Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday October 30th 2005
Radio Theory Examination
The first examination under the multiple-choice format has now been confirmed for the 18th of January 2006. This examination will be conducted by the IRTS and will be held in the offices of ComReg in Dublin 1. Details of the examination together with a sample paper are now available on the IRTS website at www.irts.ie Hard copy of the material may also be obtained from Sean Donelan EI4GK at QTHR.
Intending candidates for the January sitting of the Theory Examination should register their interest with Derek O'Reilly at ComReg, Abbey Court, Irish Life Centre, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin 1, telephone 01 8049769 or by email to "Derek dot oreilly at comreg.ie".
Jamboree On The Air
Scouting Ireland wishes to express its thanks to the members of North Dublin, South Dublin, Limerick and Pheonix Radio Clubs together with the members of the South Eastern Amateur Radio Group for their assistance in running JOTA Stations over the weekend of the 15th and 16th of October.
Stations on air for JOTA were; EI1SI - 2nd Kerry Sea Scouts operating from Fenit, EI3SI - Operating from Larch Hill Scout Campsite in Dublin, EI4SI - 132nd Dublin, Bayside operating from the Howth Martello Tower, EI5SI - Operating from Mount Melleray Scout Centre in County Waterford, EI6SI - Waterford Scout County operating from the den of 1st Port of Waterford Sea Scouts in Waterford City, EI7SI - 1st Meath operating from Dunboyne, EI8SI - 1st/7th Limerick operating from Limerick City.
Besides the traditional voice modes on HF and 2-metres, Scouts got to use many other modes - there was ATV in Larch Hill, PSK in Howth and APRS was demonstrated in Larch Hill, Howth, Mount Melleray and Waterford - and with the aid of IRLP got to contact Scouts as far away as Australia. Contact was also made with the headquarters of the World Organisation of the Scout movement (WOSM) in Geneva.
Cork Radio Club
On Monday the 7th of November in Cork Radio Club Premesis, Con (EI7DJB) will give a talk on his recent trip to Egypt, filming there and how to get the best from your camcorder, how to edit your footage and add sound and effects the easy way.
Limerick Radio Club
The next club meeting of the Limerick Radio Club will be held on Thursday the 10th of November in the Limerick Institute of Technology at 19:30 hrs. A practical demonstration on Audio DSP (digital signal processing) using the clubs Icom 756 Pro and a laptop will take place. All are welcome. The Limerick Radio Clubs 70-centimetre repeater is presently on a temporary site while some modifications are carried out. It should be back on its high site before the end of November.
Fingal Radio Club
Fingal Radio Club (EI2FRC) held it's AGM on Monday the 24th of October 2005 at it's club rooms in Erins Isle GAA Complex in Finglas.
The present committee were re-elected, Chairman: Chris Yeates EI7AAB, Treasurer: Sean Linehan EI7CV, Secretary: Aidan Murphy EI5HW.
The George Stritch Memorial Award is awarded each year to a club member who in the eyes of the majority of club members, has shown or given exemplary and or exceptional service to the club over the previous 12 months. It also may be awarded to a person who in the eyes of the current members has served the club over many years in an unselfish and caring manner. This year the award was presented to Aidan Murphy EI5HW.
Tipperary Amateur Radio Group
The 2005 Annual General Meeting of the Tipperary Amateur Radio Group will take place in the Raheen House Hotel, Raheen Road Clonmel on Thursday the 10th of November 2005 at 8 p.m. sharp.
Mayo Rally
The Mayo Radio Experimenters Network Rally will be held on Sunday November the 20th at the usual venue, the Belmont Hotel, Knock. Doors open at 11:00 a.m. Bookings for accommodation should be made directly with the hotel. The rate is 50 Euro per person with a special all-in rate of 70 Euro for Bed & Breakfast and evening meal. Traders or clubs wishing to book exhibition space at the Mayo Rally are asked to contact Padraic Baynes EI9JA on 087 6957154 evenings only or by e-mail to "ei9ja at eircom dot net".
Shannon Basin Radio Club Sprint Challenge
The Shannon Basin Radio club is running its annual one-day Open, Fixed, Challenge for EI residents. This challenge is open to all licensed operators and short wave listeners, and will be held on the 6th of November 2005 from 14:00 to 18:00 hours.
The purpose of the challenge is to encourage operators and short wave listeners to be active on the H.F bands. The challenge will have three modes of operation, and the winner in each mode will be awarded with the following;
The Lough Allen Shield will be awarded to the highest score in SSB. The Lough Ree Shield will be awarded to the highest score in CW (A1A mode). The Lough Derg Shield will be awarded to the highest score for Short Wave Listeners. The winners will also receive a personal trophy.
To receive a copy of the rules for the challenge, please send a stamped address envelope to the contest manager EI6HW, Noel Mulvihill, Hillquarter, Coosan, Athlone, Co. Westmeath or e-mail "nfmulvihill at eircom dot net".
Important; Persons intending to compete must send notification prior to the contest date, so good luck and 73's to all from the Shannon Basin Radio Club.
Monthly Nets
A monthly six metre FM net meets on the first Monday of each month on 51.525 MHz FM using vertical polarisation at 9.00 p.m. local time. The purpose of this net is to increase activity on the 6-metre band. The next meeting of the net will take place on Monday the 1st of November. All are welcome and encouraged to participate.
The monthly 4-metre activity night will take place on Tuesday the 2nd of November between 8.00 and 9.00 p.m. local time. Operators who are equipped for 70 MHz are invited to listen out for and join in any activity on 70.2626 MHz FM. The 4-metre activity night takes place on the first Tuesday of each month.
Space News
Thursday last (27th of October) saw the successful launch of the Cosmos 3M rocket carrying SSETI Express towards orbit. One hundred and three minutes later, exactly on schedule, the first signals were heard form the ground station in Aalborg, and two-way communicaiton was established. Work will continue in SSETI Express Mission Control to monitor the stability of the spacecraft.
The SERACC software for SSETI Express has just been released. This will be needed by radio amateurs to decode the telemetry and payload data from SSETI and to submit it to the main SSETI Express central database. The software can be downloaded from the Mission Operations Website at sseti.gte.tuwien.ac.at/express/mop. Two audio test files, suitable for feeding into a 9k6 TNC are also available from that page.
Register with TDBI, download SERACC, read the User Manual and practice using SERACC with the audio files provided.
Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News should be forwarded to Mark Wall, EI7IS at QTHR or by phone to 051 853806 or 087 6302026. Items for the radio news can also be faxed to 087 5 6302026. News should be submitted via e-mail to "news at irts dot ie" for automatic forwarding to both the radio and printed news services. Please note that items for the radio news should reach the editor no later than midday on Fridays.
[A]
