Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 9th May 2010
Theory Examination
The next theory examination for the Amateur Station Licence will be held on Wednesday, 7th July at 2pm in the ComReg Offices in Dublin and at other centres if warranted by the numbers.
Information on examination fees and other details please see 'Theory Examination' in the 'Information' section of the IRTS website at www.irts.ie
Intending candidates are also referred to 'Studying for the Amateur Radio Examination' in the 'Downloads' section of the website.
The latest date for receipt of applications to sit the examination is Wednesday, 23 June next but it is important to note that places at the exam are allocated on a first come first served basis.
International Summits on the Air Weekend
Summits on the Air (SOTA) is a programme that encourages radio amateurs who enjoy hill walking to take their radios with them and operate from the mountain tops. To promote interest in SOTA, an activity weekend for SOTA was held over the first weekend in May. Summits in more than 20 countries in Europe and North America were on air, with all bands from 80 metres to 70 cms in use by the activators.
Two Irish radio amateurs were out on the hills during the weekend - Ken GI4FLG was on 20 metres CW from Cairngaver in County Down, while Joe EI7GY was on 30 metres and 40 metres CW from Croaghanmoira in Wicklow. The SOTA programme is not just for hill walkers, however, as it relies heavily on the interest in summit activations by those who prefer to stay in the shack.
For more about the SOTA programme, see www.qsl.net/sotaei
Mills on the Air Weekend
This weekend radio amateurs all over Europe will be setting up stations in windmills and watermills. There has been a growing interest in this annual gathering with interesting stories to be told about the Historic and working mills
Harley Davidson special event station - Portugal
Look for the amateur radio special event station CS2HD to hit the air waves between May 12-16th.
Activity is to celebrate the International Harley Davidson meeting in Tavira on May 15th and 16th.
All contacts will receive a QSL card from this activity via the Bureau or direct if requested (via CT2FPE), SWLs are always welcome. This activity will not use eQSL or LoTW, only paper QSL.
Check out the QSL on QRZ.com.
From Spark to Space
From Spark to Space is the title of a book published by the Saskatoon Amateur Radio Club, from Saskatchewan Canada. The book charts the history of Amateur Radio in Canada up until the late 60’s.
This book is available as a free pdf download thanks to the generosity of the Saskatoon Amateur Radio club linking the download from their website.
Please note the download pdf file is 41MB in size, which translates into a 100 page document. The pdf is full of very interesting information of Early Experimental Radio in Canada and also includes an early callbook.
It is suggested when clicking on the link to save link as etc to prevent having a browser hang due to file size.
The website is www.ve5aa.dyndns.org the link is located at the bottom of the menu. Please note that best practice need to be adhered to when downloading any files from any source.
4m Beacon
As of 12:00 UTC May 3rd, a Radio Science E-Skip propagation beacon has been activated from the eastern coast of North America. QRG is 70.005MHz. ERP is currently 3kW aimed at the EU.
The beacon is scheduled to run 24 hours a day until September 1st unless there are technical issues precluding that. The beacon is non-Amateur and sadly no 2-way QSOs could take place.
Any and all reception reports via e-mail to: wa1zms /at/ att.net
Anyone fancy a trip to Mozambique in October?
David, GI4FUM is running an amateur radio DXpedition to Bilene which is a costal resort on the Indian Ocean 150km north of Maputu. The Group will fly out from Heathrow on 13th October to Johannesburg and drive up to Mozambique. The Group plans to run a station for Jamboree on the Air with local scouts on the weekend of 16th/17th October and will also enter a station for CQWW SSB over the weekend of 30th/31st October.
There will be plenty of opportunity for individuals to operate under their own C91 callsigns and if you fancy sun bathing on an Indian Ocean beach in late African spring there will be plenty of opportunity for that too.
There are a few places on the team still available. If you want further details check out the CQ-DX African Safaris web site at http:/www.3da0ss.net
Rallies
Saturday 29th May 2010 Mid Ulster Amateur Radio Club Rally, Drumgor Youth Centre, Drumgor Heights, Craigavon Information:www.muarc.com
For further Rally info and contact details please check out the IRTS Website.
EI's at Dayton
Attention any Irish attendees of the Dayton Hamvention: On Friday, May 14 and Saturday, May 15 at 3 PM each day, IRTS members are invited to meet near the YLRL booth which is adjacent to the entrance to the food court area at Hara Arena. This has been a traditional meeting spot for several years. and U.S. hams who check into the Irish Hour Net on 21.317 will be present at that location as well.
History this Week
1897 Sir J.C. Bose, India, demonstrates microwave transmissions.
1899 Lawnmower was patented.
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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