CW Field Day was held last weekend. Good band openings and excellent weather added up to ideal conditions for the participants. Two teams operated from the grounds of Garbally College in Co. Galway: Shannon Basin Club, using the call sign EI3Z/P, and South Dublin Radio Club using the call sign EI2SDR/P; for South Dublin, this was their first CW Field Day contest for many years. Both teams put in a strong performance, and came in with high scores. There were plenty of good openings on 10 and 15 metres, with some stateside stations in the log on 10 metres. Asian and Australian stations were also logged.
In this contest, higher points are awarded for working other portable stations: this year, Field Day stations from at least 19 countries in IARU Region 1 were heard.
A number of radio amateurs in Germany will be QRV using special event callsigns to commemorate the 2006 World Cup.
Approximately 26 special event stations with callsigns in the range of DQ2006A to DQ2006Z will be on the air until the 16th of July. There will be 12 stadium stations with callsigns DR2006B, DR2006C, etc. The callsign WFC06 will also be in operation throughout the World Cup.
Anyone who logs these special event stations could be eligible for awards which are sponsored by DARC. There will be three awards available: bronze, silver and gold. For the bronze award, an amateur must log four stadium special event stations, six district stations and 25 DL stations. The silver award requires 10 stadium stations, 20 district stations and 100 DL stations. For the gold award, an amateur or short wave listener must log 12 stadium stations, 24 district stations and 200 DL stations.
All the logs must take place between the 1st of May and 31st of July. There are no band limitations. All modes except packet and Echolink are valid. For further information about the awards, contact Otto Cecetka via e-mail at; DK6CQ at darc dot de.
The International Museums Weekend will take place next weekend the 17th and 18th of June 2006.
The Howth Martello Radio Group has registered for this event. The Group’s callsign EI0MAR will be activated from the vintage radio museum located in the Martello tower overlooking Howth Harbour. Operation will be on HF with emphasis on CW. Channel S23 (145.575 MHz) will be monitored during the event. The museum is now open seven days a week until the end of October between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. The station is on the air most Sundays. EI0MAR’s website address is www.qsl.net/ei5em/museum.html or simply Google EI0MAR to locate the website.
More information about the International Museums Weekend can be obtained from www.ukradioamateur.co.uk/imw
In the largest ever deployment of Amateur Satellites, thirteen Amateur Satellites will be simultaneously launched at on the 28th of June from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Each satellite is a 10 centimetre cube weighing just 1 kilogramme which contains the battery, transmitter and various amateur experiments.
Twelve of the satellites have downlinks between 435 and 438 MHz and one will operate on 145.950 MHz. Further information regarding the launch can be found at: littonlab.atl.calpoly.edu/
The next general meeting of South Eastern Amateur Radio Group will take place on Wednesday the 28th of June at 8.00 p.m. in the Roanmore Centre, Cleaboy Road, Waterford. All are welcome. Please note that anyone wishing to renew membership or become a member of the club for the first time that membership must be fully paid up by Friday the 30th of June.
The group is currently looking at the possibility of running a theory course later this year (pending a suitable venue and sufficient candidates). To register your interest please e-mail "info at searg dot com" providing your Name, Address and contact details. For latest developments visit www.searg.com
Members of the Limerick Radio Club are QRV as EI60LRC until the end of the year to mark 60 years of the club. Activity is on 80 to 10 metres. QSL is via EI8EM.
South Dublin Radio Club are carrying out Theory classes every Tuesday between 8.00 p.m. and 10.00 p.m. in the Marian Community Centre, Marian Road, Tempelogue. It is planned to run the classes on an ongoing basis with an informal structure and anyone interested in radio are welcome to drop in at any time. The club produces a CD-ROM for those who can’t attend the course, which contains a lot of information, applications and theory notes. For information contact Jim Houlihan EI4HH, Michael EI2GKB or Paul EI2GSB.
The next Radio Theory Examination has now been scheduled for Wednesday the 28th of June 2006. It will take place in the ComReg offices at Abbey Court, Irish Life Centre, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin 1 commencing at 2 p.m.
Candidates wishing to sit this examination should apply to Sean Nolan EI7CD, 12 Little Meadow, Pottery Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin as soon as possible. The closing date for applications is the 16th of June.
The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) equipment will be on the air in crossband repeater mode during ARRL Field Day Saturday and Sunday, the 24th and 25th of June. The ARISS Phase 2 station will be configured in crossband repeater mode on 437.800 MHz uplink and 145.800 MHz downlink. It is being requested that only low-power (QRP) Earth stations access the system. The definition of a QRP station for this activation will be the same criteria that AMSAT is using for its QRP operations on ECHO (AO-51).
The Bangor and District rally will take place on the 25th of June in The Country Club, Crawfordsburn. For more information, contact Michael, GI4XSF.
The VHF/UHF Field Day will take place over the weekend of the 1st and 2nd of July 2006.
IOTA will take place from 1200 UTC on Saturday the 29th of July to 1200 UTC on Sunday the 30th of July.
The Autumn Leg of the 2 metre counties contest will take place on the 27th of August.
The Blarney Rally will take place on September the 24th 2006.
Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News should be forwarded to Mark Wall, EI7IS at QTHR or by phone to 051-853806 or 087-6302026. 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 Friday.
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