South Africa allocates two 5 MHz channels

ICASA (Independent Communications Authority of South Africa) - the national telecommunications regulator has approved two 5 MHz frequencies for the South African Radio League (SARL) to carry out propagation research. The frequencies allocated are 5250 and 5260 kHz.

These are 'centre frequencies', the 'USB Dial' frequencies being 1.5 kHz below this ( i.e. 5248.5 and 5258.5 kHz ) . All modes are permitted ( U SB/CW preferred ) with 3 kHz maximum bandwidth.

Maximum Power is 100W ( 400W PEP ) measured at the output of the radio. No antenna restrictions.

The 5250 kHz channel is intended for propagation experiments (e.g. SARL News Bulletin transmissions) and 5260 kHz for general contacts (this channel being common to a number of countries) .

The licence is a pilot licence which has been purchased, so the channels are private and licensed to the SARL, who allow their members to use the frequencies. Participating stations, who need to be SARL members, must register.

South African Radio League (SARL) - http://www.amateurradio.org.za/propresearch.htm

VO-52 satellite completes eight years in orbit

AMSAT-India's VO-52 has completed 8 years in orbit this May, 2013. During its time in operation, it has proved to be a valuable communications resource for the amateur radio community

The overall health parameters of the satellite are excellent and it is hoped that transponder(s) on-board ‘HAMSAT VO-52' will continue to render good services for many more years to come.

How to make contacts through the VO-52 satellite - http://amsat-uk.org/beginners/how-to-work-the-ssb-satellites/

Getting started on Amateur Radio satellites - http://amsat-uk.org/beginners/radcom-getting-started-on-satellites/

VK hams invited to use VI 103 WIA

From 23rd May through to 27th May 2013, a special callsign, VI103WIA will be activated, to mark  the national society in Australia, AGM and Conference being held in Fremantle, Western Australia for the first time on 24-26 May 2013.

Stations throughout Australia can request to operate and be allocated operating times to use the special callsign during this time which is intended to promote Amateur Radio and the WIA.

A local club, the Peel Amateur Radio Club, will be operating portable in Fremantle on the Saturday morning and part of the afternoon and no doubt the callsign will be used in various parts of Australia during the allocated slots. I have not seen a list of who is doing what and when. A special QSL card will be available.

The Fremantle 2m repeater VK6RFM on 146.950 MHz (output) is also equipped with Echolink via VK6DN-R (node number 170709) and IRLP (node number 6200).

An explanation of the callsign, V I is the special prefix allocated by the ACMA (same as OFCOM for you or FCC for the US) for special events, 103 is how many years the WIA has been going (Apparently the oldest Amateur Radio Society in the World) and WIA for Wireless Institute of Australia.

More information -  http://conference.vk6.net/home