Sunday August 1st 1999
______________________________________________
Islands On The Air Contest
Last weekend’s Islands On The Air Contest was notable
once again for the big numbers of EI stations on the
air. Several DX stations commented on the high level of
activity for the event.
We had three groups that travelled specifically to
activate islands for the contest.
Thirteen members of the Mayo Radio Experimenters
Network used the club callsign EJ7MRE from Clare Island
in Clew Bay and they all enjoyed the experience while
putting up an outstanding score for their first effort
in an international contest.
A bit further South, Sean EI4GK together with Joe
EI7GY, Declan EI9HQ and two visitors from GI operated
from the highest point on Inishmore, the largest of the
Aran Islands, using a disused lighthouse a support for
their tri-band beam. They amassed a fine score and
should be well up the results table.
The Blasket Island Group were put on the air by Anthony
EI2HY and Mike EI2IB, using the callsign EJ2HY. This
was a difficult assignment as all the gear had to be
hauled by hand from the boat to a high point on Great
Blasket Island. They achieved their best ever score
over the weekend.
The planned trip by the East Cork Group to Bere Island
had to be cancelled due to new insurance requirements
by the Minister of Defence. It looks like future access
to all military property will be impossible due to high
insurance cover now required.
However, three group members entered from their home
stations in the single operator category. Jim EI8GS and
John EI8IR entered the 24-hour SSB section while Dave
EI4BZ entered the mixed mode 24-hour section.
The Wexford Radio Group, some of whose members were
also due to travel to Bere Island, entered the
multi-operator section from the station of EI6GF and
EI7FJ.
Enda EI3IS from County Galway was also heard during the
contest with a very good score.
The Dalkey Island Group put up a fine performance from
St. Croix using the call WP2Z and should be very near
the top of the leader board.
IRTS President Paul O’Kane EI5DI, holder of the IRTS DX
Trophy as the leading EI single operator last year,
defended his position and finished with what is
probably a winning score again this year.
There were many more EI station active but we had no
information from them at the time of writing.
The Hal Hodgens Trophy will be awarded to the leading
EI in the single operator 12 hour CW section.
A feature of the weekend was that all the senior
society officers were serious entrants in the contest,
This included the President, Vice-President, Secretary
and Treasurer, plus several other office holders.
______________________________________________
Mayo Radio Experimenters Success At Theory Exam
History was made in Mayo during June when two sets of
father and son teams were successful in the radio
theory exam and are currently awaiting their call
signs.
Padraic Baynes and his son Padraic Jr (Pat) from Westport and Joe
Diskin and his son John from Ballyhaunis were
successful in the examination that was held in
Kiltimagh.
Four others were also successful making a total of
eight new callsigns due in county Mayo in the next
week.
Instructors for the classes were John Corless EI7IQ and
John McDonnell EI6IR. Congratulations to all involved.
Classes are due to commence again in September to keep
up with the rapid growth of the hobby in the county.
The Mayo Radio Experimenters Network enjoyed their very
first contest experience recently when three members of
the club made the journey to Croagh Moyle for the IRTS
VHF Field Day.
A much larger group made their way to Clare Island
(EU121) for the annual IOTA event, using the club
callsign EJ7MRE.
The July meeting of the MREN were treated to a
demonstration of Computer logging by John Corless
EI7IQ. John displayed the latest version of Log EQF
(Version 9) with the RAC Callbook on CD, linked to a
Yaesu FT920. Twenty-five members attended for the
demonstration.
The club meets on the first Wednesday of each month at
9pm in The Wishing Well, Ballyvary on the N5, and all
are welcome.
