Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday July 30th 2000
IRTS Committee Meeting
The June/July edition of the Newsletter, now in the hands of all members, provided seriously inaccurate information to Committee members. The next Committee meeting is, of course, not scheduled for August 5th. It will be held, as arranged at the last meeting, on August 19th. The starting time, 11 a.m. and the venue, Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone were correct. Sincere apologies to all committee members for the error.
South Dublin Radio Club
The meeting on Tuesday last, 25th July was the last meeting of South Dublin Radio Club members before the holidays. Club meetings will not be held during August but will resume again on Tuesday 5th September. South Dublin Radio Club meets on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. in the Ballyroan Community Centre, Marian Road, Rathfarnham Wicklow Wireless Society The Commissioners of Irish Lights have granted permission to the members of Wicklow Wireless Society to operate from the lighthouse at the Old Head of Kinsale during the International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend on 19th and 20th August. The callsign EI9KLH (Kinsale Light House) has been sanctioned by the ODTR for use during the weekend. The lighthouse, situated at the tip of the Old Head is within sight of the location of the sinking of the Lousitania in 1917. It is also the best land position for viewing the recently discovered whale grounds off the southwest coast. With two stations to run over a 48-hour period, it is unlikely that the six members of the Society travelling to Kinsale will have much time to spend looking for whales. A Website has been set up to provide information concerning this operation. It may be accessed at www.clubi.ie\wai\ei2ww.htm Unconfirmed reports indicate that three other Irish lighthouses will be activated for the Lighthouse/Lightship event. Details of these will be included in the Radio News as soon as confirmation of the operations is available. North County Radio Club, Skerries Having received permission from Fingal County Council, the North County Radio Club operated from one of the two working windmills in the Skerries Complex during the "Windmills on the Air" weekend. The Club ran two HF stations and one VHF station. Two full-size G5RVs were used on HF and a Slim Jim on 2 meters. Hundreds of contacts were made including a few into China, Japan, South America and Africa. A special QSL card was produced for the event and this has been in great demand.
Before closing for the Summer the members of the club redecorated the Clubrooms. The club meets each Tuesday at 8 p.m. and will reopen on Tuesday, September 5th.
Phase 3D Amateur Satellite
It is disappointing to report that the much-delayed Phase 3D Amateur satellite now faces a further delay. The satellite had been scheduled to launch aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from the European Spaceport in French Guiana during next September or October. Unfortunately, Arianespace has discovered a problem with a rocket due to launch last Tuesday. This launch will not now take place until the first half of September with a consequent knock on delay to the Phase 3D launch. Although no new launch date has yet been set for the Phase 3D, it is likely to be at the end of the year or in early 2001.
Celticon 2000 This event will take place in the Marino Institute of Education, Griffith Avenue, Dublin over the weekend September 1st to 3rd. The event is organised by the G QRP Club and has already attracted QRP enthusiasts from UK, USA, Holland, Denmark and Germany.
Friday's programme will include a social gathering with a QRP presentation and a welcome supper. Saturday will be the main business day of the weekend and will feature Workshops, presentations and demonstrations with a QRP slant. A number of UK traders are expected and there will be the usual Bring and Buy stall.
Some of the speakers are very well known and include the Rev George Dobbs Secretary of the G QRP Club.
Sunday morning will feature a final presentation and a Question and Answer session. An optional visit to Glendalough on Sunday afternoon will bring the event to a close.
Although the conference is over three days, a day ticket is available for the Saturday activities. This includes all sessions together with lunch and tea/coffee breaks. This ticket costs £15 and is available from "Celticon", Marino Institute of Education, Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9, Telephone 01 8335111.
Solar Flare
At this time of high solar activity, one of the occasional difficulties faced by radio amateurs is the Solar Flare. A particularly large flare occurred on Friday July 14th when billions of tone of plasma and charged particles were spewed out from the sun. The effects of the flare reached the earth on the evening of Saturday 15th when radio blackouts were experienced on the sunlit side of the planet. The side effects of the flare were not all bad however. Some excellent Auroral contacts have been reported from the US.
Sporadic E
A Sporadic E opening on 144 MHz that has been described as the best for years was experienced by Irish amateurs on Monday, July 24th. Some of the 7 EIs heard taking advantage of the opening reported making as many as 200 contacts in 12 countries over a period of 2 to 3 hours. EI4IX, EI5FK, EI4EQ, EI7GL, EI3EBB, EI2FSB, and EI9CDB were all heard on the air and are no doubt still feeling happy with themselves! Dates for Your Diary The Worked All Europe CW DX contest takes place on August 6th and the Seanet WW DX contest is on August 20th.
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.
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.
Items for inclusion in next week's Radio News should be forwarded to Dave Moore EI4BZ at QTHR. Dave may be contacted by phone at 021 883555 or by e-mailing
ei4bz@eircom.net
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