Recap ARISS SSTV Event Participation 14 July 2025 to 20 July 2025

An ARISS SSTV event took place from  14 July 2025 to 20 July 2025.  The subject was the 50th anniversary of the ASTP and the 40th anniversary of STS-51F.   STS-51F was the second SAREX flight and had the first use of SSTV in human spaceflight.

Down-link transmissions was at 145.800 MHz FM and the mode was  PD 120.

The transmissions consisted of 12 images featuring the Apollo Soyuz mission and STS 51F which pioneered SSTV operation on Shuttles. Please note that the newly updated gallery is available at https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_SSTV/ .

Feedback on the event:

The following radio amateurs participated:

1.  Gerrit ZS1KLO

2.  Johan ZS1I

3.  Rulhof ZS4RM

4.  Jacobus ZS1JDJ

5.  Christi ZS4CGR

6.  Andre ZS3AG

7   Johnny ZS3JDL

 

A demonstration of how to download SSTV images from the International Space Station (ISS) was held on the 19 July 2025 on the farm Blandsdrift during the ZS-Link Network Group gathering.  Well the ISS cooperated nicely and there was a good flypast at 11h58 SAST at a maximum elevation of 56.2 degrees elevation on the farm. The following radio amateurs participated in the demonstration: Jacobus ZS1JDJ, Gerrit ZS1KLO, Nico ZS1ZAN.

The images below were downloaded using Robot36 installed on a cellphone and a 2m Handheld with a "rubber duck" antenna. There was great interest from several radio amateurs in the demonstration. Hopefully many new radio amateurs will participate in the next SSTV broadcasts from the International Space Station. (ISS)

Here are the pictures/images that were downloaded on the day:  (Click on the images for larger view)

 

Jacobus ZS1JDJ

 

 

Gerrit ZS1KLO

The following ARISS SSTV Awards were issued to the participating stations: (Click on the images for larger view.)

(PLEASE NOTE:  I am currently waiting for the award certificates of Andre ZS3AG and Johnny ZS3JDL.  Once received the certificates will be added to this topic.)

Belangrike Sekuriteitswaarskuwing aan Radio Amateurs / Important Security Warning to Radio Amateurs

Belangrike Sekuriteitswaarskuwing:

 
Soos julle almal weet, gebeur sekuriteits- en bedrogvoorvalle deesdae gereeld — van gekapte rekeninge en selfoonnommers tot vals boodskappe wat lyk of dit van bekende mense af kom. Ongelukkig is daar vandag weer nuwe gevalle in ons breër amateur radiogemeenskap gerapporteer.

Ons wil julle daarom net weer herinner om seker te maak dat jou persoonlike aanlyn sekuriteit in plek is en dat jy versigtig is met enige verdagte kommunikasie. Hierdie tipe aanvalle tref mense van alle ouderdomme en vlakke van tegniese kennis.

Wat jy nou kan doen om jouself te beskerm:
✅ Gaan jou Google-, e-pos- en ander belangrike rekeninge se sekuriteitsinstellings na
✅ Skakel twee-faktor verifikasie (2FA) aan waar moontlik
✅ Gebruik sterk en unieke wagwoorde vir elke rekening
✅ Wees versigtig vir ongewone of dringend klinkende boodskappe, selfs van mense wat jy ken
✅ Moenie op verdagte skakels klik of onbekende lêers aflaai nie
✅ Moenie persoonlike inligting via WhatsApp, e-pos of SMS deel nie
✅ Rapporteer enige verdagte kommunikasie onmiddellik aan die komitee sou dit lyk of dit van een van ons af kom.

Hoe misdadigers dikwels toegang verkry tot jou inligting:
– Vals e-posse of webwerwe wat jou vra om aan te meld op ’n vals webblad
– WhatsApp-boodskappe van “vriende” wat hulp of geld vra
– SIM-swap-bedrog – jou selfoonnommer word oorgeneem en gebruik om jou rekeninge oop te kry
– Gebruik van swak of herhaalde wagwoorde
– Skadelike lêers of skakels wat malware installeer

🔐 Wat doen ons as gemeenskap?
Ons neem hierdie risiko’s ernstig op en pas alle beskikbare sekuriteitsmaatreëls toe op die platforms wat ons gebruik. Jou persoonlike aanlyn veiligheid is egter jou eerste en belangrikste verdedigingslinie.

Laat ons saamwerk om mekaar te beskerm teen hierdie bedreigings. Deel asseblief hierdie boodskap met ander lede wat dalk nie op die groep is nie.

Bly waaksaam en veilig.

73

Boland Amateur Radio Klub Komitee

 

ED.   Dankie BARK vir die inligting.

 

English Version:

Important Security Alert:

As you all know, security and fraud incidents are common these days — from hacked accounts and cellphone numbers to fake messages that appear to come from well-known people. Unfortunately, new cases have been reported in our broader amateur radio community today.

We would therefore like to remind you once again to make sure that your personal online security is in place and that you are cautious with any suspicious communications. These types of attacks affect people of all ages and levels of technical knowledge.

What you can do now to protect yourself:
✅ Check the security settings of your Google, email and other important accounts
✅ Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) where possible
✅ Use strong and unique passwords for each account
✅ Be wary of unusual or urgent-sounding messages, even from people you know
✅ Don’t click on suspicious links or download unknown files
✅ Don’t share personal information via WhatsApp, email or SMS
✅ Report any suspicious communication to the committee immediately if it appears to come from one of us.

How criminals often gain access to your information:
– Fake emails or websites asking you to log in to a fake website
– WhatsApp messages from “friends” asking for help or money
– SIM swap scams – your cellphone number is taken over and used to open your accounts
– Using weak or repeated passwords
– Malicious files or links that install malware

🔐 What are we doing as a community?

We take these risks seriously and implement all available security measures on the platforms we use. However, your personal online safety is your first and most important line of defense.

Let’s work together to protect each other from these threats. Please share this message with other members who may not be on the group.

Stay vigilant and safe.

73

Boland Amateur Radio Club Committee 

ED. Thanks BARK for the information.

Congratulations to all the candidates who passed the May 2025 RAE Examination!!

As per the above title the Southern Cape Link Network Group would like to congratulate all the RAE candidates on passing the RAE. They wrote the examination last Saturday (10 May 2025).  A special word of welcome to every new radio amateur and we trust that every single one that passed will be and active radio amateur for the rest of his lifetime on this planet.  We as "older" radio amateurs would like to take this opportunity to share our knowledge that we gathered throughout the years. Let's be realistic there will by experienced radio amateurs that might not share their knowledge but they are definitely far and in between. There are also a few "soar plums" around.  Please ignore them and find a friendly helpful radio amateur.  The only thing that you must do is to ask questions on the airwaves, and NOT social media as we would like others to also learn from you questions.  After all we talk about amateur radio here and NOT social media!  If you do not ask questions you will not gain the knowledge of experienced radio amateurs. Yes, there is Google, YouTube etc. but they do not always explain the "nitty gritty" and definitely not the way experience radio amateurs will personally assist you with any problems you might experience in your amateur radio career.  The worst thing you can do is to "disappear" after you wrote the RAE.  Please get into the swing of things as soon as possible!! 

The following candidates passed the RAE in the Southern Cape Area:

Johan ZS1JBZ George

Gisbert ZS1DGS George

Jan ZS1CBS Mossel Bay 

Finally:  Many thanks to all those who are/were involved in the RAE, PR and the recruiting process.

Did you fail the Radio Amateur Examination (RAE)? Never give up!!

With all the results of the recent Radio Amateur Examination (RAE) now available there might be some who did not pass the RAE.  This is nothing new as it is something that occurs in life whether it is at school, college or university.  While others celebrate there are those who might be sad and feel that they are a failure or that they did not study hard enough. Be as it may this happens in the best of families but everything is not lost.  You can and should write the RAE again in May 2025.  The latter part of the title of this article say it all:  "Never Give Up!!"

Why should one not give up in becoming an amateur radio operator?  Well I can provide you with many reasons here but I would rather like to tell you a story as an encouragement to write the RAE again and if necessary again and again.

More than 30 years ago I met Chris a 74 year old real gentleman in the town that I was living in at that stage.  I was always interested in radio and saw a large tower and antenna about 3 km away from my home.  One day I decided to visit this radio operator by knocking on his front door.  I introduced myself and the first thing he asked me if I was from the Post Office Inspectorate.  See in those days  the Post Office was the authoritative body responsible for citizens band, commercial and amateur radio.  Some citizens band (CB) operators used high power amplifiers and was then visited by the  Post Office Inspectors which resulted in confiscating such equipment or issuing of a fine.  Need I explain why he asked me if I was from the Post Office Inspectorate?

I told Chris no I am not from the Post Office and that I am just interested in radio and thought that he will be able to tell me more about his station, tower and antenna.  With the ice broken the rest was history and I need not tell you that I become a CB operator.  But this is not the crux of the matter.  One day Chris visited me and he brought a blue book with him.  (See top image)  He informed me that we are both going to become radio amateurs.  I was not very keen on the idea and he could see that on my facial expressions.  He said that he is 74 years old and that he is going to write the RAE and that it will be a shame if a 74 year old can pass the examination and that I (much younger than him) am not willing to except a challenge from an old man.

After we had a cup of coffee Chris left and my brain started to go haywire about this idea.  Well need I say that Chris wrote the examination but unfortunately failed the technical paper.  I did not even try to write the examination.  Chris told me he is not going to give up and that he will again write the examination the next time around. He wrote again and failed again.  I still did not even try to study the blue book.  Eventually I was transferred to another town but we kept contact.  One day Chris phoned me and he informed me that he was going to write the RAE for the third time.  Well he passed both papers and did well.  I was informed accordingly and the determination of Chris convinced me to write the examination the next time around.  I passed first time and Chris was in another world.  Unfortunately we were never able to make contact via HF as Chris went silent key after open hart surgery.

I dedicated my first HF contact to Chris Langeveldt ZS4CL (SK) (CB Handle:  Mazda) and left my first entry in my HF Log Book empty with a note in the remarks column that this first contact is dedicated to the man that challenged me to became a radio amateur.  I later managed to receive and empty QSL card (see image above) from his XYL Tant Annie (CB Handle:  Silver Draadjie).

May this short real story encourage those who did not pass the RAE this time around to write the examination again and if necessary a third and even a fourth time.  Never Give Up on your dream to become an Amateur Radio Operator does not matter how old you are.  I can guarantee you that amateur radio will change your life.  Remember  no where in this world will you find another diverse hobby like amateur radio. 

We as radio amateurs would like to welcome you to the best hobby in the world.  We enjoy attracting more people, from across our differences, to our common passion for radio? To those who have just passed the RAE be radio active! Be the connector that grows the hobby! And if you have a friend who is not a radio amateur or did not pass the exam the first time around,  invite and encourage him to write the RAE again to become an active radio amateur.

Remember:  Never Give Up!!

Congratulations to all the candidates that wrote and passed the Oct 2024 RAE Examination!!

 

As per the above title I would like to congratulate all the RAE candidates on passing the RAE, They wrote the examination last Saturday (19 October 2024).  A special word of welcome to every new radio amateur and I trust that every single one that passed will be and active radio amateur for the rest of his lifetime on this planet.  We as "older" radio amateurs would like to take this opportunity to share our knowledge that we gathered throughout the years. Let's be realistic there will by experienced radio amateurs that might not share their knowledge but they are definitely far and in between. There are also a few "soar plums" around.  Please ignore them and find a friendly helpful radio amateur.  The only thing that you must do is to ask questions on the airwaves, and NOT social media as we would like others to also learn from you questions.  After all we talk about amateur radio here and NOT social media!  If you do not ask questions you will not gain the knowledge of experience radio amateurs. Yes, there is Google, YouTube etc. but they do not always explain the "nitty gritty" and definitely not the way experience radio amateurs will personally assist you with any problems you might experience in your amateur radio career.  The worst thing you can do is to "disappear" after you wrote the RAE.  Please get into the swing of things as soon as possible!!

The following candidates passed the RAE in the Southern Cape Area:

1. Jacobus ZS1JDJ

2.  Vivian  ZS1VIV

3.  Jacub ZS1KUB

4.  Matthys ZU1MY

5.  Martin ZS1FCN

6.  Cloe  ZR1CZ

7.  Llewellyn  ZS1VIS

Congratulations to the Eden Radio Club who managed to obtain a 100% pass rate!!

Finally:  Many thanks to all those who are/were involved in the RAE, PR and the recruiting process.  

Toekenning aan George-Amateur-Radio Lid

Entoesiastiese lede van die Eden-radioklub in George beywer hulle vir die bevordering van hierdie stokperdjie.

Monday, 12 August 2024, 11:02  

GEORGE NUUS - 'n Lid van Eden-radioklub, Matthys Louw, is met 'n baie spesiale nasionale toekenning vereer tydens die klub se jaarvergadering op 27 Julie.

Louw het die Jack Twine-meriete-toekenning ontvang wat deur die Suid-Afrikaanse Radioliga uitgereik word vir onselfsugtige en opregte bydrae tot amateurradio.

Die klub verwelkom ook drie nuwelinge, waarvan die jongste slegs 15 jaar oud is. Die drie is besig met opleiding en studies ter voorbereiding vir die nasionale eksamen wat in Oktober afgelê word.

Na die vergadering het almal gesellig saam gekuier.

Amateurradio is 'n stokperdjie vir oud en jonk en almal wat betrokke wil raak kan gaan loer na die klub se sosiale bladsye op YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, asook hul webtuiste.

Die klub bedank al die lede en nie-lede wat van so ver as Plettenbergbaai en Boggomsbaai gekom het om die spesiale geleentheid by te woon.

‘Ons bring jou die nuutste Tuinroete, Hessequa, Karoo nuus’

George Herald

Congratulations to all the candidates that wrote and passed the May 2024 RAE Examination!!

 

As per the above title I would like to congratulate all the RAE candidates on passing the RAE, They wrote the examination last Saturday (18 May 2024).  A special word of welcome to every new radio amateur and I trust that every single one that passed will be and active radio amateur for the rest of his lifetime on this planet.  We as "older" radio amateurs would like to take this opportunity to share our knowledge that we gathered throughout the years. Let's be realistic there will by experienced radio amateurs that might not share their knowledge but they are definitely far and in between. There are also a few "soar plums" around.  Please ignore them and find a friendly helpful radio amateur.  The only thing that you must do is to ask questions on the airwaves, and NOT social media as we would like others to also learn from you questions.  After all we talk about amateur radio here and NOT social media!  If you do not ask questions you will not gain the knowledge of experience radio amateurs. Yes, there is Google, YouTube etc. but they do not always explain the "nitty gritty" and definitely not the way experience radio amateurs will personally assist you with any problems you might experience in your amateur radio career.  The worst thing you can do is to "disappear" after you wrote the RAE.  Please get into the swing of things as soon as possible!! 

The following candidates passed the RAE in the Southern Cape Area:

1.  Danie De Klerk ZS1DEK  Calitzdorp

2.  Nico Janse van Rensburg ZS1JVR  Ladismith

3.  Leon Kapp ZS1KAP  George

4.  Willem ZS1WCA Oudtshoorn

5.  Selwyn Young ZS1SY  George

6. Lynnore Pretorius  ZS1DPW  Still Bay

Finally:  Many thanks to all those who are/were involved in the RAE, PR and the recruiting process.