Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 12 June 2022
Irish Language
It's not too often these days to hear our beautiful native Irish language spoken on amateur radio. As the newly appointed Irish language officer on the IRTS Committee Tony, EI5EM, would like to launch a pilot project, initially in the Dublin area, to promote the Irish language. The plan is to start a net on the Kippure two-metre repeater on 145.7625 MHz on Monday evenings at 2000 local time, starting on the 13th of June. This will cater for all levels of fluency, so don't be shy, please join in or listen in to the net. If this proves a success, it is planned to expand it onto HF. Perhaps some EIs in other areas might like to assist in this worthwhile project by starting similar local nets. As they say in Rugby parlance, "Use it or lose it!" A special word of thanks to Mike, EI2DJ, for use of the Kippure repeater for this weekly net.
GQRP Convention
The GI-QRP Convention will take place on Saturday the 25th of June at the Tandragee Golf Club. This event is supported by the G-QRP Club. There will be trade stands, talks and presentations relating to QRP construction and operating. The talks will be streamed live online for those unable to attend. A Buildathon will also take place, where participants, under supervision, will construct a Morse tutor. Advance booking for the Buildathon is advised. There is a concessionary prices for junior constructors. Doors open at 9.30 am. The bar will be open throughout the day serving meals, snacks and refreshments.
Detailing the Buildathon project, Philip, MI0MSO writes: "The event will include two kit-building workshops, specifically for those under 21 or 26 if in full-time education. The kit is a microprocessor-based Morse Code tutor that normally sells for about £15; it sends random Morse characters or numbers, or a mixture, and the speed can be adjusted to aid learning. The workshops are being sponsored by RCF and others, so the attendees only pay the entrance fee, £3. All tools and test equipment will be provided and mentors will be on hand to guide the builders. The Sponsor RCF has its website at www.commsfoundation.org . There are 20 places available, 10 for the morning, and 10 for the afternoon. Youngsters attending the workshop will be provided with a free buffet lunch. Parents are welcome to sit in but will have to pay for their lunch. In addition to the kit building workshops, there will be a series of talks about building and using radio, which the youngsters may also find interesting."
The event takes place on Saturday 25 June at Tandragee Golf Club, Markethill Road, Tandragee, Craigavon, BT62 2ER. Doors open at 09:00 and the event will close at 5 pm.
Tickets for the workshop are on sale via EventBrite, as are the bookings for the buffet, details for all parts of the convention and the workshops can be found at www.gqrp.com/GI_Convention.htm GQRP Convention
YL Meeting in Finland
Turku welcomes Scandinavia's YL Radio Amateurs, SYLRA, along with their handbag carriers and friends, to hold the SYLRA meeting in Turku, Finland from the 18th to the 21st of August 2022. The event is open to all YLs and their companions, they're invited not only to the workshops, but also to enjoy Turku tourism and culinary delights. After the actual meeting, there will be a Yl gathering at Katanpää Castle Island. See more and sign up during June at the meeting's website at oh.syrla.is
6m Military Use
The Belgian telecoms authority BIPT reminds radio hams that a military exercise in Elsenhorn, near the border with Germany is still taking place, and that two frequencies in the 6m band are in use. The frequencies of 50.200 MHz and 51,075 MHz are to be kept clear. On the 6m band Amateur Radio has a secondary status, military radio has primary status.
Ten Seconds for Amateur Radio
In the age of TikTok Polish Hams go with the times and explore new ways to get their message across to potential new licensees. The Polish Amateur Radio Union PZK writes: "Let's create a short film together. In no more than ten seconds, finish one sentence in front of the camera. Why is it worth becoming a Walkie-Talkie user? Send the recording. We will assemble a movie that will help us promote our passion! There are many reasons why it is worth! We are curious what is the most important for you! We are connected by passion and love for radio. Send the recording to sp5e /at/ pzk.org.pl". PZK asks to send in a video file without editing, filters, additional subtitles, ideally in horizontal polarization, but vertical format will also be accepted.
HAMChallenge 2022 Finalists
IARU-R1 announces the finalists of the first HAMChallenge, selected from a large number of contributions. The Jury has chosen the following proposals: 5B4AHZ for “Escape Rooms”, EA4HDN for “AM BoB”, HB9FEU for “A public database of fun projects for innovation”, IU2FRL for “UrgenSat”, ZS6GUY for “A Workbook that will showcase various aspects of the hobby”. The final presentations will be show-cased at the Friedrichshafen rally in two week's time.
Contests & Activities
The "RSGB All Mode 50MHz Trophy" contest runs from 14:00 UTC on the 17th to 14:00 UTC on the 18th. The exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The 63rd All Asian DX Contest runs from 00:00 UTC on the 17th to 23:59 UTC on the 18th, 48 hours in total, using CW only on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands. The exchange is signal report and age. The SSB Leg will be held on the first weekend in September.
The "Worked All Britain" 50MHz phone contest takes place next Sunday, the 18th of June, from 09:00 UTC to 15:00 UTC. The exchange is signal report, serial number and WAB square for UK stations. Entries need to be with the contest manager by the 9th of July. Details at www.worked-all-britain.org.uk
The DL0IMO club station will use the DR50BWA call-sign for the remainder of 2022 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the formation of the "Bandwatch" intruder monitoring services on the amateur bands. More information is available at www.intruder-monitoring.de , QSL via bureau.
Alex Frolov, 4J3DJ is combining "Formula One" and ham radio. He is active as 4JF1EU until Wednesday on the occasion of the Formula 1 Grand Prix which takes place for the sixth time in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, from the 10th to the 12th of June. QSL for 4JF1EU
Call for Volunteers
The IRTS are currently trying to coordinate the weekly Sunday morning 40m and 80m news bulletins and form a panel of newsreaders so as to make sure that there is always someone available to read each bulletin and, most importantly, to spread the workload evenly among the newsreaders. Ideally, if we had a list of six to eight, or more people who would be willing to read one of the bulletins it would spread out the workload considerably. If any fully licensed EI feels like that they would be interested in becoming part of the IRTS News Readers panel, please get in touch with the IRTS Public Relations Officer Sean EI2HZB directly on 083 4713001 or by email to irts_pro /at/ irts.ie .
The Propagation Horoscope
Last Wednesday no sunspots were visible. Despite this, Solar Cycle 25 activity exceeds the official forecast. During May the sunspot activity was the highest it's been in the past eight years. New spots have been observed near the Sun's central meridian. In addition, NASA's STEREO-A spacecraft is monitoring the sunspot groups 3014 and 3017 approaching from beyond the northeastern limb of the Sun. This will increase solar activity again. The average daily solar flux is predicted to rise from around 100 this weekend to around 110 until next weekend, and possibly close to 125 thereafter. The Solar wind speed is rising to above 400 km per second, accompanied by an elevated proton count of about 10 particles per cubic centimeters, the kP index will be at a low one or two, since no G1 or greater geomagnetic storms are expected. This will bring good to excellent HF conditions on all bands up to 50MHz, Sporadic-E can be expected soon after sunrise each day.
That is the news for this week. Items for inclusion in next week’s radio news can be submitted by email to newsteam /at/ irts.ie for automatic forwarding to both the radio and printed news services. The deadline for next week's news bulletin is midnight on Friday.
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