The Summer edition of the society's journal, which has now gone to print, contains 44 pages of news, club updates, technical articles and more. Club updates include a "Mills on the Air" report from Skerries, as well as details of the Galway VHF Group's work on expanding digital activity in Galway and surrounding areas, along with their communications arrangements for a number of local events. Kerry Amateur Radio Group report on their involvement in the event commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first radio telephony transmission across the Atlantic, East to West, between Ballybunion and Nova Scotia, while Shannon Basin Radio Club report on their recent hosting of the society's annual general meeting. There is also a report from AREN, the Amateur Radio Emergency Network, highlighting recent developments.
Mark EI6HPB outlines the activities and plans of IECRO Ireland Radio Club, which is part of a global network of communications hobbyists interested in emergency communication resilience, while Robert EI5KH and Joe EI7GY write about their recent research work on the early radio experiments by Colonel Dennis EI2B, who is generally accepted as the first ever amateur radio experimenter. Their research points to the fact that Colonel Dennis's first transmission took place in Co. Wicklow and not - as previously claimed - in London.
The regular columns, including "Excerpts from the HX Files" by Pat EI2HX and "HF Happenings" by Don EI6IL, as usual, make interesting reading. International developments affecting radio amateurs now and in the future are well covered in articles by Brendan EI6IZ, who reports on the EMC issues considered at a recent IARU meeting, and by Dave EI3IO who reports on the other issues dealt with at the same meeting. In an article entitled "Getting Going on 8 Metres", Phil EI9KP describes two projects for the 8 metre band. Also, Colm EI4KO recalls his journey to pass the Morse Test and then to bring his Morse proficiency up to speed for real QSOs.
As well as these and other articles, the latest Echo Ireland carries photographs from many recent events, including the society's AGM along with rallies in Limerick and Enniskillen.
The IRTS VHF/UHF Field Day takes place over next weekend, for 24 hours commencing Saturday 6th July at 14.00 UTC. The contest is on 5 bands 50, 70, 144, 432 and 1296 MHz. The Open Section covers all 5 bands, the final score being based on the combined scores for the five bands. Separately, there are Restricted Section contests for each of the five bands, each band being scored separately. A station may enter the Restricted Section contest on up to three bands.
These contests coincide with similar contests in the UK and continental Europe, providing a great opportunity to work DX on the higher bands. Note that this is a field day contest with site and power supply requirements for anyone entering. See www.irts.ie/contests for full details.
If entering the 50MHz or 70MHz sections with a view to working UK stations, note that the RSGB rules for this contest allocate specific times for these two bands, as follows:
50 MHz (6m) 14:00 to 22:00 Saturday 70 MHz (4m) 08:00 to 14:00 Sunday
A reminder that plans are in place to run training, for amateur radio licensing, in Clonmellon and surrounding area. For more information or to book a place, please email Alan EI5GFB “info /at/ crossakiel /dot/ com”
The South Eastern Amateur Radio Group will be holding a Radio Foxhunt on Sunday the 21st of July 2019 in Castemorris Woods, Croan, Co Kilkenny at 12pm. Castlemorris Woods are located on the R701 just outside Knocktopher village in south Kilkenny. This is a fun event open to everyone young and old, licensed or SWL. Please note this event will be dependable upon weather conditions. For up to date information keep an eye on the groups Facebook page.
For anyone that wishes to find out more about the South Eastern Amateur Radio Group and their activities you can drop them an email to “southeasternarg /at/ gmail /dot/ com” or please feel free to come along to any of their meetings. You can check out their website www.searg.ie and you can also join them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
A reminder, every few months the IECRO Ireland radio club in Mullingar runs an amateur radio license examination preparation course. High pass rates have been achieved in each previous sitting by candidates who undertook training through this course. All training is provided by experienced tutors in a friendly and welcoming environment. The club is now accepting applications for individuals who are planning to sit the winter 2019 exam. Anyone who wishes to enroll for this course can book a place by emailing “ireland /at/ iecro /dot/ com”
The EI 6m beacon has moved to 50.004 and now has an extended transmission time of three one minute sequences of PI4 and CW . The following two sequences will soon be taken up the the GI 6m beacon. The beacon hardware has been upgraded to an RF Zero board and is GPS locked so it can be used to check the frequency calibration of your radio. Please spot the beacon if you hear it.
Unión de Radioaficionados Españoles, (URE) the Spanish national Society for Radio Amateurs celebrated their 70th anniversary with 14 special event stations with the prefix AM70, operating from 1st April 2019 to 9th June 2019 on all bands and modes, 160 to 6 metres.
They made a total of 1,196,359 QSOs with 92,716 unique calls in 254 DXCC entities.
404 unique EI callsigns were logged with a total of 6,106 QSOs. While there were some broken calls, this demonstrates a great level of activity from EI.
Echo Ireland DX columnist Don EI6IL was the overall leading EI station followed by Nicki EI9JF in second place with Jim EI8GS in third spot.
On SSB the top three were Nicki EI9JF, Don EI6IL and John EI6AK while on CW, Nicki EI9JF finished first, followed by John EI7GL and Don EI6IL.
The closest finish was on digital (FT8) with only one separating leader Don EI6IL and Jim EI8GS with James EI2IV finishing in third spot.
See https://70aniversario.ure.es for further details.
Peter LA7QIA will be back in Svalbard until 6th July using his JW7QIA callsign. He will be in Grid Square JQ68 and will concentrate on 6m. QSL to his home call.
Andrea IK0PUL will be holidaying in Malta from 5th – 12th July. He has been issued with the callsign 9H3IK and plans to be on 17, 20 and 30m with 100 watts to a wire antenna. QSL via the home call.
Janusz SP9FIH returns to Bethlehem in Palestine from 6th July – 3rd August and will be QRV on 80 – 6m as E44WE. QSLs go via his home call.
Joe Walsh WB6ACU will be in Dublin next weekend. He is an accomplished CW operator but his visit to Dublin will see him on stage at the 3 Arena as an accomplished guitarist with the world famous rock band The Eagles.
Four Russian operators will be QRV from Morzhovets Island (IOTA EU-119) from 1st – 5th July. They will use the callsign RI1OM on 40 – 10m on CW, SSB and FT8. QSL manager is RN1ON.
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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