Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 4th November 2012
CQ WW DX Contest
The CQ World Wide DX SSB contest took place over last weekend, ensuring that most of the SSB parts of the contest bands were busy for the full weekend. Plenty of EI stations were heard and many have posted reports of their efforts. The higher bands were in great condition: Ark EI9KC tells us that more than 50% of his QSOs were on 10 metres, while the single-band entry by Adam EI5JQ shows almost 2,000 QSOs on 10 metres. Niall EI4CF also entered the single-band category, concentrating exclusively on 40 metres, and Doug EI2CN reports almost 2,500 QSOs for his single-band entry on 15 metres.
As previously reported, Olivier, using the call sign EI1A, had hoped to operate for the duration of the contest using only renewable energy: he almost achieved this aim, using sun and wind power for most of the contest, however he did have to use the generator for a period when his battery voltage dropped below a safe level.
East Cork Amateur Radio Group, EI7M, had their new antennas up and running for the contest. With 7 operators they achieved an impressive QSO total of in excess of 9,000. Also in the multi-operator category we heard EI9E - Network Southern Area Radio Experimenters Club - operating from Wexford.
Foyle & District Amateur Radio Club's Annual Rally
Today Sunday 4th November
White Horse Hotel 68 Clooney Road Londonderry BT47 3PA
Doors Open 11.30am
The usual trade stands and some new trade stands. Special Interest Groups. Crafts, RSGB Books and QSL Cards. IRTS stand. Bring and buy plus a raffle.
Tipperary Amateur Radio Group
The Annual General Meeting of the Tipperary Amateur Radio Group will take place on Wednesday the 7th of November in Raheen House Hotel,Raheen Road, Clonmel at 8:30 pm all are welcome.
South Eastern Amateur Radio Group
The South Eastern Amateur Radio Group’s Christmas get-together will take place this year on Friday the 7th December in Kilkenny city. It will be a very unofficial get-together and will probably involve getting some food and having a few drinks. We will be staying the night in Kilkenny. There will also be a raffle on the night with a few spot prizes and top prize of a radio. Any groups or individual who would like to join us are very welcome. Further details can be got from the club’s P.R.O Sean EI2HZB on 083- 1379764 or by email at seargpro /at/ hotmail.com. You can also get in touch with Sean through the SEARG page on Facebook.
The group are intending to run a CW course in early 2013. No set plans are in place yet but it will probably consist of 2 or 3 classroom classes and the rest of the course will be done over the radio. Brush up courses is also planned for those wishing to re-sit the licensing exam in early 2013. More information regarding both these courses will be published as soon as details are finalized.
The next monthly meeting of the club will take place in Roanmore Social and Sports Centre, Cleaboy Road, Waterford at 8.30 p.m. on Monday the 26th November. The meeting will be preceded by a committee meeting at 8.00 pm. New members are always welcome. For up-to-date news about the club you can check our website www.searg.com and you can follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Opportunity for Young Ham Radio Operators
Amateur Radio Supplies in Haverhill, Massachusetts, USA have contacted us with news of a fantastic new program to support youth activity on the HF bands. They seek to help a few lucky young hams get on the HF bands and make some contacts! Do you know any deserving young hams? They will be giving away 3 complete HF stations per year in order to support activity on the ham bands. Full details can be found at the following link www.amateurradiosupplies.com/youth-s/222.htm or by contacting Ger McNamara EI4GXB, IRTS Youth Coordinator.
DX News
Hiro JF1OCQ is celebrating the 40th anniversary of obtaining his amateur licence in 1972 by making a return trip to Chatham Island. He was previously there in 2010 and he is reactivating his ZL7A callsign until 9 November. He is operating all bands 80-6m using SSB, CW, RTTY and PSK. The Islands on the Air reference is OC-038 and QSLs go via JF1OCQ.
Paul, formerly G4BKI, will be active as VP9KF in Bailey’s Bay, Bermuda from 5 – 19 November. He has been active in Bermuda twice a year since 2006 and has built up a total of almost 20,000 QSOs. QSL info is direct to his address in Tampa, Florida – see QRZ.COM for full details.
Eric SM1TDE will be holidaying in Kenya from 5 – 22 November. He will operate CW only as 5Z4/SM1TDE on all bands 40 -10m. QSLs go via his home call and logs will also be uploaded to Logbook of the World.
Four amateurs will travel to St Peter and St Paul Rocks off the coast of Brazil and operate as PT0S from 10 – 22 November. Special permission for this DXpedition has been given by the Brazilian authorities as there is an official ban on amateur radio activities due to environmental and safety reasons from this rare DXCC entity. QSL Manager is HA7RY.
Dundalk Amateur Radio Society
Final call for Radio Theory classes commencing Monday 5th November at club QTHR, 20.00. Everyone welcome. Registration terms and conditions available on the night.
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 maybe telephoned to the radio news editor, Aidan, EI7JC on 085 7100511.
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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