Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 7th April 2019
Silent Keys - EI3JX and EI7AHB
It is with the deepest of sympathy that IRTS announces the recent passing of Thomas Perrott EI3JX of Gorey Co Wexford. It is also with great sadness that we announce the death of Ray McCabe, EI7AHB on Wednesday 3rd of April. Funeral took place yesterday on Saturday 6th. Ray was a very active member of the North Dublin Radio Club in the past and ran the radio theory classes there in the 80s and 90s. He was an avid experimenter and homebrewer, a real radio amateur in the true sense of the word. Ray came from Thurles and had an engineering background. He worked in Irish Sugar, Avery Weighing Scales in England and was in charge of engineering apprentices in FÁS for several years before he retired. Ray was a real gentleman, always willing to help others. He had a great way of imparting knowledge and made it enjoyable too. He was gifted. To the family and friends of both of the aforementioned operators we extend our sympathy.
Contest News
Results of the 80 metres Evening Counties Contest held on 19th March have now been published. Band conditions on the night were reasonably good, and 35 logs were received, showing activity in 21 EI and GI counties. 11 overseas DXCC entities were also logged. See www.irts.ie/results for full details.
Limerick Radio Club
The next meeting of LRC will take place as usual in Limerick Institute of Technology on Thursday the 11th April starting at 7:30 PM. The regular LRC Meeting will be preceded by an EGM. All members are requested to attend.
Along with the usual club items, Liam EI4GB will lead a discussion on the Oscar 100 activities.
IRTS AGM - Shannon Basin Radio Club
Reminder: The IRTS AGM, will be hosted this year by the Shannon Basin Radio Club, in Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone, Co. Roscommon over the weekend of 13-14 April 2019.
A number of very exciting talks will take place on Saturday 13th.
From 2-3pm, EIDX Group will provide a talk about their dxpedition to Togo. Between 15:15 and 16:00, Drone Works Ireland will illustrate how drones can be of benefit to the amateur community and weather permitting a live demonstration may be given of them in action. From 16:15-17:00, Dave EI4BZ will give a talk about operating awards and QSL.
On Sunday doors will open at 11am for the radio and electronics fair. Raffle prizes this year include the following: Icom handheld, Yaesu handheld, Begali watch and much more.
Please see www.shannonbasinradioclub.com and www.irts.ie for updated information.
AGM CW Assessment
Final Reminder that Dave EI4BZ will be conducting CW assessment at the IRTS AGM in Athlone on April 14th. Full details of the Morse test are available on the IRTS web site under licensing at www.irts.ie Booking for these tests is essential and intending candidates should contact Dave EI4BZ on 087-6290574 or by email “davebeag /at/ gmail /dot/ com”.
IECRO Ireland, May Bank Holiday
A reminder that an IECRO meeting and training event is being planned for Bank Holiday Monday 6th May 2019. It will be run in Westmeath. All current members are requested to attend. Further information will become available shortly through the website www.iecro.com
Anyone interested in joining IECRO should make contact via email “ireland /at/ iecro /dot/ com” or by telephone 086 355 2370.
2019 Marconi Day
International Marconi Day will take place this year on 27th of April when amateur radio stations will operate from various locations around the world with historical connections to Marconi. EI0MAR will be QRV as an award station once again this year from the Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio in Howth.
This is a twenty-four hour event and EI0MAR will be QRV from about 0700 Zulu that day. The Marconi Company conducted wireless telegraphy tests at the Martello Tower in 1905.
If you would like to come along that day as a visitor or operator you will be most welcome. The event is organised by the Cornish Radio Amateur Radio Club and awards are made for contacting the registered stations.
You can find out more information about EI0MAR and International Marconi Day on Facebook. Just search under EI0MAR and International Marconi Day or by emailing “ei0mar /at/ eircom /dot/ net”.
DX News
Harald DF2WO will be back in Burkina Faso until 26th April. He will reactivate his XT2AW callsign on CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8 with a focus on 160, 80 and 60m. As usual QSLs go via M0OXO OQRS.
Mart DL6UAA will be QRV from the Aland Islands as OH0UA from 8th – 19th April. He will operate on CW and Digital and QSLs go via his home call.
There will be some IOTA activity from Djibouti in the coming weeks. Before this starts Christian EA3NT will be on from the Djibouti mainland as J20NT on 13/14th April. He will be joined by MM0NDX and MM0OKG and will travel to Sept Freres Island (IOTA AF-059). They hope to be on the island from 16 – 18 April using the callsign J20DX. This will be followed by activity from Moucha Island (IOTA AF-053) on 18 -19 April signing J20DX/P. Dates may vary due to local conditions.
Ben DL1RNT will operate holiday-style as 8Q7NT from the Maldive Islands until 13th April. Look for him on CW, RTTY and PSK on 40 – 10m. QSL via the home call.
Items for inclusion in next week’s Radio News can be submitted via e-mail to “newsteam /at/ irts / dot / ie” for automatic forwarding to both the radio and printed news services. Urgent news items for the radio news may be telephoned to the radio news editor, Mark EI6HPB on 086 355 2370.
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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