Archived News Script

printer friendly version

IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday December 24th 2006


Seasons Greetings

The IRTS would like to wish a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year to all radio experimenters. Many thanks to all our members for your support during 2006 and we look forward to your continued support in 2007.


Theory Examination

As was already announced, the next Theory Examination for the Experimenter's Licence will be held on Thursday the 18th of January next at 2 p.m. in the ComReg Offices, Abbey Court, Irish Life Centre, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin.

Most of the places for this examination have already been allocated. As places for the exam are limited, any other people wishing to sit this examination should contact Sean EI7CD immediately either at QTHR or by e-mail to “ei7cd at gofree dot indigo dot ie”. Those who have applied so far have been sent by post all the necessary written details about the examination. Those who have received this information and have not already done so should, as requested, forward the necessary examination fee immediately to Sean EI7CD in order to reserve a place at the examination.

Those at present studying for an Experimenter's Licence may wish to obtain a copy of the CD course Guide produced by the Society. These are available from Sean EI7CD at a cost of 5 Euro to cover registration, postage and packaging.


New Examination Manual

The RSGB has announced the publication of the International Amateur Radio Examination Manual. This book comprises both theory and practical tasks and can be used for group or individual study. The publication borrows heavily from the three books already published for each of the three levels of licence available in the UK. It seeks to bring together in one publication all of the information required by the syllabus for the CEPT Harmonised Amateur Radio Examination Certificate, HAREC on which the multiple-choice examination in use here is based. This publication is welcomed as another useful resource for anyone studying for an experimenter's licence. The book is available through the Book Sales section of the IRTS website at www.irts.ie


Theory Classes

Theory classes are planned to commence in the Carrigtwohill in early January. Anyone interested should contact Dave Moore EI4BZ on 087-6290574 or any member of Cork Radio Club or the East Cork Radio Group.

Theory classes in Waterford will resume on Tuesday the 2nd of January at 7.30 p.m. in the Roanmore Centre.


Tipperary Amateur Radio Group

The Tipperary Amateur Radio Group Would Like to wish all Experimenters and SWLs a Peaceful Christmas and a happy New Year and a special word of thanks to all who called into the local news broadcasts over the past year.


80 metre Counties Contest

The Society will launch its 75th Anniversary celebrations on New Year's Day with the 80 metre Counties Contest. This was a very popular event last year with almost 100 EI and GI stations active. Given that it’s the Jubilee Year, we are asking everybody to make a special effort to be QRV, for at least part of the Contest, which runs from 1200 to 1500 hours local time. Full rules are available on the Society website www.irts.ie

As a special incentive, all stations who submit a log to the contest manager will be awarded a special Participation Certificate to hang on the shack wall. In addition, there will be a special Jubilee Year edition of the Worked All EI Counties Award available for award chasers. QSOs for this award must be made during 2007. Given last years 80 metre Counties Contest activity, is it possible that a '26 Counties endorsed' Award number One will be achieved on the first day of the new year.


Rallies

Five radio rallies are scheduled to take place during February, March and April 2007. The first is the Phoenix Amateur Radio Club Rally in Coolmine Community School, Dublin 15 on Sunday the 4th of February. Next comes the Limerick Rally, which is in the Greenhills Hotel on Sunday the 11th of March. Later that month, on Saturday 24th of March, the Lagan Valley Amateur Radio Society holds its rally in Lisburn, while on Sunday the 15th of April the Lough Erne Amateur Radio Show takes place in a new venue, the Share Centre at Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh.

The IRTS AGM and Rally takes place on Sunday the 22nd of April in the Vienna Woods Hotel, Cork, with the AGM Dinner on the previous night. More details of these events are in the current issue of Echo Ireland and on the "Rallies and Events" page of www.irts.ie


Phoenix Rally

The Phoenix rally which takes place on the 4th of February 2007 in the Coolmine Community School, Blanchardstown. Admission is 4 Euro and doors open at 11.00 a.m. Doors are open at 8.30 a.m. for traders.

The emphasis of this rally is on the “Bring and Buy” aspect and radio amateurs are encouraged bring along any items that they would like to part with as it is felt by the organisers that many of those who attend rallies do so with the intention of acquiring parts and second hand equipment.


HNY Party 2007

The HNY QSO Party is organised by the Polish Radio Amateurs' Journal, QTC. This takes place on the last day of Old Year and in the first day of New Year from 18:00 UTC on the 31st of December 2006 to 18:00 UTC on the 1st of January 2007. All stations and SWLs may participate. This takes place on HF and VHF using CW, SSB and DIGITAL.

The objective is for amateurs around the world to contact other amateurs. Certificates confirming participation in the HNY 2007 Party are available by sending an alphabetical specification of the correspondents and 2 Euro or 3 USD to QTC at the following address. Radio Amateurs' Journal QTC, Suchacz-Zamek, ul. Wielmoży 5b, 82-340 Tolkmicko, Poland. Deadline for submissions is the 15th of January 2007. Visit qtc.radio.org.pl.


USA to drop Morse requirement

The FCC has acted to drop the Morse code requirement for all Amateur Radio license classes. The Commission recently adopted a Report and Order. The public notice is located at, hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-269012A1.pdf

The FCC also adopted an Order on Reconsideration agreeing to modify the Amateur Radio rules in response to an ARRL request to accommodate automatically controlled narrow-band digital stations on 80 metres as the result of rule changes that became effective recently. The FCC said it will carve out the 3585 to 3600 kHz frequency segment for such operations. This change eliminates the requirement for General and Amateur Extra applicants to be proficient in Morse at 5 words per minute.

The elimination of a Morse code requirement for all license classes ends a longstanding regulatory tradition in the requirements to gain access to Amateur Radio frequencies below 30 MHz. The first no-code license in the US was the Technician class, instituted in 1991. The question of whether or not to drop the Morse requirement altogether has been the subject of often-heated debate over the past several years. A number of countries no longer require applicants for an Amateur Radio license to pass a Morse code test to gain HF operating privileges. The list has been increasing regularly.

The ARRL will provide any additional information on these important Part 97 rule revisions as it becomes available.


Special Event Callsigns for Scouting Ireland

2007 is the centenary of World Scouting and in 2008 Scouting Ireland will celebrate 100 years of Scouting in Ireland. As part of the centenary celebrations; Scouting Ireland has been allotted two special event callsigns - EI 100 S (Echo India One Hundred Sierra) and EI 100 SI (Echo India One hundred Sierra India) for 2007 and 2008. Scout Groups wishing to avail of the callsigns should apply to Sean EI3IP who can be contacted by email at jota at scouts dot ie.


Programme of interest on RTE Radio 1

RTE Radio1 will broadcast a special "Seascapes" programme on New Year's Day @ 8.02 p.m. which will deal with the memories and recollections of Ships Radio Officers from times past. This is the seafaring programme presented by Tom Mc Sweeney. Check www.rte.ie/radio1/seascapes for further information. It's not often that radio gets a whole programme to itself!


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.

[A]

contact IRTS
irts groups.io