Archived News Script

IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 27th August 2017


IRTS Contests

Firstly, a reminder that the IRTS 2 metres Counties Contest is on from 2pm to 4pm local time today Sunday 27th, providing a great opportunity to meet up with other EI and GI radio amateurs.

Next weekend, 2nd and 3rd 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 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.


Limerick Radio Club

Limerick Radio Club activated Loop Head Lighthouse EI0009 again this year for the annual International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend. Weather conditions were very poor with wind and rain, coupled with the very poor propagation conditions, made it their most challenging event to date. As the weather continued to deteriorate it was decided to cease activity early on Sunday morning. Eleven club members attended at various times over the weekend, with a core group of five covering the complete event.

Two stations were operated using the club ICOM 756 PRO, Kenwood TS940S, Cushcraft A4S and two G5RVs. Total entities worked was 35 with 348 QSOs made. The Federal Republic of Germany topped the QSO table followed by England, Italy, Belgium and Spain. Three contacts were made with the USA and only one with Canada. Most QSOs were on 20M SSB followed very closely by 30M CW. Logging was done on Log4OM.


Tipperary Amateur Radio Group

The Tipperary Amateur Radio Group visited Ballinacourty Lighthouse, Co. Waterford last weekend for the 20th annual ILLW event. The club operated 2 stations on both SSB and CW. The members who attended were Paul EI3ENB, Andy EI5JF, John EI7IG, Hugh EI2HI and Ronan EI4KN. Despite challenging conditions during the setup of the station the club members enjoyed a good weekend getting many qsos in the log.


Mayo Radio Experimenters Network

Once again the Mayo Radio Experimenters Network activated Blacksod Lighthouse and took part in the ILLW August weekend 2017. Even though band conditions were down on other years they enjoyed the weekend. A total of 330 contacts were made from Saturday evening through to Sunday. 20m was the most active during the daytime with a good level of contacts on 80 and 40m later in the evening. For more information and pictures have a look at the club website at ei7mre.org

The Mayo Radio Experimenters Network wishes to thank everybody who worked them on this occasion and made it into the log. If you managed to work them then they hope they helped you achieve the WAW award.


South Eastern Amateur Radio Group

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 28th of August at 8.00 p.m. sharp. New members or anyone interested in learning more about amateur radio or the group are as always very welcome to attend.

For anyone that wishes to find out more about the South Eastern Amateur Radio Group and its activities you are welcome to come along to any of their meetings. You can check their website www.searg.ie and you can also follow join them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.


DX Féile

Saturday 7th October will see the '1st DX Féile' take place on Inis Mór Island, Aran Islands for a DX filled-convention.

World renouned DXpeditioners Kenneth LA7GIA, Nigel G3TXF and IOTA Deputy manager Cezar VE3LYC along with Declan EI6FR and Jeremy EI5GM will host a day of DX related talks followed by a Dinner and Social evening amongst other activities.

2 x HF stations will be QRV signing the EJ1D callsign and giving out the EU-006 IOTA reference for the weekend. Full information is available on their website www.dxfeile.ie Early booking is advised due to limited availability.


DX News

Doug W6HB will make a return trip to Rarotonga in the South Cook Islands from 27th August until 8th September. This is mainly a vacation but he will get back on the air with his E51DLD callsign. Operation will be on 160 – 10m SSB. QSL to the home call. Another chance to work the South Cook Islands will be when the well-travelled DXer Nobu JA0JHQ is in Rarotonga as E51JHQ from 1st – 4th September. QSL via his home call and also LoTW.

Tony KQ2I will be QRV from Vanuatu using the callsign YJ0AT from 28th August – 13th September. Tony is a CW only operator and QSLs go via NR6M.

Members of the Radio Club of Djelfa will activate the island of Rachgoun (off the Mediterranean coast of Algeria) from 1st – 10th September. The callsign will be 7Y94I and the reference number for the Islands on the Air Programme is AF-094. QSL manager is 7X2DD.


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, Mark EI6HPB on 086 355 2370.

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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