South Africa
ZS9X BLOEMFONTEIN DEFENCE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB BLOEMFONTEIN, Lookups:   19137
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QRZ Record: 1419198 Login to manage/edit Lookups: 19137 (19664) Mailing Label... QRZ Admin: ZS4S Last Update: 2008-02-22 03:13:26 Latitude: -29.141282 (29° 8' 28'' S) Longitude: 26.031868 (26° 1' 54'' E) Grid Square: KG30au Born: 2006 Web Page: http://www.mjtourssa.co.za QSL Info: Only via K3IRV Uses LOTW?: Yes (e.g. Does this ham use ARRL's LOTW ?)

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The callsign ZS9X has been allocated to the Bloemfontein Defence Amateur Radio Club. The club is located on a hill about 20km west of the city of Bloemfontein overlooking a military training area. The club was originally a HF Telecommunication Station in use by the South African Army, but with developments in technology, has given way to modern technolgy such as satellite telecommunications.

ZS9X has three aims namely :

1.Participation in DX competitions (all modes) as a single or as a multi operator operation.

2.Development of amateur radio amongst the youth.

3.A station that can be utilised by visiting national and international radio amateurs. The facility has its own accommodation facilities.  In the case of visiting radio amateurs from outside South Africa, transceivers and amplifiers will be provided.  South African radio amateurs are requested to bring along their own equipment where possible.  Arrangements can be made with Lieutenant Colonel John P. Smith (ZS4S) at one of the underlisted telephone numbers or via email:

         Office : +27514021983

         Mobile: +27823826309

          EMail : zs6an@worldonline.co.za

 

The station was founded and developed by the following seven Bloemfontein radio amateurs:

John ZS4S. A Lieutenant Colonel and the commander of the Regional Signal Unit in the Free State Province of South Africa.

Barney ZS4U. A Lieutenant Colonel and attack helicopter pilot with the South African Airforce.

Bernie ZS4TX. A Lieutenant in the Reserve Forces of the SA Army and the owner of a telecommunications company in Bloemfontein.

Denis ZS4BS. A Sergeant Major (WO1) employed as an instructor at the School of Armour in Bloemfontein.

Jan ZS4JAN.  A Flight Sergeant aircraft mechanic at the South African Airforce Base outside Bloemfontein.

Ronnie ZS4RY.  A Major in the Reserve Forces of the SA Army.  Was initially an operational medic (military paramedic) in the South African Military Health Services.  Currently the technical head of a large private hospital group in Bloemfontein.

Elize ZS4CM.  A medical doctor and the head of trauma of one of the largest hospitals in the country (Pelanomi Hospital on the eastern side of Bloemfontein)

Shane ZS4TW.  A radio technician working at the Free State Signal Unit.

The station has an impressive antenna system comprising:

Three Log Periodics covering 3 - 30 Mhz fixed in North West, North and North Easterly diections for use mainly on 80m and 40m. Each Log P has 30 elements and occupies about an acre of ground.

One Optibeam OB17/4 up at a height of 20m (approx 66ft), rotatable, covering 40 through to 10m.

Two Optibeams OB16/3 up at a height of 15 (approx 50ft), fixed east and west

One 5 element 10m monobander up at a height of 30m (approx 100ft) fixed north.

One 5 element 15m monobander up at a height of 15m (approx 50ft) fixed north.

One 80/75m Inv Vee Dipole up at a height of 30m (approx 100ft).

One 160m horizontal dipole up at a height of 30m (approx 100ft)

One HF Discone antenna mounted on a 40m mast covering 1,5 - 30Mhz which will be used mainly on 160m.

A variey of dipole, vertical and other wire antennas are also planned as projects.

The equipment consists of an Icom IC781 and an Icom IC756Pro3 transceivers with valve type amplifiers.