Two AREN members, Conor EI4JN and Tim EI5GPB, provided radio communications for a walk over the Purple and Twomies mountains on Saturday last in the McGillicuddy Reeks. The almost 8 hour walk passed without incident.
Posts Tagged ‘activities’
AREN in the hills.
Wednesday, September 17th, 2008Sean Kelly Tour
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008On the 24th of August AREN members made good use of the APRS Network, in order to keep track of the position of the end of each group of cyclists participating in the Sean Kelly Tour. Good use was also made of the South East Repeater Network for communicating with officials in what would have been communications blackspots (for the mobile phone networks).
In total there were 8 operators involved,
- Seamus Ryan, EI8EPB
- John McCarthy, EI8JA
- Eamonn Kavanagh, EI3FFB
- Gareth Wilmot, EI7FZB
- Francis Lenane, EI5GOB
- John Ronan, EI7IG
- Conor O’Neill, EI4JN
- John Ketch, EI2GN
Many thanks to all that participated and to the repeater keepers for permission to use the repeaters.
AREN supports Charity walk – September 2007
Sunday, August 17th, 2008AREN members Declan Horan, EI9FVB and Conor O Neill, EI4JN supported a walk in aid of the Irish Heart Foundation on Saturday the 29th of September last. The walk in the McGillicuddy Reeks was led by Conor who radio’d regular reports to Declan through the Cork repeater.
Declan operated from his home QTH in Ballincollig Co. Cork. The walkers encountered thick fog on the ascent which later cleared, giving way to clear skies and spectacular views.
AREN support for Circuit Glen of Imaal event
Saturday, August 16th, 2008Irish Amateur Radio experimenters in Dublin and Wicklow provided radio communications for the Circuit of Imaal walk, which took place on the 21st of June.
The walk, organised by An Óige, covered 37 kilometres.
Radio operators were:
Gerry Butler EI0CH (Ballinabarney)
John Hill EI0DK (floating/reserve)
Tom McGrath EI7HT (Donard School)
Joe Ryan EI7GY (Lug)
Kyle O’Connell EI2JO (Table Track)
Philip Pollock EI8JT (Lobawn)
Radio base station made use of Tom McGrath’s personal callsign for the operation.
AREN has been providing safety communications for the Glen of Imaal walk since 1990. AREN has also been providing safety communications for the Lug Walk, held in uneven numbered years, since 1987. Safety communications enhances the overall safety of the Walk by providing the Walk Control Group with information as to the progress of the Walk and the occurrence of any incidents. It does not replace Mountain Rescue Communications in dealing with an incident, although it may supplement them. The initial organisation of the AREN Net was undertaken by John Hill, EI0DK, and more recently by Gerry Butler, EI0CH.
Beginning in Donard village it traversed the main mountaintops around the Glen of Imaal. This year’s walk took place on Saturday the 21st of June, which turned out to be “the longest rainy day of the year”, in the words of one of the walkers.
With an entry of approximately 100 walkers and the worst weather conditions for many years, there were plenty of challenges for the walk organisers and the Radio Experimenters supporting them. With almost zero visibility, many walkers had difficulties with navigation. Amateur Radio communications proved
invaluable in ensuring that a search was launched for a number of missing walkers, and some of the experimenters providing the communications support were also involved in escorting walkers, who had dropped out of the event, safetly back to base.
A special mention must go to John/EI0DK who went, pardon the pun, extra mile for radio operations on the day.
After ascending to his designated operation position he suffered equipment failure due to extreme weather conditions. John hiked back down to the carpark, got his spare radio equipment, extra clothes, and then hiked back up to his station.
This was much appreciated as, without John, that station would have been unmanned.
Well done to those who helped out both in pre-event preparations and on the day.
AREN supports National Road Racing Championships – 2007 July
Sunday, July 15th, 2007On the 1st of July last, the National road racing championships took place in Waterford city and the event was hosted by Comeragh Cycling Club. The 13.3-mile course took in some of the busiest junctions and roundabouts in the city, a huge entry saw over 120 riders entered for the senior race and 30 for the junior.
The senior race took in eight laps and the juniors five, Local operators (all AREN members) who had been involved in a similar type race last year were again asked to get involved in the traffic management side of things and readily agreed. AREN were then consulted and a course of action agreed.
First and foremost a site needed to be found for the AREN repeater that would provide radio coverage over the entire course and a site was subsequently found and tests proved satisfactory.
Following this, a decision was taken to use signs at all junctions and roundabouts which meant that mobile operators not familiar with the course could identify their precise location and also ensured that net control could pinpoint any segment of the race at any time as this was vital for traffic management.
Also a very simple radio protocol was adopted for the day, which ensured that all communications were kept short, and to the point with 14 operators involved on the day this was vital.
Race day saw all operators meet at race HQ at the W.I.T campus, firstly five mobiles were fitted with radios and antennas, mobile operators were Richie – EI9HR, John – EI7IG, EI7JS, Robbie – EI8FZB and Nicky – EI3JB. John, EI8JA then departed for the repeater site to set up the repeater aided by SWL David Gainda. John – EI2GN departed for the start/finish line to act as net controller while Conor – EI4JN was deployed as motorcycle mobile which enabled him to be deployed quickly anywhere on the course that he was needed.
Mick – EI3IQ, Gareth – EI7FZB, John – EI8FRB, Aidan – EI2CTB and SWL David went to their positions at various round-abouts and junctions. The senior race started promptly at noon followed ten minutes later by the juniors. Both races were accompanied by service cars also present on the course were officials of the cycling federations, Gardai, Ambulance service and Civil Defence.
Radio communications for the duration of the race was intense as the senior race was over in just more than four hours. Richie – EI9HR would like to thank all who helped out on the day also a big thank you to Neil – EI3JE for the loan of the equipment.
Upcoming events with AREN support
Tuesday, May 15th, 2007Galtee Walking Festival
There are just 4 weeks to go to the 2 days of activity in the Galtees Walking Festival on the Saturday and Sunday of the June Bank Holiday weekend. John Ronan EI7IG is event Coordinator and he is being assisted by John EI2JB and other members of the Tipperary Amateur Radio Group.
Preparations are at an advanced stage but there are still radio positions to be filled on Saturday and on Sunday. Newcomers are welcome and training will be provided each morning. Please contact John EI7IG on 086 8167310 or John EI2JB at QTHR
Ladies Mini Marathon
The 2007 Flora Ladies Mini Marathon takes place on Bank Holiday Monday, 4th June at 3.00pm. It starts from Fitzwilliam Square, and finishes in Stephens Green Dublin 2. Sadly this year’s event will happen without the familiar voice of Donnchadh O’ Shea who traditionally operated the net control station.
This year’s public service event will be dedicated to his memory. The co-ordinator for the event again this year will be George Adjaye who may be contacted by phone on 086 2586103 or Fax 01 4908546 or email george.adjayeg at dcu.ie
Comeragh Cycle race
There are just 8 weeks to go to the Bike race in Waterford in the 1st July. Richie EI9HR is event Co-ordinator and he is being assisted by John EI8JA. This year?s race, though run over essentially the same route as last year will be on a greater scale with over 160 riders taking part. The Civil Defence have come on board this year to help with marshalling and RTE will be filming the event.
AREN will provide the communications for safe traffic management and accident reporting. There will be more radio reporting points and mobile stations than last year so more radio operators are required. Again newcomers are welcome and training will be provided on the morning of the race. Please contact Richie on mobile 085-1465465 or evenings on 051-854315
Report on Motor Rally Comms support
Thursday, March 15th, 2007John EI7IG and Conor EI4JN both supported Cork Motor Club on last weekends 2 day West Cork Rally.
Work began on Friday with the Setup of 2 VHF voice repeaters, one east and one west of Clonakilty.
78 radios in all were handed out to officials and marshalls. For the two days of competition John, Conor and Conor’s wife Nollaig drove the entire rally route ahead of the competing cars, stopping at each radio point to ensure that all stations were radio-checked successfully.
Any faulty radio equipment or installations found were dealt with. Even when the timing equipment at the start of one Special Stage got blown down and was rendered inoperable, John and Conor were able to use their technical skills and tool kit to get it back into operation.
Cork Motor Club thanked AREN for its support again this year and acknowledged ARENs contribution with a mention in the Official Rally Program.
AREN activity – January 2007
Monday, January 15th, 2007Galtee Walking Festival
The 2007 Galtee Walks (Glen of Aherlow Walking Festival) will take place on the later date of the weekend 1st to 3rd June.
Motorsport Safety Communications.
On 16 January AREN Assistant Co-ordinator Conor O Neill will provide training to members of Cork Motor Club. On the night material to be covered will include the installation and operation of radios. The Clubs next Major event, the West Cork Rally takes place on St Patrick?s weekend. Local AREN members are presently studying maps of the stages in order to select and test a suitable repeater site.
September / October news 2006
Sunday, October 15th, 2006Updating of membership data base. Over the coming week, all AREN members Nationwide will be contacted by phone in order to ensure that their contact details on the database are up to date.
In addition newly signed up members will be contacted to update the database regarding their equipment capabilities.
Training.The on-air member training will commence later this month with full details announced in next week?s radio news and on the AREN website.
Cork Rally. The AREN stand at the recent Cork Rally was well received with plenty of interest in the technical and operational aspects of the Service. Five new members were welcomed on board.
This is a good time of the year for any interested experimenters to join AREN. Contact details are on the website www.aren.ie or alternatively send an email to ei4jn AT eircom.net
