Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday March 11th 2001
Mayo Radio Experimenters Network
The Mayo Radio Experimenters Network monthly meeting due to be held on Wednesday last March 7th was postponed due to the Foot & Mouth disease scare. Secretary Gerry Cregg, EI4GD stated that the meeting would be held whenever the situation changed.
EI7GK on R na G
When Paddy EI7GK returned from his trip recently to Tory Island, Radio na Gaeltachta were waiting to interview him. He was brought to the Studio in Derrybeg, fed and then recorded a 10 minute interview about his Amateur Radio activities on Tory. It was broadcast on Tuesday 27th of February in a program called Barr Scealta (Top News). The interview covered licencing, DX, equipment, Islands, awards and Nuacht na Gaeilge.
South Dublin Radio Club
The South Dublin radio club were invited by their twin club in the North 'Glengormly Club' for a field day on the 18th next but unfortunately due to the Foot & Mouth disease SDR’s participation in this event had to be cancelled. As SDR always holds a field day on St. Patricks weekend it was decided again due to the Foot & Mouth disease that the club should not go into any farmland in the South also. So it has been decided to hold a special day in the SDR club rooms starting at 10.30 am on Sunday the 18th next and finishing at 5.30pm. The club will be operating on HF, VHF and digital modes. It is asked that as many SDR members as possible come along for that day.
Rally News
The Lough Erne Amateur Radio Club will hold its 2001 Rally on the 29th of April 2001 in the Killyhevlin Hotel, Dublin Road, Enniskillen. Further information can be had from Frank GI3ZMX at 028-6632-9507.
Limerick Radio Club will hold it’s annual rally and host the IRTS AGM on Sunday the 8th of April. All those who wish to attend the Dinner Dance on the 7th April 2001 in the Limerick Inn are reminded that tickets are available. Please contact Paul EI6FE on 061-360122 or email him on ei6fe@eircom.net. Tickets are £25 per person and full payment in advance would be appreciated.
All accommodation in the Limerick Inn has been taken. Last bookings for the Dinner Dance will be the 17th March 2001. It would be helpful if all those attending would adhere to this deadline as the hotel need to know the exact numbers attending several weeks in advance. The Limerick Radio Club would like to thank all of you who are supporting the club by attending the function and look forward to seeing you all soon. There are no plans at present to postpone this event, however, the Foot and Mouth crisis will be monitored over the next few weeks and any change of plan will be announced in the radio news.
EI Activity Weekend
The EI activity weekend will take place again this year on March the 17th and 18th. Everybody can get involved in this event using any band and any mode, as the purpose of the event is to promote amateur radio in EI. This event went very well last year so lets hope that this year sees the same amount of activity on the air.
IRTS Awards
Nominations are requested by the Awards Manager Peter EI4HX for the following IRTS Awards:- ARUP cup, Collins Cup, Pat Conway Cup, Folan Shield, Sheila Piper Cup, and the Kevin Freeny Trophy. Applications are also invited for the EI7IQ 6 Metre Activity Awards. [See page 19 of the new 2001 Year Book]. Please note that those holding awards must return them before the AGM.
The Ian Morris Memorial Trophy is presented at the IRTS AGM each year to the short-wave listener who has the most DXCC entities confirmed during the previous year. The closing date for entries is April the 1st 2001.
DX News
Paul, UX2HO, is QRV as EM1HO from Antarctica for one year. He is located at the Ukrainian Base. Activity is on HF and 6 meters using CW, SSB, with some RTTY and PSK31 planned. QSL via I2PJA.
Special prefix 3E500 will be used until March 31st by certain radio amateurs in Panama, who are participating in the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the Isthmus of Panama. QSL cards for this event will be handled by the Radio Club of Panama, HP1RCP.
The sun continues to be quiet, this indicates decline in activity. Average daily sunspot numbers were low for the first and second weeks of last month. The average solar flux for each of those same weeks also declined. We are about a month away from the equinox, which is when some of the best seasonal HF conditions prevail. Ten meters will probably be good for another two months or so.
Worked All Ireland
The WAI net frequency is 7.068 MHz and some Counties seem to have a low profile on this net. Operators (operating from fixed stations) are encouraged to call in to the WAI net from time to time, especially on weekends. So the next time you’re operating on the HF bands, take some time out to call in on 7.068 and promote amateur radio in your area.
Space News
Finally some good news regarding the new AO-40 amateur satellite. DB2OS reports on the AMSAT DL home page that one of the birds sun sensors began triggering after the AO 40 came out of eclipse on orbit 147. Also, that the satellites analogue spin rate is now showing a value of 49. This is the same value it was showing on orbit 89 when triggering was lost. DB2OS says that its expected that the second sun sensor will soon begin triggering as well. Once this happens it will allow satellite controllers to obtain attitude information and then re-start the efforts to bring the spacecraft's spin rate under control.
Items for inclusion in Echo Ireland should be forwarded to Dave Moore EI4BZ at 021-4883555 in the evenings or at 021-4823172 during office hours. Items can be submitted to Dave by e-mail at ei4bz@eircom.net and you can fax him at 021-4823316.
Items for inclusion in the Radio News should be forwarded to Mark Wall EI7IS at QTHR or via e-mail to ei7is@qsl.net or cyberis@e-merge.ie. Items can also be sent to Mark over the phone at 087-6302026. News can also be submitted via e-mail to news@irts.ie for automatic forwarding to both news services.
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