Galway VHF Group operation on behalf of the RNLI

Over three weekends of November, members of the Galway VHF Group will be operating a HF Station, for a 24 hour period, from Lifeboat Stations in County Galway.

The purpose of this operation is to promote the 185th anniversary of the establishment of the Lifeboat Service in Ireland which is coinciding with a major fund-raising effort.

Members of the Galway VHF Group will also be raising money for these fund raising activities. It should be noted that Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is completely funded by voluntary efforts and receives no funding from the government.

Crew member, Mark Armour EI6GUB, is also a member of the Galway VHF Group. Mark recently completed his probationary training and is now a member of the crew regularly called out in the event of an emergency. It doesn't stop there, as there is a ongoing program of training as well as his weekly service.

The first operation will take place from the Galway Lifeboat Station over the weekend of the 7th and 8th of November.

The following weekend, the 14th and 15th of November, will see an operation from the Aran Island Lifeboat Station, Kilronan, Inishmore Island.

The final operation will take place from the Clifden Lifeboat Station, Ballyconeely, on the weekend of the 28th and 29th of November.

All operations will take place on the HF bands with two stations in operation at all times. There will be operation on phone and digital modes with some operation possible on SSTV.

A special QSL card has been produced to confirm any contacts made and SWL reports are also very welcome.

Varying types of antenna construction will be used including some suspended by kites.

Further information from Steve EI5DD
ei5dd.steve@gmail.com