This is a service for Club Members only.

 

 The club operates in the 29MHz frequency band for all activities.

 

Like your TV licence anyone may apply for a 29MHz licence.  The radio is licenced not the operator.  It is a legal requirement to have a licence if you own a two-way radio and ICASA, the national telecommunications regulatory body, does from time to time carry out checks ensure this.  It is possible to obtain a licence privately, but this entails a considerable amount of bureaucracy.

 

The Off-Road Radio Association (ORRA) issues 29MHz and VHF radio licenses on behalf of ICASA.  ORRA issues licenses only to paid-up members of clubs affiliated to the Association of All Wheel Drive Clubs of South Africa (AAWDC). 

 

As a member of an AAWDC Club, ORRA makes it very simple, and will issue a licence after receipt of a basic application form. 

 

If you are a member of this Club, contact the club's radio officer (see contact details on this page) for assistance.  Please note that ORRA will contact you, the member, directly with respect to fees and renewals.  To contact ORRA click here.

 

If you are not a member of this Club read here.

 

Once you obtain your licence there are certain conditions to which you must adhere.  Talking on the radio is not like talking on a telephone and radio procedures should be adopted.  Read here for more details.

 

It is a requirement, should you dispose of your radio, that you advise ORRA of the reason for the disposal and if a sale to whom.  You should motivate the purchaser to obtain a licence if he or she does not already have one.

 

Those of you who have gone on trips in a group without a radio will be surprised as to how much enjoyment there is to be had if your convoy had radio communication.

 

ORRA is a service provided by the AAWDC -- use it!!!

 

 

The rules:

 

#1 Listen before you transmit

 

#2 Legally you are obliged to use call signs.

For a small number of “stations” the name of the operator can be used as call sign.

TIP: Always call the station you want to talk to:
    e.g. “Pete, this is Paul, over”,
    Get a reply, e.g.  “Paul this is Pete, over”
    Then start sending your message, ending with “over”.

 

#3 Remember - no one else on the same channel can transmit while you are holding your “push to talk” button down.

 

#4 Always keep a listening watch; nothing can be more frustrating to a transmitting station than not being able to obtain an answer from you when they know you are there. If you plan not to respond, announce this fact.

 

#5 Do not speak directly into the microphone (mic).  Speak across it.  Don’t shout – talk normally.  Your volume should be lower than normal - clipping or saturation occurs, making it very difficult to understand your message.
 
#6 Do not continuously clog the airwaves with unnecessary chatter that is meaningless to most who are listening in.