galwayvhfgroup.com

On Sunday the 28th of September Steve, EI5DD, Joe, EI3IX, and John, EI7FAB activated Ballycurrin Lighthouse on using the Galway VHF Group Club callsign EI4ALE/P. The activity started around 9 am with Steve and John cutting the 40 metre antenna whilst Joe set up the station and fired up the generator. After intitial tests, the antenna was adjusted and hoisted up using the lighthouse and a conveniently placed tree as support.

Many stations were worked on 40 metres but very few from Ireland or the UK. The IRTS news was not audible on 40 metres. In the mean time, work had progressed on the 80 metre antenna and it was ready for initial tuning. Calculations were not too far off and, after a second attempt,the antenna was ready for use.

In no time at all the station was fired up on 80 metres. Initial tests resulted in very strong stations worked from the Uk and Ireland. A call into the IRTS news on 80 metres resulted in us being called in second. We were able to pass information about our activity and a mini pile-up resulted. There was extremely good coverage all arounf Ireland and this was attributable to the low height of the antenna and the fact that it was over a very good counterpoise of soggy and conductive ground.

As the activity dwindled on 80 metres it was decided to change back to 40 metres, however, conditions still had not improved on this band. A large number of European stations were worked before the station was closed down at 3 pm.

All in all a successful activity and we will definately activate this site for future lighthouse on the air activities. Ballycurrin is unique in that it is the only inland lighthouse of its kind in Europe. It stands some 22 ft high with a top section of roughly 7 ft which was used to burn timber as a beacon. The roof of the lighthouse is a millstone.

Special thanks to the lads for  their efforts and also to all stations who called in on the day.

Members of the Galway VHF Group and the Civil Defence held their Annual Burren Walking Festival on Saturday the 30th of August. Three walks were available in a circular route from Fanore Car Park. The Walk had six checkpoints each manned by a Radio Operator and a Civil Defence person.

The whole walk was co-ordinated from the base, in Fanore, via 80 metres. An ambulance and rescue team were on standby at Base and in the event of an emergency they could be deployed at short notice. In addition to the radio network, PMR radios were carried at the checkpoints in case walkers required assistance if the weather were to take a turn for the worse. Last year dense fog cause many problems for those who were poorly equipped and as a result, this safety precaution was added to our system.

A continuous update of the status at each checkpoint was carried out via the 80 metre radio link and it was possible to trace the whereabouts of walkers without difficulty. Fortunately, there were no accidents on our walk although a couple of walkers, not attached to our walk, sought First Aid following a fall on the Green road. They were quickly treated and given a lift to the local GP for stitches.

The walk ran very well considering the initial poor visibily but as the day progressed the mist cleared and the rest of the day was warm and sunny. Many walkers converted from a shorter walk to the longer walk was a result of the improvement of weather conditions. This is where the radio link was useful as the next checkpoints were updated with the intentions of individual walkers.

As the walk drew to a close, all walkers were accounted for as they left the last checkpoint before the finish and it was possible to stand down our operators in the more remote locations. The base was dismantled very quickly and all personnel made for Hyland's Hotel for the traditional post walk feast after a long hard day.

Special thanks to Civil Defence for their excellent rescue team, organisation and expertise also to Gerry, EI8DRB at C/P1 and C/P6, John, EI7FAB at C/P2, Rioch, PMR operator at C/P3, Joe EI3IX at C/P4 , Tom EI2GP at C/P5 and Steve, EI5DD who co-ordinated from base.

The 70 MHz band of 70.125 to 70.450 MHz has been released generally to amateur radio experimenters in Ireland. This means that any licensed experimenter may now use the band without the need to make an individual application as was the position previously. The upper power limit is 50 watts PEP and 25 watts PEP for mobile operation. This change has been made in Part IV of the licence documentation in ComReg Document No 02/77R6 of the 17th of July 2008.