EI VHF News (2002)

The purpose of this page is to act like a notice board for what is happening around EI on the VHF bands. I hope to keep it updated with news of repeaters, beacons, news of future expeditions, etc. I may also include some non-EI VHF news items as well.....de John, EI7GL.

December 2002

US Group looking for European QSO partners for 2m Trans-Atlantic Attempt -
In a recent e-mail to me, Mark KE3UY wrote........

"Hi John es tnx for the reply.
I am heading up a group to go for the 'Cup'. The group call is W3DOV and the three of us are, Larry (K3LT), Sonny, 'Zed' N3FZP, and myself (KE3UY). We are still in the design and building stage. Current plans call for assembling a station on the beach south of Rehoboth, De. in FM28 in one of the state parks. We plan to run abt 400 watts into a 98.5 foot, 43 element stacked array (15.2 wavelength). We plan to stack 2 yagis on top of each other and set them at abt 32.5 feet above ground level.(see ve7bqh's web page for design details.) This seems to get around the power problem.
We plan on running CW on or about 144.200MHz +/-. EIRP is calculated to be in the neighborhood of 56KW. Receiving may be another problem. We are addressing that at this time, but have not firmed any details of preamps yet.

We are seeking amateurs in the coastal regions (or hams who can set up in the coastal regions) of England, France, Spain and/or Portugal to assist in this do-able adventure. Any one who is interested in this can write to me at this e-mail address <markhollowaysr_AT_yahoo.com> or by snail mail (See QRZ for address).
To prove the attempt, I have developed a 'double blind' system to make sure there is no question about the two stations having heard each other. We have not posted a web-site yet but we MAY do that. That has not been decided yet.
Tnx agn es 73, Mark, KE3UY.".............Info from Mark KE3UY in an e-mail to EI7GL. This e-mail is reproduced here with Mark's permission.

November 2002

Recent 50MHz openings from EI - There have been a number of good openings in the last 2 weeks on 50 MHz with Aurora, Sporadic-E and F2 propogation evident on the band. In a recent e-mail, Gulli , TF8GX, informed me that on the 12th of November, he had worked 4 EI stations. They were EI7IX (23:31), EI3EBB (23:32), EI6IZ (23:33) and EI7BMB (23:26).
There have been several openings to Africa with EI staions working C56R (Gambia), 9L1AB (Sierra Leone), D44TD (Cape Verde Is.), 3XY7C (Guinea) and XT2WP (Burkina Faso). ............de EI7GL
No success on 144 MHz Trans-Atlantic attempt - A German group of radio amateurs were attempting a 144 MHz Trans-Atlantic contact on the 19th of November last during the peak of the Leonids meteor shower. The sequence of events are shown below as reported by DL6YEH :

15.11.02, 14UTC: Due to circumstances beyond our control, we have made a change in the location for the VHF transatlantic experiment in St. John�s. As there were too many factors arising late in the preparation stage, we have switched location to Admiralty House Museum and Archive in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland, approximately 8 miles west of St. John�s. The call we will be using for the experiment will now be VO1BZM. For more information on the new site or this project, check out the SONRA web pages http://sonra.ca or http://www.nfld.com/~sirjames/ or contact Paul VO1HE at vo1he_AT_rac.ca or Graham VO1DZA at vo1dza_AT_rac.ca.

15.11.02, 16UTC: The EI-guys checked in the ferry and are on its way. Also Harry is waiting in the check in counter of Frankfurt Airport for his flight. Boths teams are informed about the new location and callsign in VO1.

16.11.02, 1330UTC: Nico and Volker arrived at the EI location, all fine and take off very good. 1st rig test maybe this night around 0z with QTF east. Also Harry and equipment arrived OK. They will be starting the set up in the morning local time.

18.11.02, 1330UTC: The EI`s crew got the official licence for the callsign EI2TAA (Transatlantic Attempt) and the permission for a limited output during the test for 750W. The VO1 crew went back to the 1st QTH, Carbet Tower in St. Johns, the other location had a bad take off.

18.11.02, 2200UTC: EI2TAA starts with operating from IO41TU, the Transatlantic Test starts around 2UTC.

18.11.02, 2259UTC: QSO between DL6YEH and EI2TAA on Random SSB on 144345, completed in 3 minutes.

19.11.02, 0200UTC: The tests starts. Due to heavy storms in IO41 the crew build up the light Flexayagis with less gain than the M-Squares. But under the mechanical load of the storm they gave some unwanted noise, so the test in the 1st peak failed.

19.11.02, 1000UTC: Starting the sked in the avoidable 2nd peak. But during the transmission from the VO1-crew the HV-Trafo from the amplifier failed and no reserve was available. So the Transatlantic Attempt failed.

19.11.02, 1000UTC: After talking back with the crews they came to the conclusion, that even with using the optimum scale the conditions were no good enough for such an event.

................Info from DK5YA website.

The following item was on the ARRL Newsletter............
* Transatlantic VHF contact a no-go: Groups of amateurs from Germany, Canada and Ireland had no luck in their attempt to make the first two-way transatlantic VHF contact in conjunction with this week's Leonid meteor shower. The effort was, in part, a quest for the Brendan Trophies offered by the Irish Radio Transmitters Society . One group was on the Irish coast, while the other operated from Society of Newfoundland Radio Amateurs (SONRA) club station VO1AA, located at Signal Hill National Historic Site of Canada. That's the spot where Marconi received the first transatlantic signal almost 101 years ago. "It's been quite an adventure," said Paul Piercey, VO1HE, who was at the Newfoundland end. "We never made the contact because the meteor shower didn't seem as big as predicted, he said." The Brendan Trophies will go to each of the operators of the two Amateur Radio stations that first establish two-way communication between Europe and North or South America on 2 meters. The teams in Ireland and Newfoundland attempted to use the ionized meteor trails to reflect FSK441 signals across the Atlantic. A 1999 effort to complete a transatlantic 2-meter contact between Newfoundland and Scotland on CW also was unsuccessful. The group conceded that bridging the more than 1920-mile gap between Newfoundland and Ireland via meteor scatter probably would require "an unusual kind of propagation."--Paul Piercey, VO1HE
..............from the ARRL Newsletter.
Leonids Meteor Shower - "The Leonids meteor shower will peak on the morning of the 19th of November. Once again the experts are predicting a "meteor storm". VHF operators will be taking advantage of what should be excellent conditions to work long distances using the reflections off the meteor trails. Activity should be high between about 0300 UTC and 1200 UTC. The casual listener can tune around 144.200 which is the SSB meteor calling frequency, but if you intend to get involved be sure to read up on the agreed IARU meteor scatter procedures so as not to cause problems for other stations." .............From the IRTS News.

On the Internet, I found the following prediction which if true should result also in a spectacular visual meteor shower as well. "November 19, between 3:53 and 4:07 UT: This favors Western Europe. Predicted rates range from 2000 to 4900 per hour. It will be produced by the ring of debris left by the comet during its 1767 return."............de EI7GL
Expedition to IO43 Square - "Paul EI2CA will be qrv from IO43 for the peak of the Leonids, from 03utc to 13utc on the 19th. Nov. Operation will be SSB only on 144.232 mHz. Callsign will be EI2CA/P who will transmit even minutes with 15 sec breaks. Also qrv from this location on tropo from 16th to 21st Nov. Tx Power = 400w, Antenna = 2 x 10 element Yagi.
"..........Info from DK5YA Website.
Results of 2 Metres EI Counties Contest (Autumn Leg) - "The High Power Fixed section was won by Hugh O'Donnell EI2HI operating from Cork and working 18 counties with 57 QSO's giving a total of 3816 points. In second place was Mark Boothman EI9IB forking from Co. Kildare and scoring 3360 points. In third place was Brendan Kavanagh EI8IB, operating from Dublin and scoring a total of 630 points.
In the High Power Portable Section, South Dublin Radio Club EI2SDR operating from Co. Laois scored 6138 points. In second place was Ray Harbison GI3PDN operating from Co. Antrim scoring 3808 points.
In the low power fixed section, the winner was Thos Caffrey EI2JD operating from Co. Louth and scoring 3042 points. In second place was Nicky Mullaly EI9JF operating from Co. Kerry with a score of 1988 points and in third place was Paul Norris EI3ENB operating from Co. Kilkenny scoring 1452 points.
In the Low Power portable section. Operating from Co. Carlow, John Kelly EI4HS took first place with 62 QSO's in 16 counties giving him a total of 4912 points. In second place, operating from Co. Mayo was Joe Fadden EI3IX with 52 QSO's in 18 counties giving a total score of 4912 points. In third place was South Eastern Amateur Radio Group (EI2WRC) operating from Co. Kilkenny and working 53 QSO's in 15 counties with 3525 points.
Also taking part were Dave Moore, EI4BZ operating from Co. Offaly and scoring 2610 points and Peter Grant EI4HX, operating from Co. Meath and scoring 2496 points.
The winner of the FM only section was Kyle O'Connell EI9FGB who operating from Co. Wicklow worked 39 QSO's in 16 counties scoring a total of 3072 points. In second place was John Edgeworth EI6IW, operating from North Co. Tipperary who worked 31 QSO's in 15 counties giving a score of 1850 points. In third place was Padraig O'Meachair EI7GK who operated from Co. Carlow and worked 22 QSO's in 13 counties with a score of 1235 points.
Also taking part were Eamonn Kavanage EI3FFB in South Tipperary with a score of 1176 and John Barry EI8IR in Co. Cork with a score of 1056 points. ".............From the IRTS News.
Hugh, EI2HI wins 70cms Slievenamon Shield - Congratulations to Hugh O'Donnell EI2HI for his success in the Slievenamon Shield with achieved 114 points. Runners up were, Gerry Molloy EI5HJ, Eamonn Kavanagh EI3FFB and Joe Fadden EI3IX.
This award was based on activity on 433 MHz FM during the month of July...........Info from IRTS News.

October 2002

EI Licence Regulation Changes - "With the bringing into force of the new Radio Experimenter Regulations,two elements will have an immediate impact on the hobby in EI.
1. The Morse test has been reduced from 12 words per minute to 5 words per minute, and
2. The "Probationary" period required of Class A Licencees (HF+VHF) before they are entitled to use all modes and full legal power has been abolished.
...........From the IRTS News.
VHF/UHF Field Day Results for 2001 - The results for the IRTS VHF/UHF Field Day have just been published. They are :

Open Section

Callsign 6m 4m 2m 70cm 23cm Points

EI7M/P 243 13 297 52 14 295,340

EI7TRG/P 64 1 53 11 0 53,326

Restricted Section

Callsign 6m 4m 2m 70cm 23cm Points

EI7DAR - - 78 - - 14,958

Operators
EI7M/P - EI2FG, EI7FJ, EI8GS, EI8IR.
EI7TRG/P - EI2IT, EI2JB, EI3ENB, EI4FOB, EI5JF.
EI7DAR/P - EI2HX, EI2JD, EI7FNB, MI3SBI, MI5AHG.
..............From the IRTS Newsletter.
Mt. Leinster repeater back on air - The EI2WRC 2 metre voice repeater has recently moved back to its original location on Mt. Leinster. The move has been in planning and prepartion for some time and required the purchase of a new mast and fittings. The move was carried out by John, EI8JA and Eoin, EI7FXB. The Mt. Leinster repeater is 795 Metres above sea level and is on 145.650 MHz..............From the IRTS Newsletter.
New VHF Column in the IRTS Newsletter - A new VHF column has started in the IRTS Newsletter (See Pages 14 and 15). It is written by Charles, EI5FK who is a very active on the VHF bands from Cork (IO51). In the column, Charles covers the 70cms band (432 MHz) this month and lists some of the fine contacts that EI5FK and EI2FSB (Tony) made with stations in the UK, France (IO51 -> IN77, IN78, IN93, IN97, JO00, JN15 and JN19) and Spain (IO51 -> IN53, IN73 and IN93). Many of the contacts listed are in the 500 to 1,200 km range which is excellent for a UHF band. The column also covers the various propogation modes on 432 MHz and a design for a 15 element Quagi (Quad-Yagi Hybrid.)

Details of this Quagi can be found at : http://commfaculty.fullerton.edu/woverbeck/quagi.htm

Charles, EI5FK, also has his own website and can be found at : http://www.qsl.net/ei5fk
Brendan Trophies - Rumour has it that Alex, N2PIG, has applied for the Brendan Trophies. He claims to have made a trans-Atlantic contact on 144 MHz in March, 2002. At the time, he said that all relevant details about the contact would be put up on a website. To date, as far as I know, no website has been set up.
See HERE for the original news item that appeared in March.
ATV in Waterford - There appears to be some new activity in Waterford regarding Fast Scan Television (ATV) on 23 cms. There may be a new ATV repeater installed soon at the Portlaw site.
F8CH 2m Sporadic-E challenge for 2002 - Last year, the First F8SH challenge devoted to the Sporadic-E propagation on the 2 metre band took place. The collected logs were sent to Mr Jim Bacon, G3YLA, IARU research co-ordinator and served to feed a database for the study of this type of propogation. No less than 21 stations (F, ON, OZ) had sent in a log and Dominique, F4BWJ, won the challenge with 73 QSOs and 29 locators. The best distance was achieved by Blaude, F9OE, who realised the best DX with 2451 KM (QSO with LZ1KWT in KN32AS from IN78QG).
This year, the promoters have decided to renew the challenge and hope for more participants. To take part, nothing could be simpler. You just have to send a certified copy of your log with all the established contacts via Es between 1st May and 30th September 2002 to one of the promoters. Rules of the challenge and the results of last year can be seen on the website : F8SH Challenge Website. For the people who do not have Internet, a copy of the rules can be obtained on request from the organisers�: Christophe Auzzino (F8ACF), R�sidence les Korrigans BAT 3 N� 9, F-56170 Quiberon (France) or Daniel Vandewalle (ON7VZ), rue des D�port�s 5 B, B-7866 Ollignies (Belgium).
International Space Station - "The ISS made a number of passes south of EI during the past week. Quite a number of experimenters have RS0ISS in their logs (Phone & packet). Region 1 uplink, 145.200 Mhz FM & downlink 145.800 Mhz FM."..................Info from Joe, EI3IX.

Two good links with plenty of ISS info :

http://www.heaves-above.com
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/tracking/index.html

August 2002

70 MHz Activity period in August - "It was proposed at short notice by EI4HX to run a 4 Metre activity period after the 2 Metres Counties contest finished last Spring. This proved to be reasonably successful with a number of stations participating.
It was a good idea as many experimenters were going to operate /portable for the Counties contest anyway, so bringing along an extra rig was not going to be a big problem.
August the 25th will be the same, just after the Counties contest finishes at 1600hrs, a 4 Metre activity period will take place.
70.2625 Mhz will be the calling frequency for the activity period. Vertical or horizontal polarization. Modes of operation will be AM, FM or SSB. Talk back on 145.225 Mhz FM.
Don't forget that this year, the I.R.T.S will be presenting " The John Corless, Four Metre Shield" to the leading 4 Metre experimenter in EI. Rules for this shield are the same as for the 6 Metre shield, Unique Qso's x maidenhead grid squares x DXCC countries worked."..........Info from Joe, EI3IX.
International Space Station - "The ISS made a number of passes south of EI during the past week. Quite a number of experimenters have RS0ISS in their logs (Phone & packet). Region 1 uplink, 145.200 Mhz FM & downlink 145.800 Mhz FM."..................Info from Joe, EI3IX.

Two good links with plenty of ISS info :

http://www.heaves-above.com
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/tracking/index.html

July 2002

VHF Activity from IO43 Square and the Aran Islands - There is a 20 strong team heading for Inishboffin for the upcoming IOTA contest on the 27th and 28th of July. They will be active on 2m and 6m before and after the contest using their own calls. The call for the contest will be EJ5E and the locator square is IO43 and the Worked All Ireland square is L56 Galway. The team is made up of members of three clubs, 1) EI2SDR, 2) EI7DAR, 3) GN0XYZ. They will be active on both FM,SSB and CW all weekend. QSL via Bureau. ..........................Info from Thos EI2JD.
VHF Activity from IO53 Square and the Aran Islands - The Limerick Radio Club are planning to be active from Inisheer Island (Aran Islands - IOTA EU006) on the 19th, 20th, 21st of May 2002. They will be using the callsign EJ0A. Inisheer Island is located in IO53 square. The Worked All Ireland square is L90 Galway. They plan to active on all bands from 80m to 2m.
The QSL manager for EJ0A is Alan, EI8EM................................Info from John, EI5FOB
Slievenamon Perpetual 70 Cm Trophy 2002 - "The Slievenamon Perpetual Trophy was presented to the IRTS by Tipperary Amateur Radio Group in 2001. It will be awarded to the station that achieves the highest number of points in a 70cm's only competition.
Tipperary Amateur Radio Group hopes that this award will in part encourage activity on the 70cm band throughout the month of July. The competition is to be restricted annually to all Sundays over the month of July and only FM simplex contacts are valid. Points are calculated as follows; 1 point per contact multiplied by the number of counties. Outside EI/GI only 1 point and no multiplier. Entrants are permitted to include contacts made during the IRTS UHF/VHF field day, so long as the contacts are on 70cm's FM and simplex. There is a power restriction of 150 watts. Contacts can be made mobile, portable and stationary. This is an IRTS members only competition and standard competition logs are to be submitted to the IRTS Contest Manager. ".......................From Joe, EI3IX
VHF Activity from IO44 Square - "Joe Fadden, EI3IX is hoping to travel to Inishkea (South Island) which is off the Mayo coast either on the 4th of August, subject to ferry, weather conditions etc.
There are 2 Worked All Ireland squares on the south island F51 & F52. The maidenhead locator is IO44. Joe intends operating HF (7.068), VHF (50.150, 70.2625 & 145.350) & UHF (433.450) operation from the 2 WAI squares on this island.
He will be using inverted V's for HF, yagis for 2m & 70cm, a vertical for 4m and possibly a vertical for 6 meters.
If there is any change with the dates due to any unforeseen problems Joe will try and give as much notice as possible"......................(From the IRTS News)

June 2002

Update on the claimed 144 MHZ Trans-Atlantic QSO - Back in March 2002, Alexander Dutkewych operating from Newfoundland as N2PIG/VO1, claimed to have completed a 144 MHz Trans-Atlantic QSO with his wife Debra Dutkewych operating as VA3PIG/EI on the South West coast of Ireland.

Click HERE for the full story.

He now has submitted a claim to the Irish Radio Transmitters Society for the Brendan Trophies for the first 2 Metre Trans-Atlantic QSO.

On the same topic, there was a recent piece in the VHF column of Radcom on this claimed contact. In an e-mail from G4HRY to the editor of the column, it was said "The amplifier used in Ireland was a Discovery model, with a GS31 tube, loaned by the Linear Amp UK Company and that he now owns the PA. On the packaging, a UPS waybill shows it was sent by Debra Dutkewych of the Dutkewych 2002 2m Trans-Atlantic DXpedition from the Great Southern Hotel, Shannon, Co. Clare."
Trans-Atlantic activity from Canada ?? - Arliss, W7XU is going to be active from St. Paul Island, CY9, from 29 June through 7 July, with a long yagi and about 700 watts on 144 MHz. Although the chances of completing a transatlantic QSO on 2m seem remote, he is looking for interested parties in Europe..................Info from Joe, EI3IX
IRTS 2m Counties Contest Results - "IRTS Contest Manager Noel Walsh EI2JC has released the results of the Spring Counties Contest held on April the 1st last. Participation was excellent with stations from 31 counties appearing in the 18 logs submitted. The standard of log entries was variable with many failing to indicate the section entered and some did not understand the scoring system.
All logs were re-scored by the contest manager and careful checking of the logs before submission would have yielded higher scores for some entrants but would not have altered the section winners.
The most competitive section was the Low Power Portable with 8 entries and the long trip to the Slieve Blooms in County Offaly paid off for Society President Dave Moore EI4BZ who came out on top with 3,819 points.
Another East Cork entrant finished runner up with Dennis EI6HB making 3,135 points from his County Waterford location. The third spot went to the South Eastern Amateur Radio Group EI2WRC/P operating from County Kilkenny with 2,955 points.
Other stations in this section were Joe EI3IX, Shannon Basin Radio Club EI2SBC, Pat Hurley EI2JF, Peter Grant EI4HX and Tipperary Amateur Radio Group EI7TRG.
A close battle between the two entrants on the High Power Portable Section saw the South Dublin Radio Club EI2SDR just hold off the Dundalk Group EI7DAR with scores of 5,994 and 5,795 points respectively.
In the High Power Fixed section, Mark Boothman EI9IB with 2,012 points was the winner with Clifford Beck EI5FQB taking the runners-up spot.
The Low Power Fixed Section winner was Hugh EI2HI. The FM Only Section was headed by Niall Foley EI4CF with 2,064 points followed by Eamonn Kavanagh EI3FFB with 1,376 points. Third place went to John O'Sullivan EI6ARB with 1,210 points. John Edgeworth EI6IW was fourth and Padraig O Meachair EI7GK was fifth.
Thanks to all who participated, especially those who sent in logs and a special thanks to the 10 stations who took the trouble to get out portable and activate some of the rarer counties on VHF. The next 2 Metres Counties Contest will be held on Sunday August the 25th. Please mark your diaries and don't be caught napping.".........................from the IRTS News
6 Metre Shield - "The 6 Metre Shield in now running for the third year, it has been won by Charlie EI5FK in 2000 and by Dave EI3IO in 2001. This shield has done a lot to promote 6 metre activity in EI. Rules are unchanged. Its run over a calendar year, 01/01/2002 � 31/12/2002. The scoring is calculated as follows: Unique contacts x Maidenhead locator squares x DXCC. All modes count. At the end of the year, logs are to be submitted to the contest manager Noel Walsh".......................From Joe, EI3IX
EI SSB 2 Metre Activity - "Anyone interested in 2 Metre SSB activity? If so there is a call in every week on the SSB calling frequency on 144.300 MHz after the Sunday 11 o'clock I.R.T.S. news (144.275 MHz). Again it does not matter whether your antenna is horizontal or vertical, just give a call and lets try and get some activity going on this mode..".......................From Joe, EI3IX.
4 Metre Shield 2002 - "To further promote 4 meter activity in EI, John Corless has presented the I.R.T.S with a shield. The rules for the 4 Metre shield will be the same as for the 6 metre shield, which is now in its third year.
The 4 Metre shield will be presented to the leading 4 Metre operator at next years I.R.T.S. AGM. It will be run on a calendar year basis, 01/01/2002 - 31/12/2002. The scoring will be calculated as follows: Unique contacts x Maidenhead locator squares x DXCC. All modes count. Note : There is a power restriction of 50 Watts on 4 metres in EI. At the end of the year logs are to be submitted to the contest manager Noel Walsh".......................From Joe, EI3IX.
GW3KJW steps down as newsreader - "Pat Allely, GW3KJW, has read the GB2RS news on 145.525MHz at 11.00am every Sunday for the last 19 years. He now wishes to stand down, saying that he feels that the time has now come to let someone else have the opportunity of contributing something for the Society.".............................from the RSGB News.
This Sunday morning news service is often heard in Ireland with many EI's calling in after the news. Under slight lift conditions, Pat's signal can often be heard as far West as Cork and Limerick, a distance of about 200 miles.

April 2002

VHF Awards issued at the recent IRTS AGM - At the recent Annual General Meeting of the Irish Radio Transmitters Society, the following awards were issued. Dave Court, EI3IO won the 6 Metre Shield. Hugh O'Donnell, EI2HI won the Slievenamon Trophy for 70 cms activity during the month of July 2001.
The Mayo Radio Experimenters Network, EI5IX won the Thomond Trophy for winning the open section of the VHF/UHF Field Day.
The Tipperary Amateur Radio Group, EI7TRG won the VHF Shield for winning the restricted section of the same contest.
IRTS 2m Counties Contest - "Last Monday's 2 Metre Counties Contest was very well supported with much more than the usual number of portable stations out and about. Some very high scores were heard. Logs should be sent to the new Contest Manager Noel Walsh EI2JC. Noel's snail mail address is 53 Kennedy Park, Roscrea, County Tipperary.
Stations heard on the day were: EI2SDR/p South Dublin Radio Club in County Laois. EI2WRC/p South Eastern Amateur Radio Group in County Kilkenny, EI2SBC/p Shannon Basin Radio Club in County Leitrim, EI7DAR Dundalk Radio Club in County Louth and EI7TRG/p Tipperary Amateur Radio Group in County Tipperary.
Other portables heard were: EI2IJ/m in County Roscommon, EI2JF/p in County Carlow, EI3IX/p in County Mayo, EI4BZ/p in County Offaly, EI4HX/p in County Louth, EI5IO/p in County Cork, EI6HB/p in County Waterford, EI6IB/p in County Leitrim, EI6IW/p in County Tipperary, EI2JC in County Tipperary, EI7GK/p in County Limerick, EI7GN/p in County Westmeath, EI8BEB/p in County Sligo, EI9EJ/p in County Kerry and EI0CZ/p in County Tipperary.".....................From the IRTS News

March 2002

4 Metre Activity Period planned for Easter Monday - There is an activity period planned for 4 Metres (70 MHz) on Monday, the 1st of April. It will take place just after the IRTS 2m Counties Contest. Details are shown below in the e-mail from Joe, EI3IX.

"As I'm sure you all know the EI 2 metre Counties contest is taking place between 1400 - 1600 (local) next Monday 01/04/2002.
Peter Grant EI4HX made a good suggestion at the last IRTS meeting, that there should be a 4 metre activity call in after the counties contest. Its a good idea as many experimenters take to the hills for the contest and it's a good opportunity for 4 metre operators to cash in on the increased VHF activity that day.
I have also sent an e-mail to Peter Lewis MI0APE in Belfast who is an active 4 metre operator, hopefully he will be able to come up on frequency. So anyone with 4 metre gear or anyone who knows of anyone let them know the plan. Hopefully some will wipe the dust of the ex PMR gear and bring this band back to life !!!.
FM/SSB will possibly be the two most common modes of operation. Polarization to be used : FM/Vertical & SSB/horizontal. Call in frequency will be 70.2625 MHz, operators who only have access to 4 metre RX can crossband on 2 metres 145.225 MHz. ..............................mail from Joe, EI3IX
1st 2m Trans-Atlantic contact or a hoax ??? - I recieved the following information from Dave, EI4IX. The mail shown below was posted to a meteor-scatter mailing list and Dave forwarded it to me. Time will tell if it is a hoax......
"Hi, I just received the following e-mail from the meteor-scatter mailing list. Its in relation to a transatlantic contact on 144MHz using WSJT. I just thought you might be interested to know that a claim of the first transatlantic QSO on 2m has been made. I'm very skeptical about the claim but thought I'd let you know anyway. The email below is from Bernd a well respected VHF DXer but could easily have been faked. It will probably start a big discussion about the Brendan Trophies :-)
...................Cheers, Dave EI4IX"

"From: Bernd Gapinski gap_AT_ilk.de
To: meteor-scatter_AT_mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Meteor-Scatter] WSJT across the Atlantic, 2night!!
Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2002 00:04:52 +0100
Friends,
this is no hoax ! Received following email a couple of minutes ago, plus an exciting phone-call from Alex, N2PIG himself, confirming the contents of his mail. He is on site, still checking his email for skeds !
-----------------------------------------------------
This is Alex, N2PIG.
Three weeks ago,I went to eastern Newfoundland, CANADA, to establish a high power 2M & 70Cm Station , with the intent of working my XYL, Debra, VA3PIG, in Europe. The next week, my XYL and I traveled to western IRELAND, where we established a similar station, mindful of the 26dBW-at-Antenna limit. Last week I returned to my Newfoundland portable, leaving my XYL, in IRELAND, at IO41vs. On Saturday night, 16 March, 2002, I "flipped the switches" on, at the Canadian Station. In the last five days, Debra & I have been communicating across the Atlantic Ocean, at an approximate Great Circle Distance of 1890 miles/ 3000 kilometers, on 2 Meters, using WSJT!!! St. Patrick's Day, Sunday, we managed an exchange of Call Signs. On Tuesday, yesterday, we completed an full exchange, in less than four hours! Today, in the early morning, we exchanged the salutations: "God Bless America", from Newfoundland, and a partial "Greetings from Ireland". Full details of the event will be available in a Web-Site, we are soon to construct...It was a few years in dreaming, planinng, and training for this DXPedition, and still Mr. Murphy accompanied us. However, we were well prepared for him, and he was most co-operative, in the end. Debra has now dis-assembled her station and has begun her journey back to Canada, where I shall rendezvous with her, in Toronto, late Thursday. I now invite European Amateurs, using WSJT, on 2 Meters, who think they have a reasonable chance at a QSO with me, in GN38mb, to be the next persons to "cross the Atlantic". From 23Z this evening to 06Z in the morning, I am prepared to work any EU Stations who wish to try. I shall be simplex on 144.2 Mhz USB, using North American default. If you wish a SKED, pse e-mail me at [email protected] I will check for mail between 2215-2230Z. Regrettably, at 06Z, I must knock-down the P/VO1 station, for transport. Therefore, this is your only "window of opportunity" to work me at Old Perlican, Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland, CANADA.
Let's hope the rocks ionize well, tonight.
Best Luck & Great DX!!!
Alex, P/VO1/N2PIG
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Forwarded by Bernie dk3xt/ab7iy
http://www.meteorscatter.net
"Make More Miles On VHF"
http://www.qsl.net/dk3xt/

............................Thanks to Dave, EI4IX for the information shown above.

The mail shown below was forwarded to me via Joe, EI3IX and Tony, EI7BMB. It is from Bernie, DK3XT and he provides some additional information.

Hi folks, Last night, Mar 20th, 02 at 2134UTC, N2PIG's (Alexander Dutkewych) mail arrived at my provider's server. I downloaded and read his note at around 2210UTC (that's the same note that I later forwarded to to the , <144mhzeu> and internet mailing reflectors, as well as to the board of the packet radio net). Frankly, I was more than sceptical, an expedition of that big a dimension, finished with an even bigger success, run by a husband-and- wife-team ? I checked Alex's call with (turned out okay), then checked weather condx in Newfoundland ( turned out okay, too). Still not convinced, and considering that it was turning close to midnight on a workday in Europe, I decided not to forward Alex's message... - and then the phone rang - with an excited Alex, N2PIG on the far end.
He basically confirmed the contents of his message, and, yes, he's on site in Newfoundland right now, waiting for some pings from Europe, and they've kept the preparations for and the fact of the DXpedition "very, very secret". He said that they've shot a lot of pictures and there will be a website later.
So I then hurried to forward his note to the mail reflectors and to packet radio, hoping that at least a couple of hams over here would read it and try to get into contact with him, despite of short notice and late hour.
Wonder who did ?
I haven't heard of Alex since, guess, he's in Newfoundland taking down his station or is on his way back to Pulteney/NY. Let's hope for a nice website with pics - and a nice wav-file !!
To all, thanks for your patience; and to Alex, thanks for your call (guess, I haven't done so last night) and once you're home, please drop us a line.
73, Bernie dk3xt/ab7iy (in Germany, JN49fe)
10 GHz Band in EI under threat - Joe Fadden, EI3IX who is the VHF manager for the IRTS recently sent out this e-mail............

Hi there Everyone,
Im sure all would agree, that a threat to any of our bands wheither they be HF, VHF or UHF is a serious issue. Well thats whats happening now with 10Ghz.
If you check out the ODTR website at http://www.odtr.ie, see under "Documents 2002", Expanding opportunities in the Radiocommunications Market, FIXED WIRELESS ACCESS (FWA).
The ODTR are licencing off sections of the spectrum in the 10.5Ghz, 5.7Ghz & above. The 10.5Ghz band is the one that will affect Amateurs in Ireland. Reference is made to Amateur useage in the third paragraph , page 13 & on page 14 they are looking for comment from existing users ie : Radio Experimenters in Ireland.
The ODTR are looking for submissions from Experimenters, these have to be docummented and forwarded to the ODTR by the 28th March this year.
Every Amateur wheither they use this band or not should forward some comment. The I.R.T.S should also as a body make a submission. The area between 10.15Ghz - 10.3Ghz would be a sizeable chunk to loose and its very close to 10.368 (narrow band centre of activity), interference would be almost gauranteed.
Anyway, please read the document, and make up your own minds. If anyone knows anyone who has an interest in Microwaves and may not have an e-mail address, please pass this on, its important that the Experimenter/Amateur community is united on this one.

Regards . . . . Joe, EI3IX ...............Based on an e-mail sent recently by Joe, EI3IX
VK (Australia) worked on 6m from EI by a mobile station - "Congratulations to Joe Fadden EI3IX who worked VK8MS on Six Metres last week. Joe was operating mobile at the time, using a short whip antenna and low power. Joe who is a keen VHF DXer, told the IRTS Newsdesk "It was a good QSO, especially from the car! I had been working 15 meters mobile and was just after working PW0T when I heard him say he was going to try 6 meters as conditions were good. It was at that point that I changed whips. Nothing was heard from PW0T, but 4X & OD5 were very strong, next thing up pops VK8MS!. First call and I got him!" Joe added: "I have not bothered listening on 6 over the past 2 weeks because I assumed the F2 was dead, but it just goes to show you".
Joe, from Castlebar in Co. Mayo is very active as the IRTS VHF Manager. ...............From the IRTS News
First EI 6 Metre and VHF DXCC Award Issued - I am glad to announce that I have just recieved 6 Metre DXCC Award Number 441 from the ARRL. This is the very first 6 Metre and VHF DXCC Award that has been issued to an EI station.

I have been on 50 MHz (6 Metres) for over 10 years now and it has taken this long to get the 100+ countries required for this award. I have been VERY active on the band during these years and spent ALOT of time just listening for new countries...............de John, EI7GL
2-Metre DXers Wanted for Trans-Atlantic attempt - "Ev Tupis, W2EV, is co-ordinating an attempt to qualify for the Brendan Trophies for the first terrestrial two-way trans-Atlantic contact on the 2-metre band. He asks amateurs to contact him if they are in the UK, Portugal, Spain, Gibraltar, Azores, Canary Islands or Bermuda and have:
2-metre SSB capability at a minimum of 100 watts output, a 2-metre antenna of at least eight-elements, experience of using UI-View software, or the willingness to learn, experience with PSK31 on any frequency band, and the patience and desire to make amateur radio history.
Ev can be contacted by e-mail sent to: w2ev_AT_arrl.net " .......From the RSGB News.
New Distance records set at 241 GHz - " More DX records set on 241 GHz: Brian Justin, WA1ZMS, says he and Pete Lascell, W4WWQ, set several new DX records for the 241-GHz band on February 23. "We first worked over a distance of 3.8 km, then 6.1 km, and finally 7.3 km (approximately 4.5 miles), at which point we ran out of signal margin for the weather conditions at the time," he explained. The former world record was 2 km, and the former North American record was 1 km. Justin said the operation took place in Virginia (FM07ji). Justin said the stations used were improved versions of the ones used last December to set the former North American DX record. "Frequency drift was still a problem, however, and with weak signals, several repeats of the exchanges were needed to complete the 6.1 and 7.3 km QSOs," Justin said. He theorized that less-humid weather conditions would lead to better "DX" on the band. For more information and an audio clip, visit the Mount Greylock Expeditionary Force Web site "http://www.mgef.org/ " ....................From the ARRL News.

February 2002

Results of the 2001 VHF/UHF Field Day - The winners of the Restricted Section (144 MHz Only) and the IRTS VHF Shield were EI7TRG, the Tipperary Amateur Radio Group. They had 47 QSO's and 32,724 points.

The winners of the open section (50MHz to 1296 MHz) and the Thomond Trophy were EI5IX, the Mayo Radio Experimenters Network. They scored 370,646 points from 243 QSO's.
A breakdown of their score is as follows : 6m - 200 QSO's and 353,257 Points , 2m - 33 QSO's and 16,482 Points and 70cms - 10 QSO's and 907 Points.

Just 7,000 behind in 2nd place were EI9E, the East Cork and Wexford Groups with 386 QSO's and 363,453 Points.
A breakdown of their score is as follows : 6m - 170 QSO's and 217,349 Points , 2m - 95 QSO's and 138,488 Points and 70cms - 21 QSO's and 7,616 Points.

Results of the 2001 Autumn IRTS 2 Metre Counties Contest -

Section - High Power Portable

Position	Callsign	Name	QSO's	Pts	Counties	Total
1st	EI2SDR	??	58	261	17	4437

Section - Low Power Portable

Position	Callsign	Name	QSO's	Pts	Counties	Total
1st	EI4HX	Peter	35	132	14	1,848

Section - High Power Fixed

Position	Callsign	Name	QSO's	Pts	Counties	Total
1st	EI2JD	Thos	40	171	15	2565
2nd	EI2SBC	Elphin	21	98	14	1372
3rd	EI8FOB	Michiko	23	100	12	1200
4th	EI7IQ	John	17	50	9	450
5th	EI8JC	Kohei	3	5	2	10

Section - Low Power Fixed

Position	Callsign	Name	QSO's	Pts	Counties	Total
No Entry	No Entry	-	-	-	-	-

Section - FM Only

Position	Callsign	Name	QSO's	Pts	Counties	Total
1st	EI4HS	John	29	150	15	2250
2nd	EI7IW	Oscar	17	396	12	792
3rd	EI9JA	Paraic	18	58	11	638
4th	EI3FFB	Eamonn	20	47	12	564
5th	EI4BZ	Dave	10	33	6	198

UK 76GHz-band Distance Record is Now Over 57 Kilometres - "News has only just come in of a fine microwave contact. The UK 76GHz-band record was extended to over 57 kilometres at the end of 2001. On the 31st of December, Paul Widger, G0HNW/P, located at Winter Hill, IO93RO94, north of Manchester, and Martin Farmer, G7MRF/P, on Mow Cop, IO83VC47, made a two-way contact over the 57.8-kilometre path, a new UK record for the band. The previous record stood at 52 kilometres. This comes only two months after the same group set a new UK 47GHz-band record. The contact was the result of many months of painstaking construction and equipment alignment. G0HNW/P sent a report of RS42 on SSB and received an RS43 report from G7MRF/P. Equipment at both ends were DB6NT mixer transverters and 10-inch diameter dishes. Congratulations to all concerned on this fine achievement and thanks to Peter Day, G3PHO, the editor of the RSGB Microwave Newsletter, for sending in the story."..............From the RSGB News.

January 2002

Proposed changes to the IRTS VHF Field Day 2002 - "There was a proposal a number of months back to drop 6 meters from the VHF Field Day in 2002.
The reasons given for wanting 6 meters dropped : Six meters totally distorts the contest if this band is open. Everybody would concentrate where the big points were to be had, giving less priority to 2m, 4m, 70Cm & 23Cm.
The reasons given for wanting to retain 6 meters : Its a VHF band like any other. Anyway 6 meters may not be open on the day. 2 meters may also be open on the day, so why not drop 2 meters as well ?.
Both reasons as you can see have merit, but the reality is 6 meters is a VHF band whether we like it or not and has to be included. I sent a mail some time ago asking fellow Experimenters/Amateurs what they thought as I believed it should be a collective decision on whether it was retained or removed, rather than someone at the IRTS meeting making a decision on their own bat.
At the time I got replies from EI7GL, EI6IZ & EI4IX. All agreed it should remain, generally the proposed fix was to award more points for the higher bands ie:

1 pt per Km for 6 meters
5 pts per Km for 2 meters
10 pts for 70Cm

and so on. This was fine, but 6 meters will not always be as active as it is at the moment. What happens then ?, the points awarded will have to be changed again to balance things out.
At the moment we have two sections in the VHF Field Day, Restricted (2 meters only) & the Open section (2 meters, 4 meters, 70 Cm & 23Cm). Dave Moore EI4BZ came up with a good suggestion at the last meeting, that is create a new section ie :

Restricted (2 meters only)
Restricted (All bands except 6 meters)
Open section (All bands including 6 meters)

This does sound like the best solution to the problems outlined above, what do ye think ???

If I could get some feedback it would be great as a final decision has to be made at the IRTS AGM in Knock. "................................from Joe, EI3IX.
DX conditions on 6m coming to an end??? - On the RSGB news at the end of January, there was a comment on the conditions on 6m during the past week. They said "Openings on 50MHz have still occurred on some days. However, these F2 openings won't last much longer, due to a gradual fall in solar flux levels and, maybe more importantly, to seasonal changes". With regard to conditions forecasted for the start of February, they said "It will be unlikely for you to work Australia on 50MHz during the coming week; however, the Middle East in the morning and then North America in the afternoon could be possible on some days." ................................from the RSGB News.
EI 2 Metre Trans-Atlantic Beacon??? - "The East Cork Radio group have decided that subject to sufficient interest, a 2 metre transatlantic beacon would be set up during the summer. Anyone interested should contact EI4BZ. "................................from the IRTS News.
Current Solar cycle has double peak - "NASA reported this week that the previous two solar cycles were double-peaked, and the current one is also. At one time we believed that Cycle 23 peaked in mid-2000, but then a larger peak emerged in late 2001. No doubt this explains all that fabulous F2 layer propagation on 6 meters last fall. You can read NASA's story on the web at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2002/18jan_solarback.htm .".........From the ARRL News.
IRTS 6 Metre Shield - "This Shield was presented by John Corless, EI7IQ to the I.R.T.S to promote 6 metres in EI. Charlie EI5FK won it last year. Who will win it for 2001 ??? The rules for this competition are very simple and are in the I.R.T.S directory, logs should be sent to the Contest Manager, John Mc Donnell (EI6IR).

Its basically : Unique Qso's X squares total X DXCC country count.

Unique contacts only, so if you make contact with a particular station 10 times during the year, you can only claim this as 1 Qso. Squares mean : IO51, JO63 KM78 etc., not IO51aa, IO51cd etc.

DXCC count : self explaining.

Hope everyone can and will send in a log, I know its easier for us that have computer logs as it takes all the hard work out of counting squares & uniques. ."...........................From Joe, EI3IX.
DX Conditions on 50 MHz now at their best - "This week solar activity is expected to be mostly moderate, although there is a chance that a major solar flare could take place at any time. Solar flux should be around the 230s by next weekend. Geomagnetic activity should be mostly unsettled, but if an earth-directed coronal mass ejection takes place activity could increase considerably. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be about 40MHz. Openings on 50MHz are likely to take place on the east-west paths on some days with openings to North America a good bet during the afternoons. A quick forecast for the coming year suggests we should make the most of what we have now. The DX season next autumn and winter should be down on this season. This will be most noticeable on 50MHz"...........................From the RSGB News.

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The URL of this page is http://www.qsl.net/ei7gl/02news.htm Last Modified : 3rd Jan 2004

Callsign	6m	4m	2m	70cm	23cm	Points
EI7M/P	243	13	297	52	14	295,340
EI7TRG/P	64	1	53	11	0	53,326