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IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday June 18th 2006


Bandplan Changes

The Spanish Government has approved new amateur radio regulations that came into force on the 10th of June. The main changes in this are; Firstly, the extinction of the three Spanish licences (General-EA, Restricted-EB and Novice-EC). All Spanish licenses have the same privileges from now on, so you will hear in all bands not only EA but also EB and EC prefixes.

Secondly, all amateurs are allowed to use the 50 to 51 MHz band, including visitors from CEPT countries or others foreign amateurs with a temporary licence, but there are geographical restrictions in the centre of Spain due to TV emissions.

Effective from the 10th of June 2006 radio amateurs in the Netherlands are allowed to use the band portion 7.100 to 7.200 MHz in the 40 metre band on a secondary basis with a maximum power of 250 Watts.

The Wireless Institute of Australia has announced that the new Australian 40 metre band plan has now been finalised. This promotes use of the band portion above 7.1 MHz. The Australian 40 metre band is 300 kHz wide, and yet the bottom 100 kHz sees most of the bands usage mostly due to broadcast activity that can make operation above 7.1 MHz difficult.

Authorities in Thailand have granted permission for radio amateurs to operate on the 30, 17 and 12 metre WARC bands. In order for Thai radio amateurs to operate on the WARC bands and on 80 and 160 metres they must submit a copy of their licences and submit their log of contacts for these bands on a monthly basis. This temporary allocation is in place until the end of 2006. A more permanent allocation cannot be made until the yet-to-be-formed National Broadcasting Commission is in place.


New DXCC Entity

The Republic of Montenegro, which declared its independence on the 3rd of June last, has applied for membership of the United Nations. This means that Montenegro may soon join the ARRL DXCC list once it receives a callsign prefix block.

The division of Serbia and Montenegro removes what remained of Yugoslavia. For the time being, and assuming that Montenegro holds its position in the UN it will remain on the DXCC list as a pre-existing and continuing DXCC entity.

A decision on whether to admit Montenegro into the UN must go before the UN Security Council and then to the UN General Assembly.


South Dublin Radio

South Dublin Radio Club are carrying out Theory classes every Tuesday between 8.00 p.m. and 10.00 p.m. in the Marian Community Centre, Marian Road, Tempelogue. It is planned to run the classes on an ongoing basis with an informal structure and anyone interested in radio are welcome to drop in at any time. The club produces a CD-ROM for those who can’t attend the course, which contains a lot of information, applications and theory notes. For information contact Jim Houlihan EI4HH, Michael EI2GKB or Paul EI2GSB.


South Eastern Amateur Radio Club

The next general meeting of South Eastern Amateur Radio Group will take place on Wednesday the 28th of June at 8.00 p.m. in the Roanmore Centre, Cleaboy Road, Waterford. All are welcome. Please note that anyone wishing to renew membership or become a member of the club for the first time that membership must be fully paid up by Friday the 30th of June.

The group is currently looking at the possibility of running a theory course later this year (pending a suitable venue and sufficient candidates). To register your interest please e-mail “info at searg dot com” providing your Name, Address and contact details. For latest developments visit www.searg.com


Limerick Radio Club

Members of the Limerick Radio Club are QRV as EI60LRC until the end of the year to mark 60 years of the club. Activity is on 80 to 10 metres. QSL is via EI8EM.


World Cup Special Event Stations

A number of radio amateurs in Germany will be QRV using special event callsigns to commemorate the 2006 World Cup.

Approximately 26 special event stations with callsigns in the range of DQ2006A to DQ2006Z will be on the air until the 16th of July. There will be 12 stadium stations with callsigns DR2006B, DR2006C, etc. The callsign WFC06 will also be in operation throughout the World Cup.

Anyone who logs these special event stations could be eligible for awards, which are sponsored by DARC. There will be three awards available: bronze, silver and gold. For the bronze award, an amateur must log four stadium special event stations, six district stations and 25 DL stations. The silver award requires 10 stadium stations, 20 district stations and 100 DL stations. For the gold award, an amateur or short wave listener must log 12 stadium stations, 24 district stations and 200 DL stations.

All the logs must take place between the 1st of May and 31st of July. There are no band limitations. All modes except packet and Echolink are valid. For further information about the awards, contact Otto Cecetka via e-mail at; DK6CQ at darc dot de.

While on the subject, you may be aware that Sergei Rebrov is a midfielder on the Ukraine team. But did you know is that Sergei, is licensed as UT5UDX and is an active CW contester and DXer when he's not wearing the number 11 shirt on the pitch. Rebrov also has operated as M0SDX and TA2ZF.


Space News

The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) equipment will be on the air in crossband repeater mode during ARRL Field Day Saturday and Sunday, the 24th and 25th of June. The ARISS Phase 2 station will be configured in crossband repeater mode on 437.800 MHz uplink and 145.800 MHz downlink. It is being requested that only low- power (QRP) Earth stations access the system. The definition of a QRP station for this activation will be the same criteria that AMSAT is using for its QRP operations on ECHO (AO-51).


Mass Amateur Satellite Launch

In the largest ever deployment of Amateur Satellites, thirteen Amateur Satellites will be simultaneously launched at on the 28th of June from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Each satellite is a 10- centimetre cube weighing just 1 kilogramme which contains the battery, transmitter and various amateur experiments.

Twelve of the satellites have downlinks between 435 and 438 MHz and one will operate on 145.950 MHz. Further information regarding the launch can be found at: littonlab.atl.calpoly.edu/

Beacon frequencies are as follows; The beacon frequency for SACRED 436.870 MHz 1200 baud AFSK, its callsign is WA4CEW. ION operates on 437.505 and 437.505 MHz with 1200 baud AFSK. RINCON is on 436.870 and 437.345 MHz with 1200 baud AFSK, its call is WA4CEW and ICEcube1 operates on 437.305 using 9600 baud FSK and the callsign is W2CXM.

KUTESat Pathfinders frequency is 437.385 MHz using 1200 baud AFSK has the callsign KC0RMW. nCUBE-1 is on 437.305 MHz with 9600 baud GMSK using the call LA1CUB. HAUSAT-1 on 437.465 and 437.465 MHz at 1200 baud AFSK uses the call D90HP. SEEDS is on 437.485 MHz using 1200 baud AFSK and has the callsign JQ1YGU. PolySat CP2s frequencies are 437.325 and 437.325 MHz and uses 1200 baud AFSK. MEROPE is on 145.980 MHz using 1200 baud AFSK has the callsign K7MSU-01. Mea Huaka'i Voyager is on 437.405 MHz and also 5.840 GHz using 1200bd AFSK. ICEcube2 on 437.425 using 9600 baud FSK has the call N2VR and PolySat CP1 is on 436.845 MHz and uses 15 baud DTMF and CW, its callsign is N6CP.


Dates for Your Diary

The Bangor and District rally will take place on the 25th of June in The Country Club, Crawfordsburn. For more information, contact Michael, GI4XSF.

The next Radio Theory Examination will take place on Wednesday the 28th of June 2006. It will take place in the ComReg offices at Abbey Court, Irish Life Centre, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin 1 commencing at 2 p.m.

The VHF/UHF Field Day will take place over the weekend of the 1st and 2nd of July 2006.

IOTA will take place from 1200 UTC on Saturday the 29th of July to 1200 UTC on Sunday the 30th of July.

The Autumn Leg of the 2 metre counties contest will take place on the 27th of August.

The Blarney Rally will take place on September the 24th 2006.


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 Friday.

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