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IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 15th October 2017


Notice from ComReg

ComReg is in the process of finalising its new online paperless application facility for all Amateur Station licence applications. It expects to make this new facility available before the end of October. From now until the new application facility goes live ComReg will continue to accept paper applications. However, as part of the transition to the new online facility, payment for all applications or amendments must now be made by debit or credit card. Cheques and postal orders can no longer be accepted. ComReg will issue a further communication when the new application facility is ready for use and will provide detailed information on how to use it.

With regard to the above notice from ComReg, IRTS would like to clarify that payment of fees for the Amateur Station Licence examination, which are paid directly to IRTS, may continue to be paid as usual either on line by credit card or PayPal or by post using a cheque or money order.


Amateur Station Licence Examination

The next Amateur Station Licence Examination will be held on Thursday 7th December in the ComReg Offices in Dublin. Some applications have already been received. As places are limited and are allocated on a first come first served basis, those intending to sit the examination should apply soon. Full details, including entry procedure, examination fee and how to pay the fee online are available at www.irts.ie/exam . Please note that it is necessary to download the application form from the web page and forward the completed form and the appropriate fee so as to secure a place for the examination.

It is important to note that even if you pay the fee online you must still complete and forward the application form.

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is Thursday 16th November. Four Exam Reports which were previously published in Echo Ireland are available on the Downloads section of the website at www.irts.ie/downloads under "Studying for the Harmonised Amateur Radio Examination Certificate". These reports contain very useful information for anyone studying for the Licence Examination. Intending candidates are advised to pay particular attention to the syllabus for the examination especially Annexes 1 and 2.


Counties Contest

The 40 metres counties contest last weekend was well supported, helped by good band conditions. More than 60 EI and GI stations were on the air, representing most counties. Logs should be sent as soon as possible to the contest manager.


IOTA Contest Results

Provisional Results for the Islands On The Air contest held at the end of July have now been published. 30 Irish stations submitted logs for this contest and their results can be seen at www.irts.ie/results which also includes a link to the complete results for all stations. We are pleased to note in particular that East Cork Amateur Radio Group was the highest scoring station among the more than two thousand participants in the contest, well done to the EI7M ops!


South Eastern Amateur Radio Group

The October meeting of the South Eastern Amateur Radio Group will take place in the Roanmore Social and Sports Centre, Cleaboy Road, Waterford on Monday night the 30th of October at 8.00 p.m. sharp. At this meeting Steve EI4KM will give a talk and demonstration on Fast Scan Television. New members or anyone interested in learning more about amateur radio or the group are as always very welcome to attend. For anyone that wishes to find out more about the South Eastern Amateur Radio Group and its activities you can come along to any of their meetings. You can check out their website www.searg.ie and you can also join them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.


Cork Radio Club

At the end of July, the Southern Ireland Repeater Group installed their new digital/analogue repeater, EI7CDD, on a high site in West Waterford. The repeater is capable of DMR, DStar, Fusion (C4FM) and Analog operation. The operating frequency is 439.650 MHz with a shift of -9 MHz (DVU52). The coverage area stretches into Waterford and all over East Cork and it should prove very popular as an introduction to digital radio for all in the area.

Cork Radio Club will again be setting up radio stations at the Scout Hall in Little Island for Jamboree on the Air on the 20th - 22nd of October.

The club invites anybody interested in studying for the Amateur Radio examination over the winter months to send an expression of interest by email to “info /at/ corkradioclub /dot/ ie” or by telephone/text to 087-6290574.

Visitors and new members are always very welcome at club meetings and further information is available by emailing “info /at/ corkradioclub /dot/ ie”


Limerick Radio Club

LRC members Harry EI2KL, Brendan EI0CZ and Tom EI5CA will continue with CW instruction for beginners on the LRC 2 metre repeater each Monday after the IRTS News, which is read at 20:00 . On the following Tuesday evenings at 20:00 there will be instruction aimed at those who have gone a little 'rusty' Sessions generally will last up to 3/4 of an hour.


EIDX

The EIDX Group (who brought you 9N7EI earlier this year) are delighted to announce their next DXpedition for 2018. A team of 14 operators will be QRV for 2 consecutive weekends from March 21st to April 3rd also taking in the WPX SSB contest.

The team have carefully selected an ideal location on the shores of lake Malawi and will be QRV on all bands from 160m through 10m, SSB, CW and RTTY. Their website is under construction and coming soon.


Scout Jamboree on the Air

The 60th Scout Jamboree on the Air will be held over the weekend 20 to 22nd October. Paul EI2CA lets us know that, as in recent years, he is organising a station for the 1st Meath Navan Scouts for the event. The callsign will be EI1DD and Paul needs a couple of additional operators to give a hand. All equipment will be supplied, so it is just a case of coming along on the day. If you can help out, you can give Paul EI2CA a call on 087 2523908.


DX News

Bill G0VDE was hoping to be on the first commercial flight to St Helena on 14th October. He has been issued with the callsign ZD7BR and will be there for one week. He will operate 80 – 10m on SSB and also some digital. QSL Manager is G3SWH.

Pista HA5AO returns to Lesotho from 16 – 28th October where he will reactivate his 7P8AO callsign. He will be on 10 – 40m CW, RTTY and FT8. This is the same operator who used the callsign 7P8EUDXF in 2016/17. QSLs go via HA5AO.

Yuris YL2GM and Kaspars YL3AIW are in Equatorial Guinea where they have obtained a callsign 3C1L, and also a callsign 3C0L for use on Annobon Island. They planned to travel to Annobon on 11th October. Activity dates are uncertain but they are not due to fly home until 23rd October. QSLs go via Club Log OQRS.

A group of Indian operators will sign VU7T from the Lakshadweep Islands until 20th October. Look for them on 80 – 10m SSB, CW and Digital. QSL Manager is VU2CPL.

Ulf DL5AXX will be in Aruba until 23rd October. He will use the callsign P40EU and QSLs go via his home call.


Items for inclusion in next week’s Radio News can be submitted via e-mail to “newsteam /at/ irts / dot / ie” for automatic forwarding to both the radio and printed news services. Urgent news items for the radio news may be telephoned to the radio news editor, Mark EI6HPB on 086 355 2370.

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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