Archived News Script

printer friendly version

IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday July 16th 2000


IARU HF World Championship

This event was held over last weekend. As well as bringing out the contesters, this contest provides the various national societies with the opportunity to put their Headquarters stations on the air. It was clear from even a cursory listen on the bands that many of the Societies were happy to seize the opportunity presented to them. The HQ stations were some of the strongest to be heard. In conjunction with the contest, the World Radio Sport Team Championship was held in Slovenia. This Championship brought together 120 of the best contesters in the World to compete in teams of two for the Team Sport title. Each team was equipped with a standard rig, a three-element beam, a windom wire antenna and a computer. On this basis of equality, they competed over the 24 hours of the competition. It was noteworthy that these competitors, operating without amplifiers, had much weaker signals than the big contest stations competing in the HF World Championship.

Dave EI4BZ and Jim EI8GS who visited Slovenia for the occasion were heard operating an observer station during the event.


Outgoing QSL Manager

As reported in last week's bulletin, Bill Mitchell EI5GQ has relinquished his position as Outgoing QSL Manager. His place will be filled by Hugh O'Donnell EI2HI who as been appointed the new manager. Cards may now be sent direct to Hugh at Baurleigh, Bandon, Co.Cork or alternatively to Box 462, Dublin 9. Hugh's address is not in the 1999 Yearbook but will appear in the 2000 edition.


Theory Exam Results

The Marine Radio Surveyors recently held a Theory Examination in North Dublin at the request of the North Dublin Radio Club. Six candidates who attended classes run by the NDR sat the exam and five passed. Five candidates who had been attending classes run by the South Dublin Radio Club also sat the examination at the same venue. Three of the SDR candidates passed. Congratulations to the eight successful students. We look forward to hearing them on the air shortly. Congratulations also to the instructors from NDR and SDR who prepared the students for the Theory test. Latest news is that two of the SDR crew are already sporting new B callsigns.

SDR Spring Challenge Trophy Tom Kelly EI2AJ was the winner of the restricted section of this year's Spring Challenge. The Spring Challenge Trophy was presented to Tom by Jim Holohan EI4HH chairman of SDR at a recent club meeting. Tom, who is a QRP enthusiast, won the challenge using just 5 watts.

Six other members of Phoenix Radio Club accompanied Tom to the SDR presentation, so both the SDR and Phoenix members enjoyed a really great night. Among the Phoenix members visiting SDR on the night was Paddy McGrath EI1DG who was the winner of the Spring Challenge restricted section in 1998. He was presented with a commemorative trophy in recognition of his 1998 achievement.


South Eastern Amateur Radio Group

Congratulations to Ciaran Geoghegan, Dungarvan SWL on completing his recent trans-Atlantic voyage from St.Barts in the West Indies to Plymouth. With four friends, Ciaran sailed a 60 foot yacht across the Atlantic, taking 25 days and stopping only once for a day in the Azores. They experienced all the usual variety of weather associated with the Atlantic but with the aid of their HF radio they were able to avoid any major storms and pick up whatever favourable winds were available.

New 70 cms Repeater Through the good offices of John EI3BF a new 70 cms Repeater has been licensed and is now in operation in North Cork. The Repeater is on the top of Seefinn Mountain at a height of 1,700 feet. Output is on 433.300mHz and Input at 434.900 mHz. The repeater may be opened by Audible CTCSS tone at 103.5 Hz. Discussions are continuing with ODTR on the Repeater's callsign.

Worked All Ireland South Dublin Radio Club members Brendan de hOra EI3GV and Joe Ryan EI7GY activated a rare Worked All Ireland Square on Sunday 9th July when they operated from H01, County Cavan. It is believed that this is the first time that this Square has been activated. There are no roads through the square and it was necessary to climb through farmland and worked-out bog to reach it. Permission had earlier been obtained from the farmer who owns the land in which the operation took place.

Both HF and 2 meters were used on the day. Most of the activity was on 40 Meters, with contacts to all parts of Ireland and Britain. There was naturally great interest in this square. One point noted by Brendan and Joe was that many operators in their home QTHs were complaining of a high level of noise on both 40 and 80 meters, but up in the Cavan mountains, there was virtually no background noise. It seems from this that much of the background noise we hear can be from local electrical equipment, rather than atmospherics.

For HF, a 40 meter long Window, supported in the centre by bamboo's and at each end by Joe's trekking poles, was used. A three-element beam was used on 2 meters. Power output on HF was 30 watts, while on 2 meters it was 5 watts. Power was supplied by gel-cells.

The weather on the day was mixed, with sunshine and rain in about equal proportions. It was a very enjoyable day for Brendan and Joe during which they very much appreciated the support they received from the WAI community.


Worked All Irish Counties

We are pleased to report another WEIC Award. Brian Payne G4CJY has submitted QSL cards in respect of QSOs with all 26 Counties. He is the recipient of Award No.68. Well done, Brian, and congratulations.


Dates for Your Diary

The IOTA Contest takes place this year over the weekend of 29th/30th July. Next week's Bulletin will endeavour to provide as much information as possible on the plans of the various EI contest groups for this years event. Remember, you don't need to go to an Island, you can also take part from your own QTH. It's more fun on an island, though!!

The International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend will be held on 19th/20th August. Information on this year's event is available from Mike GM4SUC at gm4suc@compuserve.com. Mike reports that over 300 lighthouses will be activated during this year's event.

The Marino Institute of Education in Dublin will host Celticon - a QRP Radio Convention on September 1st to 3rd next.

Places are still available on the Fingal Radio Club's coach to the Telford Rally on September 10th. Total cost, including transport, evening meal on the outward journey, one night's bed and breakfast and entry to the Rally is £150. Those interested should contact Liam Murphy at 01 8316266, 087 2521542 or e-mail lmurphy@eircom.ie The annual Cork Rally will be held in the Blarney Park Hotel on Sunday 17th September.

The Shannon River Run is scheduled for the weekend of September 22nd to 24th. Information is available from Paul EI2CA or Keith EI4FBB, at the Shannon River Run website homepage.eircom.net/~shannonriverrun or by e-mailing shannonriverrun@eircom.net. Please note that the dates for this event were given incorrectly in last week's bulletin. The correct dates are September 22nd to 24th.


Items for inclusion in next week's Radio News should be forwarded to Sean Donelan EI4GK at QTHR. Sean may be contacted by phone at 01 2821420 or by e-mailing seandonelan@indigo.ie

[A]

contact IRTS
irts groups.io