Irish Radio Transmitters Society
Radio News Bulletin
Sunday 15th February 2009

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Silent Key

It is with deep sadness that we have to inform you
that Jim (VK9NS) passed peacefully away on Norfolk
Island at 15:40 local time on 10 February 2009 after a
short illness.

Jim is survived by his wife Kirsti (VK9NL) and his
four children: Bruce (G3HSR), Stuart, Sheena and
Fraser (all living in the UK). Jim's contribution to
Amateur Radio, DX-ing and IOTA is inestimable. He will
be sadly missed.

Further information and condolences can be sent to
Kirsti at jimkirsti /at/ ni.net.nf
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IRTS/COMREG Meeting

We are glad to report that a very constructive meeting
was held on Thursday last between representatives of
ComReg and of the Society. We hope to bring you a
report on this meeting in next weeks bulletin.
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IRTS Dinner Tickets

Tickets for the IRTS dinner will be available to
purchase at the Coolmine Rally.More details can be
obtained by clicking on the AGM weekend link on the
IRTS website.
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Echo Ireland by electronic download

If you would like to receive Echo Ireland by way of
electronic download, and so help to reduce the
Society's postage bill, please let the Membership
Records Officer know.

Include your call sign and email address in the
request, and send it to memrecords /at/ irts.ie
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Trophy Returns.

It is now time for the return of all trophies presented
at the 2008 AGM. Trophies may be given back to any IRTS
Committee Member as soon as possible or by post direct
to the Awards Committee Chairman Peter EI4HX QTH-R: 37
Glenmore Park, Dundalk, Co Louth.

Final date for return, is February 21st 2009.
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Nomination for awards

It is also now time for nominations for the various
awards, which are presented each year at the IRTS AGM,
for members who deserve recognition for their
dedication to IRTS, to their local Club, or to Radio
in General.

Also for the submission for the construction awards,
and SWL trophy, and 4M and 6M Shields etc.

Nominations please to awards committee. or direct to
Peter EI4HX ei4hxperimental /at/ eircom.net as soon as
possible,nomination deadline February 21st 2009.
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Dave EI3IO Joins IARU Committee

We are glad to let you know that Dave Court EI3IO has
been invited to join the IARU Region 1 External
Relations Committee as an expert adviser. The External
Relations Committee is a very important body as it is
the IARU Region 1 interface with the CEPT and other
radio regulatory bodies on matters of importance to the
interests of the amateur service such as spectrum
requirements and licensing.

As many of you will be aware Dave has extensive
experience in these and a wide range of other areas
having held quite a number of key positions in spectrum
management including Director of the European
Radiocommunicarions Office (ERO).

We know that Dave's experience and advice will be of
great assistance to furthering the work of the External
Relations Committee in Region 1 of the IARU.
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Amateur Radio and Hillwalking

Those who want to combine amateur radio with
hillwalking can get involved in the Summits On The Air
("SOTA") programme. SOTA is a bit like IOTA, with hills
and mountains replacing islands. It is designed to
encourage portable operation in mountainous areas, and
there are awards for activators, who ascend to the
summits, and chasers, who either operate from home, a
local hilltop or are activators on other summits.

More than 20 countries are currently involved in the
SOTA programme, including Ireland - North and South.
There are 387 eligible summits in EI (of which more
than 50 have been activated) and 66 eligible summits in
GI (of which 36 have been activated). More details,
including a list of eligible summits and a lot more,
can be found at www.qsl.net/sotaei and at
www.sota.org.uk

With a view to encouraging more SOTA activity, an
International SOTA Weekend is to be held on Saturday
2nd and Sunday 3rd May 2009. It is hoped that this
event will see many summit-to-summit contacts
between different SOTA associations, and give
chasers the chance to work activators from several
different DXCC entities.
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South Dublin Radio Club

John Ronan EI7IG will be giving a talk at South Dublin
Radio Club on Tuesday 17th of February at 8pm. There
will be two topics. "How APRS works" and "AREN current
status, future direction"

Visitors are welcome to attend

Directions are on the clubs website:
http://www.southdublinradioclub.ie
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Shannon Basin Radio Club

After the recent AGM,the new committee is as follows;
Chairman Pat EI9HX, Secretary Brian EI8IU, Joint
treasurers Fergus EI6IB and Brian EI8iu, PRO Pat
EI9HX,QSL Manager Mickey EI5EAB.The club would like to
offer Thanks to the outgoing committee and a warm
welcome to the new members.
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Galway Radio Experimenters Club

The Galway Radio Experimenters Club will be operating a
portable station from Inis Mor on the Arann Islands for
the duration of ST. Patrick’s day.

Using the callsign EJ4GRC, they will be operating on
all bands and modes and a commemorative QSL card will
be sent to all stations worked, and also to any SWL's
that hear our station and request a card.

This is the first outing by GREC to the Arann Islands
but may not be the last so listen out on St. Patricks
day and seize the opportunity to aquire a QSL card from
the first ever trip to Arann..Who knows it may be a
collectors item some day!!
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South Eastern Amateur Radio Group

The Annual General Meeting of South Eastern Amateur
Radio Group will take place on Monday the 23rd of
February at 8.00 p.m. in usual venue of the Roanmore
Centre, Cleaboy Road, Waterford.

All members are asked to attend but visitors and new
members are very welcome. Please note that as
membership subscriptions are now due, this meeting is
an ideal opportunity to renew membership. For more
information about the group, log on to www.searg.com.
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Radio Rallies

Today the 15th February 2009 Coolmine Radio Rally,

The Coolmine Radio Rally, run by the Phoenix Radio Club
Is being held in the Coolmine Community School,
Clonsilla Dublin 15 on today Sunday 15th February
2009,Doors opened at 9.30 am.

The Coolmine Committee welcome all visitors to bring
their items for sale as there will be table available
for bring and buy. This makes for great interest and
perhaps bargains for those wanting to buy and a good
opportunity for those wanting to sell unwanted gear.

See map on www.coolminecs.ie/locationmap.php
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Mid Ulster Amateur Radio Club

The Mid Ulster Amateur Radio Club will be holding a
Bring and Buy sale on Saturday 21st February 2009 from
11 am to 3pm. The venue is the Banbridge Library,
Banbridge, Co Down.

The Club will be hosting a stall for individuals
wishing to sell items, and for anyone wishing to book a
table, please contact Bobby MI3RWG at
cqmuarc /at/ googlemail.com or ring (0044) 02838348451. Full
details are available on www.muarc.com.
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Rallies during March include the Radio Hobbies and
Electronics Fair in the Limerick Radisson SAS Hotel on
Sunday 8th March, The Lagan Valley Amateur Radio
Society Rally in Hillsborough, Co. Down on Saturday
14th March and the Lough Erne Amateur Radio Club Rally
in Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh on Sunday 29th March.

The big event in April is the IRTS AGM Weekend, on
Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th April. This takes place
in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone. Weekend events
include the IRTS Annual Dinner, a Radio Rally and the
IRTS Annual General Meeting.

More details of these events will be given in later
bulletins, and are also available on the IRTS web site
at www.irts.ie/rallies
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Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News should be
forwarded to Charlie EI8JB, via e-mail to “charlie dot
Carolan at gmail dot com” Or by phone to 087-6265418
News can also be submitted via e-mail to “newsteam 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 Thursday in
order to be guaranteed inclusion in the following
Sunday’s bulletin.