Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday September 5th 2004
Ernie Berkenheier EI4CY Silent Key
The many friends of Ernie Berkenheier EI4CY will be sorry to learn of his death. He had been ill but was in good form at the AGM in Limerick earlier this year. Ernie was a member of the communications wind of the Air Corps and was active on radio up to a few years ago.
He was a regular attender at Bagott Street and was among the group that formed the City of Dublin Radio Club which ceased activities some years ago.
To Ernie's wife, family and friends we extend our deepest sympathy. May he rest in peace. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.
International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend
The International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend took place over the weekend of the 21st and 22nd of August 2004 when there were 370 stations QRV from lighthouses and lightships in 52 countries.
Next year's event will take place from 0001 UTC on Saturday the 20th of August until 2359 UTC on Sunday the 21st of August 2005.
So make a note in your diary as it is hoped to get 400 stations on-air from lighthouses and lightships world-wide.
First Jamboree on the Air for Scouting Ireland
The worlds newest Scout Association, Scouting Ireland will participate in JOTA (Jamboree on the Air) for the first time which will takes on Saturday and Sunday, the 16th and 17th of October next.
Scouting Ireland, which was formed at the beginning of the year following the coming together of the Catholic Scouts of Ireland and the Scout Association of Ireland, has in excess of 40,000 members on the island of Ireland. Boys and girls aged from six to nineteen are supported by over six thousand volunteer adult leaders who deliver a varied programme of activities in the out of doors and in the community.
Each year over 500,000 Scouts and Guides from all over the world participate in this event where Scouting experiences are shared as thousands of scouts world-wide speak with each other across the airwaves. The event lasts from midnight local time Friday night (15th of October) to midnight Sunday night (17th of October). Stations participating can choose their own operating hours within this time frame.
Information regarding participating Stations will follow in due course.
Further information regarding JOTA is available from Sean O'Suilleabhain, EI3IP, National JOTA Organiser (NJO) of Scouting Ireland at jota@scouts.ie or at 087 232 6994 or at QTHR or from the Radio Scouting web page of Scouting Ireland at www.scouts.ie/jota Downloads of Radio Scouting handbooks for Scouts as well as Leaders and Station managers and templates for applications for special event callsigns for both jurisdictions on the island of Ireland are available on the web page or by email on request.
Mayo Radio Experimenter Network
The third Mayo Rally will take place on Sunday November the 21st in the usual venue - The Belmont Hotel, Knock. Already the rally has attracted much attention from traders, with a number of bookings from UK based firms joining the large number of exhibitors from Ireland. The rally will follow the proven successful format of previous Mayo shows, with a large Bring and Buy section, a number of demonstrations and presentations as well as the large number of traders, making the Rally one of the best in Ireland. Doors open at 11.30.
The club will host a dinner on the night before the rally, and a prominent guest speaker has been lined up by the Mayo REN for the occasion. A special rate for accommodation, has been negotiated with the Hotel, for the Saturday night.
All booking enquiries should be made with the Rally Director, Padraic Baynes, EI9JA on 087 6957154.
The annual general meeting of the Mayo Radio Experimenters Network will be held in the meeting room, in Stensons of Ballyvary on Wednesday October the 6th at 9 p.m. Visitors and new members are welcome.
New Repeater, EI3DRG
The Duhallow Repeater Group have recently installed a UHF repeater on the Boggeragh Mountains near the town of Millstreet, Co. Cork.
The callsign of the repeater is EI3DRG and is approximately 400 metres above sea level. The output freq is 430.925 MHz with the input on 438.525 MHz (+7.6 MHz offset) and a CTCSS tone of 103.5 Hz is required. The output power is 10 watts into a vertical collinear antenna.
Shannon Basin Radio Club Challenge
The Shannon Basin Radio club is again running its annual one day Open, Fixed, challenge for EI residents. This challenge is open to all licensed operators and short wave listeners and will be held on the 7th of November 2004 from 0800 to 2000 hours.
The purpose of the challenge is to encourage radio operators and short wave listeners to be active on HF. The Lough Allen Shield will be awarded to the highest score in SSB. The Lough Ree Shield will be awarded to the highest score in CW (A1A) and the Lough Derg Shield will be awarded to the highest score for SWL.
More information is available in the July/August 2004 edition of Echo Ireland.
New ARISS Operations Capability
The ARISS program is pleased to announce that the amateur radio equipment aboard the International Space Station is now operating in cross-band repeat mode. However, cross-band repeat allows further experimentation of the ISS amateur radio system.
The downlink for this operating mode remains the same, so listen for the station on 145.80 MHz. The new uplink frequency is 437.80 MHz. All frequencies are subject to Doppler shifting. For further information on working satellites and adjusting for Doppler shift, please review Emily Clark's (W0EEC) excellent presentation on AMSAT's website, www.amsat.org/amsat-new/information/faqs/Intro_s ats.pdf.
Cork Radio Club
Cork Radio Club will hold it's Annual rally at the Blarney Park Hotel on September the 19th next. Doors open at 11 a.m. The Cork Rally, whish has been running for the last 13 years without a break is one of the longest running rallies in EI.
Being one of the most popular events of the EI calendar year the rally attracts many amateurs from both north and south of the country along with new Traders every year.
Wireless LAN will be on display this year along with Cellcom`s first appearance. An Amateur Television demonstration from will be given by the pioneer himself Aedan O'Meara. There is a limited no of spaces available so if you would like to trade please contact Con on 086-1071312 or E-mail conmac@engineer.com as soon as possible.
The Cork Radio Club now has a fully equipped ATV station. The ATV Repeater is now connected by wireless LAN to the QTH of EI3EG. This will enable control of the computer at the site, and also to input and alter data such as club notices and pictures of rallies and field days.
South Eastern Amateur Radio Group
South Eastern Amateur Radio Group are pleased to announce that a rally will take place in the McEniff Ard Rí Hotel, Waterford on Sunday the 17th of October 2004. Doors open at 11.00 a.m. and admission is 3 euro. Entry is free for children accompanied by an adult. Bar and food facilities will be available and there is ample car parking.
South East Communications, Long Communications, Sean Martin and Planet PC have confirmed that they will be attending.
The hotel is offering a discount for those wishing to stay overnight. For enquiries about the rally, contact Mick EI5DCB on 051-873310.
Sweedish Submarine On Air
The Sweedish submarine HMP Uppland, berthed in Stockholm, was on the air as SL8SUB from August 20th tto August 22nd. On Monday the 23rd of August last HMP Uppland set sail and the station is active as SL8SUB/MM when not submerged during its journey. This is believed to be the first time that an operational submarine has been on the air on the amateur bands.
Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News for next week should be forwarded to Mark EI7IS. News should be submitted via e-mail to news@irts.ie for automatic forwarding to both the radio and printed news services. Please note that items for the radio news should reach the editor no later than midday on Fridays.
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