Archived News Script

IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday July 24th 2005


Repeater News

The new repeater has completed its testing phase and was installed on site in Co. Limerick on the 13th of July last. Paul EI6FE, President of Limerick Radio club had the first QSO with the installers on site while mobile near Shannon. Good 70-centimetre coverage is expected in West Clare, most of Limerick and parts of East Kerry, Tipperary South Riding and North Cork. Low power handheld access should be available in Shannon Town and Limerick city. There may be mobile or base station access in Mallow, Blarney, Tralee and Tipperary Town. Please send reports to Mike "ei9feb at eircom dot net". The settings are (standard RB5 operation) with CTCSS or PLTone of 103.5 Hz. The RB5 repeater is permanently linked to Limerick 2-metre repeater, which uses a 1750 Hz tone burst to open. The location of the repeater will be announced soon.

The Cork Repeater Group is at present in the process of upgrading both the 2 metre and 70 centimetre repeaters, and wishes to apologise for the interruption of service, it is hoped to have both back in full service soon.

The EI2WRC voice repeater on The Ridge of Capard recently underwent some improvements to its performance. Reports can be sent to "repeaters at searg dot com". Note: When using IRLP on the Southern Ireland Repeater Network, please state your callsign before dialling IRLP nodes. Also, at the start of each over, keep the microphone keyed for one or two seconds to allow all the repeaters in the network and the contacted node to come on-line. This prevents the start of your over from being cut off.


Nets

A monthly six metre FM net meets on the first Monday of each month on 51.525 MHz FM using vertical polarisation at 9.00 p.m. local time. The purpose of this net is to increase activity on the 6-metre band. The next meeting of the net will take place on Monday the 1st of August. All are welcome and encouraged to participate.

The monthly 4-metre activity night will take place on Tuesday the 2nd of July between 8.00 and 9.00 p.m. local time. Operators who are equipped for 70 MHz are invited to listen out for and join in any activity on 70.2626 MHz FM. The 4-metre activity night takes place on the first Tuesday of each month.


ComReg

Through a recent operation, ComReg has come into possession of a couple of amateur transceivers. They are: Yaesu Model: FT-1500M with serial No. 0G082149 (this has a flat mobile mounting bracket still attached). An ADI Model AR-146 with serial No. 75D0120017. If anyone could shed some light on these transceivers or know where they originated, please contact Brian Whelan at ComReg by phone on 01 804 9605 or e-mail "brian dot Whelan at comreg dot ie".


OK/EI7GK/P

Paddy EI7GK is QRV from Cercany 40 km South-West of Prague as OK/EI7GK/Portable. Frequencies plus or minus QRM are 14.268 MHz and 7.068 MHz after 20.00 hours Irish time.


GAREC 2005

The first Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications, GAREC 2005, conference was held in Tampere, Finland, on Monday and Tuesday 13th & 14th of June, organised under the auspices of the IARU. This was hosted by the Finland IARU member group SRAL with Seppo Sisättö OH1VR as organising chairman.

The Chairman for the Programme was Hans Zimmermann F/HB9AQS, IARU EC Coordinator. John, EI2GN represented the AREN group and the IRTS is now in the process of contributing to discussions on the Tampere frequencies. These are HF frequencies that may be used in the future as centres of activity for emergency communications. Members contributions are sought in order that a representative contribution can be made by Ireland to this discussion. IRTS, AREN members and interested parties should contact John at "ei2gn at ketch dot ie" or on 021-4323283 between 0900 hrs - 1700 hrs Monday to Friday.


Worked HQ Stations Award

The Polish Telegraphy Club and the Polish Radio Amateur's Journal are sponsoring the 2005 Worked HQ Stations award for working HQ stations during the upcoming IARU HF Contest. The basic W-HQ-S is earned for 10 QSO's with HQ stations representing all three IARU Regions. Special endorsements are available for each 10 additional QSOs / Heards. Rules and picture of the W-HQ-S Award are available on the Web at whqs2005award.prv.pl.


Rally News

The Cork Radio Rally will be held in the Blarney Park Hotel on the 25th of September. Doors open at 11 a.m. Free parking plenty of things to do in Blarney this year as this year celebrates the Cork Capital of Culture. All enquiries about tables trading etc. should be made to Con on 086 1071312 or 021 4270136 email conmac@engineer.com.

The Mayo Radio Experimenters Network Rally will be held on Sunday November the 20th at the usual venue, the Belmont Hotel, Knock. Doors open at 11:00 a.m. Bookings for accommodation should be made directly with the hotel. The rate is 50 Euro per person with a special all-in rate of 70 Euro for Bed & Breakfast and evening meal. Traders should contact Padraic Baynes EI9JA for exhibition space.

The Waterford Rally will take place on the 16th of October 2005 in the McEniff, Ard Ri Hotel, Waterford. Traders confirmed to date are; Long Communications, South East Communications and Tetra Communications. Special room rates are available for those attending the rally; Bed and Breakfast for 2 nights plus one dinner is 89 Euro per person sharing. Bed and Breakfast for one night plus 1 dinner is 55 Euro per person sharing. A 19 Euro single supplement applies. For information or to reserve stalls contact Michael Hoban, EI5DCB on 051-873310.


Slievenamon Trophy

The Slievenamon Trophy is awaiting the station who can work the most 70 centimetres stations simplex on FM or SSB during the full month of July, please give a listen on the band especially at the weekends.


International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend

The International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend will take place on the 20th and 21st of August 2005. A list of the stations with QTH and QSL information can be found at illw.net/2005_list.htm.

If you are joining in the fun of the weekend please listen out for other lighthouse or lightship stations. Non-US CW stations should operate above 14.225 MHz to allow access by Advanced Class US amateurs. Operations below 14.225 MHz just eliminate the potential for some US hams to work the LH stations. Last year there were 376 lighthouse and lightship stations QRV during the weekend. So come and join us in the fun of the weekend and make a total of over 400 lighthouse/ship stations. An entry form can be found on the web page at illw.net.


AMSAT

AMSAT-UK will be holding their 20th International Space Colloquium at the University of Surrey, Guildford, England from the 29th to the 31st of July. The programme is now published on the web site at www.uk.amsat.org/Colloquium/programme/default.php

There will be guided tours of the Surrey Space Centre at the University with the satellite mission control centre and the satellite assembly facility. These tours are always. On Saturday in addition to the main lecture programme there will be special "Beginners Sessions" to show newcomers how to use the many Amateur Satellites that are available.

The microwave testing facilities are key feature of every Colloquium and as in previous years there will be facilities to check frequency and noise figure of equipment and the ever popular 2.4 GHz Antenna Testing Range. A new service this year will be measurements of loss in coaxial cables and patch leads.

Professor John Zarnecki, Principal Investigator for the Surface Science Package on Huygens is giving the keynote presentation. His presentation on Friday the 29th will describe The journey of the Huygens probe as well as its final dramatic plunge to the surface of Titan. The event is open to all Amateurs and SWL's.


News Input

As is normal with this time of year, news input can be scarce due to the fact that most clubs are currently on Summer recess. Despite this however, input of late was quite good for this time of year. However, we encourage you to forward on any items which you think may be of interest.


Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News should be forwarded to Mark EI7IS at QTHR or by phone to 051 853806, evenings or weekends or 087 6302026 (any time). 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 Fridays.

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