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IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday February 25th 2001


Tory Island Activation

Paddy EI7GK will be operating from Tory Island (B84 Co. Donegal EU 121), until tomorrow, Monday the 26th of February. Frequencies in operation are 7.068, 14.260, and 21.260 MHz.


South Dublin Radio Club

The South Dublin Radio Club AGM took place on 13th February at the club QTH in Rathfarnham. There were 21 members in attendance and the business of the meeting included a review of the year's activities and a discussion on plans for the future.

The most lively discussion at the meeting was about the mandatory requirement for a pass in the 12 wpm Morse Test before operation on the HF bands is allowed. Club members recognised that this requirement was in accordance with International Law. However, on a vote it was agreed that the club would ask the IRTS to consider submitting a request to the ODTR to remove the mandatory Morse requirement as soon as this becomes legally possible, and in the meantime to ease the Morse requirement by reducing the speed of the test to 5 wpm.

The new committee elected for the year was as follows: Chairman - Jim Holohan EI4HH, Secretary - Tommy Griffin EI9BTB, Treasurer - Brendan de hÓra EI3GV, other members: Tom McGrath EI7HT, Mark Condon EI7FNB, Mark Boothman EI9IB and Tony Byrne EI1404.


Rally News

The Lough Erne Amateur Radio Club will hold its 2001 Rally on the 22nd of April 2001 in the Killyhevlin Hotel, Dublin Road, Enniskillen. Further information can be had from Frank GI3ZMX at 028-6632-9507.

Limerick Radio Club will hold it’s Radio and Electronics Fair and host the IRTS AGM in Limerick to be held in the Limerick Inn Hotel on April 7th – 8th 2001. All the usual traders will be in attendance and once again Yaesu UK will be there. They will have a large range of working equipment on display, included will be the FT 1000MP Mk V, Quadra HF Amplifier, the new FT 817 QRP Transceiver and many more. Thanks must also be given to Yaesu for sponsoring a VX-5R tri-band handheld, which will be raffled on the day.


EI Activity Weekend

The EI activity weekend will take place again this year on March the 17th and 18th. Everybody can get involved in this event using any band and any mode, as the purpose of the event is to promote amateur radio in EI. This event went very well last year so lets hope that this year sees the same amount of activity on the air.


Trans Atlantic

While efforts to complete a transatlantic LF QSO still have not been successful, things have been looking up lately. Amateur Radio activity in the vicinity of 136 kHz has resulted in several recent "sightings" of signals between the UK and North America. The first such signals were heard in the US in late January and early February. Such weak LF signals are not actually heard but seen. Reception of weak LF signals is normally done using spectrographic software or very slow-speed CW, also known as "QRSS". Distance records for LF reception are broken on a regular basis recently and it is only a matter of time before the first Trans-Atlantic LF QSO takes place.


DX News

Charlie W6KK, had to cancel the dxpedition to San Felix and Ambrosia (CEØXT). The international team got as far as Valparaisio, Chile and the Chilean Navy would not allow the boat depart, for Legal problems. Sao Sebastiao Island is located in the central coast of Sao Paulo State - Locator GG 76. The island will be activated from March the 15th to the 18th on CW and SSB from 10 to 80 meters, including the newer bands, depending on propagation. Callsigns in use will be PU1NEZ/2, PY1LVF/2, PY1NEW/2 and PY1NEZ/2. QSL via home call or through the Bureau. All Short Wave Listener reports will be appreciated.

Dick DJ2EH and his XYL Ann, DL8NBH are QRV as CE0YEH on Easter Island. Activity is on 20, 15, 12 and 10 metres using CW and SSB. QSL to home call.


Solar Update

The quiet sun period continues, as the sunspot number dropped below 100 and solar flux went down to 137.9 on Wednesday the 14th of February. The last two times that solar flux values were this low were on December 9 and September 13 of last year. Average solar flux for the past week was down almost fifteen points and average sunspot numbers were off by over five points, when compared to the previous week. Solar flux is expected to rise rapidly from 135 to 165 between February 21st to the 23rd.


Items for inclusion in Echo Ireland should be forwarded to Dave Moore EI4BZ at 021-4883555 in the evenings or at 021-4823172 during office hours. Items can be submitted to Dave by e-mail at ei4bz@eircom.net and you can fax him at 021-4823316. Items for inclusion in the Radio News should be forwarded to Mark Wall EI7IS at QTHR or via e-mail to ei7is@qsl.net or cyberis@e-merge.ie. Items can also be sent to Mark over the phone at 087-6302026. News can also be submitted via e-mail to news@irts.ie for automatic forwarding to both news services.

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