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IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 13th July 2014


Silent Key - Kevin Dillon EI2HM

Kevin Dillon EI2HM became a silent key on 6th June 2014, following a long illness. He is survived by his wife Miriam, children and grand-children. His interest in amateur radio stemmed from his involvement in sailing and the use of marine radio. Kevin had many hobbies, his other interests included fishing, beekeeping, photography and chess.

Kevin donated some HF equipment to the society; this is currently being evaluated and will be offered for sale in due course, with the proceeds being used to promote amateur radio.

May he Rest in Peace.


Call Book Address Withheld?

It can be useful, at times, to know the QTH of a transmitter - for example while carrying out antenna experiments or investigating propagation. However, some licence holders have opted to withhold their address from published call books, and it has been suggested to us that it would help with antenna and propagation experiments if the townland and county of these licence holders was made available. Licence holders with address details withheld who wish to provide some guidance to their approximate QTH can arrange to have summary address details included in published call listings: please contact Joe Ryan EI7GY memrecords /at/ irts/dot/ie with any such changes.


IARU General Conference

The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) is a federation of national associations of licensed radio amateurs representing over 150 countries and separate territories around the world. IARU promotes the interest of amateur radio with relevant international organisations and seeks to protect and enhance our spectrum privileges. Every three years IARU Region 1, comprising Europe, Africa, Middle East and Northern Asia, holds a General Conference, which will be held in Varna, Bulgaria in September of this year. IRTS will be represented at the Conference. Nearly one hundred papers and reports are due for discussion. Seán EI7CD has prepared a six-page summary of the papers which, together with a link to the full conference papers, can be accessed by clicking on the IARU Region 1 Conference Documentation button on the IRTS website Comments from members are welcome and should be sent to Seán on email to ei7cd /at /gofree /dot/ indigo /dot /ie.


The Brendan Awards

The Brendan Awards are designed to encourage experimentation with two-way trans Atlantic communications by radio amateurs using the Two Metre Band. Further information is available at www.irts.ie/brendan

The Brendan Medal is a triennial Medal, awarded to the group or individual who, in the opinion of the Awarding Committee, has contributed most to the promotion of propagation studies on the trans Atlantic two- metre path and to the Brendan Quest.

The Awarding Committee has considered the submission of a nomination for the Brendan Medal and has decided that Brian Justin, WA1ZMS, should receive the first Triennial Brendan Medal for his work on setting up and maintaining the trans Atlantic 2 meter beacons. The medal will be presented to Brian by IRTS President Séamus EI8BP during the ARRL Centennial Celebrations in Hartford Connecticut next week.


Avondhu Radio Club - CW Field Day 2014 – EI1E/P

The weather forecast for the weekend was not good. However, we proceeded with plans on activation of Carherdrinna Castle (IO52uf), Kilworth, Co. Cork. We logged a few EI’s. EI3Z/P, EI3KG, EI6AK and F/EI3DP.

Bands were poor. We expected to log twice the number of QSO’s. Only one Japanese. By Sunday morning at 11am, we decided to pack it in, a few hours before official finish.

Our antennas included a doublet, 80m inverted V, 40m inverted V. The Spiderbeam did not make it out of the box, this was a major loss to our effort. Only for our BOG, we would have only half the contacts on the low bands.

On reflection, maybe a more sheltered spot next time.


The Shannon Basin & The Galway Radio Club

The Shannon Basin & the Galway Radio Club, will be taking part in the IOTA Contest 2014, from Inishbofin Island EU-121 on 26 & 27th July with the call sign EJ3Z.


DX News

Petter LA2PIA will be active from the Maldive Islands from 15 – 29 July. He will use the callsign 8Q7PS. QSLs go via his home call.

Laurent FM5BH will be QRV as J79BH running 200w on CW and SSB from the island of Dominica. This is a holiday style operation and QSLs go to his FM5BH call.

Mirek SP5IXI makes another return visit to Zimbabwe from 14 July – 2 August. He will reuse his Z21DXI callsign and be QRV on the HF bands on CW. QSL Manager is SP5UAF.

A number of German operators will be in Namibia until 15 July. Look for DJ2HD, DJ2LS, DJ5IW, DJ7JC, DJ8VC, DJ9RR and DL9NDS who will sign V5/homecall during their time in Namibia.

The web links to the RSGB IOTA Contest, details, rules and regulations can be found on www.irts.ie/contests


Appeal for HF Newsreaders

The IRTS is calling for volunteers to join the panel of newsreaders available to read the HF news from time to time. Are you interested? Please send an email to info /at/ irts.ie


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, 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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