Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday December 6th 1998
Silent Key
We regret to announce the sudden death of Gerard Ronan EI7FS of Patrickswell, County Limerick. Ger died on Monday November the 30th and was buried in Patrickswell cemetery on Thursday last. A large and representative gathering of radio amateurs was present at both the removal and interment and both IRTS and Limerick Radio Club were represented. Ger was an active member of Limerick Radio Club for many years and was a pioneer of computer use from the early days. He set up the first BBS in Limerick, providing both the computer and the know how. He also provided a club newsletter for many years and also broadcast the IRTS news on RTTY. We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Ann, son Bryan, daughters Karen and Eileen and all his relatives and friends.
AREN Meeting in Athlone
A special AREN meeting was held in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone on Saturday last, November the 28th. The meeting was well attended with representatives present from counties Dublin, Galway, Leitrim, Limerick, Mayo, Tipperary and Westmeath. The purpose of the meeting was to explore ways of revitalising the Emergency Network. Problems were identified and many helpful solutions were suggested. A National Co-ordinating Group, a sub-committee of IRTS, will be formed at a meeting very early in the New Year. This will allow those who could not attend last week's meeting an opportunity to get involved. Clubs and AREN Groups are asked to nominate willing persons to serve as provincial co-ordinators and these will be appointed at the next meeting. Apart from co-ordinating overall activities in their respective areas, the provincial co-ordinators will be the representatives of the groups within their areas on the National Co-ordinating Group.
The contribution that public service radio communications can make to Amateur radio, now and into the future, should not be underestimated. Remember that everybody, including Shortwave Listeners, has something to offer in the service of the community and can you think of a better way of encouraging activity in your club? Public Service Communications provides opportunities to introduce amateur radio to the public, gain, train and more importantly hold on to new members. In addition it promotes worthwhile activity on our bands. Make whatever contribution you can and become involved at some level.
In the first instance any of the following can be contacted either for more information or to nominate somebody for the national co-ordinating committee.
Dave EI2AMB on 061-337422 Tom EI2GP on 093-35523 Joe EI2ESB on 094-24361 Joe EI4FT on 091-637152 Nicky EI5FLB on 01-4932719 Noel EI6HW on 0902-74726 Kevin EI7IM on 01-4509514 Padraig EI7IR on 0905-75013 Liam EI7FE on 052-22493 Brian EI8IU on 078-36102
Contests
Last weekend's CW Worldwide Contest provided great enjoyment for those who got involved. Conditions were excellent with rare DX to be worked all over the globe. There were lot's of EI stations heard on the bands over the weekend and anyone who says CW is an outdated mode and losing popularity should have a listen to one of the major contests.
The ARRL 10 metre Contest will be held next weekend the 12th and 13th and in this one, everybody works everybody, with the multipliers being DXCC countries, US States and Canadian provinces. This is a mixed mode event and you may enter SSB only, CW only or mixed. Conditions were very good on 10 metres during the CW Worldwide and at least one station in EI worked well over 100 countries on the band over that weekend.
The Croatian DX Contest will be held on the following weekend, 19th and 20th of December. Top Band operators will be catered for again over the Christmas with the Stew Perry Challenge being held over the festive period on the 26th and the 27th. The RAC Canada Winter Contest will be held on December the 27th.
Coast Stations Special Event
Advance notice now of a major series of special event stations next April. Coast stations worldwide will be activated over the weekend of April the 11th and 12th and three EI stations will be among them.
Permission has been received to use the callsigns EI4EJK at Valentia, EI4EJM at Malin Head and EI4EIL at Haulbowline in Cork Harbour. Further details will be announced later.
75th Anniversary of first transatlantic QSO
It is difficult to imagine that it is only 75 years since the first two way radio contact was made across the North Atlantic. This happened on November the 27th 1923 when Fred Schnell 1MO worked Leon Deloy 8AB in France on a frequency around 3MHz. A little while later John Reinartz 1XAM also worked Leon Deloy.
Amateurs in Canada will celebrate their first Transatlantic QSO, between C1BQ in Nova Scotia and G2OD in Berkshire in England on December 16th 1923, by using special prefixes during the month of December. Canadians will use the prefix CF in place of VA, CG in place of VE, CJ in place of VO and CK in place of VY.
Items for inclusion in the Radio News can be faxed to 021-632730 or passed on the telephone to Dave EI4BZ at 021-632444 during the day and at 021-883555 in the evening.
Input for the Newsletter should be sent to Kevin EI7IM at QTHR or on 01-4509514 or on E-mail to EI7IM@tinet.ie All input to either the Radio News or the Newsletter can also be sent by e-mail to news@irts.ie
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