Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday September 10th 2000
Cork Radio Club Rally
All roads lead to Blarney on Sunday next for the annual Cork Rally at the Blarney Park Hotel in Blarney.
Doors will open at 1100 and the admission will be two pounds.
Al the usual traders will be in attendance with a few new ones this year. The usual bring and buy will operate and computer enthusiasts should be well catered for.
Further information on the event from Con EI7DJB on 021-270136.
Celticon 2000
Last weekends Celticon 2000, a QRP gathering at the Marino Institute was a great success. A multinational attendance enjoyed the activities which ran from Friday night until Sunday evening.
David Reid PA3HBB/G0BZF gave a very entertaining lecture on portable aerials and gave his audience many new ideas to try out.
Sheldon Hands from Hands Electronics gave a presentation on advanced receiver design and Bill Carver W7AAZ, a well known technical author in the USA gave a most informative lecture on filters. He unveiled a prototype of a new LC meter, which he has designed and which should be available, this side of the Atlantic in the near future.
A workshop was conducted by George Dobbs G3RJV and Ian Keyser G3ROO where participants built a TRF receiver.
EI2QRP, the callsign of the EI QRP Club was active from the venue all weekend and was very popular with the visitors.
Sean Donelan EI4GK represented the IRTS at the Friday night session.
The Dublin QRP club meets every Thursday night at The Marino Institute and new members and visitors are always welcome.
For further information, contact Ron Hall EI4AR at 01-8335551.
Shannon River Run
A number of Clubs have had difficulty participating in the event due to it occurring so early in the radio calendar year.
Rather than proceed with just a few boats participating, it has been decided to postpone the event until the spring, in the hope that more Clubs can 'come on board'.
Some overseas groups have also expressed an interest and a spring date would allow them time to make their arrangements.
Watch the web page for regular updates.
SSB Field Day
North Dublin Radio Club using the millennium callsign EI2MM/p, from the grounds of the Bayside Scouts, was using a tribander for the first time on field day. The effort was well supported by club members especially by the newer callsign holders.
Cork Radio Club, EI5CRC/p, operated from their usual site in Glanmire and the East Cork Group, EI7M/P, had only one station this time, operating from Carrigtwohill in East Cork.
ATV Activity
On this Sunday, tests are to take place from Mount Leinster to County Cavan on 10 GHz as part of the ATV contest this weekend.
It is also proposed to try and link up GW and EI ATV repeaters.
Any ATV stations down south wishing to take part or help should listen out on 144.750MHz.
Inishmurrray Island Activated
Inishmurrray Island off Co. Sligo was activated for the first time ever by Paddy EJ7GK on Friday August the 25th.
Paddy travelled out to the island in bright sunshine and set up his gear, an FT757 powered by a car battery, and a 40m dipole by an old roofless house, using the windowsill as a table.
The last inhabitants left the island in 1948. There was a big demand for the new island and new square G55 Sligo from WAI and IOTA hunters on 7.068MHz. As a result at least one station qualified for the first WAI 1400 award, which requires 25 islands.
There was also lots of happy IOTA hunters on 21MHz.
The DXpedition had to be cut short when the big thunderstorm arrived. The rig was quickly put in a plastic bag while the antenna had to be taken down in the downpour.
Upcoming Contests
Next weekend, September the 16th and 17th, CW operators are catered for with the Scandinavian Activity Contest. This runs from noon utc on Saturday for 24 hours.
The SSB leg of this one will be held on the following weekend, the 23rd and 24th.
RTTY enthusiasts are also catered for on that weekend with a 48 hour event from midnight utc Friday.
IARABD
The Blind and Disabled Group will not resume after the summer recess until Monday October the 2nd.
They will meet at St. Joseph’s School for the visually impaired every Monday night and will also run a net during club meeting hours on 145.575MHz. The club is grateful to the regulars who call in on the net and would welcome more participation.
Volunteers are required to help with running the club meetings from 8 to 9.30pm each week. If you are interested, Joe Dillon EI4FV can be contacted on 01-8390812.
Jamboree On The Air
Jamboree On The Air will be held this year over the weekend of October 21st and 22nd.
This is your chance to expose the hobby to the younger generation and you should be making contact soon with your local scout troop.
If you do not want to get involved in setting up a station at the local scout den, why not invite the scouts to visit you in your own shack. This has been quite successful in the past provided the numbers are controlled.
Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News and the next issue of Echo Ireland should be forwarded to Dave EI4BZ at 021-883555 in the evenings or by e-mail at ei4bz@eircom.net.
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