Following the recent successful running of the CW Field Day in Cloughjordan, Co. Tipperary, it has been decided by the IRTS committee to look into the possibility of holding the HF SSB Field day at a central location on the 6th and 7th of September. In order to proceed with plans for the Field Day it is necessary to gauge interest from Clubs.
Clubs interested in taking part in the Field Day at a central location should contact the Contest Manager Noel Walsh EI2JC at QTHR or by email to contests@irts.ie by Friday the 1st of August. The event will only proceed if sufficient numbers express interest. Details of the event will be discussed with the Clubs involved.
At a recent meeting of the IRTS committee, some important rule changes were approved. These changes will allow for non-members of the Society to participate in multi-operator stations in IRTS contests. Any such station must be representing an affiliated club or society. The amended rules are in the May/June issue of Echo Ireland.
Any member or members interested in taking over the running of the outgoing bureau are invited to contact Society President, Sean Donelan EI4GK on 01-2821420 or e-mail seandonelan@indigo.ie. Outgoing cards are despatched to foreign bureau in one kilogram packages and all cards, regardless of numbers are cleared every three months. In the meantime, it is not expected that there will be any delays incurred with outgoing cards.
The EI2WRB VHF/UHF Beacon run by South Eastern Amateur Radio Group is operational once again from Portlaw Co. Waterford. It was set up on Sunday 20th of July last. It can be heard on 144.403 MHz. The UHF frequency (432.870) is not operational as of yet. Reports are welcome to searg@angelfire.com.
South Eastern Amateur Radio Group will stage a demonstration of Amateur Television at 8.00 p.m. on Wednesday the 30th of July 2003 in the usual venue of Roanmore Social and Sports Centre, Cleaboy Road, Waterford.
The meeting will feature a talk on Amateur Television and a demonstration by Jim EI8IG and John EI8JA. A working station will be in operation at the meeting venue. This is an ideal opportunity for those interested in finding out more about ATV. All are welcome to attend.
Please note that the next meeting of Tipperary Amateur Radio Group will take place on Thursday the 7th of August next.
Today (Sunday the 27th) is the last Sunday for the Slievenamon Shield.
The Shannon Basin Radio club is running a one day Open, Fixed, Challenge for EI residents. This challenge is open to all licensed operators and short wave listeners, and will be held annually on the first Sunday of November. The purpose of the challenge is to encourage radio operators and short wave listeners to be active on the H.F bands.
To receive a copy of the rules, please send a stamped address envelope to the contest manager EI6HW, Noel Mulvihill, Hillquarter, Coosan, Athlone, Co. Westmeath or e-mail nfmulvihill@eircom.net. It is important that persons intending to compete must send notification 10 days prior to the contest date, so get a copy of the rules early.
As of the 19th of July 2003, Denmark (OZ) became the latest country to gain access to the 4 Metre / 70 MHz band. They have been allocated the 3 spot frequencies of 70.025, 70.050 and 70.100 MHz. The only mode allowed is CW. Note that these 3 frequencies are below the 4 metre band here in Ireland (EI) which starts at 70.125 MHz. Outside of the UK and Ireland, Denmark is only the second European country to have issued 4 metre licences. Slovenia (S5) issued their first 4 metre licences back in 1998.
On the 21st of July at 19:17 UTC, John Desmond, EI7GL worked OZ3ZW for the first EI to OZ QSO on 4 metres. EI7GL operated spilt by transmitting on 70.200 MHz and listening to OZ3ZW on 70.100 MHz. Mode used was CW of course.
Staying with 4 metres, a 70 MHz activity afternoon is planned for Saturday the 30th of August. The purpose of the afternoon is to encourage use of the 4 metre band. The event is being organised by Rob Mannion G3XFD/EI5IW editor of Practical Wireless magazine and he hopes to work many EI's over the afternoon using either a 3 or 5 element beam from his QTH in Dorset which provides excellent take off to EI on 144 and 70 MHz.
Those interest in taking part are asked to e-mail Rob at rob@pwpublishing.ltd.uk and he will return an e-mail detailing a list of those planning to be active and proposed frequencies etc.
The 6 metre sporadic-E season is now at its height with excellent band conditions almost every day. Recently there has been openings to the USA and Caribbean. The number of EI's heard working the band is encouraging.
The Amateur Radio Emergency Network operates nationally on the first Tuesday of each month. Local groups will be called on 145.525 at 2130 local and the national group will be called on 7.043 plus or minus at 2145 local, when local nets will cease to operate. Traffic for individual members of local groups who cannot call the national net will be passed by local net controllers. Operators who are interested in becoming members of AREN should contact John, EI2GN at the IRTS or QTHR.
Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News should be forwarded Mark Wall EI7IS. He can be contacted on 087-6302026. News can also be submitted via e-mail to news@irts.ie for automatic forwarding to both the radio and printed news services.
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