Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday August 5th 2001
New WAI Squares Activated
On Saturday 29th of July 2001 three new Worked All Ireland Squares where activated for the first time. The Area?s in question where J06, J07 and J08, all in County Tyrone. The County Tyrone sectors for these squares can only be reached by boat, and they are all located on the central areas of Lough Neagh. The Radio Operators where Ernie GI0GDF and Jim GI0PGC. The Boat Owner and friend of Ernie and Jim was Ken McCleod.
The Boat was an ex Camel Trophy semi inflatable (Number CT7) which was used by the German Team in the Camel Trophy Race across the Pacific!
The boat has a 2.2 litre petrol fuel injection engine and a top speed of 35 knots. Instruments included a large screen GPS, mechanical and electronic compasses, depth finder, HF and VHF radio communications. Extra fuel tanks give the boat a 600 mile travel radius.
The equipment used was an Alinco DX70TH running 100 watts out to a Hustler 40 metre whip with Hi-Q resonator on triple mag mount.
Conditions on the Lough are very deceptive and they encountered 20 knot winds and 6 foot waves, and at times a very bumpy ride. A good crowd of WAI square chasers where on 7.068 MHz and band conditions where quiet good. All but an unfortunate few made 2 way contacts from all 3 squares.
Ernie and Jim hope to make this trip an Annual Event.
TA2BK, President of TRAC, Silent Key
It is with regret that we announce the death of Mr. Bahri Kacan, TA2BK on July 23rd 2001. Mr. Kacan was the Founding President of TRAC. He has been,besides his outstanding success as a DX Operator, the initiator of widespread amateur radio activities in Turkey. He played a major and continuous role in developing amateur radio in Turkey. He is survived by his wife Nermin,his daughter Esra and his son Erdal.
Messages of condolence can be forwarded to hq@trac.org.tr.
South Dublin Radio Club
The regular Tuesday night meetings of South Dublin Radio Club will not be held on 7th or 14th August, as the club QTH will be closed for holidays. However club meetings will be held during the second half of August - that is on the 21st and 28th of August.
Planning Problems
Reports of experimenters running onto trouble with their local planning authorities have become more common of late. If you have had an experience in this area please write a short report and forward it to EI4BZ at QTHR or e-mail to ei4bz@eircom.net. It may be of help to others in similar situations.
Possible new Amateur Band in the U.S.
A petition filed this week by the ARRL could result in a new high-frequency band for US amateurs. The ARRL has asked the FCC to allocate 5.250 to 5.400 MHz to the Amateur Service on a domestic (US-only), secondary basis.
The League told the FCC that the new band would aid emergency communication activities by filling a ?propagation gap? between 80 and 40 meters. ?There are times on certain paths when a frequency in the 80-metre band is too low, and a frequency in the 40-meter band is too high for reliable ionospheric propagation,? the ARRL said in its petition. The ARRL said the propagation gap can hamper communication between the US and the Caribbean during a hurricane or severe weather emergency.
Meteor Scatter
This year G4XUM, GD0TEP and others will travel to Ireland to activate IO54 and IO55 during the perseids meteor shower. The main operation will be from Rockview, Co. Sligo in IO54UB, but a trip will be made to a suitable location in IO55 during the 11th and 12th of August for the peak of the meteor shower.
Four metre operators, please note that this is a very rare opportunity to work these two squares during the Perseids on SSB meteor scatter. The group will only operate 4 metres if there is enough interest. Please contact Martin,G4XUM, at g4xum@qsl.net. They would like to work Meteor Scatter with any EI stations. Further information can be obtained from their Dxpedition webpage at www.qsl.net/g4xum
DX News
Hal TF3GC in Iceland has been a regular on the new Pacific-DX net organised by VK2UW.
Marc 4Z8BB a U.S. radio amateur operating in Israel has a rare prefix in 4Z8. There is only one other licensed operator that shares the 4Z8 prefix. 4Z8BB's schedule is: 0330-0430 UTC on 14.082 MHz +/- 7 days a week. QSL manager is WC1X.
Peter Fox, G2YT, will be operational from Gambia (C56) from 40 to 10 metres SSB until the 9th of August.
Items for inclusion in Echo Ireland should be forwarded to Dave Moore EI4BZ at 021-4353853 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 021-4354113.
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. Please note that the deadline for the radio news is 9 p.m. each Tuesday.
News can also be submitted via e-mail to news@irts.ie for automatic forwarding to both news services.
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