UTC 00:00:00

ZS1ZZCharl Marais · Amateur Radio Operator

Wynberg, Cape Town · South Africa · JF95fx · zs1zz@aol.com

Licensed amateur radio operator based in Wynberg, Cape Town —
15km from the CBD, working by day in the motor trade,
building friendships over the air by night.

80MFair
40MFair
30MFair
20MFair
17MFair
15MFair
12MFair
10MFair
80MFair
40MFair
30MFair
20MFair
17MFair
15MFair
12MFair
10MFair

What is the RAE Course?

The Radio Amateur's Examination (RAE) is the South African licence qualification administered by the SARL on behalf of ICASA — the regulator that grants you the legal right to operate an amateur radio station anywhere in South Africa and on the air worldwide. This 12-week course, taught by Charl ZS1ZZ (Chief RAE Invigilator at CTARC), runs every 16:00 - 18:00 and combines online theory sessions with 2 in-person practical classes — covering the full syllabus from Ohm's Law right through to operating procedures and regulations. The next course starts on 18 July 2026 16:00.

CH 02 – 05
⚡ Electrical Fundamentals & Units
CH 06 – 08
🔋 DC Circuits, Batteries & Resistors
CH 09 – 11
🌊 AC Theory, Capacitors & Inductors
CH 12 – 13
📻 RF Fundamentals & Resonance
CH 14 – 16
🔌 Semiconductors, Diodes & Transistors
CH 17 – 19
📡 Transmitters, Receivers & Transceivers
CH 20 – 22
🔊 Modulation: AM, FM & SSB
CH 23 – 25
🛰️ Propagation & the Ionosphere
CH 26 – 28
📶 Antennas, Feed Lines & SWR
CH 29 – 31
🛡️ Interference, Safety & Power Supplies
CH 32 – 33
🌍 Operating Procedures & Modes
CH 34
📐 Formula Reference & Exam Preparation
📅 Course Details
Start date18 July 2026 16:00
Time16:00 - 18:00
Duration12 weeks — online & practical
Course feeR1 000 (R500 if ≤18 yrs)
Calculator⚠️ Scientific calculator required every session
💳 Payment
Course feeR1 000 (R500 if ≤18 yrs)
ReferenceRAE + YOUR SURNAME
Proof of paymentzs1zz@aol.com

Banking details will be provided upon registration.

📝 SARL Exam Registration
Exam date10 October 2026
Exam centreCape Town Rondebosch
Reg closes25 September 2026 — no late registrations!
Fee Class AR700
Fee Class BR700
Register atmysarl.org.za

You will need a scanned ID/passport, ICASA signature page and proof of payment of the exam fee.

The Story Behind the Call

My name is Charl, and my QTH is Wynberg, Cape Town — about 15km from the CBD. By day I sweat in the motor trade, but by night I love speaking to fellow hams on the air. You can find my full logbook and station details on QRZ.com.

When time allows, antenna builds are brought to the shack — there is always something to experiment with. I truly enjoy building friendships over the air — that's what this hobby is all about.

Portable activations are a passion — ILLW lighthouse events and SARL Field Day are highlights of the calendar year. Getting out into the field with a radio and making contacts from a lighthouse or a park is something special.

I also serve as Chief RAE Invigilator at the Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre (CTARC · ZS1CT), helping the next generation of amateur radio operators get licensed. The RAE course on this site is part of that mission.

I am a proud member of the South African Radio League (SARL) — the national body representing amateur radio operators in South Africa.

📻 Station ZS1ZZ

🎙️
Xiegu G90Portable operations & digital modes
📻
Icom IC-718Shack HF operations
📱
Anytone 878APRS & DMR contacts
📡
Anytone 588VHF & UHF operations
🔗
Inverted V — 10/20/30/40mHF antenna
🔗
Diamond X200VHF/UHF vertical
// HF Propagation

Current Band Conditions

Live solar data from NOAA

80M
Fair
40M
Fair
30M
Fair
20M
Fair
17M
Fair
15M
Fair
12M
Fair
10M
Fair
Solar Flux
95
A-Index
5
K-Index
2

Updated: 11 Aug 2026 1516 GMT · Source: HamQSL / NOAA

// Cape Town Weather

Local Conditions

Live weather for Wynberg, Cape Town · JF95fx

☀️
17°C
Feels 14°C
Humidity
54%
Wind
19 km/h SE
Tue
☀️
17°
10°
Wed
☀️
21°
Thu
26°
13°
Fri
🌦️
16°
11°
Sat
☁️
19°

Source: Open-Meteo · Wynberg, Cape Town · Updated: 11 Aug 2026 16:18 SAST (refreshes every 6 hours)