheer en gasvrou nie daarin glo om kos te bedien in papierborde nie.  Terselfdertyd het elkeen 'n ordentlik mes en vurk gery.  Nadat almal opgeskep het het Henk ZS1AAD die tafel gebed waargeneem.  Die uwe het 'n paar "gevleulde" woorde hierna gespreek en Johann ZS1AAC het 'n oorsig vestrek oor die 145.750 en 145.625 herhalers, maar ook verduidelik wat daar vir die toekoms beplan word tov herhalers, toerusting, koppellings ens.  Opmerklik was die warm handeklap van almal teenwoordig vir al die harde werk wat Johann en sy span lede verrig om te verseker dat die herhalers op die lug bly.  Herhaler werk is n ondankbare werk wat nie altyd maklik en dadelik kan geskied nie.  Johann het mooi verduidelik wat herhaler werk behels en ek dink dat almal nou 'n baie beter begrip het in die verband.  

Die besoekers het almal lekker gesmul aan die smaaklike middag ete.  Dit was dan natuurlik ook die stilste periode van die dag want die innerlike moes eers versterk word sodat daar verder gekuier en gesels kon word.  So tussen deur is die tafel vir 'n tweede keer besoek. Baie groot dank aan almal wat  behulpsaam was met die kos voorbereiding, verwerking en braai van die egte plaas wors.  Dit word opreg waardeer.  Met die innerlike versterk is daar weer verwoed gekuier want sien die son trek water en die weer was ook besig om te verander.

Nou die artikel sal nie volledig wees as ek nie melding maak van die volgende nie:

 Foto:  Rassie en Rola Pretorius van Stilbaai.

1.  Daar was 'n hele paar grys koppe, bleskoppe, goeie haarbedekkings ens.  Nee ek bedoel dit geensins lelik nie.  Ek wil nie uitsonderings maak nie maar ek dink dat dit nie korrek sou wees om nie melding te maak van die mees senior paardjie wat teenwoordig was nie.  Aan Oom Rassie ZS1RP en Tannie Rola Pretorius wil ons graag 'n spesiale dankbetuiging oordra vir hul teenwoordigheid by die byeenkoms.  Ons besef dat dit somtyds groot opoffering verg om byeenkomste by te woon.   Julle twee was die toonbeeld miskien nog beter, die voorbeeld vir ons almal wat daar teenwoordig was.  Dit was 'n voorreg om julle twee saam met ons te kon hê op die besondere dag.  Baie dankie vir julle opoffering in die verband.  Dit was so lekker gewees om julle na baie jare in persoon weer te kon sien.  Dankie ook vir die lekker gesels oor al die goeie herinneringe van die verlede maar ook die uitkyk en visie vir die toekoms.

2.  Daar was nog talle ander seniors wat teenwoordig was wat ook opofferings gemaak het om daar te kon wees.  Ek wil nie graag name noem nie want ek mag dalk iemand in die proses uitlaat.  Baie dankie dat julle ook teenwoordig was.  Ek weet dat daar van julle is wat ook onder moeilike omstandighede julle weg oopgesien het om saam te kon kuier op die dag.  Baie dankie aan almal van julle!

3.  Dan laastens maar nie die minste nie,  die twee jonge dames van Jasper en Natasha en natuurlik die jongste teenwoordig, nee nie Jasper en Natasha nie maar hulle twee dogters.  Ek glo hulle het dit ook geniet.   Nou ja kom ons beweeg so bietjie op in die jare en ons se dankie aan Bruce en Nechita.  Dit moet seker maar moeilik wees om so tussen die COOL "ou mense" rond te beweeg.  Ons vertrou dat julle ook die dag geniet het.

4.  Daar was geen "formele" aktiwiteite nie, want sien daar is nie 'n klub om te bestuur nie.  Geen Voorsitter, Onder Voorsitter,  Bestuurslede, Polisiemanne, Diktators, Skoorsoekers, Suurpruime ens. nie.  Net radio amateurs en nie radio amateurs, LV's en jong mense wat bymekaar gekom het om die dag saam te geniet.  Dieselfde konsep geld ook wat ander amateur radio bedrywighede aan betref insluitende die gebruik van die herhalers.  Die Suid Kaap Wenresep werk. Ek wil my verstout om te se dat dit is die ringting waarin amateur radio die toekoms in moet beweeg.  Vra maar vir die wat daar teenwoordig was en ook die wat graag daar sou wou wees.  Hulle sal dit kan beaam!

5.  Dankbetuiging:  Dit is altyd moeilik om te verseker dat mens nie iemand uitlaat of weglaat wanneer dit kom by dankbetuiging nie.  Daarom gaan ek dit kort en kragtig maak. Eerstens wil ek ons Hemelse Vader bedank vir die mooi dag asook die seeninge wat ons ontvang het op die dag om lekker saam met vriende te kon kuier. Tweedens 'n besonderse woord van dank aan Jasper ZS1WT en sy LV  Natasha en kinders vir al die opofferings / voorbereidings ens wat julle getref het on die dag vir ons 'n groot sukses te maak.  Dit word opreg waardeer!  Derdens sou dit uiters onvanpas wees as daar nie 'n dankbetuiging oorgedra word aan al die LV's (dames, gades, wederhelftes) nie.  Ek het reeds vermeld dat dit werklik met groot dankbaarheid en waardering is dat ek al die LV's wil bedank vir hulle teenwoordigheid.  Julle teenwoordighied word hoog op prys gestel.  Vierdens aan almal wat nie genoem is nie.  Ek weet nie wie dit almal is nie, maar 'n besonderse dank aan elkeen wat bygedra het tot die sukses van die dag. 'n Besonderse dank aan Henk ZS1AAD  vir sy reelings en ook vir van die foto's wat hy geneem het.  Fotos vertel 'n storie en sonder fotos sou die artikel maar vervelig gewees het.

'n Besonderse dank ook aan Dolf ZS1DRP en Lynnore ZS1DPW vir hul teenwoordigheid op die dag. Hulle het Vrydag laat vanaf die Kalahari af terug gekeer en besluit om die byeenkoms by te woon.  Ongelukkig was hulle nie teenwoodig vir die groepsfoto nie weens die feit dat hulle om verstaanbare redes later opgedaag het.  Niks wat inlas fotos nie kan regstel nie.  Dolf aan jou en Lynnore dankie dat julle die opoffering gemaak het om by ons aan te sluit.  Ons sou graag langer wou kuier maar daar sal sekerlik weer 'n geleenheid in die toekoms wees.

Dankie aan almal wat teenwoordig was.  Sonder julle sou dit nie dieselfde gewees het nie. Dan aan die talle radio amateurs wat graag daar wou wees maar weens omstandighede nie teenwoordig kon wees nie.  Sien julle volgende keer en moet nie weer so 'n geleentheid misloop nie!  Julle het 'n besonderse byeenkoms gemis.  Ons sien daarna uit om julle by die volgende geleentheid te sien en te ontmoet.  Kom ons kyk of ons nie die huidige rekord kan breek met die volgende byeenkoms nie.

6.  Laastens maar nie die minste nie.  Wat word bedoel met 'n Geskiedkundige Byeenkoms van Radio Amateurs in die Suid Kaap.  Na my beste wete was daar nog noot so 'n groot en genotvolle byeenkoms van Suid Kaapse radio amateurs nie.  Ons mag nie vergeet van die gades wat teenwoordig was nie.  Hul bywoning en bydrae tot amateur radio is ook geskiedkundig in die Suid Kaap.  Dit was en is werklik verblydend om so baie LV's by die bymekaarkoms te sien asook hulle spontane deelname en ondersteuning. Dankie aan al die dames vir die opofferings wat julle gemaak het asook bywoning. 

'n Nuwe bywonings rekord is ook opgestel vir Suid Kaap Radio Amateurs, Gades en Besoekers: 

So bietjie statistiek:  

Totale Persone teenwoordig op die dag:  30 

Totale Suid Kaap Radio Amateurs teenwoordig op die dag:  20

Ek is bewus van talle radio amateurs wat daagliks op die Aasvoelkop herhaler inskakel dmv Echolink en wat in ander provinsies woonagtig is wat ook graag die byeenkoms sou wou bywoon.  Dankie aan julle wat vooraf beste wense gestuur het vir die dag en ook aangedui het dat julle in die gees saam teenwoordig sal wees. Julle wense word waardeer en in 'n toonbeeld van die amateur radio gees wat  heers in die Suid Kaap.  Wie weet miskien eendag dan ontmoet ons van aangesig to aangesig.  Niks is onmoontlik nie!

Soos dit maar gaan kan die lekker kuier nie verewig aanhou nie en so teen 15h00 het die eerste besoekers wat ver moes ry gegroet en vertrek na hulle tuistes toe.  En was daar nou behoorlik blad geskud nie, party sommer twee keer want sien ons weet nie wanneer ons mekaar weer van oog tot oog gaan sien nie.  Gelukkig is daar amateur radio en gaan ons mekaar gereeld hoor op die lug. So al kan ons mekaar nie gereeld in lewende lywe sien nie, maak amateur radio dit moontlik om kontak te behou.

Al wat oorbly is om te vra wanneer is die volgende byeenkoms van die klomp dinamiese radio amateurs, gades en jongmense in die Suid Kaap?

Fotos (Klik op fotos om te vergroot)

En so het almal lekker saam gekuier!!

Video:  Dames uitstappie na die Gouritz Rivier