RSA | R30.00 incl. VAT THE COMMUNICATION ISSUE THE OFFICIAL MOUTHPIECE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS | JUNE 2013 wattnow | june 2013 | 1 LETTERS The IDC provided an international guarantee facility to The IDC continues to identify and provide development 6 Letter from the SAIEE President - Mr Paul van Niekerk. Vektronix in East London where Samsung flat-panel television funding for projects that will contribute to the accelerated sets are assembled. The net result has been the creation of building of South Africa’s industrial capacity and the creation REGULARS 153 secure jobs. of sustainable jobs. Visit www.idc.co.za to find out more. 8 wattshot We showcase gadgets & gizmos for everyone! After more than 35 years, Vektronix, the first TV manufacturing 10 wattsup Current Affairs plant in South Africa, remains a flexible and cost-effective 59 Crossword - win R1000! consumer electronics manufacturer in the country. 60 Membership 62 SAIEE Calendar of Events page 11 FEATURE 26 Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) Keeping South African industry Radio spectrum is a natural resource whose utilisation is subject to government policies - we ask - why DSA and what's the benefits? in the global picture COMMUNICATION 32 Location Based Service market to thrive as its focus shifts page 17 LBS have emerged as one of the hottest trends in worldwide mobile applications and market researchers predicts an exponential growth tallying into the billions. 34 Square Kilometre Array Lecture in George Dr Adrian Tiplady, a key figure in the SKA bid, presented his lecture at our Southern Cape Centre earlier in the year. Read about this rationale behind the project. POWER 36 Preparing for winter power outages page 26 Winter is upon us and so is the looming power cuts due to maintenance. Are you ready? 38 Renewables to the Rescue The 'Green Solution' to South Africa's Electricity crunch? TECHNOLOGY 42 Uranium Technology Felix Bosch gives us a historical overview on this 'taboo' subject in the first of a two part series. page 48 HISTORY 48 A giant amongst men The enigmatic Angela Price wrote this beautiful 'biography' on the late Dr Bernard Price, who, amongst many things, were a giant amongst men. OPINION 54 Are our talented Engineers being disempowered? The rules set the records straight has had an adverse effect on many areas in South Africa - especially in the Engineering fraternity! Chillibush8052IDC LOOKING BACK 56 June - gone so soon.... We take a look at June throughout the ages.... Telephone: 086 069 3888 MATHMATICIAN Email: [email protected] 58 Briefly to Infinity Bill Brading asks the question: how much longer can you set new world records? 2 | wattTo nowapply | forjune funding 2013 of R1 million or more go to www.idc.co.za wattnow | june 2013 | 3 FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK | MINX AVRABOS SAIEE mEmbERS t is June already, the days are getting colder and shorter and it is getting worse to get up in the mornings. We don our coats and woolies to brace against the cold air. Lights are on for longer and therefore the electricity crunch. Maintenance to be done in winter seems to be a looming reality. This issue of wattnow is jam-packed with lip-smacking goodness, an issue I thoroughly enjoyed putting together. It is informative and very interesting to see what the SAIEE Centers are getting up to as well as what is happening in the various industries. The theme for this issue focuses on Communication, and the feature in this issue is a very interesting article from Jide Julius Papoola and Rex van Olst of Wits, "Dynamic Spectrum Access" - and they ask the question, what are the wattnow prizes will be awarded for articles written by SAIEE members that are published in benefits of DSA? Get the answer on page 26. the wattnow magazine and that are adjudged ‘excellent’ by a panel of experienced engineers On page 36, Garreth Johnson talks about the preparation needed for the and academics. Articles of between 1500 and 2000 words in the Engineering categories of winter power outages. Read it, you might be able to learn something new. I Communications, Control, Computers & Software and Power as well as General Interest and know I did. Science, written by SAIEE members, in good standing, and published in wattnow will be eligible. In our Power Section, we sport an article from Johan van Den Berg who SAIEE members have broad and expert experience and knowledge about many Engineering projects topics in gives us the 'Green Solution' to South Africa's electricity crunch by bringing which they have been involved. wattnow wants to access and record the experience and knowledge renewables to the rescue. Read more on page 38. of the SAIEE member community and publish this to a wider professional History will never let us forget the devastation the nuclear devices caused audience. over Hiroshima and Nagasaki in WWII. The main ingredient - Uranium. Felix Bosch gives us a historical overview on Uranium Technology in this Write about your (or others’) experience and help to spread knowledge, first of a two part series of articles. Read it on page 42. interest in and history of our great engineering capabilities and achievements. I would need to write two pages explaining what you'll find in this issue, but instead, I'll let you read it for yourself. ARTICLES WILL BE JUDGED ON THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: SAIEE 2013 OFFICE BEARERS • General technical professional interest President Paul van Niekerk • Accuracy and Reliability, Technical Correctness Enjoy this issue! Deputy President Pat Naidoo • Currency and relevance Senior Vice President André Hoffmann • Coverage and Objectivity Junior Vice President T.C. Madikane • Style, language, illustrations, article structure, etc. Immediate Past President Mike Cary Honorary Treasurer Viv Crone Honorary Vice President Sarel Schoombie Awards will be made at the Annual SAIEE Banquet for the best article in each category, published between September and August of the past year. Note that a prize for each ISSN: 1991-0452 category is available but will only be awarded if articles are judged to be of a sufficient SAIEE Publications (Pty) Ltd. All material is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. Reproduction without permission is forbidden. The views expressed in this standard. The prizes for 2013 will be Apple iPads. The judging panel will be made up of publication are not necessarily those of the publisher or the SAIEE. E&OE experienced members of the Engineering fraternity, including academics and industrialists and their decision is final. Detailed rules are available on the SAIEE website - visit www. saiee.org.za Visit www.wattnow.co.za to answer the questions related to these articles to earn your CPD points. The image of the iPad is not necessarily the model to be awarded. 4 | wattnow | june 2013 MESSAGE FROM THE 2013 SAIEE PRESIDENT This workshop has proved to be valuable for the Chairmen as it enables interaction and the opportunity to share and coordinate ideas. I am of the opinion that the SAIEE centres should be more accessible to all members, and in future, I reetings to you all! suggest that we should have a SAIEE centre, or at I started my year as least an interest group, within easy travelling distance president by vistinging the in all areas of South Africa. various SAIEE centres and my first visit was to the Eastern Cape In these days of modern communication, it should Centre. I met the new Chairman Mr Dawid be made possible for any member to log in and Bester and the local committee at Nelson Mandela participate, or at least to view the Council meetings. Metropolitan University. Perhaps we could organise a video stream of the Council proceedings? The address created a lively response from the delegates, and was followed by a social event giving Herewith some of the ideas discussed by the centre SAIEE members and NMMU students a networking Chairmen: opportunity to discuss the future challenges of • Expand the concept of teaching the teachers to all providing electricity to SA. The SAIEE Eastern Cape Centres in the country using the Bergville concept Centre committee, which has been particularly active in KwaZulu Natal as an example. Let us consider in recent years, is supported strongly by NMMU introducing a pipeline to educate children about engineering faculty members. the fascinating world of technology. This may encourage some to enter the field of Engineering. I then went on to visit the Southern Cape Centre in • As suggested at the meeting:- Introduce a system George which is chaired by Mr Robbie Evans. to help younger school going children understand and prepare for the rigorous requirements of This visit was followed by the traditional centre registering at a University to study Engineering. Chairman interactive workshop on at the SAIEE • Introduce technical games and lectures at schools Head Office in Johannesburg, where the SAIEE that are aimed at developing an enquiring mind, Executive team met the centre Chairmen to exchange to encourage learning about the environment and ideas. things that make engineering such an interesting The Centre Chairmen for 2013 are: field of endeavour. KwaZulu Natal - Veer Ramnarain • The allocation of student bursaries, and awards for Western Cape - Phumelelo Ngxonono top students Southern Cape - Robbie Evans Eastern Cape - Dawid Bester All the best for this month and we will chat again Mpumalanga - Sello Raphadu next month. Vaal - Denver Jacobs Paul van Niekerk Pr. Eng SAIEE President 2013 6 | wattnow | june 2013 wattnow | june 2013 | 7 NEW GADGETS ON THE MARKET WATTSHOT Gadgets and gizmos for you... go ahead, spoil yourself! You deserve it! Eton Axis Charger with Radio Weather-Alert & Flashlight Be "Red-Cross" ready for any emergency! Severe weather, blackouts or in any remote area where you want to stay in touch.