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. The costs are:

 

Radio License Application Costs

Application Fee	R10
Annual Fee	R20
29MHz Radio Fee (per radio)	R35
VHF	R100

 

If you are a member of this Club, contact the club's radio officer (see contact details below) to obtain an application form.  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.