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IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 3rd May 2009


IRTS AGM Weekend

The IRTS would like to thank the Shannon Basin club and the Shamrock Lodge Country House Hotel for an excellent, well-organised weekend.

There was a presentation to John Breen EI7BV on his retirement from the DEpt. of Communications in recognition of his support of Amateur and Experimental radio at the highest International levels.

In attendance at the dinner & AGM was Colin Thomas G3PSN, chairman of the external relations committee of IARU and president of RSGB.

The dinner was also attended by Aidan Ryan of the Dept of Comm, representing the Minister & Derek O'Reilly of ComReg who confirmed that it was the Regulators intention to proceed with the new Lifetime Licences early in June.

Ger McNamara EI4GXB created a little bit of history, as his late Father Pat EI9CB also read the 80M HF news from Athlone for the AGM 30 years ago, which incidentally was the last time the AGM was held in Athlone, Ger and his Father were the first father & son to read the HF news from an AGM indeed they are the first to read the HF news.

The Rally had a great turnout with lots of familiar and new faces attending,outside in the Car park the AREN Mobile Command Post was on display.

AREN’s John Ronan EI7IG & Timothy McKnight EI5GPB ware on hand to answer any questions. The AREN Website is aren.ie Their was a large presentation of Trophies to the various Groups & Individuals Including SWL’s Congratulations to all who worked hard to obtain their well deserved recognition. Brendan EI1429 would like to see more competition between SWL’s and plans on keeping The Ian Morris Trophy for some time!!

The IRTS would like to welcome the following Committee that ware Nominated at the 2009 AGM.

President: Paul Martin EI2CA, Vice-President: Seamus McCague EI8BP.

EI2HX Pat Fitzpatrick, EI4GK Sean Donelan, EI4GXB Ger McNamara,EI4HH Jim Holohan (who is also the Chairman of South Dublin Radio Club),EI4HX Peter Grant,EI6IZ Brendan Minish,EI6JK Mark Condon,EI7GY Joe Ryan,EI8CC Ger Gervin,EI8JB Charlie Carolan who is our Radio News Editor & EI9HZ Pat O’Connor.

Hon-Auditors

Brendan De hOra EI3GV & Brendan Lynch EI6GA.

IRTS would like to thank outgoing Committee members for the service to the Society.

A full report on proceedings and the presentation of Trophies will appear in the next issue of Echo Ireland


Theory Examination

The next Theory Examination for the Experimenters licence will be held on Tuesday the 30th of June at 2p.m. in the ComReg Offices in Dublin and in Carrigtwohill Co. Cork.

An exam could be held at another centre at the same time and date should the numbers warrant it. Places for the examination will be allocated on a first come first served basis and will only be reserved on receipt of the examination fee.

Intending candidates should forward the appropriate fee to Sean Nolan EI7CD, 12 Little Meadow, Pottery Road,Dunlaoghaire, Co. Dublin in order to reserve a place for the exam. The fee is 50 Euro or 25 Euro for full-time registered students, repeat candidates and those who are retired, unemployed or have a disability. Cheques and Money Orders should be made payable to the IRTS. When forwarding the exam fee intending candidates should enclose their postal address as well as phone and e-mail contact details.

The closing date for applications to sit the examination, which will be strictly enforced, is Monday the 15th of June. Intending candidates should note that anyone who fails to produce a photo identity on day of the examination would not be allowed to sit the examination.

The photo ID can be a driving licence, a passport, an employment photo identity card or a student card containing a photograph. A national Gardai photo ID would also be acceptable. Sean EI7CD’s address can also be found in the IRTS call book or in the call book section of the IRTS website at www.irts.ie . Sean's e-mail address for any further enquiries is"ei7cd at gofree dot indigo dot ie" Also available on the 'Where Do I Start' section of the IRTS website are Examination Notes with a sample examination paper as well as a link to the ComReg's Experimenter Pages which contain some very useful data under Licensing Information.

Also in the Radio Theory Links section on the website is some very useful information for those studying for the examination.

The examination consists of a question paper of 60multiple-choice 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. We wish all intending candidates the best of luck in the examination.


SOTA Amateur Radio and Hill walking

Those who want to combine amateur radio with hill walking 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 this weekend.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.


Limerick Radio Club

International Marconi Day

Last Saturday 25th April Ger McNamara EI4GXB and Alan Cronin EI8EM activated the Club call sign EI4LRC for the International Marconi Day. A total of 250 contacts were made during the day. Many thanks to Ger and Alan for operating the station on behalf of the Club.

IRTS President’s Cup

The Chairman and Committee of the Club were delighted to learn that Ger McNamara EI4GXB was presented with the IRTS President’s Cup at the AGM in Athlone last Sunday. This award is made for “exceptional service to amateur radio and to the IRTS. Ger is a very deserving recipient of this prestigious Cup and the Club members would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his award.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Club takes place on Thursday 14th May at the Limerick Institute of Technology at 19:30. Tom O’Sullivan EI3AL will give a lecture on Amateur Satellite Operating. All those interested are invited to attend


Mayo Radio Experimenters

The next meeting of the Mayo Radio Experimenters will be held in The Welcome Inn Hotel, Castlebar on Wednesday May 6th at 21.30hrs local time.

As outlined in the club newsletter, John, EI7IQ will give a talk and demonstration on building a nest of dipoles and balun building. The nest of dipoles built on the night, along with the balun, will be raffled amongst those members present. All are welcome.

The 2009 Mayo Rally will be held on Sunday November 22 at The Welcome Inn Hotel, Castlebar.


Tipperary Amateur Radio Group

The next meeting of the Tipperary Amateur Radio Group will take place on Thursday next the 7th of May in Raheen House Hotel, Raheen Road, Clonmel at 8.00 pm. All are welcome.


EI0MAR / North Dublin Radio Group

On Saturday 25 April, EI0MAR celebrated International Marconi Day by taking part in the annual IMD event organised by the Cornish Amateur Radio Club. As it had special award station status, QSOs with EI0MAR, located in the vintage radio museum in Howth, were eagerly sought after. Most contacts were on CW with emphasis on 20 metres.

The Howth Martello Radio Group wishes to thank the 9 EIs and 3 SWLs who supported the activity. As well as being a radio operation, it was an enjoyable social event with good craic and fun enjoyed by all who attended. The North Dublin Radio Club weekly meeting took place at the same venue later that same evening. This was the sixth year that EI0MAR participated in the event. The group's web site is www.ei0mar.org .

South Dublin Radio Club

Upcoming talks at South Dublin Radio Club

11th May “Logbook of the World” & EQSL.cc by Dave Court EI3IO

The clubs website is southdublinradioclub dot ie which has directions and meeting locations.


Rallies

Sunday 09th May 2009

Mid-Ulster Amateur Radio Club Rally which is being held at Drumgor Youth Centre, Drumgor Heights, Craigavon, Co Armagh for more details or contact Bobby 2I0ULL on 0774 701 9438.

More information on Rallies can be found on the IRTS website www.irts.ie/rallies


History this week

1791 Birthday of Samuel F.B Morse


Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News should be forwarded to Charlie EI8JB, preferably 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.

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