I’d like to begin this bulletin by pointing out what must be very obvious to most of you – the lack of news in these bulletins relative to amateur radio emergency communications in South Africa. I assure you I am very aware of this deficit.
It stems from the absence of communications news relative to disaster or sporting events in this country. I spend 2 hours every week scouring news sources for information which pertains to communications, without much success.
As a result, these bulletins are filled out with science, space or biological reports which may be of interest to you. I will continue to do so, if no specific reports emanate from the HAMNET divisions.
Riaan Greeff ZS4PR, Divisional Director of HAMNET for the Free State Province has questioned the degree to which amateurs should, but don’t, ensure their intercommunicability with other nearby hams with a view to conveying news of local happenings, or disaster management.
He says that “the Free State SARL members and the new radio amateurs in the Free State, are invited to make contact with him (Riaan ZS4PR HAMNET Director Free State). 2026 will be a year of training, and refreshing member’s knowledge about their function within the HAMNET structure, general radio preparedness and the effective integration with other HAMNET groups. To date there are just over 20 active radio amateurs on the HAMNET membership list. The majority of amateurs are in the Vaal region.
“It is surprising to see how many radio amateurs are involved with other groups of safety and protection, but are not members of HAMNET. As radio amateurs, our core advantage is to be able to ensure we set up communication in the case of disasters and emergencies. Yet we do not do this. We as radio amateurs are not called upon when an industrial accident occurs. We are not called upon when fire or flooding hits our regions.”
He goes on to inform Free State hams about facilities and networks which are already running, and welcomes any ideas or suggestions for improvements to the way HAMNET functions in Division 4. He also invites interested parties to join the Free State WhatsApp group with a view to joining in the training. Thank you Riaan!
And Andrew Gray ZS2G, Divisional Director of HAMNET Eastern Cape has been reporting in the last 3 days of the electricity calamity befalling his area. There is a huge electricity outage which may take 2 weeks to sort out, as two towers in the Bethelsdorp-Greenbushes 132kV overhead powerline supply to the Nelson Mandela Bay municipal powerline collapsed, apparently due to vandalism combined with adverse weather conditions.
Andrew reminds his division that without electricity, water-pump stations that feed municipal areas will most likely be out, adding to the inconvenience and suffering in the area. Two weeks is a long time to be without guaranteed power, and commerce and industry will suffer severely.
A 79-year-old Sutherland man says he faces the prospect of moving home or losing decades of specialist radio research after plans were lodged for a 528-panel solar development at a nearby water treatment works.
The Northern Times reports that Scottish Water is seeking to install the large ground-mounted solar array and associated infrastructure at its Savalbeg Water Treatment Works, around a mile north-east of Lairg.
The proposed installation would sit within 100 metres of the home of Clive O’Hennessy, an amateur radio researcher and licensed radio operator living at Savalbeg.
Mr O’Hennessy moved to Savalbeg with his wife in August 2000, having been long-time visitors to the Lairg and Rogart area. He chose the location for its isolation and quiet environment.
He is now living alone at home following the passing of his wife last year, with his sons and their families based in South Wales.
Speaking about the proposal, Mr O’Hennessy said: “This application has been implemented without any consultation or even consideration to its neighbours.
“[It] will be within 100 metres of my house and I only found out about it by a comment that I came across by chance on Facebook.”
Mr O’Hennessy said his decision to settle at Savalbeg some 26 years ago was shaped by his work as an amateur radio researcher.
“I am an amateur radio enthusiast and moved to Savalbeg near Lairg to find an area that was extremely quiet in the VHF radio spectrum,” he said. “This was back in 2000.”
He now fears the proposed solar installation could bring that to an end, with the proximity of the panels to his transmission mast making continued operation impossible.
“A solar farm being erected so close to my home will generate a very large volume of electro-magnetic noise,” he said.
“The solar panels being less than 100 metres from my transmission mast will render continuance of my over 40 years of research and investigation into VHF propagation – via thermal reflections, aircraft reflection, reflection off the Aurora curtain, meteor reflection and even bouncing signals back from the surface of the moon – totally impracticable.
“To continue my research will require another move of home,” he said. “The water board will not compensate for this type of disruption to my life. My radio research is important to me, but the costs of a move of home will be prohibitive.”
Mr O’Hennessy said solar installations were a known source of radio interference and pointed to existing issues caused by a much smaller system nearby.
“My neighbour at Savalbeg Farm has 14 panels on his roof and these result in very strong radio noise if I beam towards his property, rendering a 45 degree quadrant unusable to me,” he explains.
Talking of propagation conditions, I’m sure many radio hams noted the total collapse of propagation this week, as the strongest geomagnetic storm to hit the earth in 20 years killed all communications on HF, a variety of satellite communications, and some GPS functions, but by way of compensation provided some of the best auroral lights at high latitudes in years. The Planetary K index rose to 9 on Tuesday, which is as high as it gets, and all you could hear on the shortwave radios was atmospheric noise. Fortunately by the weekend, the K index was simmering down to 4 again, and communications were becoming possible again.
Gideon Jannisch ZS4GJA, Director of HAMNET Vaal has informed me of the FastOne cycle race taking place today the 25th in Meyerton and surrounds. There is a long 106km race, and a shorter 62km route. I look forward to giving you a follow-up report perhaps next week.
This is Dave Reece ZS1DFR reporting for HAMNET in South Africa.