CQWW SSB Contest - October 24th / 25th 2015

Call: G2F
Operator(s): EI5IX G4MKP MØCHK MØCKE MØCLW
Station: G2F

Class: M/S HP
QTH: WISBECH
Operating Time (hrs): 48
Location: Northern Europe

Summary: 

Band QSOs Zones  Countries

160:     61        6         38

80:    723      15         81

40:  1070      26       108

20:  1753      37       142

15:  1439      37       137

10:    748      32       138

Total: 5794  153      644 

Total Score; 9,575,158

Our first real stab at M/S in SSB, the whole station is now in a new shack so we expected some issues, most were minor, some different antenna configs and other changes helped us to a reasonable score for G. 

Band conditions were OK, not great rates with some quite steady periods too, 80m and 160m were disappointing, nice to find 10 open for a time both days but not for long enough. 

Fun was had by all ops, looking forward to CW leg now.

Team G2F

IRTS Contest Calendar and Rules

The IRTS contest calendar for 2016 includes a number of changes from previous years.

As signalled in the latest issue of Echo Ireland, the 80 metres Summer counties contest has been dropped, but an additional 40 metres contest, to be held in the Autumn, has been added.

In addition, we will be running two one-hour evening 80 metres counties contests - an SSB contest in February and a CW event in November.

The contest rules have been updated. The updates include two principal changes: firstly, the requirement to pre-register Field Day contest stations has been dropped. Secondly, a bonus arrangement to encourage greater emphasis on CW is being introduced for the mixed mode sections of the HF counties contests.

Look at www.irts.ie/contests for the 2016 calendar and rules.


73's DE EI5IX / M0XII - Pat

IOTA Provisional Contest Results 2015

Provisional results for the 2015 IOTA contest, which took place last July, have now been published. Most contestants reported poor HF conditions, so scores were somewhat lower than last year. 17 logs were submitted by EI and GI stations, see our contest results page www.irts.ie/results for a link to their results.


In other IOTA news, the RSGB have announced the setting up of a new organisation called the IOTA Foundation, which will manage the IOTA programme in partnership with RSGB. One of the tasks for the new organisation will be to develop a new online credit system, to be completed in 2017.

RSGB Convention 2015

The RSGB 2015 Convention held between the 10th -11th October 2015 was at Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre in Milton Keynes. There was plenty to choose from over the weekend whatever your interest whether that’s Contesting, DXing, Technical matters or Computing in radio. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and it was a fantastic opportunity to meet up with some familiar faces and new one's too. The VHF Trophy presentation was Sunday morning where the Blacksheep Contest Group managed to collect some silverware. 

Back L>R:  John G0ODQ, Bill M0BTZ, Andy 2E0IBF, 

Matt G0XDI, Mike G8TIC, Dave G7RAU, Roger G3MEH. 

Front L>R: Pat EI5IX / M0XII & Rohan M6TIC.

  

Mayo Radio Experimenters Network 2015 AGM

The Mayo Radio Experimenters held their annual A.G.M. on Wednesday evening 7th October at 9.30pm in the Welcome Inn Hotel, Castlebar. There was a good attendance on the night. 

The outgoing Chairman Padraic Baynes EI9JA thanked everybody who attended meetings and activities and helped out at all the events over the last year. 

The Sectary Brendan Minish EI6IZ reported on correspondence with the IRTS and
other business. He also reported on his handling of all QSL cards going to and fro - from the clubs’ activities over the past year. 
The Treasurer Adrian Healy EI2HAB, gave a report on all the clubs expenditure for the year.

The assembled meeting discussed possible club activities for the forthcoming year. However, no firm decisions were made and final decisions will be made closer to the dates.

The new committee elected for the coming year are:
Chairman: Jimmy Kelly EI2GCB, 

Sectary: Brendan Minish EI6IZ, 

Treasurer: Adrian Healy EI2HAB, 

Pro: John O Grady EI8GIB, 

IRTS Rep: Gerry Cregg EI4GD, 

Rally Director: Padraic Baynes EI9JA. 

QSL Manager: Brendan Minish EI6IZ.