[Corkradioclub] Marconi Day 2014

[Timothy McKnight]

Hi Lads,



International Marconi Day is now only three weeks away.  This year it is on
Sat, 26 April.  Our usual call sign, Ei5IMD, has been issued and Danny
O'Keeffe has again generously agreed to host us next to his house at the
top of Brow Head.  AREN's mobile command post trailer has been secured to
provide comfortable operating positions (two) during the event and several
CRC members have already indicated their intent to be there.



By now many of us know the routine pretty well and know it to be a fun
weekend that doesn't involve a huge physical commitment since we can park
our cars/caravans on the spacious forecourt of Danny's house.  We show up;
we erect a few antennas; we operate at our own pace on SSB, CW and maybe
digi modes; and, most of all, we enjoy good fellowship with friends in a
spectacular location.  I would love it if we could make a better showing
than in recent years.  We first activated Brow Head in 1995 but, more
recently, in 2011 we had eleven operators on two stations and scored 1699
QSOs.  In 2012 we had two operators on two stations and scored 458 QSOs.  And
in 2013 we had seven operators on three stations but scored only 585 QSOs
since we lost power for about six hours of the 24-hour operation.



It would be great this year to get some old-timers as well as some
new-comers.  Marconi Day is great fun and I would recommend it to anyone
with a sense of adventure and a desire for some good fun.



So now for the small print.  For the (primarily) SSB station, I will bring
an IC-7000 with MFJ auto tuner and a Carolina Windom that works for
80-40-20-17-15-12-10m (we are not contesting so can use the WARC bands as
well).  For the CW station, I think the club's TS-590 and Ei8GS Jim's
multi-band vertical would work nicely.  I'm sure we will have no shortage
of keys and keyers on the day.  If anyone wants to operate a third station
on digi modes please bring equipment and antenna although we will need to
be careful of our operating bands as the club has no band-pass filters.



It would be great to have a response from everyone who's hoping to attend.  For
those without email, you can phone or text me on 085 815 6144.  Please
arrive by late afternoon on Fri 25 April so we will have time to set up.  We
should have mains power on site and a nearby water tap.  Crookhaven has a
couple pubs and restaurants with food if you don't want to bring your own.  If
anyone wants to bring a tent, there is space above the house although about
200m away.



Looking forward to seeing you all for Marconi Day 2014.



73 de Tim Ei2KA

-- 
from Tim McKnight, Ei2KA