With little or no short skip propagation and a high background radio noise level on the afternoon of Sunday last, the 40 Metres Counties Contest proved a challenge for EI and GI stations. Most participants managed to work their own county and, perhaps, one or two adjoining counties, relying otherwise on QSOs with overseas stations. The logs submitted so far show that more than 30 EI or GI stations in 20 counties were active. The deadline for logs is Sunday next, 21st May.
SDR is having a talk on Tuesday 16th May at 9pm sharp on the 6 metre 50Mhz band. Tony EI7BMB will be showing a recently made video he has received from the UK, discussing sporadic E, and his latest information and results about the newly installed six metre beacon in Wicklow EI0SIX. The talk is free and visitors are welcome to attend at the Ballyroan Community Centre on the Marian road in Rathfarnham.
Please arrive early as we expect a large crowd.
The South Eastern Amateur Radio Group will for the 10th consecutive year take part in the Geoparks Communications weekend which takes place this year over the weekend of 3rd & 4th June to coincide with European Geoparks week. The event is co-ordinated by Martin G3VOF of the Riviera Amateur Radio Club and awards are available for working Geopark stations including the main station GB6GEO. Although most activity is in Europe, a number of stations will be QRV from geoparks around the world.
The South Eastern Amateur Radio Group will be QRV as EI2GEO from the Copper Coast Geopark in County Waterford. As the Geopark event is not a contest, operation tends to be relaxed with ample time and an ideal location to experiment with antennas and equipment. There is also a strong social aspect to the event with barbecue and drinks on the Saturday night. Activity will be mainly on HF (SSB and CW). For more information about EI2GEO please see www.searg.ie
The South Eastern Amateur Radio Group would like to thank all the staff both past and present of the Copper Coast Geopark Centre for making this excellent site available for us to use for the Geopark Weekend over the past 10 years
For anyone that wishes to find out more about the South Eastern Amateur Radio Group and its activities 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.
The latest edition (No 18) of The 5 MHz Newsletter is now available for free pdf download from https://tinyurl.com/ln5f2p4
The Causeway Coast & Glens ARC rally tales place on Sunday 28th May at the Bushmills Community Centre 14 Dunluce Road, Bushmills, County Antrim. Doors open at 11am and admission is £3.00. Free Bring and Buy and the usual trader stalls. Light refreshments available. Free Parking. For more details see causewaycoastandglen.wixsite.com/home
The next Amateur Station Licence Examination will be held on Thursday 29th June in the ComReg Offices in Dublin. Some applications have already been received and as numbers are limited those intending to sit the examination should apply soon. Full details, including entry procedure, examination fee and how to pay the fee on line are available at www.irts.ie/exam .
Please note that it is necessary to download the application form from the web page and forward the completed form and the appropriate fee so as to secure a place for the examination.
It is also important to note that even If you pay the fee on-line you must still complete and forward the application form. The closing date for receipt of completed applications is Monday 12th June.
Four Exam Reports which were previously published in Echo Ireland are available on the Downloads section of the website at www.irts.ie/downloads under "Studying for the Harmonised Amateur Radio Examination Certificate". These reports contain very useful information for anyone studying for the Licence Examination. Intending candidates are advised to pay particular attention to the syllabus for the examination especially Annexes 1 and 2.
Ken LA7GIA, who has been active from several African countries in the past, will be visiting the Republic of Congo from 25th May to 4th June. He will sign TN5E and hopes to be on all HF bands. QSL manager is M0OXO.
Janusz SP9FIH will operate as E44WE from Bethlehem in Palestine from 16th to 30th May. This will be a 100w operation with the emphasis on 17m. He will also keep a lookout on 10 and 6m. His Palestinian licence is valid for one year and he hopes to make return visits during that period. Please QSL via Club Log OQRS.
Krish W4VKU will be QRV as VU7KP from Bangaram Island in the Lakshadweep Islands from 15th to 19th May. Activity will be on SSB with vertical aerials near the water’s edge.
Roland F8EN will be back in Gabon from 18th May to 3rd June. He will reactivate his TR8CR callsign. Look for him on 20m and 30m CW. QSL manager is F6AJA.
The IRTS Technical Panel is a group of volunteers who have expertise in, or experience of, different aspects of amateur radio. Our aim is to help radio amateurs with technical or operational problems.
Send your question to irtstech /at/ irts.ie. Provide as much information as possible, including details of attempts already made to deal with the issue in question. www.irts.ie/irtstech
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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