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IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday December 4th 2005


South Dublin Radio Club

This year’s EI2SDR Christmas Party will take place on the 13th of December. After last years success, the venue will remain the same; "The Morgue", Tempelogue from 8.00 p.m. until late.

Members of other clubs and visitors are very welcome to this social event. It’s always a great turnout. Limited free food will be available for paid up members while visitors can choose from the bar menu up to 9.00 p.m.


Radio Theory Examination

As already announced the next Radio Theory Examination will take place on Wednesday January the 18th at 2 p.m. in the Comreg offices. Irish Life Centre, Lower Abbey St., Dublin 1. Those interested in sitting this examination should contact Sean Nolan EI7CD by email to "ei7cd at gofree dot indigo dot ie", telephone 01 2851599 or by letter at QTHR. The entry fee is 50 Euro with a reduction for full-time students. The closing date for entries is January the 6th 2006.

A sample question paper is available for downloading from the IRTS web site at www.irts.ie or by post from Sean Donelan EI4GK at QTHR. Information about the examination is available in the September/October edition of Echo Ireland.


80 metre Counties Contest

Following the continuing success of the 2 metre Counties Contest, it has been decided to have an 80-metre event, broadly along the same lines.

The first contest will be held on Monday the 2nd of January 2006 from 1200 to 1500 hours local time. This is the Bank Holiday following New Year's Day and there will be the usual Fixed and Portable Sections. Full rules will be carried in the December issue of Echo Ireland and will shortly be available on the IRTS web site.


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 5th of December. All are welcome and encouraged to participate.

The monthly 4-metre activity night will take place on Tuesday the 6th of December 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.


Morse Code

Sigurd LB3KB has decided to make a contribution to the continued use of Morse code, and has created a computer program that makes it easy to learn the code. It is also an excellent tool for practicing once you know the code. The program can be downloaded from justlearnmorsecode.com.

If you like the program, please make the URL known to the members of your club and anybody else that might be interested. Those who maintain websites may also provide the link.


DX News

The "Holyland DX Group" will operate from the middle of the Dead Sea at the lowest dry point on the Globe, 411 meters below the sea level. The HDX Group will be active on Dec 23rd and 24th 2005 starting 0700 UTC and received special permission from the Dead Sea Works factory positioned in a very rare Holyland squares M25BS and M26BS.

The call sign will be 4X411 – A, indicating this special point.

The team of 4Z4BS, 4Z4KX, 4Z5LA, 4Z5FI, 4Z1UF and 4X1VF will run two complete stations with power amplifier on 80 to 10 metres, CW and SSB. The QSL manager will be Shalom 4Z4BS. Visit www.4z5la.net/4x411a for more information.


Space News

In the space of only 24 hours, sunspot number 826 has grown into an active region that is almost the size of Saturn, and it is continuing to grow. This sunspot is producing a regular flow of low-level solar flares and may soon pose the threat of a major eruption. Visit spaceweather.com to see up-to-date images and movie clips.

Venus is approaching Earth and reaches its peak brightness during the first weeks of December. The planet is visible in broad daylight and at night in dark areas capable of casting shadows.

SuitSat is scheduled to be launched from the International Space Station on the 8th of December, see www.southgatearc.org/news/november2005/suitsat.htm for more information.

The satellite will be transmitting SSTV on a frequency of 145.990 MHz which is the International Space Station packet repeater uplink frequency.


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.

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