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IRTS RADIO NEWS BULLETIN Sunday April 19th 1998


IRTS AGM

We hope that most of the regular Sunday listeners are in Cork today for the IRTS AGM which will be held at 2.30 pm, preceded by a special general meeting at 2.15pm.

The rally has been open to the public since 11.00am and you may still have time to make a visit to Jurys Hotel on the Western Road in Cork City and pick up one of the many bargains available.

The rally will run until around 5.00pm.

If you are not in Cork, keep a listen for mobile activity on the Worked All Ireland nets later this evening.


Limerick Radio Club

Following the recent course and examination, activity in the Limerick area has improved greatly and the following new licencees have been noted on the Limerick repeater-

EI5FMB Tadgh, EI5FNB Ken, EI5FOB John, EI5FPB Neilus, EI5FQB Clifford and EI5FRB Alan.

Congratulations to them all and we hope to hear the other three successful candidates joining them in the very near future.

Congratulations also to the course tutor who achieved a one hundred percent success rate with the class.


2 Metre Counties Contest on Easter Monday

The Spring 2 Metres Counties Contest was held on Easter Monday last, April the 13th and once again attracted very good participation.

Thankfully, the high winds of the previous few days had died down but the cold weather brought snow and hailstone showers all afternoon.

Several stations report working in excess of 20 counties and QSO totals exceeded fifty.

Portable stations heard in East Cork included EI0NDR in County Louth, EI7FJ in County Dublin, EI2SDR in County Laois, EI4LRC in County Clare, EI7GK and EI8HA in County Carlow, EI6HB in County Tipperary and EI8GS, EI7EPB and EI6FM in County Cork.

The hard luck story of the day must be that of Robbie EI7EPB, who operated portable from his car on a site near Cork Airport. Just as the contest finished, a road bowl, an iron ball weighing 28 ounces, crashed through the back window of his car, struck the rig full on the front panel and exited through the windscreen.

While the rig was seriously damaged, it continued to work and Robbie was able to get the Gardai called to the site.

Despite the damage to both the car and the rig, Robbie was glad that he suffered no personal injuries.

We hope all stations that took part will submit logs, even if only a few QSOs were made as they are invaluable to the Contest Manager for log checking.

Logs must be submitted within 30 days to the Contest Manager at P.O. Box 462 Dublin 9 and should be include a summary sheet showing station location, section entered, final claimed score, the equipment used and the names and callsigns of the operators.


International Marconi Day

International Marconi Day will be held on Saturday next April the 25th which is actually the date of Marconis birthday. Once again we expect a lot of activity from Echo India.

Members of the Kerry Wireless Group will be active again this year using the special callsign EI6YXQ from the original Marconi site in Ballybunion. Marconis association with Ballybunion is well known, as the first wireless telephonic communication was made from east to west in March 1919 between Ballybunion and Louisbourg, Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. The Kerry Wireless Group will be assisted this year by members of the Kerry Sea Scouts under their leader Brian O'Daly EI4GL.

Further details on this special event station from John EI6AH QTHR.

The Marconi site at Crookhaven in WestCork will be activated using the callsign EI5IMD by Anthony EI2HY, Mike EI2IB and Albert EI7II.

Phoenix Amateur Radio Club will operate the special callsign EI1MAR from the club premises at Coolmine and will be active with two stations, one each on CW and SSB, throughout the day.


Fingal Exhibition in Jurys

Fingal Radio Club will host their Spring Radio and Electronics Exhibition in Jurys Hotel in Ballsbridge on Sunday May the 10th. Doors will open at 11.00am and the show will finish at 4.00pm.


Phase 3-D Satellite

AMSAT team members from a number of countries gathered in Orlando, Florida in late March to install the remaining electronic and communications modules into the new Phase 3-D International Satellite. Following the work party, Dr. Karl Meinzer DJ4ZC, the Phase 3-D Project Leader reported that they have successfully recovered from the set backs caused by the major structural reworks of last year and the space craft is now rapidly nearing flight readiness. Despite the very good progress made in the most recent effort, a definitive launch opportunity for Phase 3-D remains unsure.

However, negotiations with the European Space Agency for a ride to orbit are continuing in earnest and hopes are high that Phase 3-D will be successfully launched sometime this year.

Funding is still being raised for this major project which will benefit many amateurs and donations will be gratefully received by any of the national AMSAT orginisations.


Items for inclusion in both the Radio News and

Newsletter can be faxed to 021-632730 or passed on the telephone to Dave EI4BZ at 021- 632444 during the day and at 021-883555 in the evening.

Mail can also be sent on packet to EI4BZ and EI7DNB on cluster or at the EI7DKB BBS. The Radio News Editor John EI7DNB can be contacted at 021-353277 after 1830. All input to either the Radio News or the Newsletter can be sent by e-mail to news@irts.ie

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