Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday January 11th 2004
Limerick Radio Club and IRTS AGM
The Limerick Radio Club would like to remind all listeners that their annual Radio and Electronics Fair will be held in the Greenhills Hotel Limerick in conjunction with the AGM of the IRTS over the weekend of 6/7th March 2004.
There will be an official IRTS dinner on the Saturday evening at 20.00 Hrs followed by the Rally and AGM on the Sunday.
Tickets will be available shortly and supply is limited. The cost of the dinner is €37.00 per person. These will be available shortly from Paul EI6FE. The club would appreciate that all those attending the dinner will make their intention known before February 9th. Please note that if tickets have not been purchased in advance, entry cannot be guaranteed. To ensure a place please book now.
Rooms in the hotel are also in demand and a number have been blocked booked by the club. To reserve a room contact the hotel on 061 453033. A special rate of €55 B&B PPS has been agreed, while single occupancy is €75 B&B. Remember to mention LRC when making your reservation. There are numerous B&B's close to the hotel and their details will be published on their web site soon.
To-date Long Communications, Southeast Communications, Icom UK, Linear Amp UK and Yaesu UK have confirmed their attendance.
There are several others in the pipeline and details will be released shortly. As usual there will be an abundance of amateur and commercial radio equipment on display.
A good night is envisaged and the club is looking forward to seeing you all there. Further information will be available early in January. Please feel free to check out the LRC web site on www.qsl.net/ei4lrc For any information please contact Paul EI6FE QTHR.
Theory Exam
A theory examination will be held on February the 4th at the ComReg offices, Irish Life Centre, Dublin with a start time of 1300 hrs. Numbers are limited to twenty but it is hoped that everyone wishing to take the exam will get a chance, as there is a possibility of some candidates dropping out. An information pack will be sent on to the selected candidates in early January.
South Dublin Radio Club
The Annual General Meeting of South Dublin Radio Club takes place on Tuesday the 24th of February, at 8.00 p.m. in the club's QTH at Marian Road, Rathfarnham. All members are requested to attend.
The club would like to remind radio experimenters that SDR Spring Challenge time has come around again: The purpose of this challenge is to encourage radio experimenters to be active on the HF bands. The "challenge" is to work as many DXCC countries on as many HF bands as possible during the month of February. Full rules are available on the club's web site www.qsl.net/ei2sdr (or see page 18 of the 2003 IRTS yearbook).
Shannon Basin Radio Club Challenge
The Shannon Basin Radio Club would like to thank all that took part in the open Radio challenge. Over the next number of weeks all the entries will be analysed and the results will be published in Echo Ireland.
Glengormley Electronics and Amateur Radio Society After the success of last year's event, GEARS are once again running an Inter Club Quiz Challenge, for the GEARS Perpetual Trophy. The event will take place on Friday the 27th of February 2004 at 8 p.m. in the club premises, Knockagh Lodge, Greenisland. Directions are available on www.knockaghlodge.com and it is hoped that last year's winners, the South Dublin Radio Club will be returning to defend their title. A cordial invitation is extended to all, whether members of clubs or not to enter a team for the event - all are welcome including YL's and XYL's.
Last year six clubs were represented, and this year the club would like to see representation from the rest of the clubs in GI and EI, as well as those who supported last year's event. Further information can be obtained from any club member, or by e-mail to info@gn0xyz.com.
Mayo Radio Experimenters Network
MREN will activate a special event station from Mayo to commemorate Irelands upcoming Presidency of the European Union. The Mayo Radio Experimenters Network will operate the special event station EI0EU until the end of June. The station will be active on all bands and a full program of events will be announced after the clubs January meeting.
Irish Hour
The first gathering of the Irish Hour on the air for 2004 went well. On Sunday the 4th of January on 21.317 MHz there was a great check-in to the net. EI stations included EI2JL, EI5FR, EI8HT, EI9HX, EI9V. A good time was had by all. This gathering has now been going on for many years, it is a friendly group and has been described as "a pub on the air". Everyone is welcome to participate, there are no formal rules and no membership is required. The official start time is 1700 UTC but many call in an hour or so earlier. The Irish Hour meets every Sunday except where major DX contests are scheduled.
Awards
To allow the required time for engraving and repairs etc. Trophies awarded at the IRTS AGM in Dublin 2003 must be returned to the awards committee on or before Monday the 24th of January IRTS committee meeting or to any member of the IRTS committee. Returns by post should be marked 'Fragile, Glass With Care' and reach Peter Grant EI4HX at QTHR by the 24th of January.
New Abbreviation for the E-mail "At" Sign in Morse The ITU has now come up with an official recommendation for the 'at' symbol, as is used in e-mail addresses. It is "di-dah-dah-di-dah-dit", or "AC" run together. There is more information about this on the ARRL website.
Lighthouse Maps
A map of Irish Lighthouses and Lightships is available on EI8ICs website at www.qsl.net/ei8ic/maps/lighthouse.html
North Dublin Radio Club AGM 2004
The Club's AGM will be held on Saturday January the 31st at Chanel College, Coolock commencing at 8 p.m. All members are requested to attend.
On Saturday January the 24th a Slideshow and talk will be presented by Peadar Slattery EI2JA entitled "From the Irish Sea - To The Yellow Sea". The background historic story of the events leading to "Americas Father of Radio" Lee de Forest coming to Dublin in 1903 and demonstrating his Wireless Telegraphy system, operating from The Martello Tower at Howth as reported in the last issue of Echo Ireland.
Peadar, in researching this event uncovered a remarkable connection between the transmitters used at Howth and the first war news reporting by wireless by Times correspondents to London from the Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905. Archive material and photographs have been collected from many countries for this presentation, including England, the United States, Japan and Australia, the National Library and National Archives in Dublin. Please note that the Slide Show and Talk will commence sharply at 8.30 p.m. and all are welcome.
South Eastern Amateur Radio Group
The Annual General Meeting of the Group has been announced for Wednesday the 25th of February 2004 at 8.00 p.m. in the Roanmore Social & Sports Centre, Cleaboy Road, Waterford. All members are asked to attend and visitors are welcome. More details will be announced soon.
The group are currently looking at the viability of organising a trip to one of the UK rallys later this year. Details of this will be planned at the next general meeting. So, if you are interested, please come along to the meeting on Wednesday, January 28th at 8.00 p.m. to register your interest. All are welcome!
The EI2WRC voice repeater is temporarily operational from Templetown Hill on the Hook Peninsula in South County Wexford on 145.650 MHz. Reports to EI8JA or via e-mail to repeaters@searg.com. The IRTS Radio News Service from Waterford on Tuesday nights will be transmitted via the repeater. For general enquiries about the club, e-mail info@searg.com or visit www.searg.com
Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News should be forwarded Mark Wall EI7IS. He can be contacted on 087-6302026 or e-mail cyberis@vodafone.ie. News can also be submitted via e-mail to news@irts.ie for automatic forwarding to both the radio and printed news services.
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