Eddie Steadman, EI9DJB (Silent Key) It is with great sadness that we report on the passing of Eddie Steadman, EI9DJB.
Eddie was a regular at SEARG meetings and for the last number of years, served as an officer on the SEARG committee.
May he Rest In Peace.
Region 4 IRTS wish to congratulate all candidates who were successful in the recent theory examination, and look forward to hearing the new callsigns on the air soon.
Region 4 would also like to extend our thanks to the IRTS exam board and Comreg for issuing the results so quickly. It is hoped to run another successful course in early 2011. Those interested should contact Ger McNamara EI4GXB by email ei4gxb /at/ gmail.com or 087 2532512.
This weekend is the RSGB IOTA Contest. The contest runs from noon UTC on Saturday to the same time on Sunday, and operation is in the 3.5, 7, 14, 21 and 28MHz bands.
Many clubs and individuals will be activating islands around the world, some of which are rarely heard on the air. Don't forget that all radio amateurs In Ireland and on the British Isles are automatically operating from an island, so will be keenly sought by others overseas. The IOTA contest is in its last hour and there is still a chance to work some of the Irish expeditions for that rare WAI square.
Full details are at www.iotacontest.com
The UK Space Agency has announced a one-year pilot programme to design and launch a CubeSat and is running a competition for ideas for payloads.
This miniature, cube-shaped satellite will allow the UK to test new space technologies and carry out new space research ‘cheaply’ and quickly.
The pilot programme, named UKube 1, will use a spacecraft platform that is currently under development by the company Clyde Space Ltd and will involve a competition amongst companies and academic groups to come up with the most innovative ideas for payloads. The winning payloads will be launched on the satellite in mid 2011.
Companies and academics who are interested in designing a payload can contact the UK Space Agency for more information.
There is another CubeSat under construction in the UK called FUNcube.It is being built by AMSAT-UK and the hardware will be shown at the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium.
AMSAT-UK FUNcube Website www.funcube.org.uk/
AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium will be held in Guildford July 31 - Aug 1. This event will be streamed live on the internet for those that can not make the visit.
For more details please go to www.batc.tv (click on Live Events)
Amsat also have a voice net on Sunday Mornings at 10.00am on 80m with updated News and Satellite information the frequency is 3.780 -+ QRM.
Friday 23rd of July saw the Irish Army celebrate fifty years of UN peacekeeping service. It was in July 1960 that the first contingent of Irish troops was airlifted by giant Globemaster aircraft to the former Belgian Congo. Twenty-six Irish soldiers died in the Congo including nine in November of that year in the Niemba ambush. By a strange coincidence, news of the ambush was relayed by amateur radio to the chief of staff of the army, General Seán McEoin.
You can read this intriguing amateur radio story of this by visiting www.ei0mar.org and clicking the Niemba ambush link at the bottom of the page. The Heathkit Apache transmitter used in relaying the sad news was donated to the vintage radio museum in Howth and was exhibited in Baldonnel for the event.
Howth Martello Radio Group members Tony (EI5EM), Joe (EI7FV), Eamonn (EI2CHB), Joe (EI2JZ) and Pat Herbert, curator of the vintage radio museum attended the ceremony and the events taking place afterwards.
The highlight of the day was visiting the tented radio shack where the special call-sign EI50UN was being activated for the occasion, organised by Pat EI5IF. Brian (EI4GL) and Paddy (EI1DG) were also in the shack. Tony (EI5EM) tried one of the army thigh-mounted straight keys to put out a CQ and had several nice QSOs using the EI50UN call. Unfortunately, time did not allow for working all the stations calling in the pileup. The Hurdy Gurdy Museum FACEBOOK site has photographs of the day's events.
The Heathkit Apache will be back on display in Howth shortly. The vintage radio museum is open daily until the end of October from 11 until 4 daily. The museum website is www.ei0mar.org
On Wednesday 14th July Billy (MI6ETE), David (GI0ISQ) and his xyl Doreen travelled from Coleraine especially to visit the Vintage Radio Museum in Howth. They had an early start, changing trains in Belfast and again at Connolly station to catch the DART for Howth. At the museum they were welcomed by Pat Herbert, the curator along with Andy (EI4ERB) and Nick (EI5GOB).
Everybody enjoyed the day and several QSOs took place using the EI0MAR call-sign. The visitors departed in the late afternoon for the journey home. Billy and David are members of the Bush Valley Amateur Radio Club which meets in the village of Dervock, in County Antrim.
On the following Saturday, the museum had the pleasure of welcoming members of the South East Amateur Radio Group to Howth.
SEARG Visit to Howth Martello Tower
On Saturday the 17th of July last, Francis (EI5GOB), John (EI8JA), Mark (EI4FNB), Paul (EI3ENB) and Mark (EI7IS) visited the Vintage Radio Museum at Howth Martello Tower.
From the radio perspective and probably due to it's strategic location, the Martello tower at Howth has a significant history associated with it as it was used by the American radio pioneer Lee De Forest in 1903 to demonstrate his wireless telegraph system to the British post office where successful two way communications were established with another of De Forests stations in Holyhead.
Two years later in 1905, the Marconi Company established a receiving station at the Martello tower while the telegraph ship Monarch sailed to various locations in the Irish Sea transmitting signals which were analysed and measured at Howth while trying various antenna and earth configurations.
The visit was made all the more enjoyable by Pat Herbert (the museum curator) and Tony Breathnach, EI5EM (who runs the amateur station EI0MAR from the tower). Pat and Tony gave their guests a very warm welcome.
The museum is very east to get to using public transport and a visit is highly recommended.
For more info on the EI0MAR pleas see their web site, www.ei0mar.org Just Recently EI0MAR have been placed have been placed as an object on the internet map for our APRS Users to see the location. The Map can be found at a number of sources including www.aprs.fi
Last weeks activation had to be cancelled due to a small craft warning in effect however this trip will be re scheduled.
The very well known Practical Wireless Author, Gordon King G4AVA became SK recently.
North Cork Radio Group is pleased to announce their first annual rally and electronics fair at the Blarney Golf Resort, Tower, Co Cork. on Sunday September the 19th 2010
The doors open to the public at 11.30 and the rally will run until about 5pm. The usual traders will be on hand with some very tasty bargains, South East Communications, Long Communications and JBT Trading.
The Hotel are also offering room rates for the rally a Single Room B&B: €60 and Double Room B&B: €79 Please Contact the hotel directly for room bookings on Tel:+353 21 4384477.
Small traders are very welcome but it essential that they contact the events organiser Liam EI7GTB, Tel: 085-7039042 Email: ei7gtb /at/ gmail.com as soon as possible.
further details can be found via the groups website, www.northcorkradiogroup.com
For further details on Rallies please see www.irts.ie/rallies
1897 Marconi registers the "Wireless Telegraph and Signal Company".
1899 Royal Navy successfully trials Marconi sets during exercises.
1969 Neil Armstrong steps onto the surface of the moon.
Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News should be
forwarded to Charlie EI8JB, preferably via e-mail to “charlie dot carolan at gmail dot com” Or by phone to 087-6265418 News can also be submitted via e-mail to “newsteam 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 Thursday in order to be guaranteed inclusion in the following Sunday’s bulletin.
[N]