All roads lead to Stellenbosch next Saturday

An exciting day awaits Western Cape Radio Amateurs when the SARL Radio Technology event is held at the University of Stellenbosch next Saturday 2 June 2007.

The event takes place at the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering in lecture hall 203 in the Electronics Engineering Building. The cost is R20 per person which includes entry into the attendance prize draw. Students and learners enter free. The proceedings will be opened by Prof Chisto Viljoen.

Lectures and demonstration include:
• The mystery of the frog's thigh - the story of the invention of the battery. This is a very popular lecture with demonstrations of how the battery as we know it today was developed.

• Research in ionospheric radio propagation - South Africa is in the forefront of research in this area. The lecture will highlight the work carried out at the Hermanus Magnetic Observatory.

• Cognitive Radio, an emerging technology that may make more intelligent use of the available radio spectrum.

• Automatic Position Reporting System, (APRS) a system that uses amateur radio to transmit position reports, weather reports, and messages between users. A live demonstration is included in the presentation.

• BACAR 2007 - a new approach to promote Amateur Radio at schools and a fun club project using a miniature satellite launched on a couple of party balloons. BACAR is the acronym for Balloon Carrying Amateur Radio.

The full programme is available on www.sarl.org.za, click on Radio Technology in Action.

Source: The South African Radio League