IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday October 13th, 2024

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This Week's News

IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday October 13th, 2024
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Silent Keys - Joe Carragher EI6HHB and John Doherty EI9GB

   This week, we begin with the sad news of two Silent Keys. Joe
   Carragher, EI6HHB passed away on Friday, the 4th of October. He was
   laid to rest last Sunday October 6th. We wish to pass on our sincere
   condolences to Joe's wife Geraldine, his extended family, his former
   club members in Limerick Clare Amateur Radio Club, and friends.

   We were also very saddened to learn of the death of John Doherty EI9GB
   late of Buncrana, Co. Donegal. John passed away on Monday October 7th.
   His requiem mass was in St Mary's Church, Cockhill, Buncrana on
   Thursday October 10th. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family
   and friends.

   Ar dheis D� go raibh a n-anamacha uaisle.
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News from the IRTS

   HF newsreaders are currently sought to expand our existing panel,
   providing the weekly Sunday morning 40m and 80m news bulletins. The
   role involves minimal effort, requires no previous experience, and
   offers an enjoyable way to give back to our community. Additionally,
   the IRTS news team is considering the reintroduction of a weekly
   EI0IRTS news bulletin using Morse code. This was once a popular service
   and with a growing interest in this area of the hobby, we are putting
   out a call for your feedback to gauge the level of interest in
   participating.

   If any licensed IRTS member residing in EI is interested in joining the
   IRTS newsreaders panel or participating in the potential weekly Morse
   bulletin, please contact the IRTS News Coordinator, Seany EI2HZB, by
   phone on 083 4713001 or via email at irts_pro /at/ irts.ie for further
   information.
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South Eastern Amateur Radio Group EI2WRC

   The South Eastern Amateur Radio Group will be QRV as Echo India 25
   Juliet Oscar Tango Alpha (EI25JOTA) with the 25th Wexford Scout Group,
   next weekend, October 18th to 20th as part of the 2024 International
   Jamboree on the Air/Jamboree on the Internet festival. The group will
   be active with the scouts from Dunbrody Abbey outside Campile in Co.
   Wexford. Radio activities will include HF, UHF/VHF, DMR, an
   introduction to CW, fox hunting (which is a radio direction finding
   challenge), the NATO phonetic alphabet, Q codes, and much more. You are
   asked to please keep a listen out for any of the scout groups taking
   part in the event over the weekend and take a few minutes to have a
   chat with as many of them as you can. For more information about
   EI2WRC, their activities, and for contact details, please see
   www.searg.ie
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Update from Collective Communication

   Next weekend, Collective Communication EI3CC, will be participating in
   JOTA from the scout camp complex at Ballyscanlan Co. Waterford. A total
   of five scout groups will be holding their jamboree across two scouting
   venues approximately 1km apart. EI3CC will have two amateur radio
   stations operating during the event, one at each site. One station will
   be using the HF bands for CW, SSB, and some Slow Scan Television. The
   other will be operating solely through satellite QO-100 using SSB and
   CW. Activity will start on the afternoon of Friday 18th October and
   continue to around midday on Sunday 20th October. There will be a CB
   radio link for the scouts to use between the two amateur radio stations
   while testing their knowledge of the phonetic alphabet. A similar
   arrangement last year produced much amusement and delight among the
   scouts.

   Amateur radio skeds have been arranged for contacts with scouts in
   multiple countries during the weekend and with the addition of SSTV,
   participants will enjoy seeing those with whom they are, or have been,
   in contact with.

   During the past few years JOTA in Ireland has grown some three-fold and
   EI3CC is happy to have been a part of that resurgence. The club has
   found that working together with their friends has proved invaluable
   with everybody involved gaining benefit. You are asked to please keep
   an ear and an eye open for EI3CC during Jamboree on the Air next
   weekend.

   The club thanks John EI3ISB and Ana EI5IXB for their input regarding
   the planning and expediting of this year's JOTA.
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VHF/Microwave News

   For 4-meter band users and particularly those in the southern part of
   Ireland, you can try a FM net taking place on 70.2625 MHz on Tuesday
   night next from 9.p.m.

   On Wednesday night next, October 16th, Dennis EI4KH is trialling a new
   net on the 6-meter band. It will start from 8 p.m. on 50.180MHz. Given
   the very active sun at present, some interesting contacts may be
   possible even at this late evening time.

   This is followed by a 2m FM simplex net that takes place each Thursday
   night from 8 p.m. on 145.200MHz. Everyone is very welcome to join in
   with all the net activities.
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IARU Monitoring System Region 1 Newsletter

   The September edition of the IARU Monitoring System Region 1 newsletter
   reports on the return of various digital modes commonly used by Russian
   stations. Over the horizon radar signals also feature predominately but
   this problem is also compounded by the presence of jammers trying to
   disrupt these signals. It is well worth seeing examples of these for
   yourself which are helpfully included in the newsletter so that you
   know what to look out for. The newsletter may be downloaded from the
   Monitoring System section of the IARU website located at
   www.iaru-r1.org
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Propagation Update

   On Monday and Tuesday next, the Hepburn Tropo Index indicates potential
   tropospheric ducting favouring the southeastern region of Ireland and
   into the UK for VHF operators.

   After some excellent radio conditions especially on the 10-meter band,
   it all changed quickly as the HF bands took a hammering due to sunspot
   activity. A single sunspot region was responsible for three powerful
   X-flares over the past week causing bands to close. The most powerful
   flare in seven years was part of this trio earlier in the week
   measuring at an X9.05 magnitude. Continuing solar activity is expected
   to be moderate but with a somewhat unpredictable sun, further chances
   of X-class flares and potentially more auroral activity are possible
   over the coming days.
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Items for Inclusion in Next Week's Radio News

   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 is midnight on Thursday.

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