Firstly, a final reminder that the IRTS 2 metres Counties Contest is on from 2pm to 4pm local time today, providing a great opportunity to meet up with other EI and GI radio amateurs.
Next weekend, 3rd and 4th September, the IRTS SSB Field Day runs from 13:00 UTC Saturday to 13:00 UTC Sunday. As well as the traditional 24 hour Open and Restricted sections, we now have a 6-hour restricted section, ideal for individuals or groups that are not in a position to operate overnight.
See www.irts.ie/contests for full details of the IRTS contests.
The Southern Ireland Repeater Group's 70cm repeater EI7FXR at Farmer's Cross in Cork city was upgraded recently to a Motorola MTR 2000. This replaces the long serving Motorola MC Compact that has been in service on the site for many years. The new unit has a power output of 30 watts to the antenna and is more sensitive on receive that the old one so the coverage should be much improved. Work was carried out by Neil EI3JE.
Signal reports can be emailed to: sirnrepeaters /at/ gmail.com
The South Eastern Amateur Radio Group will be running a “Learn CW” course on Monday 12th September from 7pm to 10pm in the South East Maker Space workshops (old Munster Express print works), Thomas Hill Waterford with two further classroom sessions on 19th & 26th September at the same location. The course will be a combination of techniques for learning CW with follow up practice CW sessions live on air. In addition, we'll be teaching how to solder components to PCB followed by the building of a QRP CW transceiver. The course is free to SEARG & SEMS members and €5 to non-members. Places are limited and it will be a 1st come 1st served basis. Anyone interested is asked to contact Sean EI2HZB on 083 1379764 or by email to proffice /at/ searg.ie as soon as possible please. The South Eastern Amateur Radio Group would like to thank South East Maker Space for allowing us to use their workshop for this course.
The August meeting of the South Eastern Amateur Radio Group will take place in the Roanmore Social and Sports Centre, Cleaboy Road, Waterford on tomorrow night Monday the 29th of August at 8pm. New members or anyone interested in learning more about amateur radio are very welcome to attend.
For anyone that wishes to find out more about the South Eastern Amateur Radio Group and its actives you can come along to any of our meetings. You can check our website www.searg.ie and you can also follow join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
A team led by Dave EI9FBB will be activating Europe's 2nd Most Wanted IOTA from 3rd to 6th September. The team will be QRV on Lunga Island EU-108 from 80m through 6m and will have 4 stations, CW & SSB. Signing MS0UKI, the 6 man team also includes EI5GM & EI6FR and will no doubt have special ears for fellow EI's. Please see www.eu108.wordpress.com for full information.
Loop Head Lighthouse was activated by Limerick Radio Club for the International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend. Despite the appalling weather and poor propagation conditions, 525 contacts were made across 57 entities on 5 bands using CW and SSB modes.
Two stations were operated using the club ICOM 756 PRO and Kenwood TS-940. On Friday afternoon, before the storm broke, the Cushcraft A4S and G5RV antenna were mounted on the pump up mast (SCAM) at the rear of the former Light Keepers accommodation. It was not possible to erect a second G5RV and OCFD antenna, on the actual Lighthouse, until the Saturday morning . Twelve members of the club attended at various times over the weekend. Harry EI2KL demonstrated and went on air with his newly acquired ICOM-7300. Dan EI8KK brought along his Buxcomm OCFD, which was mounted on the lighthouse under very severe weather conditions. The OCFD worked very well with a large number of contacts made on 17m.
Great credit is due to all members who attend with thanks to Liam EI4GB and Albert EI5HXB who transported the heavy items to/from Loop Head.
The next meeting of the Tipperary Amateur Radio Group will be held at The Park Hotel, Clonmel on Wednesday the 31 of August 2016 at 8.30pm. This meeting is open to all and Short Wave Listeners are in particular very welcome to attend. A number of radio related topics are up for discussion along with plans for participation in the upcoming IRTS SSB Field. For more information about Tipperary Amateur Radio Group go to the group website www.ei7trg.ie
Nobu JA0JHQ will be QRV as JT5NH from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from 1st to 4th September. He will be taking part in the All Asian DX Contest on SSB on 3rd to 4th September. QSL to his home call.
Andy IK7YTT will also be active during the All Asian DX Contest when he will sign XX9TYT from Macao. His stay will last from 29th August to 5th September. QSL Manager is IW7EGQ.
Gordon K7TRB will operate as 7P8VA from Maseru, Lesotho during September and October. QSL to his home call.
Market Reef will be activated by OH3WS using the callsign OJ0W from 3rd to 10th September. Look for him on 40m to 10m. QSL to the home call.
NCRG will be holding this-years annual rally today Sunday 28th August at The Commons Express Inn, Commons Road, Blackpool, Cork. Doors open at 11am and tickets are €5 per person, children under 16 years are free.
Everyone welcome.
Latvian Amateurs have two new bands following the introduction of their new amateur radio licence on August 9th 2016.
Access has been allowed to the new WRC15 60m /5 MHz allocation 5351.5 – 5366.5 kHz - with a power of 15W EIRP.
472 kHz to 479 kHz (630m) has also become available with a power of 1W EIRP
Both bands are subject to a narrow transmit bandwidth of 800 Hz and are permitted to Category A (i.e. top level) licence holders only.
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 may be 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.
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