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IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday October 15th 2006


Theory Examination

The next Theory Examination for the experimenter's licence will be held on Thursday the 18th of January 2007 at 2 p.m. in the ComReg Offices, Irish Life Centre, Dublin. Anyone wishing to sit the examination should contact Seán Nolan EI7CD at QTHR or by e-mail to “ei7cd at gofree dot indigo dot ie”. Those studying for the examination may wish to secure a copy of the CD Course Guide prepared by the Society. These are available from Seán EI7CD at a cost of 5 Euro to cover production costs post, packaging and registration.


New CEPT Licence Structure

It is planned to introduce 3 levels of CEPT licence. These should equate to the current UK Full, Intermediate and Foundation licences and could permit holders of these licences to operate in any CEPT signatory country. It'll take sometime before this comes fully into effect.

Currently Foundation holders have to apply directly to the Regulatory Agency of the country they intend to visit to obtain a reciprocal licence. The United States and Germany among others have issued UK Foundation holders with reciprocal licences.


AREN News

ARENs Winter on-air training Nets will begin this Wednesday the 18th of October at 9:30 p.m. local time. This first session will be devoted to ‘Antennas for Emergency Communications’. The primary Frequency will be 3.690 MHz with a secondary frequency of 7.099 MHz plus or minus QRM. This is a member’s only net. Reports from non-members will be taken after the Net closes.


IRTS Jubilee AGM

Next year we celebrate the 75th jubilee of the IRTS and the committee are pleased to announce that the Jubilee Annual General Meeting weekend will be held at the Vienna Woods Hotel in Cork on April the 21st and 22nd 2007.

The event will be organised by a sub-committee of the IRTS committee. Full details will be announced in due course.


IRTS Contests

In 2007, IRTS will be sponsoring 7 contests, starting with the 80 metres Counties Contest on the 1st of January, and concluding with the special CQIR - Ireland Calling Contest on the 29th and 30th of September.

The full IRTS Contest Calendar for 2007, along with the Rules of each contest, are now on the "Contests" page of the IRTS web site, at www.irts.ie Participating in contests is a great way to improve your operating skills, including operation under field day conditions, and to work those rare counties.


Shannon Basin Radio Club Sprint Challenge

The Shannon Basin Radio club is again 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 5th of November 2006 from 14:00 to 18:00 hours. The purpose of the challenge is to encourage radio 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) and the Lough Derg Shield will be awarded to the highest score for SWL. The above winners will also receive a personal trophy.

To receive a copy of the rules for the above 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”.


New Officers in Mayo

John McAndrew EI3JM, has been elected as new Chairperson of the Mayo Radio Experimenters Network. He replaces Jimmy Kelly EI2GCB who retired under the three-year rule. John was previously Treasurer of the group and is their fourth Chairperson. Ian Mounsey EI3GXB is the new Secretary and the new PRO is Terry Ebdon EI9IW, who won the Wishing Well Shield for his services to he club. Outgoing chairperson Jimmy Kelly was elected Treasurer and won the prestigious Conor Shield. Padraic Baynes EI9JA, was the unanimous choice as Rally Director, and Mike Clarke EI3IG remains as QSL Manager.

The club will hold their annual rally in the Belmont Hotel, Knock on Sunday November the 26th.


Jamboree On The Air

The 49th JOTA will take place next weekend. Each year over 500,000 Scouts and Guides from all over the world participate in this event where Scouting experiences are shared and ideas exchanged thus contributing to the world brotherhood of Scouting. While the event lasts from midnight local time Friday night to midnight Sunday night, Stations participating can choose their own operating hours.

Scouting Ireland's stations in operation next weekend are; EI1SI - 2nd Kerry Sea Scouts operating from Fenit, EI3SI - operating from Scout Headquarters, Larch Hill, Dublin, EI4SI - Bayside Scouts Radio Group operating from the Martello Tower, Howth, EI5SI - operating from the Scout Centre in Mount Melleray, EI9SI - 66th Dublin operating from the Scout Den in Clontarf, EI4WSG - 4th Wicklow operating from the Scout Den in Wicklow, and MN0AKU - 4th Tyrone operating from Bready, Strabane.

Further information including training material can be obtained from Sean EI3IP, Scouting Ireland National JOTA Organiser be emailing “jota at scouts dot ie”. Training material can also be downloaded from the Scouting Ireland Radio Scouting Webpage at www.dot scouts dot ie forward slash international forward slash jota.


Theory Classes

Theory classes for the Experimenters Radio Licence will be starting Shortly in Garbally Collage, Ballinasloe and interested parties should contact Noel EI6HW by e-mail at “nfmulvihill at eircom dot net”.

There are now seventeen participants on the South Eastern Amateur Radio Group Theory Classes, which are now well underway. Unfortunately, due to space restrictions this class is now full and the group cannot take on any new candidates for this course.


DX and Special Events

DS4DRE/4 is QRV from Hong Island, Korea IOTA AS-093, until the end of the year. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL direct to home call.

An international team of operators will activate Libya from November the 14th to the 28th 2006. The objective of the Dxpedition is to support the development of amateur radio in Libya while at the same time activating a rare country. Activity will be on all bands using CW, SSB, FM, RTTY, SSTV and PSK. The operators hope to provide more than 50,000 QSO's during the 14-day operation using the callsign 5A7A. They also plan to take part in CQWW DX CW Contest as a Multi/Multi entry.

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.

DJ7RJ is QRV as 5R8RJ until the 27th of October from Madagascar. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL via home call.

UA4WHX is QRV as D20VB from Angola and has been active on 80 metres using CW around 2330 UTC and on 40 metres using CW at around 0400 UTC. QSL is via home call.

J28JA has been QRV from Djibouti on 20 meters around 1600 UTC. QSL is via F5JFU.

SV2ASP has been QRV on 30 metres at around 0810 UTC and on 20 metres around 0600 to 0700 UTC from Mount Athos.


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 in order to be guaranteed inclusion in the following Sundays bulletin.

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