25 Aug 2009

UPDATE 25/08/09

IRTS 2m Counties Contest

Next Sunday the 30th of August is the date for the
Autumn 2m counties contest. It takes place between
14.00 and 16.00 local. The full rules are available on
the IRTS website under the contest tab.


70cms Activity Hour

To try to promote activity and see if it is worthwhile
to run a 70cms Counties contest. We will be having a
70cms activity hour following the 2m contest on Sunday
the 30th August. Both FM and SSB stations will be
welcome and both Calling channels will be
monitored.432.2 for SSB and 433.5 for FM users.

We look forward to hearing many portable and fixed
stations on the day.


3DA0SS Swaziland

David, GI4FUM, has returned from Swaziland and reports
that the 3DA0SS expedition was a big success. Around
20,000 QSOs were made, many of them on the data modes.
The International Scout Camp was also a great success
with the scouts learning many new development skills.

The IRTS committee, with the agreement of the CQIR
Contest sponsor, Dargle Builders Limited, agreed that
the excess in the contest fund which amounted to more
than 1,000 Euro, should be donated to the Swazi
scouts towards the cost of providing clean water at
their campsite.

While David was there, the new pump was installed and
commissioned and clean water is now available for all
the camp needs. Following the AFRI75 expedition to
Swaziland and the resultant publicity for the Scout
Project there, many individual Society members donated
monies for projects at the campsite. We are happy to
act as a conduit for any such funding and if you are
interested in helping you should contact Paul EI2CA or
David GI4FUM.


ARRL Celebration


This year, the ARRL is honouring the 140th anniversary
of the birth of the League's first president and
cofounder. Hiram Percy Maxim, W1AW, was born on 2nd
September 1869.

The operating event is open to all amateurs, and the
goal is straightforward: Find the stations adding /140
to their call signs, and contact as many as possible
during the event period from 2-9th September. The /140
will be signed by any ARRL member who holds and ARRL
appointment.

There will be a Certificate available for anyone who
works at least 25 of the /140 Celebration stations

Time Period: 0000 UTC September 2 until 2400 UTC
September 9.

Exchange: All stations signing /140 send RS(T), their
appointment and their name; others send RS(T) and their
name. More details and deadline application on
www.arrl.org


Dave Court EI3IO

Dave will be moving to Bahrain (A9) on 28 August,
initially for a period of 2 years. No call-sign
information is available as yet. However you may find
Dave on 20m in A9 from September onwards, depending on
the time it takes to obtain residency etc.

A QTH has been chosen which appears to be good for all
bands 160m to VHF. Subject to licensing restrictions,
Dave plans to be QRV on most MF, HF and low VHF bands.
Equipment being taken includes an Elecraft K3
transceiver, Acom 1000 amplifier, yagis for 14 MHz to
70 MHz and an 18 metre Spider Beam fibre glass support
for MF and low HF verticals.

It should be noted that 600m, 60m, 6m and 4m are
currently not available in A9. EI3IO will still be QRV
from Ireland during the next few years, during vacation
trips to the family home in Shankill, where family
members will still be resident. The Dublin DX Cluster
EI7SDX will also remain QRV with internet access only -
click http://shandx.ath.cx/cgi-bin/ei7sdx.cgi or
telnet://EI7SDX.ath.cx:7300 for access."


30 Meter Multi-Mode Weekend


This weekend, the Amateur radio 10 MHz (30 metre) band
will be alive with digital signals during the
multi-mode weekend.

The objective is to promote experimenting and using
different digital modes on unique 30 Meter Band. A
number of digital mode groups will be participating
this weekend so if you wanted to try out a mode you
have thought about trying here is your chance to get
on the 30 Meter Band to try those digital modes and/or
try a digital mode software that includes multiple
digital modes.

This is NOT a contest.. no set times.. no rules.. no
exchanges.. no winners other than those that
participate with casual use of the 30 Meter Band to
experiment, rag chew, DX and have some fun!


This week in History


1919 George Fisk of AWA does first radio
'broadcast' in OZ.

1932 The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) began
its first experimental TV broadcast in England.


Next Theory Examination

The 21st of September is the closing date for
applications to sit the next Theory Examination for an
Amateur Station Licence which will be held on Tuesday
the 6th of October at 2p.m in the ComReg Offices in
Dublin. To reserve a place at the exam intending
candidates should forward the appropriate fee to Sean
Nolan EI7CD, 12 Little Meadow, Pottery Road,
Dunlaoghaire, Co. Dublin.

The fee is 50 Euro or 25 Euro for full-time
registered students, repeat candidates and those who
are retired, unemployed or have a disability.
Cheques and Money Orders should be made payable to
the IRTS. When forwarding the exam fee intending
candidates should enclose their postal address as
well as phone and e-mail contact details. Sean's
e-mail address for any further enquiries is “ei7cd
at gofree dot indigo dot ie”

Intending candidates should note in particular, that in
Section B of the paper – National and International
Rules and Operating Procedures’- questions on the
National Rules will be based on the new Wireless
Telegraphy (Amateur Station Licence) Regulations 2009
which came into force on I June 2009. These Regulations
and other matters in relation to the operation of
amateur stations can be found in the ‘Amateur Station
Licence Guidelines’ published by ComReg in Document
09/45 which is available on the ‘Publications’ section
of the ComReg website at www.comreg.ie

There is also some very useful information available
under ‘Radio Theory’ in the ‘Links’ section of the IRTS
website at www.irts.ie

Thanks to the IRTS for the information
.

New 3cm 10368 MHz SSB record verified and listed

Recently Stephen ZL1TPH and Ted ZL2IP re-submitted their record claim that was declined earlier this year.

The claim errors have been corrected. The claim now complies with the published New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART) claim rules.

I am pleased to announce the following SHF record:
3cm 10368MHz Int. ZL1TPH/p-ZL2IP/p 04/01/2009 SSB 551 TD

Confirmed as a new New Zealand record and a milestone record. It is to-date, the longest terrestrial distance contact, at 551kms, made on the 3cm microwave band.

ZL1TPH operating from Cape Reinga at 175 M ASL.
ZL2IP operating from North Egmont at 960 M ASL.

The actual frequency used was 10368.1 MHz and the signal path used a Troposphere Duct.

Congratulates to Stephen ZL1TPH and Ted ZL2IP.

73 and good DX,
John ZL2TWS

Note:
The New Zealand VHF/UHF/SHF records now cover 2009
http://www.nzart.org.nz/vhf/index.html

New Icom radio covers HF to 1300 MHz

Icom's new rig the IC-9100 covers VHF and UHF bands as well as HF and is sure to appeal to amateur satellite users.

According to reports the SSB/CW/FM rig delivers 100 watts at 50 MHz and 50 watts at 144 and 430 MHz. With an optional module it gives 10 watts at 1240 MHz.

There is a D-STAR option available but at the time of writing it was not clear if this would operate on all bands above 29 MHz. It is to be hoped that D-STAR will work on 10 metres and 6 metres as currently there are no D-STAR radios for those bands.

IC-9100

IC-9100 (Rear View)

The IC-9100 at Tokyo Ham Fair on August 22


The IC-9100 pre-release brochure is available at
http://www.ab4oj.com/icom/ic9100/IC-9100_prerelease.pdf


19 Aug 2009

SuitSat: Hacking for Outer Space

Make Magazine features an article on the Amateur Radio SuitSat project

The article says:

SuitSat is one of the best examples of fashion hacking and recycling old apparel that I have ever seen. Russia often disposes of space suits by throwing them into outer space to burn up in the atmosphere.

The suits take 6-7 months to burn up. Since the suit is already being launched into space, some ham radio operators thought why not house a satellite inside, where it will be protected for 6-7 months before the suit burns up in the atmosphere. Hence SuitSat was born.

The first SuitSat was launched into space on September 7, 2006 when astronauts aboard the ISS pushed SuitSat I into space.

Read the full article at
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/08/
suitsat_hacking_for_outer_space.html

MAKE Magazine describes itself as the first magazine devoted entirely to DIY technology projects, it unites, inspires and informs a growing community of resourceful people who undertake amazing projects in their backyards, basements, and garages, see http://makezine.com/

Make Magazine on Twitter
http://twitter.com/make/

SuitSat-2 transforms into a satellite
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/july2009/
suitsat2_transforms_into_satellite.htm

BBC - DIY Gadgetry (Hackspace)
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/june2009/
diy_gadgetry.htm

AMSAT-UK publish a colour A4 newsletter, OSCAR News, full of satellite information.

You can join online at https://secure.amsat.org.uk/subs_form/

AMSAT-UK website http://www.uk.amsat.org/

18 Aug 2009

UPDATE 18/08/09

IRTS 2m Counties Contest

Sunday the 30th of August is the date for the Autumn 2m
counties contest. It takes place between 14.00 and
16.00 local. The full rules are available on the IRTS
website under the contest tab.

This contest does have a good number of Portable
entries and the would be glad of any contacts on the
day. As most people have some type of 2m rig please try
to be active and give away some points on the day.


70cms Activity Hour


To try to promote activity and see if it is worthwhile
to run a 70cms Counties contest. We will be having a
70cms activity hour following the 2m contest on Sunday
the 30th August. Both FM and SSB stations will be
welcome and both Calling channels will be
monitored.432.2 for SSB and 433.5 for FM users.

We look forward to hearing many portable and fixed
stations on the day.


Dave Court EI3IO


Dave will be moving to Bahrain (A9) on 28 August,
initially for a period of 2 years. No call-sign
information is available as yet. However you may find
Dave on 20m in A9 from September onwards, depending on
the time it takes to obtain residency etc.

A QTH has been chosen which appears to be good for all
bands 160m to VHF. Subject to licensing restrictions,
Dave plans to be QRV on most MF, HF and low VHF bands.
Equipment being taken includes an Elecraft K3
transceiver, Acom 1000 amplifier, yagis for 14 MHz to
70 MHz and an 18 metre Spider Beam fibre glass support
for MF and low HF verticals.

It should be noted that 600m, 60m, 6m and 4m are
currently not available in A9. EI3IO will still be QRV
from Ireland during the next few years, during vacation
trips to the family home in Shankill, where family
members will still be resident. The Dublin DX Cluster
EI7SDX will also remain QRV with internet access only -
click http://shandx.ath.cx/cgi-bin/ei7sdx.cgi or
telnet://EI7SDX.ath.cx:7300 for access."


30 Meter Multi-Mode Weekend August 22-23

The Amateur radio 10 MHz (30 metre) band will be alive
with digital signals during the multi-mode weekend on
August 22-23

The objective is to promote experimenting and using
different digital modes on unique 30 Meter Band. A
number of digital mode groups will be participating
this weekend so if you wanted to try out a mode you
have thought about trying here is your chance to get
on the 30 Meter Band to try those digital modes and/or
try a digital modes software that includes multiple
digital modes.

This is NOT a contest.. no set times.. no rules.. no
exchanges.. no winners other than those that
participate with casual use of the 30 Meter Band to
experiment, rag chew, DX and have some fun!


The Mayo Roscommon Galway Experimenter Radio Group

The MRG experimenter Radio Group VHF/UHF SSB Challenge
2009 will take place between 15.00hrs – 18.00hrs (local
time) on Sunday 6th September.

Fixed section: 144Mhz & 432Mhz (SSB only)

Portable section 144Mhz & 432Mhz. (SSB only)

Any EI/GI operator holding an amateur/experimenter
licence can participate. Closing date for logs is
October 4h 2009. Please forward completed logs to
ei2mrg /at/ yahoo.com Trophies will be presented to the
winners of the fixed and portable sections later in the
year. A full copy of the rules can be had by visiting
www.geocities.com/ei2mrg/


DX News

7O1YGF – Yemen approved for DXCC

The following operation has been approved for DXCC:
7O1YGF – Yemen. Operation from April 16, 2000 through
April 26, 2000.

After reviewing recently received information regarding
the 7O1YGF operation and after additional dialogue with
a leader of the DXpedition, the DXCC desk has approved
this operation.



This week in History

1877 Thomas A. Edison finished figuring out his first
phonograph.

1893 France is first country to introduce car
registration plates.

1907 The first taxicab took to the streets of New
York City.

1919 E.Fisk demos radiotelephony for the first time in
Sydney, Australia.



Thanks to the IRTS for the above Information.

16 Aug 2009

MFJ buys Cushcraft Antennas

MFJ Enterprises have announced they have purchased the Cushcraft Amateur Radio antennas product line.

According to MFJ, Cushcraft - makers of HF/VHF/UHF vertical, beam and Yagi antennas for the Amateur Radio community, will continue to be manufactured in New Hampshire.

"We are excited to have the Cushcraft Amateur Radio Antennas product line alongside our other five companies,"
said Martin F. Jue, President and founder of MFJ Enterprises, Inc.

This announcement comes right during MFJ catalog time. The new MFJ 2010 Catalog will be a whopping 120 pages and will include the entire Cushcraft Amateur Radio Antennas product line. A special customer support line is set up in Starkville, Mississippi by dialing 662-323-5803. This line will handle any Cushcraft Amateur Radio Antenna product technical support, part requests, and customer services.

MFJ Enterprises, Inc. also owns Ameritron, Hy-gain, Mirage and Vectronics.

Source: WIA, Adam VK4IM

15 Aug 2009

Check this out! Ham Mag is now available FOR FREE

The August issue of the free Amateur Radio publication Ham Mag has just been emailed to subscribers.

This is the 7th edition of the popular international English language monthly publication and the articles in this latest issue include:

The HamMag Hall of fame
A neat MIC Switch with Sound Card Interface By WB8YWA
Want to creat pileups? Try SI9AM ! By SM3CVM
Getting started in casual contesting By WØRAA
Discovering : The W3FF Portable Dipole Antenna
The DXnews from the Web
The DX Calendar By SM3CVM
FUNcube By M5AKA
Ionospheric Perturbations By ON4SKY
40 Years Ago... The Moon !

Back issues can be downloaded from the magazines website at http://www.ham-mag.com/ and if you subscribe (it's free) the magazine will be emailed to you each month.

To subscribe to this superb free Amateur Radio magazine just send a blank email to
ham-mag_en-subscribe@yahoogroups.co.uk

The editor Vincent F5SLD says more articles are needed for future issues. His email address is on the Ham-Mag website at http://www.ham-mag.com/

Ham-Mag Yahoo Group
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/ham-mag_en/

13 Aug 2009

YouTube SO-50 Amateur Radio Satellite Contact

A video on YouTube shows an Amateur Radio Satellite
SO-50 contact between VK6MJ in Perth West Australia and VK2ZAZ in New South Wales at the Wyong Field Day 2009.

Geoff VK2ZAZ is using handheld FM equipment.

Watch the video:

The RadCom article 'Getting Started on Amateur Radio Satellites' by John Heath G7HIA is an excellent introduction to the exciting world of Amateur Satellite Communications and it can be downloaded from the AMSAT-UK website at http://www.uk.amsat.org/content/view/408/168/

AMSAT-UK publish a colour A4 newsletter, OSCAR News, full of satellite information.

You can join online at https://secure.amsat.org.uk/subs_form/

AMSAT-UK
http://www.uk.amsat.org/

12 Aug 2009

Natural fireworks, courtesy of the Perseid meteor shower



The annual Perseid meteor shower is expected to put on a good show this week for those willing to get up in the wee hours of the morning and wait patiently for the shooting stars.

As the Perseid meteor shower becomes visible in all its glory on 13 August, natural fireworks will fill the sky.

Showers of meteors, or ‘shooting stars’, appear as bright streaks of light in the sky. The display runs through the night.

Dust trails are left behind by every comet as it nears the Sun. As Earth’s orbit crosses the dust ejected by the comet Swift-Tuttle, a regular occurrence every August, it provides a fabulous spectacle for viewers on Earth. As the particles enter the atmosphere, they burn up, producing the fireworks. This phenomenon, called the ‘Perseid’ meteor shower, gets its name from the constellation Perseus, from where the shooting stars seem to come.
This year the Perseids are visible from 17 July to 24 August.

One or two per hour can be seen at the start, increasing to about five to ten per hour in early August. The display will be at its maximum before sunrise on 13 August, when 80 to 100 meteors should be visible every hour, weather permitting.

The best time to go observing is during the pre-dawn hours of 13 August. The occurrence of a new Moon on 12 August will make for perfect observing conditions


ESA (G. Barentsen)

Constellation map
Even if the sky may not be totally clear, you can expect to see tens of meteors in the sky from all over Europe. The display will be on all night, starting from about 23:00 CEST on 12 August, peaking before sunrise on the 13th. This year, as a bonus, Mars is visible as a bright red dot in the East, after midnight.



Telescopes or binoculars will not be necessary as the shower is visible with the naked eye. It is important to be in a dark area, without much smog, pollution or illumination.

Do make yourself comfortable – use a reclining chair or spread a blanket on the ground. The shooting stars will appear all over the sky, you need not look in a particular direction. Just make sure your eyes can adapt to dark.

The best time to observe the Perseids will be 2am to 4am. Stargazers are advised to face away from the moon or block it from view behind a wall.

Those unable to see the shower can turn to Twitter for an online meteor watch organised by the Newbury Astronomical Society in the UK and the International Year of Astronomy 2009.

The Twitter Perseids meteorwatch follows on from a similar Twitter Moonwatch organised by the Newbury Astronomical Society in May.

Tonight could be your chance to gatch a glimse of this wonderful sight unfortuatly light pollution from our towns and cities has increased so much in recent years, but head out to the countryside for the perfect place to explore the beauty of the night sky, away from the intrusive glow.

I know I certainly will be... :)

UPDATE 12/08/09

AMSAT-UK Space Colloquium Videos

The videos of the presentations at this years
successful AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium in
Guildford are now available to watch on the British
Amateur Television Club (BATC) website

All 18 videos can be seen at http://www.batc.tv/



Space Station SSTV Active

The VC-H1 SSTV camera unit will run in auto mode
(Robot-36 transmitting once every 3 minutes) and should
be operational on 145.800 MHz from approximately
0800-1600 UTC each day.


TAPR now on Twitter

TAPR has been ham radio's pre-eminent digital voice and
data technology group for over 25 years and it is now
on Twitter under the username taprdigital

TAPR was a pioneer in developing packet radio
technology and most recently has been a leader in the
development of SDR (Software Defined Radios).


Shack Cleanup

Radio Shack is getting a marketing makeover. Starting
August 6, the electronics retailer will change its name
to 'The Shack,' a rebranding move designed to shed the
last-century association with radio technology and
embrace today's digital wireless world.

To celebrate the name change, Radio Shack will conduct
a "Shack Summer Netogether," a live event featuring two
17-foot laptop computers in New York and San Francisco.
Equipped with Web cams, the laptops will allow live
video and audio exchanges between the two cities.



International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend 2009


More than 300 lighthouses in more than 51 countries --
from Argentina to Wales -- will be on the air for the
2009 International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend.

The event, held for the 11th year in a row, takes place
Saturday, August 15 0001 UTC-Sunday, August 16 2359
UTC. While not a contest, the ILLW is more of a QSO
Party and Amateur Radio demonstration.

The ILLW aims to raise public awareness of lighthouses
and lightships and the need for their preservation and
restoration, promote Amateur Radio and foster
international goodwill. Stations at more than 40 US
lights are expected to be on the air for the event,
and several stations will identify with special event
call signs.



First activation of Punta del Este Lighthouse

Members of the Radio Club Uruguayo will be using the special callsign CW1R from the Punta del Este Lighthouse (ILLW UY0005, ARLHS URU-008, WW Loc. GF25MA) during the upcoming International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend between August 14-16th.

Activity will be on 80-15 meters using CW, SSB and the Digital modes. They will have at least two stations on the air.

This will be the first activation of Punta del Este Lighthouse.

QSLs for this activity are only DIRECT to:
Radio Club Uruguayo, P.O.Box 37, 11000, Montevideo, URUGUAY, SOUTH AMERICA (w/SAE and 1 new IRC or 2 green stamps).

Source
Dave Raycroft's ICPO Bulletin
ICPO - Islands, Castles & Portable Operations



Radio Rallies


C.R.C. Rally 2009

The Cork Radio Club is holding their Rally in the
Montenotte Hotel in Cork on the 13th of September.
Special rates for those who wish to stay overnight just
mention Cork radio Club.

Food all day, plenty of parking & doors open at 11am.
All the usual traders will be there.

Mayo Rally

The 2009 Mayo Rally will be held on Sunday November
22nd in Castlebar. The venue is The Welcome Inn Hotel,
Where the 2008 rally was held at short notice, and
doors open at 11.00am.

Rally Director, Padraic Baynes, EI9JA, is now taking
bookings for stands at the Rally. He can be contacted
on 087 6957154. The hotel will be offering a Rally
special deal for accommodation. Full details will be
available soon.

Thanks to the IRTS for the above Information.

7 Aug 2009

Today at exactly 12.34pm and 56secs on the 07/08/09 it will be 123456789!!!!



6 Aug 2009

IOTA News

Island activities:

AS-040, JA6, Goto Islands:
JA6YDB/6 and JE6AQP/6 will activate the islands Nozaki, Ojika and Goto (Nagasaki prefecture) from Aug 8-12. QSLs via homecalls (direct/bureau).

EU-014, TK, Corsica (Corse) Island, main:
Laurent,F8BBL, is signing TK8B from Corsica (DIFM TK-001) from Aug 1-8. He also plans activities from Lavezzi (EU-164, DIFM TK-011) on Aug 6 starting at 0900 UTC and from
Sanguinaires (EU-104, DIFM TK-002) on Aug 11 around 0900 UTC. QSL via homecall.

EU-055, LA, Sogn og Fjordane County Group:
Henk,LA/PA3FMC, Ruud,LA/PE1BTV, and Hans,LA/PH0V, will be QRV from Utvaer from Aug 10-18.
QSLs via homecalls (direct/bureau).

EU-170, 9A, Dalmatia North Group:
Daniel,9A/DK3CH, is working from the island Dugi Otoc (CI-018) from Aug 1-12. QSL via homecall.

Joe,9A2QP, plans to activate following islands from
Aug 5-14:
CI-439 Dugo
CI-167 Drvenik
CI-429 Dvainka LH 0669
CI-408 Gusteranski
CI-034 Kakan
CI-035 Kaprije
CI-770 Krbela Mala
CI-184 Krbela Vela
CI-328 Kraljak
CI-326 Kamesnjak V.
CI-325 Kamesnjak M.
CI-411 Mazirina
CI-151 Zirje
CI-148 Zlarin LH 4296
CI-076 Obonjan
CI-197 Oblik (nr. Zlarin)
CI-771 Mumonja
CI-430 Rakitnjak
CI-222 Tmara

OC-130, DU8/9, Mindanao Island (main):
Hans,DU9/DL5SDF, is back on Mindanao will try to show up on the bands in August. QSL via homecall.

SA-017, HK5, Cauca/Valle Division Group:
Cody,KC2LSD, and Pedro,HK3JJH, are signing 5K5T from Gorgona until Aug 5.

Lighthouse activities (WLOTA/ARLHS/ILLW)
---------------------------------------
DU9/DL5SDF LH 2803 starting in August
F4UKP/p LH 1407 Aug 15-22
IA5/IK2MLS LH 0609 ITA-083 Aug 3-8
IS0/IZ3DBA LH 1608 Aug 1-10
LA/PA3FMC LH 2373 NOR-264 Aug 10-18
LA/PE1BTV LH 2373 NOR-264 Aug 10-18
LA/PH0V LH 2373 NOR-264 Aug 10-18
TK8B LH 1390 COR-037 Aug 1-15
TK8B/p LH 0755 COR-049 Aug 6
TK8B/p LH 0098 COR-003 Aug 11
5K5T LH 2900 until Aug 5
9A/DK3CH LH 2375 CRO-183 Aug 1-12

Compiled by Fredy, DE0MST
Deutscher Amateur Radio Club
e-mail: iota@dxhf.darc.de

Space Station SSTV Active

The Amateur Radio station on the International Space Station (ISS) was sending Slow Scan TV pictures on Monday Aug 3.

On the AMSAT Bulletin Board Roland PY4ZBZ reports receiving a picture which he has made available at
http://www.qsl.net/py4zbz/satelite/200908030941.jpg

Other pictures received on Monday by Radio Amateurs in the Americas and Europe can be seen on the ARISS SSTV gallery at http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/SSTV/



The SSTV transmissions are part of the MAI-75 (Moscow Aviation Institute) experiments taking place on August 3 and 4.

The VC-H1 SSTV camera unit will run in auto mode (Robot-36 transmitting once every 3 minutes) and should be operational on 145.800 MHz from approximately 0800-1600 UTC each day.

The Kenwood VC-H1


Information on the MAI-75 experiment is available at http://www.energia.ru/eng/iss/
researches/education-26.html

PY4ZBZ ISS SSTV images
http://www.qsl.net/py4zbz/satelite/
sstv_via_sat.htm#2

How to access the ISS Slow Scan TV
http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/howtoisssstv.html

Free Slow Scan TV Software MMSSTV uses your PCs Soundcard http://mmhamsoft.amateur-radio.ca/

ISS Fan Club http://www.issfanclub.com/

AMSAT-UK http://www.uk.amsat.org/


AMSAT-UK publish a colour A4 newsletter, OSCAR News, that is full of Amateur Satellite information.
Join online at https://secure.amsat.org.uk/subscription/

Perseid Meteor Outburst

This year's Perseid meteor shower could be even better than usual.

According to NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office, a filament of comet dust has drifted across Earth's path and when Earth passes through it, sometime between 0800 and 0900 UT (1 - 2 am PDT) on August 12th, the Perseid meteor rate could surge to twice its normal value.

Check http://spaceweather.com for details and observing tips.

Perseids on your iPhone:
Spaceweather.com is pleased to announce a new iPhone/iPod application dedicated to the upcoming Perseid meteor shower. It features a Perseid countdown clock, news alerts, an easy-to-use sky map, and a live gallery of photos from around the world. Sky watchers of all types will find it a valuable companion when the shower peaks later this month.

Learn more: http://spaceweather.com/perseids

Download the app: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/
viewSoftware?id=325305245&mt=8

4 Aug 2009

Launch your own personal DIY satellite

Planet Earth has entered the age of the Personal Satellite with the introduction of Interorbital’s TubeSat Personal Satellite (PS) Kit.

The new IOS TubeSat PS Kit is the low-cost alternative to the CubeSat. It has three-quarters of the mass (0.75-kg) and volume of a CubeSat, but still offers plenty of room for most experiments or functions.

And, best of all, the price of the TubeSat kit actually includes the price of a launch into Low-Earth-Orbit on an IOS NEPTUNE 30 launch vehicle.

Since the TubeSats are placed into self-decaying orbits 310 kilometers (192 miles) above the Earth’s surface, they do not contribute to any long-term build-up of orbital debris. After a few weeks of operation, they will safely re-enter the atmosphere and burn-up. TubeSats are designed to be orbit-friendly.

Launches are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2010. Total Price of the TubeSat Kit including a Launch to Orbit is $8,000!

You can read more on the Space Fellowship website
http://spacefellowship.com/2009/08/01/interorbital-
syatems-tubesat-personal-satellite-kit/

Our thanks to John Kirk, VK4TJ, for spotting this item

QRP kits in Youtube

Juan, EA5BLP, has created a YouTube channel dedicated to QRP radios and their operation.

Writing on QRPedia, Juan says:

Hello to all QRPers. I have created a channel in Youtube showing some QRP kits (SW-20, Ten Tec 1330, Weber dual band, K-1, Heathkit hw-9 and others) in action in real QSOs and even in portable.

The videos are recorded with a simple photo camera and mostly in a noisy afternoon of very poor propagation.
So don't expect a BBC production!

Perhaps the page could be interesting for those QRPers devote to this kind of rigs.



UPDATE - 04/08/09

DXpedition to Clare Island

Members of the Dalkey Island Contest Group activated
Clare Island, EU121 for the IOTA Islands on the Air
contest last weekend. The team arrived on the island on
Thursday evening and on Friday morning, in glorious
sunshine, set about erecting the antennas which was all
completed by early Friday evening.

Antennas consisted of inverted V dipoles for 40 and 80
and an elevated vertical with the top at 60 feet also
for 40. The 40 metre antennas doubled up on 15 quite
satisfactorily. A delta loop for 20 and a full wave
loop for 10 completed the mini aerial farm.

All the antennas were resonant and coax fed with
matching stubs on the loops. During the contest over
1600 stations were worked in the 24 hours which with
the multipliers gave a score of over 2.6 million
points. This was a very good performance for 100 watts
to single element wire antennas.

The weather was reasonably kind with good days on
Friday and Saturday strong winds and rain on Saturday
night and intermittent showers on Sunday. The first
class accommodation and the excellent food in O’Gradys
Guesthouse which we had taken over for the event more
than made up for any shortcomings in the weather.

Operators were EI2CA, EI5DI, EI6EW, EI7CC, EI7CD, EI8BP
and EI8CE. The ladies who came along on the trip
enjoyed the excellent walking facilities on the island
and the few days away were enjoyed by all.



IOTA Contest

A number of offshore Irish islands were on the air for
the IOTA Contest, which took place last weekend.
Members of South Dublin Radio Club and the City of
Belfast Radio Amateur Society were once again on Inis
Oirr, while the Dalkey Island Contest Group were on
Clare Island.

Rathlin Island, off the Antrim coast, hosted two
DXpeditions: The Kilmarnock & Loudoun Amateur Radio
Club, using the call sign GI0ADX, were there for the
eleventh consecutive year, while a group from County
Dublin and County Down (call sign GI0MPG) were on
Rathlin's East Lighthouse for the second year running.
The IOTA contest was also, of course, well supported by
mainland EI and GI stations.

Most participants reported that band conditions were
better than last year, with longer openings on the
higher frequency bands than in recent years.



Will this be the year?


The 2m WA1ZMS trans-Atlantic beacon

The WA1ZMS beacon on 144.285000 MHz is now running a
500 watt transmitter giving 7 kW ERP

The beacon is GPS locked and the antenna comprises two
5-element stacked yagis beaming at 60 degrees from IARU
locator FM07fm.




EI2MOG On Air


Dundalk Amateur Radio Society are now operating a
Echolink internet gateway link on 145.2125Mhz simplex.
The link has been issued the callsign EI2MOG by Comreg
and node number 57007 by Echolink. EI2MOG will operate
24/7 from it's location at Mount Oriel, Co.Louth,
coverage reports are now welcome via email to
info /at/ ei7dar.com. Further details can be found at
www.ei7dar.com.

The next meeting of the Society is on Wednesday 5th
August at 20.00pm, all are welcome to attend.




Rallies

C.R.C. Rally 2009

The Cork Radio Club is holding their Rally in the
Montenotte Hotel in Cork on the 13th of September.
Special rates for those who wish to stay overnight just
mention Cork radio Club.

Food all day, plenty of parking & doors open at 11am.
All the usual traders will be there.

Mayo Rally

The 2009 Mayo Rally will be held on Sunday November
22nd in Castlebar. The venue is The Welcome Inn Hotel,
Where the 2008 rally was held at short notice, and
doors open at 11.00am.

Rally Director, Padraic Baynes, EI9JA, is now taking
bookings for stands at the Rally. He can be contacted
on 087 6957154. The hotel will be offering a Rally
special deal for accommodation. Full details will be
available soon.




This week in History


1588 The Spanish Armada defeated by the Royal Navy.

1831 New York runs its first steam locomotive.

1852 First steamship SS Chusan arrives Sydney, 80 days from England.

1859 N. Ames of Saugus, Maryland, USA, patented the escalator.

1866 After a dozen years, Cyrus Field successfully completed the trans-Atlantic Cable.

1872 Dr M Loomis granted patent for wireless experiments.


1888 Theophilus Van Kannel of Philadelphia patents the Revolving Door.

1903 BERLIN WIRELESS TELEGRAPH CONFERENCE begins.

1910 A. J. Fisher of Chicago patents the Electric Washing Machine.

1914 WW1 Great Britain declares war on Germany.


Thanks to the IRTS for the Info!