Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday April 23rd 2000
Late D.C.(Pete)Morris GW2FVZ/EI9CT
Many EI amateurs will be saddened to hear of the death of D.C.(Pete) Morris GW2FVZ/EI9CT Though christened Douglas Charles he was always known as Pete.
He grew up in Caerwys in North Wales where he served as town Mayor on a number of occasions. He was first licensed around 1936 and served in the 2nd World War. On returning to civilian life he worked as an engineer.
It was through his work that he came to EI in the 1970s, and was based at Kilsaran in Co. Louth. Even though he only spent a few years in EI, he was proud of his EI call and of his membership of IRTS. He was a prolific home brewer. To this day a lot of his transverters, antennas and external VFO's are still in
use. He will be remembered for his skill on CW with Dundalk Radio Society in many contests.
To his wife and companion for 32 years, and his family we offer our sincere condolences. May he rest in peace.
Ni bheidh a leithead ann aris.
Ireland Fund Presentations
Phil EI9P, current chairman of Trim Urban District Council and member of the Meath Peace Group, applied to the American Ireland Fund for a grant to promote cross-border co-operation using amateur radio.
He was granted one thousand pounds and he distributed 500 pounds north of the border and 500 pounds in EI.
AT the IRTS AGM, he presented cheques to the Dundalk Repeater Group, South Dublin Radio Club, Mayo Radio Experimenters Network and the Irish Amateur Television Club.
The groups North of the border who benefited were the NI and WT repeater groups and the HMI digipeater.
International Marconi Day
International Marconi Day will be held this year on Saturday next April 29th. The Kerry Wireless Group will be active again this year from the original site of the Marconi Station in Ballybunion using the original callsign YXQ as EI6YXQ. They will mount a display of weather fax; NAVTEX and an array of computer assisted technology for radio.
Members of Wicklow Wireless Society will operate EI3IMD from Moran Park House in Dun Laoghaire and the Phoenix Radio Club will operate EI2MAR from their club premises at the Coolmine Community School.
2 Metres Counties Contest and Mayo Activity Day
The IRTS Spring 2 Metres Counties Contest will be held on Monday next, running from 1400 to 1600 UTC.
The full rules are on page 11 of the IRTS Yearbook. The exchange is report, serial number and you county.
To coincide with this event, members of The Mayo Radio Experimenters Network will activate squares for WAI hunters on 40 metres on Easter Monday.
Included in the activation will be Golf Zero Zero for the special Zero Zero WAI Award for the year 2000.
End of an Era – Portishead to close down
Next weekend marks another milestone in the history of radio communications when Portishead Radio will cease operations on Sunday April 30th. To mark the occasion, they will work amateurs cross-band on CW only from 0700 until 1900 on Saturday next, April 29th.
The following callsigns and frequencies will be used;
GKB2 will transmit on 4.274 MHz and listen on 3.525MHz.
GKB4 will transmit on 8.559.5MHz and listen on 7.025MHz.
GKB5 will transmit on 12.835.4MHz and listen on 14.050MHz.
GKB6 will transmit on 12.113MHz and listen on 18.075MHz.
GKB7 will transmit on 22.448.7Mhz and listen on 21.050MHz.
Three stations should be active at any one time and all QSOs will be confirmed via the RSGB bureau.
South Dublin Radio Club Spring Challenge Results
Every February, South Dublin Radio Club challenges HF operators to see how many DXCC countries they can work on each of the HF bands. To give everyone an even chance, contest QSOs do not count in this challenge.
There are two sections in the Challenge. The open section gives one point for each unique DXCC country worked on each HF band and allows any mode or combination of modes to be used. The restricted section is confined to one band (chosen by the operator) and limited to CW only.
This year there were five entries, with one winner in each section. In the open section, the winner was Gerry Molloy EI5HJ, from county Galway. His total score was 246 points, covering 114 different DXCC countries and including quite a few rare ones. Gerry used a combination of phone and CW. He took advantage of the much improved band conditions and achieved the highest scores on 10 metres and 12 metres.
In the restricted section, Tom Kelly EI2AJ from Dublin, was the winner. Using just 5 watts, Tom worked 41 countries on 10 metres using CW. In spite of the low power, Tom's log includes North and South America, Asia and Africa - a further reminder that QRP can be just as effective as high power operations.
Other logs received for the challenge were from Kevin O'Herlihy EI7IM, who used phone and PSK, Stan Williams EI5IY who used phone and CW, and Joe Ryan EI7GY who used CW only. SDR would like to thank all the entrants.
Neither of the winners was present at the IRTS AGM for the presentation of the trophies, but arrangements will be made to make the presentations elsewhere.
Enniskillen Rally
The Enniskillen Rally will be held on Sunday next April the 30th at the Killyhevlin Hotel in Enniskillen.
Items for inclusion in the Radio News should be phoned to Dave Moore at 021-883555 in the evenings or to 021-823172 during office hours. You may also e-mail to ei4bz@eircom.net or to ei8ir@eircom.net Input for the Newsletter should be sent to Kevin EI7IM at QTHR or by e-mail to ei7im@qsl.net.
Input to either the Radio News or Newsletter can be sent by e-mail to news@irts.ie for automatic forwarding to both news services.
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