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IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday January 23rd 2005


Dxpedition Delayed

There will be at least a two and one-half to three-week delay in the planned 3YØX Dxpedition to Peter I island in the Antarctic. Problems have arisen with completing the renovation and re-registration of the ship on schedule. The entire team remains intact and are eager to get the Dxpedition underway.

This is a huge undertaking and very expensive. The team members are funding 74% of the total cost and need contributions with the remaining expenses. Check the teams web site for more information.

The web site for the Dxpedition can be seen at www.peterone.com

Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communication Conference A Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference is to take place in Tampere, Finland on the 13th and 14th of June next.

Branded as GAREC-2005, details of the conference were announced by the newly appointed IARU International Co-ordinator for Emergency Communications Hans Zimmermann HB9AQS.

The conference will focus on amateur radio's emergency communication role and prepare and adopt a statement to the 2005 World Summit of the Information Society.


IRTS AGM and Limerick Rally

This years Trade Fair will take place on Sunday the 13th of March and is shaping up to be LRC's best yet. The events are located at the Green Hills Hotel Ennis Road, Limerick.

The IRTS AGM will follow the Trade Fair. The IRTS Dinner will be held Saturday the 12th of March at the same location. Yaesu UK, Linear Amp UK, Icom, Long Communications, South East Communications and Celcom Ireland will be exhibiting at the rally.

Entry costs 6 Euro. For up-to-date information visit the Limerick Radio Club web site on www.qsl.net/ei4lrc

AREN The AREN training net continues for 2005 and the next event will take place on February 19th 2005, commencing at 0930. The primary frequency is 7.099 MHz and the secondary frequency is 3.690 MHz. This is a members only net, however non-member traffic will be taken towards the end of the event when the training session has been completed. If you have an interest in Emergency Communications please listen to the net and you are very welcome to call when invited to do so by the NCS.

Enquires about IRTS Emergency Communications are always welcome and should directed to the Emergency Communication Coordinator John Ketch EI2GN, on 086-2593005 or via e-mail to ei2gn at ketch dot ie.


Trophies

Winners of Trophies at the 2004 AGM in Limerick are reminded that in order to allow time for any minor repairs and missed engraving over the years due to late returns, trophies are now overdue for return to the awards committee. Also, Societies Clubs and individual members are reminded that Nominations are required for the non-contest trophies of which there are four.

For those involved in construction, there are two coveted awards available. See the 2003 Year Book for more information. Applications and nominations can be made to Peter Grant EI4HX, Chair, Awards Committee. Trophy returns also to EI4HX at QTHR or any member of the IRTS Committee.


EI7IQ National 6 & 4 Metre Shields

A reminder to six and four meter operators that the closing date for receipt of entries for the EI7IQ Six and Four metre shields is Tuesday the 1st of February 2005. Logs should be emailed to contests at irts dot ie. Logs should show only unique QSO's, DXCC entities and grid squares. Electronic logs are preferred but paper logs may be sent to EI2JC at QTHR.


APRS

At approximately 22:45 UTC on the 17th of January, an Irish Tier 2 Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS) server was brought online, see ireland.aprs.net:14501 for connection details.

Tier 2 servers are deployed to take the load off the core servers as several Gigabytes of packets are seen by the core servers every day. The server was set up by John, EI7IG, using spare server capacity of the Telecommunications Software & Systems Group in Waterford Institute of Technology.


First Class B DXCC

News has just come to light that the ARRL in the USA have just awarded the very first DXCC award to an EI station with a class B licence. Alan Foley, EI3EBB in Cork, not only recieved the very first class B DXCC, he also obtained it by operating only on a VHF band, i.e. the 6 metre band. In fact, it is only the 3rd six metre DXCC award in the country. Alan has been operating on the 6 metre band since 1993 and it has taken the best part of 12 years to work the necessary 100 plus countries and get them confirmed.


South Dublin Radio Club

This years South Dublin Radio Club AGM will be held on Tuesday 22nd of February. The packet demo planned for January will instead take place on Tuesday the 1st of March.


Phoenix Amateur Radio Group

The Phoenix Amateur Radio Club Rally will take place on Sunday the 6th of February 2005 in Coolmine Community School, Blanchardstown. Doors open at 11.00 a.m. and admission is 3 euro. Doors will open for traders at 9.30 a.m. For enquiries regarding tables, phone Tony on 01-8252074.


Tipperary Amateur Radio Group

The next Tipperary Amateur Radio Group meeting will take place on Thursday the 3rd of February at Raheen House Hotel at 8:30pm. There will be a talk-in on 145.450 MHz.

John, EI7IG, will be giving a presentation entitled "An Introduction to Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS)", and is planning a demonstration immediately afterwards. All are welcome!


South Eastern Amateur Radio Group

Please note that there will be no general meeting for January 2005. A committee meeting will take place this coming Wednesday the 26th of January at 8.00 p.m. in place of the general meeting.

This meeting is being convened in order to organise and set a date of the upcoming Annual General Meeting and all committee members are asked to attend.


DUBUS Magazine Distribution in Ireland

As you know, Albert EI6AS became a silent key recently. He had been the Irish distributor for the DUBUS Magazine for many years. DUBUS is a quarterly publication for VHF, UHF and Microwave operators. DUBUS are currently looking for a new Irish distributor and also request that the former DUBUS subscribers should get in contact with them if they want to continue their subscription.


Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News should be forwarded to Mark EI7IS. News should be submitted via e-mail to news@irts.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 Fridays.

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