Can you host a SARL / HMO beacon?

Radio amateurs are needed to host beacons in a number of rural towns.

If you live in one of the following areas, please consider joining the beacon programme.

Swellendam, Western Cape;
Lamberts Bay / Graafwater, Western Cape;
Queenstown, Eastern Cape;
Umtata, Eastern Cape;
Sutherland, Northern Cape;
Pofadder, Northern Cape;
Kenhardt, Northern Cape;
Kokstad, KwaZulu Natal;
Louwsburg / Vryheid, KwaZulu Natal;
Mmbatho, North West;
Klerksdorp, North West;
Bothaville, Free State.

To qualify for hosting a beacon you need to be licensed and be a member of the SARL. Please email Lee-Anne at beacon@hmo.ac.za if you would like to be part of the programme. There is no cost involved as the beacon is supplied free, complete with antenna, power supply and lightning protection.

The beacon service will be of great value in confirming actual propagation conditions in real time for research and prediction of the ionosphere. The Space Physics Group of the HMO includes an active ionospheric component, and provides ionospheric data for the purpose of Space Weather predictions, which includes HF propagation prediction.

The HMO has recently become the Space Weather Regional Warning Centre for Africa, which includes amongst other parameters, the provision of HF propagation predictions.

A number of volunteer radio amateurs will host beacons at their stations. A centralized database will be maintained that contains a record of each beacon, its host amateur and its time slot. A test beacon is in operation from the Krugersdorp area. Listen to it on 7 023 kHz.

More details and useful links are on www.sarl.org.za.