Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday July 27th 2008
Extra Facilities for Experimenters
The 70 MHz band of 70.125 to 70.450 MHz has been released generally to experimenters. This means that any licensed experimenter may now use the band without the need to make an individual application as was the position previously. The upper power limit is 50 watts PEP and 25 watts PEP for mobile operation. This change has been made in Part IV of the licence documentation in ComReg Document No 02/77R6 of the 17th of July 2008.
ComReg has also made provision for the release of to licensed experimenters of spot frequencies in the segment 5.0 to 5.5 MHz on the basis of an individual application. The upper power limit is 200 watts PEP.
The frequencies which the IRTS agreed with the military authorities and with ComReg are four 3 kHz channels centered on 5280, 5290, 5400 and 5405 kHz. These are the same as four of the channels at present available in the UK. When permissions are issued, operators should bear in mind that three time sequenced propagation beacons operate on 5290 kHz in the UK. The application form for a licence extension to cover operation on the 5 MHz frequencies is ComReg Document No 02/07R2 and is available on the ComReg website under Latest Publications and through a link to ComReg 'Publications in 2008' on the IRTS homepage at www.irts.ie
These facilities are the result of a long period of negotiation by IRTS with ComReg and in relation to the frequencies at 5 MHz with the military authorities also. ComReg has also published an application Form for an Automatic Station, that is, a Repeater or a Beacon in ComReg Document No 08/58 and revised Radio Experimenter Guidelines in ComReg Document No 02/05R6. These documents are also available through the link to ComReg 'Publications in 2008' on the IRTS homepage at www.irts.ie
Theory Examination
Those who sat the examination for the experimenter licence on the 9th of July received their results on Monday last. This was within two weeks of the exam, which is an excellent turnround time. Of the twenty candidates who sat the examination, fifteen passed. Congratulations to them and we hope to hear them on the air soon. To those who did not pass keep up the work.
There is a good record of people passing second time round. We would urge candidates not to neglect the regulatory section of the paper. This is well covered in the IIRTS CD Course Guide. For details on this see the website at www.irts.ie
Since the IRTS took over responsibility for the examination just three years ago 146 candidates have sat the six examinations that have been held and 90 of these have passed and obtained the HAREC qualification.
New Website for Radio Amateurs
Mark Mc Nicholas (EI5GYB) is currently looking into building a website for radio amateurs. There is currently just a discussion board present but he plans to have a full site with resources for radio experimenters in Ireland.
The website is available at www.radioexperments.com
Radio Clubs, Please Update Your Information
The Autumn is typically the time of year when many of us consider joining a class or becoming involved in a new hobby. Anyone looking at amateur radio will no doubt click on the "Radio Clubs" link on the IRTS web site, where details of more than 30 clubs affiliated to the society are available. It is important that these details are up to date, so club secretaries and other officers are asked to review the information shown on the IRTS web site for their own club.
Updates or additions should be sent to the webmaster as soon as possible, as it is planned to highlight the link to the "Radio Clubs" page during the month of August. Contact the Webmaster at "pagemaster at irts dot ie".
Possible 432 MHz Tropo EI record
During a good tropo opening on the 21st of July, Robbie Phelan, EI2IP worked several EA8 stations on 144 MHz using only 50 Watts and a 10 Element DX7ZB.
He also worked EA8AVI on 432.200 MHz both on CW and SSB. It could potentially be an EI Tropo record on 432 MHz of approximately 2740 kilometres.
Robbies setup for 432 MHz consisted of an FT-847, using 50 Watts and a 19 Element Tonna at a height of 10 metres and 100 metres above sea level situated about 2.5 kilometres from Atlantic Coast. EA8AVI, Peter was only using 20 Watts. There is a video link available at youtube.com/user/ei2ip
South Eastern Amateur Radio Group
On Monday and Tuesday evening last, Roger G4ROJ gave a Kite aerial demonstration and presentation at Carriganore Campus in Waterford. Despite having no wind on the Monday night, a very enjoyable indoor presentation was given by Roger. Tuesday night however saw a slight increase in windspeed and the group returned to Carriganore Campus for an outdoor demonstration. Operation was carried out on 80 metres using a half-wave dipole suspended from a kite and also using a 5/8 wave vertical suspended from a helikite which is a combination of a kite and helium filled balloon.
A good night was enjoyed by all present. The club would like to thank Roger for the demonstration and John Ronan EI7IG for arranging the venue. Rogers web site is available at www.kiteaerials.com
Cork Radio Club
Cork Radio Club are very much looking forward to hosting the rally this year at Montenotte Hotel, Cork on Sunday the 14th of September and hope you will share the same commitment as before in the last 16 years.
Further details will be posted with regards to the location “how to get there” etc. A short video of the venue can be viewed on “you tube” URL www.youtube.com/ei5crc
The Cork Radio Club meets every Monday night at 8.30 pm at 1a Assumption Road Cork. Further details from the club Secretary, Frank Mason EI6EVB at QTHR.
Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News should be forwarded to Mark Wall, EI7IS at QTHR or by phone to 087-6302026 or 051-340850. Items for the radio news can also be faxed to 087 5 6302026. News should be submitted via e-mail to “news 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 Friday in order to be guaranteed inclusion in the following Sunday’s bulletin.
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