Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 27th September 2009
Silent Key EI6DA
Pat Mooney EI6DA died peacefully on Monday evening 21 September last after a long illness in the loving care of his family at his family home on Johnstown Road, Dun Laoghaire.
Pat had spent his life as a dedicated Member of the Gardai and rose through the ranks to eventually retire as Garda Superintendent. He moved to Navan as Superintendent and was later transferred to the Garda Depot, Phoenix Park, Dublin up to his retirement which was about twenty years ago. Pat lived for a time in Castleknock and after retirement, Pat and his wife Marie moved to Dun Laoghaire.
Born in Dublin he was very proud of his roots and his family, sadly his wife Marie predeceased him about ten years ago. Pat was a very private man and very reserved and a latecomer to the world of amateur radio. A gentleman to his fingertips he was always ready to do the good turn or help fellow amateurs. After he retired from the Gardai sadly his eyesight began to prematurely fail and his neighbouring radio colleagues were not found wanting and were always there to help with antennas etc.
Pat enjoyed having a table at various rallies and enjoyed the haggle with his radio colleagues. Pat lived for a time in the '80s in Navan and was a regular at club meetings of the Royal Meath Amateur Radio Club and could always be relied to be the first to put his name down for the club's bus outings to the Killyhevlin in Enniskillen.
He was a great supporter of the Worked All Ireland Award and had achieved two ultimate awards one of them on 40 metres exclusively. One of the aims of the WAI Award is the promotion of friendship through amateur radio and Pat achieved this to perfection. His friendly, courteous and gentle nature was very evident in his contacts on the air and created many enduring friendships.
The amateur world is very much the poorer tonight with the death of one of this country's finest and most respected Superintendent amongst his Garda colleagues, especially along the border where he served during the difficult times of the "Troubles" shortly after being appointed Superintendent.
Pat Mooney, despite his responsibility for safety and discipline of his Area Gardai also had the reputation as being a very caring Christian man, a caring which extended beyond his family circle to his Garda Colleagues and to providing Christian support to neighbours and especially radio colleagues during any serious illness or need.
His funeral took place on Saturday 26th of September ,To his family and many friends we extend our deepest sympathy. May he rest in peace.
THEORY CLASSES IN REGION 4
Plans are being put in place to run radio theory classes in the Limerick area by IRTS Region 4 representative Ger McNamara EI4GXB, with the hope that the theory examination can be held in Limerick which will be dependant on numbers.
Those interested in attending the theory classes can contact Ger via email at ei4gxb /at/ gmail.com or 087 2532512 or QTHR
Estate agent signals Marconi sale
Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi carried out early radio transmission experiments to and from Rathlin Island from Ballycastle in 1898.
His house, known as Marconi's cottage, sits on the rocks of the North Antrim coast two miles outside Ballycastle.
The experiments were part of the development of wireless telegraphy which would transform communications.
A Belfast-based selling agent described the cottage as sitting on a "secluded 18 acre site with breathtaking sea views and surrounded by rural countryside". The property has gone on the market for 450.000 Euro.
Tipperary Amateur Radio Group
The next monthly meeting of the Tipperary Amatuer Radio Group will take place on Thursday next the 1st October in Raheen House Hotel, Raheen Road, Clonmel at 8.00 pm All are Welcome to attend.
Industry News
ASTATIC Re-branding
CAD Professional Microphones and Astatic Commercial Audio Products, which are re-branding as C-A-D Audio.
While the name CAD Professional Microphones may not be one familiar to Amateurs, the Astatic brand has its roots in amateur radio. The company was established in 1931 by two radio engineers dedicated to the development of a static-free, or "anti static," microphone.
Over the years the company evolved into Astatic Commercial Audio products. Perhaps its most famous Astatic branded product was the lollypop looking D-104 crystal microphone that was considered the gold standard for two way radio in the 1950', 60's and through the mid-1970's.
That D-104 was discontinued from production a decade ago. The name change for the Solon, Ohio, company became effective on September 1st.
Ontario Provincial Police Force special event
Look for OPP officer Bob Cooke, VE3BDB and other current or retired uniform or civilian members of the OPP, to activate the special callsign VC3COPP between October 2nd - 31st.
Activity is to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Ontario Provincial Police Force (OPP). Since its formation on October 13, 1909, the OPP has grown to become one of the largest deployed police forces in North America.
Activity will be on the HF bands & possibly 6 meters, using CW and SSB.
QSL via VE3BDB only direct.
Free Yagi antenna designs
Derek Hilleard, G4CQM - a professional antenna designer with more than 15 years experience - has now published, free of charge, a collection of homebrew/diy vhf, uhf and shf yagi designs for fellow radio amateurs to build for themselves.
The website has a range of designs for Yagi antennas covering 50MHz, 144MHz, 432MHz and 1296MHz (the 6m, 2m, 70cm and 23cm bands).
You can find Derek's website at: myweb.tiscali.co.uk/g4cqm/
K5D DVD almost ready!
The Desecheo video is almost ready according to the K5D Web page.
The Web page reports: "Bob K4UEE and Ed W4ZSB will produce yet another exciting DXpedition video. This DVD is expected for release by October 2009.
For complete details please go to the website www.k4uee.com/dvd
Rallies
For more information on Rallies please check the IRTS website.
This week in History
1918 First direct radio message, UK to Aust. received by E Fisk, Sydney.
1956 First Trans Atlantic telephone cable, Scotland to Newfoundland, Canada.
Items mentioned in the IRTS Radio news are of a general, educational or informative nature, there is no guarantee that stations mentioned can be heard or worked.
Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News should be
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Please note that items for the radio news should reach the editor no later than midday on Thursday in order to be guaranteed inclusion in the following Sunday’s bulletin.
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