Listen to amateur radio - without a radio!

As part of an initiative to introduce amateur radio to non-radio amateurs, Magalies Radio Amateur Club launched itself into cyberspace and the internet. MRK believes that it is a first for a radio amateur club in the RSA.

As from Sunday 5 June 2005 audio from the 175,570 MRK repeater is relayed onto the internet in real time audio streaming.

Real time audio streaming differs from Echolink as Echolink is only available to licensed radio amateurs whereas real time audio streaming resides in the public domain on internet where anyone with a computer and internet connection can listen to commercial and other radio stations.

In other words, anyone with a computer can log onto www.zs6mrk.org. Simply follow the instructions and bingo!, you can listen to what is happening on the MRK repeater in real time audio streaming.

The driving motivation behind the plan is that are more computers in households with internet connections than there are short wave or amateur radio equipment.

Through the link on it's website MRK will be able to reach a much larger audience than through the conventional methods, it is aimed at the younger generation and those interested in amateur radio.

In fact the web server handling the audio traffic even has a "funky" name with the title "Pirateradionetwork". Nothing about the website is in fact pirate or unlawful, it is properly registered, all programmes are paid for and governed by international laws. Nowadays young people tend to go for strange sounding names, this name could be very well just what the doctor ordered.

ARMI and the Afrikaans and English bulletins are also relayed on this repeater on Sundays. Much larger audiences can now be reached.

In order to successfully operate this facility the SARL and radio amateurs using the MRK repeater should "come out behind the door" and be seen. We should become far more visible and change our perception in the eyes of the public to that of a technology driven society. People simply are unaware of our existance.

What now becomes important for radio amateurs using the MRK repeater is that they should carefully select their choice of subjects for discussion and use of language. Idle chatter and ragchewing will simply not entice prospective new radio amateurs to join our ranks.

Amateurs will also have to brush up on their radio manners when using 2 m repeaters, attention should be paid to correct procedures, pauses etc. Remember, you might have quite an audience out there listening to you without you even being aware of it.

With this bold step MRK believes that they have succeeded in integrating our hobby, technology and the internet seamlessly to the advantage of all radio amateurs and are inviting each and everyone to spread the word as far as possible.

Courtesy of The South African Radio League

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