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IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday August 20th 2006


South Dublin Radio Club

Congratulations to Finbarr, Terry, Fred and Stephen who recently passed the theory exam. They sat the course with South Dublin Radio and Stephen has already got the call sign EI4GKB. This represents a one hundred percent pass rate for the class.

The classes are continuing with SDR every Tuesday between 8.00 p.m. and 10.00 p.m. in the Marian Community Centre, Marian Road, Tempelogue. The classes are run on an ongoing basis with an informal structure and anyone interested in radio are welcome to drop in at any time.

For information contact Michael EI2GKB on 087-2481970.


South Eastern Amateur Radio Group

The EI2WRB VHF/UHF CW beacon located at Portlaw, Co. Waterford and operated by South Eastern Amateur Radio Group returned to service on Sunday August the 6th following a long absence from the airwaves.

The beacon, which can be heard on 144.403 MHz and 432.403 MHz, is horizontally polarised and beaming 95 degrees. Thanks to John EI8JA, Nicky EI3JB and Egidio EI9EQ who put the work into getting it back on air. Please send reports to “repeaters at searg dot com”. For more information visit www.searg.com/beacons.php

The next meeting of South Eastern Amateur Radio Group will take place at 8.00 p.m. on Wednesday the 30th of August in the Roanmore Centre, Cleaboy Road, Waterford. All are welcome.

The Waterford Rally will take place on Sunday the 15th of October in the Woodlands Hotel, Waterford. Enquiries to Michael Hoban EI5DCB on 051-873310.


New 10 metre beacon in Malta

A new 10 metre CW Beacon went into operation at 00:00:01 UTC on the 15th August from the town of Mosta in Malta and is transmitting on 28.174 MHz from a Yaesu FT-857D running at a power of 7.5 Watts / 8.75 dBW into a specifically tuned Antron 99 omni directional vertical antenna at 129 Meters above sea level.

More information can be found at www.9h1ia.zoomshare.com


National Road Racing

On the 27th of August, national road racing takes place in Waterford. The Comeragh Cycling Club hosts this event. Unfortunately this also happens to be the date of the Autumn leg of the counties contest. Nevertheless Richie EI9HR is looking for volunteers to set up communications for this very worthy event. Richie can be contacted on 086-2255357 or 051-854315 during evenings. Richie can also be contacted by email to “ei9hr at yahoo dot com”. Anyone interested in taking part, please contact Richie as soon as possible.


Limerick Radio Club

Limerick Radio Club is QRV as EI60LRC until the end of the year to mark 60 years since the clubs foundation.

Club members wishing to use the special call sign should contact the club secretary Michael EI2IX at ‘ei4lrc at eircom dot net’. Please indicate the dates, times, bands and modes on which you would like to operate.

Station logbooks, duly signed by the operator of the call sign, should be sent to Alan EI8EM within seven days of the completion of each operating period. This ensures that QSL cards can be issued promptly to the stations worked.


Contests

As the Autumn 2 metres Counties Contest as well as the SSB field day are both around the corner, the IRTS would encourage the participation of as many stations as possible to take part in these contests as it is a great opportunity for both clubs and single ops to get on the air. Anyone wishing to take part or needing any info can contact the contest manager EI8IU on 086-2514822. Check the IRTS web site for recent rule changes to these events.


Tropo Record

Just over one year ago on the 15th of August 2005 the region one 144 MHz tropo record was broken by RW1ZC/MM and EI5FK, the new distance record stands at 3751 kilometres.

The old record of 3264 kilometres, which stood since 1988, had only been broken a few weeks earlier by G4LOH and RW1ZC/MM at a distance of 3487 kilometres. Alex RW1ZC uses 100 Watts and a single 9 element Yagi and was located off the coast of Mauritania in a fishing boat.

Information on these QSOs can be found on the website of EI5FK, G4LOH and DF5AI.


DX and Special Events

PA0RRS is QRV as CT3/PA0RRS from Madeira Island until the 31st of August. QSL is via home call, PA0RRS.

OY/DL2RMC and OY/DO3MSH will be QRV from the Faroe Islands until the 23rd of August. Activity will be on all HF bands using CW, SSB and digital modes. QSL is via DL2RMC.

A group of operators will activate the special callsign SX8AYT from a number of Greek Islands in the EU-049 IOTA group. The station will be active until the 30th of August and activity will be on 80 through to 2 metres using mainly SSB. QSL is via SV2AYT or via the bureau.

YC0IEM/7 is active from Borneo Island OC-088 until the 24th of August, QSL is via IZ8CCW and in East Timor, 4W6AAB has been reportedly heard on 20 and 30 metres between 0730 and 0930 hours UTC using RTTY. QSL is via PA7FM.

GB1CPB, representing GB One Century Portland Bill, will be QRV until the end of 2006, from Portland Bill Lighthouse in Dorset to commemorate 100 years operation of the lighthouse.


Solar Cycle Number 24

A small sunspot appeared on the surface of the Sun on the 31st of July and vanished again within hours, this was not given an official sunspot number due to the short duration of it's existence. Normally this would not be significant, however this particular sunspot was of reverse magnetic polarisation to that which would be expected and this is a possible indication that the next sunspot cycle "Solar Cycle Number 24" is about to begin.

At present, the sun is quiet as we near the end of Solar Cycle 23, which peaked back in 2001. The next cycle is expected to be a particularly stormy one. The magnetic fields of sunspots reverse polarity from cycle to cycle. The backward sunspot may be the first of the next cycle, however it did only last a few hours, normally they last days or weeks, also this sunspot did not appear at a mid latitude as new-cycle sunspots normally do so it's a bit early to determine accurately if the new cycle has already begun. It will be a further year or two before the new cycle will have a significant effect on HF radio communications.


Dates for Your Diary

The Autumn Leg of the 2-metre counties contest will take place on the 27th of August.

The SSB Field Day will take place on September the 2nd and 3rd at Garbally College in Ballinasloe.

The MRG VHF/UHF challenge will take place from 1500 hours to 1800 hours local time on Sunday the 10th of September.

The Blarney Rally will take place on September the 24th. The Waterford Rally will be held on Sunday the 15th of October and the Mayo Rally will take place on Sunday the 26th of November.


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 Friday in order to be guaranteed inclusion in the following Sundays bulletin.

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