Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday November 8th 1998
Donegal Rally & Dance
The annual Donegal rally was held on Sunday last in Jackson's Hotel in Ballybofey on Sunday last and was well up to the usual high standard. There was a good selection of traders present with a wide range of radio and computers on offer. The clubs annual dinner was held in Jackson's on the previous and an enjoyable evening was had by all.
London Rally
With the current off season low fares on the ferries and the bargain air fares now on offer, a trip to the London Radio and Computer Show is a reasonable possibility for many amateurs. The show will be held at The Lee Valley Leisure Centre, Picketts Lock Lane, Edmonton, London N9 on Saturday and Sunday November the 28th and 29th. This is one of the bigger events in the U.K. and always attracts quite a few EI's.
Islands On The Air
With the improvement in HF conditions many amateurs will be renewing their interest in HF DXing. The premier award for HF Dxers is the DX Century Club, commonly called DXCC and administered by the ARRL, the National Society in the United States. Another international award scheme, the Islands On The Air Programme, is rapidly gaining momentum and has become very popular in recent years. This award, administered by the RSGB, is based on working islands around the world, with the basic award being achieved by working 100 islands. In all there are 19 separate awards available, the latest one being for club stations. Previously only single operator stations could qualify for the awards. The RSGB publish a Directory and Yearbook which includes full details of all awards and a directory of all islands worldwide which qualify for the awards. This is available from the IRTS Book Sales.
An annual listing is published showing operators standings for all with at least 100 confirmed. You can qualify for the honour roll by having at least half of the activated islands confirmed, currently that means more than 455.
There is only one EI on the honour roll, that's Peter Ball EI7CC. Only two other EI's make the listings, Bill EI8AU at 323 and Anthony EI2HY at 280. Congratulations to all three.
The Leonids' Meteor Shower
Serious meteor scatter operators are eagerly looking forward to this years Leonids Meteor Shower on November the 17th. Hopes are high that this years shower will reach storm proportions and the expected peak is from 1400 to 2200.
DX News
The Pratas Island DXpedition, BV8P is on schedule to commence o at 0660 on Thursday next November the 12th and running until November the 19th. Twelve operators, 8 Chinese and one each from the US, Finland, Japan and Mexico will activate all bands on CW, SSB and RTTY. Suggested frequencies are: CW 1885-1905, 3505-3515, 7005, 10135, 14055, 18085, 21055, 24895 and 28055 kHz. SSB 3795, 7055, 14195, 18125, 21295, 24495, 28485 kHz. RTTY 3550, 7030, 14080, 21080 and 28080kHz. The QSL Manager is KU9C.
Another big DXpedition currently active is Space A DX Group in Eritrea. They will be operational until midday November 17th. This group were hit with a charge of 500 dollars per operators for their licence and as a result of this and the recent other activity from Eritrea, have scaled their operation down to ten operators. They expect to be issued with the callsigns E30AA and upwards. They plan to have three stations on the air round the clock. QSL s go to K4JPJ.
A German DXpedition is presently active from Benin with five operators. They are concentrating on the low bands and on CW with two stations. QSLs go to DL7DF.
Looking a little ahead, Lord Howe Island will be activated by a four man team starting on November the 22nd and running until December the 1st. They will have two stations operating on all HF bands and also plan to be on 6 metres. The callsign will be VK9LX and QSLs go to VK2ICV.
ZL8RS should be active from The Kermadec Islands from tomorrow until the 17th. He will focus on 17, 15, 12 and 20 metres with some slow CW.
Radio News Input
As you will have noticed, local news has been scarce over the past few weeks. We appeal to club officers, especially PRO's to let the news service know what your group are up to.
Items for inclusion in the Radio News can be faxed to 021-632730 or passed on the telephone to Dave EI4BZ at 021- 632444 during the day and at 021-883555 in the evening.
Input for the Newsletter should be sent to Kevin EI7IM at QTHR or on 01-4509514 or on E-mail to EI7IM@tinet.ie
All input to either the Radio News or the Newsletter can also be sent by e-mail to news@irts.ie
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