
IRTS News for 8th May 1994

SOLAR ECLIPSE
-------------
   Astronomers and radio amateurs in Northern Europe should
note that a partial eclipse of the sun will take place on
10 May. In N. Europe it should begin at 6.35 p.m. and last
until 8.30 p.m. local time. The time of greatest obscuration,
as observed in Ireland, should be at 7.35 p.m., when the sun
should be about 50 per cent covered. Enhanced MW reception
may be noticed during the eclipse. Note carefully that on
no account should one view the sun directly through a telescope,
as this would cause permanent damage to the eyes. It is to
be hoped that our prevalent cloud cover may lift sufficiently
to allow observation of this event.

COUNTIES ACTIVITY
-----------------
   Terry G0LUQ will leave Oxford on 29 May for a trip around
the counties of Ireland. During the journey from Oxford to
Holyhead he will operate the WAB squares through which he
is passing for those interested in gathering more squares.
He is also going to pay special attention to the rarer Irish
counties such as Kildare, Laois, Longford, Monaghan, Offaly,
Roscommon and Sligo, and hopes to incorporate other counties
as well in his planned route.

   The W.E.I.C. award is still available, and can be achieved
by working 20 of the 26 counties, and submitting QSL cards
in proof of operation. There are often nets taking place after
the HF news in which a scatter of operators from around EI
may be available. Terry's trip should fill in the gaps and
make it possible to achieve the award a little more quickly.

CORK RADIO CLUB
---------------
   At their last meeting Cork ARC showed a video on DX operation,
entitled "Secrets of DX", to a large attendance of members.
The video was made in America, and is an excellent production.
Anthony has planned a showing of a video on "Packet Radio"
in a future meeting.

   Con EI7DJB will give a talk on the conversion of PMR equipment
for use on 2m both as a receiver and as a repeater.

   Plans are well under way for the Cork Rally, to be held
in the Blarney Park Hotel on 11 September. There is rumoured
to be a spectacular twist to this year's Rally, so put the
date in your diary.

   If there are any operators in the Cork area interested
in Aren, Con EI7DJB would like to hear from them. Con is the
2m news reader for the Cork area, and he would be delighted
to make a list after the call-ins, or he can be contacted
directly at QTHr.

FRC RADIO AND ELECTRONICS EXHIBITION
------------------------------------
   FRC holds its Rally today in Jury's Hotel, Ballsbridge.
Admission is two pounds, and there is a talk-in on S22. The
admission ticket entitles one to participate in the grand
raffle for a 14" colour TV with remote control.

GALWAY RADIO EXPERIMENTERS
--------------------------
   Meetings take place on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month
in Richardson's Bar, Eyre Square at 8.30 p.m. Matters for
attention at the present time are the Galway Radio and Electronics
Rally and the annual trip to Inishbofin Island.

ARCHIVE MATERIAL
----------------
   Following enquiries by Ian McStay EI7GX, the National
Library has agreed to accommodate and catalogue archive material
from IRTS, on the basis that it will fill in many gaps regarding
the historical development of radio in Ireland. Jim Upton
EI8Z has assembled IRTS  minute books and 2 boxes of IRTS-related
material from the 61 years since IRTS was founded. One major
piece of history is the original minute book from 1913.

   It has been noted that much IRTS archival material has
been spread amongst members down the years, and now that there
is a safe place for it to be stored a special plea is issued
for items of our history to be gathered together for all to
view. Ian would welcome any calls at QTHr regarding such material.   

   That concludes the bulletin for this week. Items for inclusion
in the radio news should be sent to Steve Wright EI5DD, c/o
Dept. of Pathology, Regional Hospital, Galway. Fax messages
may be sent to EI5DD at 091 24216. All such items will be
forwarded to Dave Moore for inclusion in the printed news.

   Items for the printed news only should be sent to Dave
Moore EI4BZ, QTHr, or phoned to 021 632444 (daytime), or
021 883555 (evenings). Items may be sent by packet radio to
EI4BZ at EI7DKB-5. Fax messages may be sent to 021 632730.
