IRTS VHF Field Day 2001

From Terry EI9IW

During the first weekend of July 2001 members of the Mayo Radio Experimenters Network operated a number of VHF/UHF stations from a bog road on Toormakeady, using the call sign of Padraic (Pat) Baynes, EI5IX.

 

 

Photograph of 2001 VHF Field Day

Copyright Terry Ebdon, 2001.

Joe Fadden, EI3IX, provided a Land Rover Discovery which was used as a rather luxurious 6m shack. The bulk of Saturday's 2m, 4m, and 70cm activity was from the back of a VW Transporter belonging to John Brown, EI7FAB, with my car being used on the Sunday.

Arriving rather late, our first priority was to assemble a 6m station as there was a huge opening in progress. A 6m vertical was erected, with Ollie's help, and held in place by parking my car on the base plate. This was quickly hooked up to Joe's FT-100 and Pat, EI5IX, started working the DX. The six metre band remained open throughout the weekend, which effectively made this a 6m contest. The scoring for all bands was based on points per kilometre, so with DX stations being worked across Europe and beyond the other bands were the icing on the cake.

There was a very good turn out, and every one seemed to bring equipment with them; with the result that we had at least two antennae for most bands. At one point there were four masts erected, so we were spoilt for choice. During the day we managed to keep two or three stations on the air most of the time, with Joe being the overnight caretaker. One welcome surprise was the return of Padraic, EI9JA, late on Saturday evening with a huge container full of sausages and chips! Padraic also supplied the breakfast on Sunday, so needless to say he was "man of the contest".

Dermot, EI7IX, originally suggested the site, and a superb one it is. Despite being blocked by a peak to the North East we managed to put a good signal out to most of the country, with both Dublin and Cork being worked on 2m and 70cm. Unfortunately there was some interaction between the 4m transverter and the 2m and 6m rigs which prevented EI7FAB, our main 4m operator, from calling CQ as often as he would have liked. So band pass filters would seem to be a good idea for future IRTS VHF Field Days.

In February 2002 John McDonnell, EI6IR, the IRTS contest manager announced that the Mayo Radio Experimenters Network had won the 2001 event. 

We scored 370,646 points from 243 QSO's.
A breakdown of the score was as follows:

6m - 200 QSO's and 353,257 Points ,

2m - 33 QSO's and 16,482 Points

70cms - 10 QSO's and 907 Points.

Thomond Trophy Winning station in the Open section of the IRTS VHF/UHF Field Day

Padraic Baynes, EI5IX

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 was as follows:

6m - 170 QSO's and 217,349 Points ,

2m - 95 QSO's and 138,488 Points

70cms - 21 QSO's and 7,616 Points.

Congratulations to all involved, and a big thank you to everyone who lent their support.

IRTS / RSGB Islands On The Air 2000

Sunday August 6th 2000
______________________________________________



Last weekends Islands On The Air Contest attracted
quite a lot of activity from Echo India stations. Three
groups travelled to activate islands and to do battle
for the new IRTS IOTA Trophy kindly sponsored by Paul
O’Kane EI5DI.


The Mayo Group used the callsign EJ5J from Clare Island
and reports suggest that they had a very enjoyable
outing. Those involved included Padraic EI6FWB, Gerry
EI4GD, Padraic EI5IX, Dermot EI7IX and John EI7IQ, John
EI7FAB, Joe EI3IX and Frances EI5J.



Sean EI4GK, Joe EI7GY, Declan EI9HQ and Mick EI6GF
operated EJ4GK/P from the Aran Islands. They operated
under canvas in a field day type set-up and report an
improved score over previous years.


EJ7M was active from Bere Island, also with a field day
set-up but had the advantage of a fine car ferry to get
vehicles on to the site.


The crew there was Dave EI4BZ, Jerry EI6BT, Mannix
EI5HB, Jim EI8GS, John EI8IR and Steve EI9HC.



The Dalkey Island Group decided to stay on the mainland
this year and operated EI1DD from an elevated site near
Enniskerry in County Wicklow. Operators here included
Paul EI2CA, Paul EI5DI, Keith EI4FBB, Tony EI6EW, Danny
EI8HD, Sean EI7CD, Aidan EI8CE and Peter EI7CC.


Amongst the single operators heard with good scores
were Ken EI4DW, Martin EI8GP and John EI7GL.


The annual IOTA Honour Roll listings were published in
the latest issue of Radcom, the journal of the Radio
Society of Great Britain and two EI stations are
listed. Peter Ball EI7CC is at number 99 with 768
conformed and Anthony O’Rourke EI2HY is at number 360
with 487.

Mayo Radio Experimenters & Islands On The Air Contest

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.