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IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday November 25th 2007


Deadline Passed for Repeater Call Signs

It had been signalled some time back that ComReg intended to reorganise the allocation of repeater call signs. The matter was aired on the Repeater Reflector and a logical system for call signs proposed by John McCarthy EI8JA was accepted by those who contributed to the discussion. This system was accepted by ComReg at a meeting on the 10th of July last. Voice repeater call signs will for the future have the prefix EI2, EI7 or EI0 depending on whether a two metre, seventy centimetre or ten metre repeater is involved.

The call sign suffix will have three letters. The first two will be user determined giving perhaps geographical information such as ML for Mount Leinster. The final letter in the suffix will be R to indicate a repeater station.

Repeater groups and clubs responsible for repeaters were notified of the new call sign arrangements via the Repeater Reflector or by letter. Proposals for call signs in the revised format were to be submitted to ComReg by the 1st of October. Even if a repeater has a call sign which conforms to the new format an application to ComReg for retention of the call sign was necessary to avoid the possibility of duplication. Unfortunately a significant number of repeater groups or clubs with repeaters have made no contact with ComReg on this matter. The indications to us at present are that ComReg is considering withdrawing the repeater facility from those groups or clubs who have not submitted proposals for call signs, which comply with the new format.

We would urge any such groups or clubs to make proposals to ComReg immediately for call signs in the new format so as to avoid the withdrawal of any existing repeater facilities. Such proposals should be sent to Derek O'Reilly, Commission for Communications Regulation, Abbey Court, Irish Life Centre, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin 1 or to “derek dot oreilly at comreg dot ie”.


Theory Examination

The next theory examination for the experimenter licence will be held on Wednesday the 6th of February 2008 at 2 p.m. at the ComReg Offices in Dublin. A second centre outside Dublin could be utilised if warranted by the numbers wishing to sit the examination. The fee for the exam is 50 Euro or 25 Euro for repeat candidates, full time registered students, those who are retired, unemployed or have a disability. Anyone wishing to sit the examination should send the appropriate fee to Sean Nolan EI7CD, 12 Little Meadow, Pottery Road, Dunlaoghaire, Co Dublin. Cheques and money orders should be made payable to the Irish Radio Transmitters Society.

A contact phone number and an e-mail address if available should be included. Sean's address is available in the Call Book section of the IRTS website at www.irts.ie and his e-mail address is “ei7cd at gofree dot indigo dot ie”. Also available in the Where do I Start? section of the website are Examination Notes with a sample examination paper as well as a link to the ComReg Experimenter Pages which contain some very useful information. The examination consists of a multiple choice question paper of 60 questions divided into three main sections A, B and C and the time allowed is two hours. The pass mark is 60% and a pass is required in each of the three main sections of the paper.


WRC-07

The World Radio Conference concluded in Geneva with little good news for the amateur service. A new worldwide LF allocation at 135.7 to 137.8 kHz was agreed. However, there was widespread disappointment at the failure to secure a new band in the region of 5 MHz and there does not seem to be an agenda item, which would allow consideration of such an allocation at the next Conference scheduled for 2011.

A series of European Common Proposals would have meant an increase of 350 kHz in the HF broadcasting allocations with a footnote that would have enabled Administrations to allow stations in the amateur service to operate in the segment 5260 to 5410 kHz on a secondary basis. However, increased HF broadcasting allocations had no support in the other two Regions of the ITU. The European Proposals finally foundered and with them our hopes of a new 150 kHz allocation at 5 MHz.


Mayo Radio Experimenters Network

The Mayo Radio Experimenters Network wishes to thank all who travelled to the rally in Knock on Sunday last. The rally continues to be the biggest in country, thanks to the support it gets from traders, the IRTS and the people who travel in such large numbers from all over the country. The club also thanks the Belmont Hotel and congratulates Mr. John Kinhara, of Moyne, Killala Co. Mayo, winner of the door prize.


South Dublin Radio Club

This year’s South Dublin Radio Club Christmas Party will take place on Tuesday the 11th of December. After last year’s 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.

The club will then go on Christmas holidays until the return on the 8th of January.


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 Sunday’s bulletin.

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