
IRTS RADIO NEWS BULLETIN 

Sunday February 18th 1996


Phoenix Rally

The first rally of the year, promoted by the Phoenix Amateur Radio 
Club, is being held today.at the Coolmine Community School in 
Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.

Doors are open to the public at 12 noon and you still have time to 
make the trip if you live in the greater Dublin area. 

Talk-in is on S21 and admission is only one pound.


IOTA Results

The Islands on the Air Contest, held last July, was again a major 
success for the organisers, the Radio Society of Great Britain.

Entries were up substantially and it looks like that this 
relatively new event is set to become one of the major worldwide 
contests.

Again this year, EI operators were well represented near the top 
of the leader board with three EI stations making it into the top 
ten in the Multi Operator, Island section.


The Westnet DX Group, made up of EI, GI and GW operators, finished 
in third place which was an outstanding achievement and it cannot 
be too long before they achieve top spot in the world.

In fifth place were a group of Dublin amateurs known as the Dalkey 
Island Group, EJ1D, who operated from Bere Island for the event 
and Sean EI4GK with Declan EI9HQ finished in tenth place.

The Geoff Watts Memorial trophy, honouring the memory of the 
founder of the IOTA programme, was won by EI4GK as the highest 
finishing island station that was not a DXpedition.

Cork Radio Club who operated portable from Cape Clear finished in 
a creditable 29th place.
           
In the single operator categories, Mick EI6GF finished in 15th 
place in the 12 hour CW/Island section while John EI7GL finished 
14th in the equivalent SSB section.


In the 24 hour SSB/Island section, Mike EI2IE finished in 3rd 
place while EI4VTC/P finished 4th in the CW section.


This years IOTA Contest will be held on the 27th and 28th of July.



Midland Radio Experimenters Club

The monthly meeting of the Midland Radio Experimenters Club was 
held on Tuesday February the 6th and a fine turnout enjoyed a 
video and talk by Tony EI3HA on the Westnet DX Groups expedition 
to Inis Mhean for the IOTA Contest last July.

Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at 8.30 pm. at 
the Jolly Mariner Marina in Athlone and visitors are very welcome.


Donegal News

The Donegal (Tir Conaill) Amateur Radio Society held its first 
meeting of the year on 31st January in the Aerobics Room in 
Jackson's Hotel, Ballybofey.

Copies of the Packet Radio Survey Questionaire issued by Declan 
EI6FR, the National Packet Co-Ordinator were distributed to the 
packet operators present at the meeting and the contents 
discussed.

Grants towards repeaters from the Clubs resources were discussed 
although no actual payments for the current year have yet been 
agreed.

Members were asked what topics they would like to see included in 
the clubs programme during the year and items such as an Internet 
demonstration, talks on microprocessors and the safety of MMDS 
radiation and other radiation (i.e. TV tubes, Power lines etc) 
were among those requested.

The next meeting of the Society will be held in the Aerobics Room 
in Jackson's Hotel Ballybofey on Wednesday 28th February at 8.30 
pm. and the last Wednesday of each month thereafter.


Ballybunion Marconi Station

Ballybunions association with Marconi is well known, as the first 
wireless telephonic communication was made from East to West, in 
March 1919, between Ballybunion and Louisbourg, Cape Breton in 
Nova Scotia.

Again, this year, on International Marconi Day on April 20th, 
members of the Kerry Wireless Group will operate a special event 
station using the callsign EI6YXQ, from the original Marconi site 
in Ballybunion.

Further information on this event from John EI6AH QTHR.



IRTS AGM

Anyone who intends attending the Dinner Dance or who wants 
overnight accommodation at to Jurys in Ballsbridge for the IRTS 
AGM on April 27th and 28th should contact Brendan O'Kane EI4CYB at 
01-8463865. 

A very attractive rate has been negotiated for those staying 
overnight in Jurys but numbers need to be established as soon as 
possible.


Items for inclusion in both the Radio News and Newsletter can be 
faxed to 021-632730.

The Radio News Editor, John EI7DNB, can be contacted at 021-353988 
in the evening and the Newsletter Editor, Dave EI4BZ is at 021- 
632444 during the day and 021-883555 in the evening. 

Mail can be sent on packet to either EI7DNB or EI4BZ on cluster or 
at the EI7DKB BBS or on Internet to jbarry@curia.ucc.ie 

