The Annual Burren Walk took place on the 28th of August. The walk is run by the Galway VHF Group and the Civil Defence. There were six checkpoints around the route of the walk which was divided into three routes - the A, B and C walk. The registration took place around 9 am and the first walkers were away at 9:30 am. Two Civil Defence personnel and one radio operator were located at each checkpoint and also a radio operator back at base in the Fanore beach car-park. The weather was only magnificent for the day and perfect conditions for walking. All walkers were checked through the checkpoints without difficulty. If a walker wished to transfer from a shorter to a longer walk there was no problem. A quick message through the radio system updated all the relevant checkpoints. Delays were down to a minimum as each checkpoint accounted for the total number of walkers it was closed. The personnel from checkpoint 1 set up another checkpoint along the road leading to the finish point to ensure that all of the 80 walkers were off the hills as many do attempt to bypass the finish area before going home. The whole operation was performed on 80 metres which gave excellent coverage of the entire event. Those operating from the remote checkpoints used the FT817 plus an MP-1 screwdriver antenna. This system worked well considering the low power of only 5 watts. They had full coverage of the walk. Special thanks to John EI1EM, Tom EI2GP, Enda EI3IS, Joe EI3IX, Steve EI5DD, John EI7FAB and Gerry EI8DRB who manned the stations for the day.
Galway VHF Group's blog
AREN Operation - Galway Walking Club Marathon 14th of August 2010
The Galway Walking Club Marathon took place on the 14th of Augutst over a 26 mile distance from Killary to Maam Bridge. Four operators, operating on 80 metres, manned the 6 checkpoints. Duties included the accountability of walkers between checpoints, the organisation of tranport or medical attention for walkers who were unable to continue their walk and the organisation of additional supplies of water and refreshment to each checkpoint. A half Marathon was also run in conjunction with the main event. The HF equipment was installed in vehicles the night before the event and antennae were tuned prior to the event. At 8 am walkers were deployed from buses to the start of the walk. The operators made their way to checkpoints and set up station becoming operational immediately. Whilst the 80 metre band was noisy in the early part of the day it provided excellent communications throughout the event. Transport was organised for any walker who could continue and Civil Defence were on hand to assist with any first aid requirements. Information regarding walker who were not going to continue was passed onto the next checkpoint. At all times the number of walkers between checkpoints was accounted for. The sweepers commmunicated with checkpoints via PMR handhelds signifying that all walkers had passed through. Updated information was available at all times between the checkpoints.Communication between checkpoints was excellent and an updates were received well by all operators. Once all of the walkers had passed through a checkpoint, the operator was then free to hop to the next free checkpoint and take up position. This system worked very well and shifting band conditions had no effect on the communications throughoout the day.80 metres provided an excellent system for communication in mountainous terraine where even the most sophisticated network of VHF Repeaters would be a waste of time and effort. One frequency was used at all times and everyone was able to receive updates as required. When the event was finished two operators, driving home by different routes, remained in contact for the duration of the journey which would not have been possible by direct communication on VHF. Mobile phones were of little use due to the restrictions in coverage. One to one communication is a waste of time during these events due to the large number of calls that would have to be made to provide updated information. Special thanks to John, EI1EM, Tom EI2GP, Steve EI5DD, and Arthur EI7GMB who operated from the checkpoints at this event.
Activation of Castle Kirk EI-005 C
On Saturday the 31st of July at 7 am Steve, EI5DD, Gerry, EI8DRB, and Enda, EI3IS, set off to activate Castle Kirk situated on a small Island on Lough Corrib. The weather conditions were dreadful, but after a wait of two hours the showers and winds subsided making it possible to take an open boat to the island across the lake. The boat was loaded in record time with equipment ranging from generator to two complete HF stations. There was barely time to remove the equipment in the boat before the next shower descended.A tent was erected within the walls of the castle and the equipment was stowed in the shelter. A doublet for 80 metres and tuneable for 40 metres was erected along with a centre fed half wave vertical for 20 metres. The tent was large enough to accommodate two stations, spare equipment and operatorsThe 20 metre band was lively and it was not long before a pile up developed. 40 metres was not in great shape and it was sometime before 80 metres became active; even the regular nets were not audible. After 8pm the 80 metre began to open up and a steady flow of stations were operated. At 1 am the station closed down until 7 am. 20 metres was in poor shape but it gradually picked up. Conditions were strange as stations from the USA were worked and then the skip shortened to the UK and then cycled back to the USA once again. This trend continued for quite sometime. 40 metres yeilded a steady flow of contacts but around 10 am became difficult to work.Great plans to work EI operators were thwarted by poor conditions on 80 metres around midday. EI0RTS was plagued with deep QSB and many stations calling into the news were having difficulty. several calls into the news were in vane but some of the stations did mention that were were there. It was decided that it was no longer viable to work 80 metres. A good lunch was prepared by Gerry and then it was time to pack up the station. Weather conditions were beginning to change and the breeze was picking up. The gear was packed into the boat and the group headed back to land.A debriefing session was held in Keane's in Maam over a nice cool pint and toasted sandwich. Never did either taste so good. Having checked this location it would be a great idea to make this an annual trip. We look forward to activation Castle Kirk once again but this time we will bring midge repellent.Check the Gallery for photgraphs of the event.
Galway VHF Group now on Google Groups
We now have a Google Groups page dedicated to the Galway VHF Group Membership. There is file sharing area with a comprehensive set of files of varied interest covering most facets of amateur radio from Home Construction, Digital Modes, Software Defined Radio, and Propagation. Items of current interest will be added from time to time. One has to register with Google to obtain an account to be able to access this group. It is not necessary to have a "gmail" account as will be seen during the registration process.
Croi Cycle Round Lough Corrib - Sunday 23rd May 2010 - Aren Operation
Members of the Galway VHF Group provided Emergency Communications during the annual Croi Cycle on Sunday the 23rd of May. The group assembled at 7:45 am to install mobile equipment into the various vehicles used to control the event. Tom, EI2GP, was Medical officer for the day and doubled as spotter in case or cases of emergency througout the lengthy convoy of cyclists. Gerry, EI8DRB, Provided Net Control and liason with the HQ in he Maam Valley. Steve, EI5DD, and Arthur, EI7GMB, were located in the course organisers vehicles covering the safety of the event. John EI7FAB, and Joe EI3IX were located with the Repair Crews and dealt with any equipment failures or punctures. Enda, EI3IS, was based in the HQ and dealt with messages regarding the location of cylists and deployment of refreshments. John, EI1EM, and Eamon Lynch were located with the Civil Defence Emergency Crews.
Quite a number of the Cyclists were relative amateurs and participated to the half way point in Maam whilst other more seasoned individuals cycled the complete course around the Corrib which was some 67 miles. The weather was quite hot with only a light breeze and there was quite a call for supplies of water and refreshments to be deployed from one location to another. Much of this was handled via the communications system.
The repair crews were kept busy throughout the event. Many calls were put out to assist cyclists stopped by the side of the road with punctures . Any station spotting a cylist in trouble would put the call down the line and one of three crews would be dispatched in record time. It was possible to deal with many of the mechanical failures such as gear and chain problems although some had to be brought to base in the trailer as a last resort.
Communications were good and reliable for the duration of the event and operators were quick to pick up and relay messages where necessary. The liason with the Civil Defence worked well and on two occasions there were calls for medical assistance which were dealt with efficiently. Civil Defence had two fully trained EMT's in the Ambulance who demonstrated their expertise with a fast response time and assessment of the situation. The HF link provided excellent cover throughout the course and enabled the Medical Officer to be contacted even when arriving at the Regional Hospital in Galway.
This year is the sixteenth year that the Croi Cyle has been run and the Galway VHF Group has provided the Emergency Communications for each of the events to date. Every year there have been new challenges which have been easily incorporated into the operation and sometimes co-ordinated even whilst the event is in progress. One comment that summed it all up was that "there was comfort in knowing exactly what was happening when a question was asked". Something that perhaps could not occur when using mobile phones on a one to one basis.
