Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday August 13th 2006
International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend 2006
This highly popular and ever growing amateur radio event is on again this year from the 19th to the 20th of August.
In 2005 there were 382 lighthouses in 48 countries that registered. This year's event in particular will be dedicated to the memory of its founder and main organiser, Mike Dalrymple GM4SUC, who passed away in December 2005.
The event normally starts at 0001 UTC on the first day of the event and ends at 2359 UTC on the Sunday. This year the event will start at 0002 UTC reserving the first minute in silence as a moment of reflection on Mike's life.
The event is a fun weekend designed to promote amateur radio and lighthouses. It is NOT a contest, so take time to have a chat with the stations contacted and maybe get the public involved as well. On the Sunday the International Association of Lighthouse Keepers will hold their Lighthouse Day, opening their lighthouses all around the world to the public. Last year some stations even had the media present.
Full guidelines, an online entry form and a list of entrants are all on the ILLW web site at illw.net together with contact details if you need further information.
KARG Activates Cromwell Point Lighthouse
Kerry Amateur Radio Group will activate Cromwell Point Lighthouse (IRE-077), on Valentia Island, Co. Kerry next weekend for International Lighthouse Weekend. The club will be QRV from midnight Friday night with the club call sign, EI1KARG, on CW, Phone, and PSK31 and expects to operate on all bands 80 through 10 metres. For square hunters, the WAI grid square is V47 and the grid locator is IO41UW. Talk-in is on S18 (145.450 MHz). Ron, EI2JP, is organiser of the event.
Limerick Radio Club
Members of Limerick Radio Club will be participating from Tarbert Island Lighthouse No. IRE073, using the call-sign EI4TLH for the International Lighthouse Weekend on the 19th and 20th of August. Club members, who intend taking part in the event, should contact John EI6IW at QTHR or by e-mail to “johne at gofree dot indigo dot ie”.
Limerick Radio Club is QRV as EI60LRC until the end of the year to mark 60 years since the clubs foundation.
Club members wishing to use the special call-sign should contact the club secretary Michael EI2IX at ‘ei4lrc at eircom dot net’. Please indicate the dates, times, bands and modes on which you would like to operate.
Station log books, duly signed by the operator of the call-sign, should be sent to Alan EI8EM within seven days of the completion of each operating period. This ensures that QSL cards can be issued promptly to the stations worked.
EI2WRB Beacon, Back on Air
The EI2WRB VHF/UHF CW beacon located at Portlaw, Co. Waterford and operated by South Eastern Amateur Radio Group returned to service on Sunday August the 6th following a long absence from the airvaves.
The beacon, which can be heard on 144.403 MHz and 432.403 MHz, is horizontally polarised and beaming 95 degrees. Thanks to John EI8JA, Nicky EI3JB and Egidio EI9EQ who put the work into getting it back on air. Please send reports to “repeaters at searg dot com”. For more information visit www.searg.com/beacons.php
National Road Racing
On the 27th of August, national road racing takes place in Waterford. The Comeragh Cycling Club hosts this event. Unfortunately this also happens to be the date of the Autumn leg of the counties contest. Nevertheless Richie EI9HR is looking for volunteers to set up communications for this very worthy event. Richie can be contacted on 086-2255357 or 051-854315 during evenings. Richie can also be contacted by email to “ei9hr at yahoo dot com”. Anyone interested in taking part, please contact Richie as soon as possible.
MRG VHF/UHF SSB Challenge 2006
The MRG VHF/UHF challenge will take place from 1500 hours to 1800 hours local time on Sunday the 10th of September 2006. Any EI/GI operator holding an amateur/experimenters licence can enter the contest. Clubs can also participate. There are two sections. A fixed and portable section in each of which operation can take place on 2 metres and 70 cm SSB only.
A trophy will be awarded to the winners of each section (Fixed & Portable). More information will be available in Echo Ireland. All enquiries to Joe (EI3IX) at “joe_fadden at yahoo dot com”.
Contests
As the Autumn 2 metres Counties Contest as well as the SSB field day are both around the corner, the IRTS would encourage the participation of as many stations as possible to take part in these contests as it is a great opportunity for both clubs and single ops to get on the air. Anyone wishing to take part or needing any info can contact the contest manager EI8IU on 086-2514822. Check the IRTS web site for recent rule changes to these events.
Space News
The Earth is currently passing through the Perseid meteorite stream and peaks this weekend (the 12th and 13th). The Perseids will provide meteor trails that can reflect signals in the 6, 4 and 2 metre bands providing DX up to a distance of about 2,500 kilometres. Unfortunately for sky watchers, the meteors will not be too easy to spot this year due to the almost full moon.
A large new sunspot is emerging from the sun's eastern limb. So far there is no threat for Earth-directed solar flares. The sunspot is growing at a fast rate and turning toward Earth. This could affect HF communications over the coming days.
Live Video from Huntsville Hamfest
There will be live streaming video from the Huntsville Alabama Hamfest over the weekend of the 19th and 20th of August. Video is available at wa5kub.com.
DX and Special Events
4O6DX will be QRV for the coming week from Montenegro. The station will be active from 160 to 6 metres on CW, SSB and PSK. QSL via K8LEE.
A group of operators will activate the special callsign SX8AYT from a number of Greek Islands in the EU-049 IOTA group. The station will be active between the 16th and 30th of August and activity will be on 80 through to 2 metres using mainly SSB. QSL is via SV2AYT or via the bureau.
F8UFT portable will be active from the French Alps (weather permitting) from August 17th on 40 metres using 3 Watts on CW mode. QSL is via F6ICG. YC0IEM/7 is active from Borneo Island OC-088 until the 24th of August, QSL is via IZ8CCW and in East Timor, 4W6AAB has been reportedly heard on 20 and 30 metres between 0730 and 0930 hours UTC using RTTY. QSL is via PA7FM.
The Antwerp Amateur Radio Enthusiasts of the UBA department OSA-Antwerp will operate the special event station ON9BD from the museum lightship Westhinder 3 at the Tall Ships Race. The station will be QRV for the Tall Ships event from the 19th to the 22nd of August on all HF bands and 2 metres using CW and SSB.
GB1CPB, representing GB One Century Portland Bill, will be QRV until the end of 2006, from Portland Bill Lighthouse in Dorset to commemorate 100 years operation of the lighthouse.
Dates for Your Diary
The International Lighthouse Weekend takes place next weekend the 19th and 20th of August.
The Autumn Leg of the 2-metre counties contest will take place on the 27th of August.
The SSB Field Day will take place on September the 2nd and 3rd at Garbally College in Ballinasloe.
The MRG VHF/UHF challenge will take place from 1500 hours to 1800 hours local time on Sunday the 10th of September.
The Blarney Rally will take place on September the 24th. The Waterford Rally will be held on Sunday the 15th of October and the Mayo Rally will take place on Sunday the 26th of November.
Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News should be forwarded to Mark Wall, EI7IS at QTHR or by phone to 051-853806 or 087-6302026. Items for the radio news can also be faxed to 087 5 6302026. News should be submitted via e-mail to “news at irts dot 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 Friday in order to be guaranteed inclusion in the following Sundays bulletin.
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