2M TRANSAT BEACON IN FERMANAGH?

Transatlantic radio contact has never been achieved – yet - on the 2 metre band. At RSGB request, Gordon Gi6ATZ plans a 2 meter transatlantic beacon beamed from Fermanagh (most westerly part nearest to the Atlantic in the UK) and has applied to Ofcom for the license. Lough Erne ARC strongly welcomes and pledged support for a project good to have in its county and potentially an historic, international amateur radio achievement.

Gordon  GI6ATZ wrote - I've been approached by RSGB Propagation Studies Committee to host a Transatlantic Beacon at a site to the west of Enniskillen. The beacon hardware is being donated by an American amateur and is the original hardware that was located on Apple Orchard Mountain in Virginia. The hardware is capable of about 200 watts CW, is Rb frequency locked, and would probably be fed into a pair of 4 or 5 element Yagis. Frequency of operation MAY be an issue as the European Beacon Band (144.400 – 144.490) is very close to the repeater input frequencies used in the USA. It has been suggested that something much lower down in the CW or EME section of the band is used. Discussion are ongoing with Ofcom regarding frequency, power antennas etc to obtain a licence. 
He ended - the object of this post (on Realops 1 December) was to sound out local views on the project particularly from amateurs in the Enniskillen and Sligo areas.  LEARC Secretary later posted a positive response. Then the Club's January meeting  strongly confirmed the Club's welcome and support for the project as had been stated before Christmas. It will be good for local amateur radio to have this happen in Fermanagh, where it is highly unlikely to harm any amateur radio interest, and if successful will be a historic event for the whole of amateur radio, in Northern Ireland and world wide (success in the Titanic anniversary year would be an added bonus!).

You likely know about the IRTS Brendan awards (which were mentioned at the meeting). They encouraging attempts at 2m contact transatlantic. There is quite a lot on the IRTS website here.
http://www.irts.ie/cgi/brendan.cgi
Gordon replied  - Michael, Thanks for the email. The application has gone to Ofcom and I'm awaiting their response although it's likely to take some time. Gordon.