The IRTS 2m Counties Contest will take place Sunday 28th August 2011. The closing date for the submission of the log to the contest manager is 27th September 2011.
We wish to welcome Francis Lenane EI5GOB and George Donaldson EI7GKB as HF newsreaders. Francis is based in Waterford and George is based in Athlone thus ensuring a nice geographical spread. If there are any other operators who would like to read the news please contact Ger McNamara on 087 2532512 orei4gxb / at /gmail / dot/com.
Anyone listening to the HF bands over the past week will have noticed the huge pile-ups generated by the DXpedition to South Sudan - the newest and therefore most wanted DXCC entity. In the first 6 days of operation, the multi-national team of radio amateurs clocked up 40,000 QSOs. The team, using the call sign Sierra-Tango-Zero-Romeo, plan to stay on the air until 10th August.
Operation will be on all the HF bands, along with 6 metres; the focus to date has been on the higher frequency bands. CW accounts for 50% of QSOs, phone and RTTY sharing the other 50%. At the time of writing, their log shows 88 QSOs with EI stations and 29 with GI stations. John EI7BA tops the EI list, with 13 QSOs.
Given the geographic location of South Sudan, European stations - and particularly southern European stations - have dominated the QSO lists. While the majority of radio amateurs trying to work them have been well behaved, there has been some deliberate QRM and "frequency police" actions, which have somewhat spoiled the fun at times.
The Mayo Radio Experimenters Network are holding a series of practical hands on open days throughout the summer months. The events will start at 13.00 approx (weather permitting) and will take place on the following dates:
Sunday August 14th
Sunday September 11th
Anyone with an interest in radio related matters, who would like to have the opportunity to participate or observe the operation of an amateur radio station, or meet club members, will receive a warm welcome. Whatever you’re level of interest, the club will be pleased to help in taking your interest further, be it a complete novice, shortwave listener or formal assistance in progressing to a full amateur radio licence.
The location for all events will be the car park at the Halfway House on the Castlebar to Westport Road. If you would like further details please contact: Padraic Baynes EI9JA on 0876957154 (email pbaynes1/at/eircom/dot/net) , email David Hatfield EI3ECB on ei3ecb/at/gmail/dot/com or text or phone the club mobile phone number 086 20 89 777
The Limerick 2M repeater on 145.725 is now QRV again after being off the air due to vandalism at the repeater site. Limerick Radio Club are grateful for the many generous donations received from around the country, which have gone towards installation of a new security door. A new run of Hardline has also been installed from the hut to the mast.
On Saturday 16th of July South Dublin Radio headed northside and set up a portable station on Howth Head. Two HF antennas, one VHF and two Amateur Television antennas were erected with power supplied by a portable generator. The club's tent was errected and the clubs rigs were put to good use.
A fibreglass extra large type fishing pole was used as the main mast with the base of this mast held firm with specialised 'ladder feeder'. Morse, voice and television were the modes in use, with High Frequency, 2 Metres, 23 Centimetres and 13 Centimeters the bands in use.
Some members of the South Dublin Radio club also took the opportunity to visit the nearby "Ye Olde Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio" After a great welcome members were given a guided tour of the museum by Pat the curator.
Comparison was performed between a carolina windom and a V multiband aerial. The weather conditions on the day were perfect with a risk of sunburn. The event was well attended with visitors from North Dublin Radio Club. It is hoped to continue the practice with the callsign EI2SDR/P on air again.
South Dublin Radio club is on its annual break and weekly meetings will return on Tuesday 16th of August.
Brian Kantor, the administrator of the worldwide ampr.org database is currently doing a cleanup. If you are using an allocation in 44.155/16 subnet. Please contact Brian, or John EI7IG.
Two teams of astronomers have discovered the largest and farthest reservoir of water ever detected in the universe. The water, equivalent to 140 trillion times all the water in the world's ocean, surrounds a huge, feeding black hole, called a quasar, more than 12 billion light-years away. (Source:www.nasa.gov)
Astronomers studying observations taken by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission have discovered the first known "Trojan" asteroid orbiting the sun along with Earth. Scientists had predicted Earth should have Trojans, but they have been difficult to find because they are relatively small and appear near the sun from Earth's point of view. (Source: www.nasa.gov)
Items for inclusion in next week’s Radio News can be submitted via e-mail to “newsteam /at/ irts / dot / ie” for automatic forwarding to both the radio and printed news services. Urgent news items for the radio news maybe telephoned to the radio news editor, Aidan, EI7JC on 085 7100511.
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.
[C]