Archived News Script

printer friendly version

IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday December 12th 2004


ISS Contact to take place in Cork

Cork has been chosen for a unique amateur radio experiment next Friday, the 17th of December, some 300 children will gather at University College Cork to be present when some of them make contact with the International Space Station and speak with an astronaut. IRTS was contacted by the European Space Agency through Gaston Bertels ON4WF who is head of ARISS-Europe. The event is being co-ordinated by the Irish Discover Science & Engineering programme and Forfas. Cork Radio Club members will be responsible for running of the telebridge link to VK where there will be another link to the satellite. Participating schools have already been sent information packs. This co-operation of radio experimenters and government agencies is a prestigious window for amateur radio in EI, demonstrating to a wider audience recognition of our hobby.


AS-140 to be Activated

Dave EI3IO and Manjurul S21AM will operate from Char Dakhin Shahbazpur (Bhola Island) AS-140 (eighth most wanted IOTA reference in Asia), from the 4th to the 7th of February 2005. A special call sign is being sought from the licensing authority. Two 100 Watt CW/SSB MF/HF stations will be operational and activity on all bands is planned, subject to antenna availability. A 30-metre communications tower is on-site and half slopers are being considered for 160 metres and 80/30 metres. QSL route is via EI3IO. Logs will also be up-loaded to LoTW and eQSL.


Tipperary Amateur Radio Group

Members of the Tipperary Amateur Radio Group had a great night out at their Christmas party last Saturday night, which was held in the Galtee Inn, Cahir Co. Tipperary. A good bit of craic and banter went on till late.


Geminids Meteor Shower

The best meteor shower of the year, and perhaps the best we'll see for a few years, is here. The Geminids occur between the 6th to the 19th of December, peaking on the 13th at about 20:45 and the 14th around 1500 UTC. The Geminids can peak up to 120 per hour in good conditions, much better than the Perseids or normal Leonids though its average is usually about 80 per hour.

This year the Moon will be out of the way, giving dark skies if you can get away from light pollution. Allow about 20 minutes for your eyes to adapt if you are going viewing the Geminids but another interesting way of observing is also available. Turn on your vhf radio, listen on 50.230 and beam east, use JT6M to decode the meteor bursts that you will hear. 144.370 MHz is where the 2 metre DXers will go to work stations from 1,000 to 2,200 km away using FSK441.


Mayo Radio Experimenters Network

The Mayo Radio Experimenters wish to thank the many traders and the hundreds of people who attended the recent rally. The club also wishes to thank Jeff Smith MI0AEX President of the RSGB, the club's guest at the pre dinner rally. MREN would like to extend Seasons greetings to radio amateurs and short wave listeners everywhere.


Phoenix Amateur Radio Group

The Phoenix Amateur Radio Club Rally will take place on Sunday the 6th of February 2005 in Coolmine Community School, Blanchardstown. Doors open at 11.00 a.m. and admission is 3 euro.

Doors will open for traders at 9.30 a.m. For enquiries regarding tables, phone Tony on 01-8252074.


VHF/UHF Openings

144 MHz and 432 MHz tropo conditions were excellent during Thursday and Friday 8th and 9th of December with stations in Germany, Holland, France and Poland being worked on 2 metres. On 432 MHz, Austria, France, Germany, Holland & Belgium were worked with best DX on 70 cms being OE5VRL/5 in JN78 square being worked on CW and SSB, a distance of over 1,600 kms. EI's heard working the opening included EI4BZ, EI3GE and EI5FK.


South Dublin Radio Club

The closing date for entries to the 2nd Annual SDR Photo Competition is the 11th of January 2005. Presentation of prizes will take place on the 25th of January. This Photo Competition should be every bit as successful as last years. More information can be had from the clubs web site at www.qsl.net/ei2sdr

This year's South Dublin Radio Club Christmas party will take place on Tuesday the 14th of December. After last years success it will be held again at the Morgue Public House in Templeogue from 8 p.m. until late. Members of other clubs and visitors are very welcome to this social event and there is always a great turnout. Limited free food will be available for paid up members, while visitors can choose from the bar menu up to 9 p.m.

After the Christmas party SDR will break until Tuesday the 11th of January. On this date there will be a demonstration on packet by Dave EI3IO. This will include details of the increased packet coverage in the Dublin area and the new features recently added. Visitors are more than welcome.


ISSARO

A newly formed group called International Society of Scientists and Amateur Radio Operators or ISSARO is an organisation of radio amateurs/experimenters who are also researchers at universities or scientific institutes.

The group has a website with more information and membership details are available at www.issaro.net Membership of the group is free and there are no plans to introduce a membership fee.

If you are involved in a college amateur radio / experimenter group your group can become a certified ISSARO Club. For more information, visit www.issaro.net


Kerry Amateur Radio Group

Plans are at an advanced stage for the January Field Day, which will be held on Saturday the 15th of January, at a location in North Kerry. Stations interested in particular grid squares in Kerry are asked to email their needs to clubinfo at kerry dot com, where it is hoped that more squares can be activated over the coming months.

Up-to-date information on the club and its activities can be found on the web at www.kerry.com


Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News should be forwarded to Mark EI7IS. News should be submitted via e-mail to news@irts.ie for automatic forwarding to both the radio and printed news services. Please note that items for the radio news should reach the editor no later than midday on Fridays.

[A]

contact IRTS
irts groups.io