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IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday August 11th 2002


EI3K Silent Key

It is with deep regret we announce the passing of Eugene (Gene) Larkin of Dunaghmore Dundalk Co. Louth. Gene was well known and respected in all aspects of radio experimentation for many years, and will be sorely missed by his many friends in radio throughout Ireland and across the world.

Having been a skilled toolmaker in his early days he was adept in home construction and loved the old values of radio, he always maintained a 4-metre AM station, which he worked side by side with his more modern equipment. Eugene was also well known and respected in equestrian circles.

Funeral mass on Tuesday 29th of July, in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dundalk, was con celebrated by his good friend, Rev. Pat Kelly EI5DA. Eugene was a lifetime member of the Dundalk Amateur Radio Society, and held the position of President until his Death. A large gathering of mourners attended the burial in Dowdalls Hill Cemetery following the Requiem Mass. Many of Genes older colleagues commiserated with the family, these included Mike Babe EI4CG, Sean Taafe EI0CP, Kieran Daly EI9DA, and Tom Mc Dermott EI9CJ.

Sympathies and a floral tribute on behalf of Dundalk Society was presented by Chairman, Thos Cafferey EI2JD. Sympathies and a floral Tribute on behalf of IRTS was presented by Peter Grant EI4HX. The bereaved family include His Wife, Sons and Grandchildren. May he rest in peace.


Slide Rule and Abacus Exhibition

A Slide Rule and Abacus Exhibition will be held at the ILAC Dublin Central Library during August 2002. The exhibit includes, Slide Rules, of various ages and functions, Chinese and Japanese Abacuses, a set of Napier's Bones and various mechanical Calculators and Calculating aids. The Exhibition is by kind permission of the Open Learning Centre at ILAC in association with Dublin Corporation. The Content is provided by Liam EI9DVB. The Exhibition started on Saturday the 27th of July 2002 and ends Saturday the 7th of September 2002.


XE1/EI7GK QRT

Paddy EI7GK closed down his station in Mexico on Friday and packed it away for the flight home. He would like to thank all the EI & GI stations who set alarm clocks for early morning contacts. Paddy reports about 20 contacts into EI & GI. He worked over 50 countries from EI to ZL and from DU to 9K. The equipment used was a FT757 running 100W through a smart tuner into a 2 element wire beam pointing towards EI. The XE prefix was very useful in getting through pile ups and was well worth the 84 euro for the visitors licence.


South Dublin Radio Club

The club is on holidays at present, the usual Tuesday night meetings will resume on Tuesday the 20th of August, at 8.00 p.m.


Upcoming Events

The International Lighthouse / Lightship weekend will take place on the weekend of the 17th and 18th of August 2002.


IRTS HF SSB Field Day

Details of site should be posted to Noel Walsh EI2JC, Contest Manager IRTS, PO Box 462, Dublin 9. Late entries may be accepted not later than 24 hours before the contest, late entries should be emailed to contests@irts.ie or ei2jc@hotmail.com.


ARRL 10 metre contest results

The results for the 2001 ARRL 10m Contest have just been released, and are available on EI8IC's Contesting Website www.qsl.net/ei8ic/ There were 7 EI entries this year, fairly balanced among the classes, though no CW or QRP entries are posted. Ireland seems to lack QRP operators in most of the big contests; lets hope its not that they just aren't sending their logs in.

Special mention goes to EI5DI, who entered in the Mixed mode, low power class, and fought his way to a staggering 1,025,200 points with 1482 QSOs and 200 multipliers, a new Irish record in recent years and a score that took him to 3rd in the World Mixed Mode Low Power Category. Paul was one of only three operators in that section with a score exceeding one million points. Well done, Paul.

During the height of the sunspot cycles, the ARRL 10 Meter Contest has proven to be among the most popular operating events. The band may be losing some of its magic (after all, we are on the downside of the cur- rent sunspot cycle), but there should still be some exciting propagation for the 2002 event. Tune in December 14-15, work everyone you hear, and don't forget to send your logs in, no matter how small! As a single band event, you only need one aerial and it doesn't have to be a monster: in 2000, EI8IC beat the competition using a single fixed wire delta loop at 50 feet!

Scouting Ireland CSI - 75th Anniversary Camps Three special event stations EI7SLH, EI7SMM and EI7SKC were QRV during the past week at the Larch Hill, Mount Mellary and Kilcully Scout Campsites. Amateur Radio was included in the programme for Scouts participating in the three camps and Scouts and Leaders alike showed great interest, particularly in ATV. Scouting Ireland CSI wishes to thank members of the Amateur Television Club, Cork Radio Club, East Cork Amateur Radio Group, North Dublin Radio Club, South Dublin Radio Club and the South Eastern Amateur Radio Group together with Ger EI8HT and Bob EI7AF who assisted the Camps, with the loan of equipment, erection of antennas and operation of the Special Event Stations and all those Amateurs who QSO'ed with Scouts during the past week. The next date on the Radio Scouting calendar is Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) which will take place on the 19th and 20th October. Radio Amateurs or Clubs requiring information on JOTA can contact the CSI National JOTA Orgainser, Sean EI3IP at QTHR or at njo@scoutingirelandcsi.com or


Items for inclusion in Echo Ireland should be forwarded to Dave Moore EI4BZ at 021-4883555. Items can also be submitted to Dave by e-mail at ei4bz@eircom.net.


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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