Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday September 18th 2005
IARU Region 1 Conference
On Sunday last, 160 delegates representing 58 member societies, the permanent working Groups and IARU headquarters in Connecticut assembled in Davos, Switzerland for the 20th IARU Region 1 Conference. The Irish Radio Transmitters Society was represented by Vice President, Finbarr Buckley EI1CS and Sean Nolan EI7CD.
Larry Price W4RA, President IARU, Tim Ellman VESH, Vice President IARU and Dave Sumner K1ZZ Secretary IARU represented IARU Headquarters. In his opening address Larry Price W4RA emphasised that the secret of our success at WRC03 was working together and that we must continue to do this in the run up to WRC07.
The Conference works through four committees one for HF, one for VHF, one for finance and one for administration and organisation. Only two of the committees work simultaneously so that it is just about possible with early starts and long days for two delegates to cover the work of the conference.
In a presentation on WRC07 it was pointed out that agenda item 1.13 provides for a review of the segment 4 to 10 MHz. Fortunately the 7 to 7.2 MHz segment settled at WRC03 is not included in the review. However there are already indications that some interests would wish to see the amateur allocation confined to 7.0 to 7.02 MHz, so we must fight to retain the remaining 100 kHz in Region 2 and secure it for the other two regions.
Among the decisions taken for the conference were:
To lobby for an exclusive allocation from 10.1 to 10.35 MHz and an allocation of 100 kHz in the 5 MHz band.
Centres of activity for emergency traffic were decided on arising from the Tampere conference attended by John EI2GN earlier in the year.
The HF and VHF band plans were revised so that segments would be designated by signal bandwidth rather than mode. This does not make any dramatic change in these band plans but makes them more flexible and adaptable in accommodating existing and new modes particularly digital modes.
The process of introducing a more democratic system of electing the International IARU president was begun at this conference.
A new system of calculating IARU membership subscriptions is being introduced which will result in a saving of about 10% to societies.
The term of office of executive committee members will be limited to three terms.
A spectrum defence fund was set up, to be funded voluntarily by the member societies and by readjustment of the Regional budget.
The conference closed with its final session on Thursday when the recommendation of the four committees were endorsed by the final plenary meeting and Croatia was elected to host the next conference in 2008.
A more extensive report on the conference will be carried in an upcoming issue of Echo Ireland.
Cork Radio Club
The Cork Radio Club took part in the recent SSB field day from the farm of John EI7FD in Upper Glanmire. Among those who attended were Jeremy EI5GM, Finbarr EI1CS, Anatoly EI4JF, Aedan EI3EG, as well as Vincent EI7HN and Dick EI6HH and visitor Peter PE1CHD who has just moved to Cork. A particular welcome was Dave EI9FBB who just returned from honeymoon that day. We extend congratulations to Pat Thompson EI2GHB who was married on the same day. Best DX was 3DA in Swaziland and also worked was HZ. Band conditions were good, and all enjoyed the event. The club would like to thank the Cashman family for the use of the site.
Mayo Radio Experimenters Network
The Mayo Radio Experimenters Network will hold their AGM in The Meeting Room, Stensons Lounge, Ballyvary on Wednesday October 5th at 9 p.m. The September meeting discussed at length the recent discussion paper from ComReg and the club response was formulated.
Night classes for the theory examination will commence soon - full details will be announced in the next few weeks.
EI Counties Contest
If you haven't already done so, please submit your log for the EI Counties Contest to the contest manager as soon as possible. All participants, even those with only a few QSOs are urged to submit their logs to help with the log checking. Logs should be sent to the Contest Manager - Noel Walsh at "ei2jc at hotmail dot com".
EI8IC APRS Maps
Following the recent increase in APRS (position reporting) activity in Ireland, EI8IC has placed a new suite of 30 Irish maps on his website. Each map covers a 1x1 degree area and shows live Irish APRS data overlaid above background information that includes roads, towns, counties, etc. You can turn the graphics on and off, and choose how the APRS returns are displayed in a variety of different ways. Each map is also available for use on your own UI-View system by clicking on 'Export' and following the instructions.
This is an on-going work and suggestions and comments are always welcome. These maps are best viewed with 'Internet Explorer'. The maps can be viewed at www.mapability.com/ei8ic
Solar News
Despite solar minimum being only one year away, solar activity remains very high at present. Sunspot number 798 has unleashed 9 solar flares since September the 7th last causing radio blackouts and radiation storms.
The sun's rotation is gradually turning sunspot 798 to face Earth. Explosions in the coming week or so will be increasingly Earth-directed, increasing the likelihood of geomagnetic storms and auroras. The initial solar wind that hit Earths Ionosphere on the 8th and 9th produced intense Auroras at higher latitudes. 2005 began with an X-flare on New Year's Day followed by unprecedented solar activity. Since then we've experienced 4 severe geomagnetic storms and 14 more X class flares.
Slide Rule and Abacus Exhibition
This Exhibition is an educational show of pre-calculator and Computer methods of calculation. Items on view include slide Rules dating back from about 100 years, abacuses from China, and a Soroban from Japan.
The exhibition also includes a modern set of 'Napiers Bones' copied from a 16th century version, and some mechanical adding machines. There is also accompanying informative documentation explaining the functionality of the items.
There is a free 'make your own' paper slide rule available from the adult learning desk, just ask! If you leave your name and phone number at the desk you may win a real 10 inch Slide Rule dating from the 1960's. The name will be drawn from a 'hat' at the end of the exhibition.
The exhibition is currently at the Central Library in the ILAC Shopping centre in Dublin and will finish at the end of September. All are welcome, there is no charge, it should be educational for the younger generation, and should bring back pleasant memories for the 'elder lemons'! All items are from the collection of EI9DVB.
Blarney Rally
The Cork Radio Club Annual Radio Rally will be held in the Blarney Park Hotel on Sunday next, the 25th of September. Doors open at 11 a.m. and admission is 5 Euro. There is free parking in the hotel grounds and plenty of things to do in Blarney as this year celebrates the Cork Capital of Culture. All aspects of radio are catered for and the rally will also feature Morse Testing and the IRTS Book Stand.
Food and refreshments will be available. All enquiries about tables, trading etc. should be made to Con on 086 1071312 or 021 4270136 or email "conmac at engineer dot com".
Upcoming Rallies
The Waterford Rally will take place on Sunday the 16th of October 2005 in the McEniff, Ard Ri Hotel, Waterford. Traders confirmed to date are; Long Communications, South East Communications and Tetra Communications. The IRTS bookstand will be present and a strong feature will be the Bring and Buy aspect of the rally. Doors open at 11:00 a.m. and admission is 5 Euro. There is no admission charge for children (accompanied by an adult). Special room rates are available for those attending the rally. For information or to reserve exhibition space contact the rally organiser, Michael Hoban, EI5DCB on 051-873310. Information regarding room rates is available on the groups web site at www.searg.com
The Mayo Radio Experimenters Network Rally will be held on Sunday November the 20th at the usual venue, the Belmont Hotel, Knock. Doors open at 11:00 a.m. Bookings for accommodation should be made directly with the hotel. The rate is 50 Euro per person with a special all-in rate of 70 Euro for Bed & Breakfast and evening meal. Traders should contact Padraic Baynes EI9JA for exhibition space.
7 MHz extension in Malta
Malta (9H) has now got extended 7 MHz band allocation. The band allocation is now 7 to 7.2 MHz in line with the changes that took place last year to the allocation in some European countries including Ireland.
SSB Field Day
The recent SSB Field Day attracted five teams competing in the restricted section on the grounds of Garbally College in Ballinasloe, County Galway. Weather conditions were excellent for the weekend as the rain, which hit the south of the country stayed away. Band conditions however, were not so good and DX contacts were few and far between.
The battle of Ballinasloe developed into a two horse race between the local Shannon Basin Club who are the current title-holders and the more experienced Dalkey Island team from Dublin. We will have to await the log checking to know the final outcome.
The best hourly rate trophy went to the Dalkey Island team, the best HF DX went to the Shannon Basin Club and the best LF DX was won by the Galway Radio Experimenters Club. Thanks to Garbally College for the outstanding facilities.
The social side of the weekend kicked of on Friday night with a dinner in the local hotel and on Saturday night, the now well-established barbeque, was hosted by the local club with chef, Tony EI3HA again producing an excellent and varied menu.
SSETI Express Handbook
The Student Space Exploration and Technology Initiative was started by the European Space Agency (ESA) Education Office to enable University students in Europe to experience the challenges and opportunities of actually building a satellite and having it launched into space.
Their first satellite SSETI Express is scheduled for launch on September 30th from northern Russia. It is planned to downlink telemetry in AX25 format at 9k6 on 437.250 MHz and at 38k4 on 2401.835 MHz. It should also be available for Radio Amateurs to use as a single channel FM transponder.
To coincide with the launch the SSETI Express Handbook has just been published. Written by Richard Limebear G3RWL. ESA has asked for the help of Radio Amateurs around the world to collect vital telemetry data from the satellite and they are organising a competition with a prize for whoever submits the largest number of valid telemetry payload packets to SSETI Express Mission Control by the 1st of January 2006. The handbook provides full details of how to enter this competition.
The PDF of the handbook can be downloaded free of charge from the AMSAT-UK website at www.uk.amsat.org or printed copies are available for £5 inc P&P in Europe from AMSAT-UK.
Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News should be forwarded to Mark Wall, EI7IS at QTHR or by phone to 051 853806 or 087 6302026. Items for the radio news can also be faxed to 087 5 6302026. News should be submitted via e-mail to "news at irts dot 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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