Page 20 - Issue 2 2023

AMATEUR RADIO

also underway to secure a site in the
northern Karoo. The project is being
crowd-funded with approximately 40
% of the target achieved. The ultimate
plan is to have several beacons and
monitoring stations around South Africa
and an automated beacon monitoring
receiver is currently being developed.
The aim of the project is to study various
propagation conditions under which long
distance communication occurs on VHF
frequencies (144 MHz). Historically there
is a lack of research pertaining to inland
Es’hail 2 VHF/UHF propagation and this project
has the potential to attract attention
from universities for students to do the
necessary research in this field as a topic
for a Masters or PhD degree.

Frequency noise monitoring
project
The objective of this project is to set
up a number of monitoring stations to
evaluate the increasing noise level on
HF and VHF which has an impact on
communication. The level of noise on
radio frequencies is increasing, often as a
result of unintended radio transmission
by devices which have not been designed
to transmit radio frequencies. Such
devices and systems include LED lights
not fitted with noise suppressors, solar
installations, charging of electric cars and
many more.

These are just some of the projects that
Es’hailsat footprint
would require funding. Recognition by
government and industry of amateur
In South Africa, the amateur radio community is involved in three major development radio as an informal research activity and
initiatives: a value-add to the country’s intellectual
capital would go a long way in obtaining
AfriCUBE sponsorship and financial support.
This is a one-unit CubeSat with a linear software-defined radio transponder and various From the amateur radio perspective,
communications and telemetry modes. The SDR transponder has been fully designed and it is important to promote the technical
prototyped. The space frame was locally designed, and various iterations have been built. aspects of amateur radio to the youth
A final space frame is soon to be constructed. The project has thus far been funded from and the older generation: to the youth
AMSAT SA funds raised by selling a dual band, locally designed Yagi antenna. The large because it is a stepping stone to a career
expenditure going forward will be the launch. AMSAT SA is also making approaches to and to the older generation to spend
various launch agencies for a sponsored launch. time proactively.

Next generation VHF beacon project For more information visit
A digital radio beacon is being developed. Currently the system is undergoing redesign www.amsatsa.org.za or www.sarl.org.za
due to the worldwide shortage of integrated circuit devices. Negotiations are currently or write to admin@amsatsa.org.za.

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