Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday September 28th 2008
Silent Key
We are sorry to have to inform you of the death of Peter Gleeson EI2CP of Killaloe. Peter died peacefully at his home on Friday, 12 September. Peter was for many years a regular caller in to the 80 metre Sunday radio News bulletin and was well known, particularly in the mid-west and will be missed by all his friends in amateur radio. To his daughter Anne, her family and to Peter’s extended family and friends we offer our sincerest sympathy.
Radio Theory Examination Material
Anyone studying for the forthcoming theory examination - or indeed any experimenter who wants to learn more - should note that the IRTS web site has links to numerous sources of information about radio theory.
Exam candidates will no doubt have a copy of the "Examination Notes and Sample Paper", available on the Downloads Page. This document includes a copy of the full HAREC syllabus. The Downloads page also includes other useful reading material such as the handbook "Ethics and Operating Procedures for the Radio Amateur" (mentioned in a recent radio news bulletin) and copies of IARU band plans.
The page "Where do I Start?" has some key links - including details of how to order the CD-based "Radio Experimenter's Examination Course Guide" as well as links to ComReg's Experimenters Pages, which are well worth a visit. Finally, we suggest browsing to the "Radio Theory" page, which has over 20 links to sites containing a wealth of relevant information, including sample examination papers. While the range and complexity of topics covered in some of these sites is beyond the requirements of the HAREC Syllabus, they do include some very helpful material.
Theory Examination
The next Theory Examination for the Experimenters licence will be held on Thursday the 30th of October at 2p.m. in the ComReg Offices in Dublin. Places for the examination will be allocated on a first come first served basis and will only be reserved on receipt of the examination fee. Intending candidates should forward the appropriate fee to Sean Nolan EI7CD, 12 Little Meadow, Pottery Road, Dunlaoghaire, Co. Dublin in order to reserve a place for the exam.
The fee is 50 Euro or 25 Euro for full-time registered students, repeat candidates and those who are retired, unemployed or have a disability. Cheques and Money Orders should be made payable to the IRTS . When forwarding the exam fee intending candidates should enclose their postal address as well as phone and e-mail contact details.
The closing date is Friday the 17th of October. Photo ID required to sit the exam. The photo ID can be a driving licence, a passport, an employment photo identity card or a student card containing a photograph. A national Garda photo ID would also be acceptable.
Sean EI7CDs address can also be found in the IRTS call book or in the call book section of the IRTS website at www.irts.ie .Sean's e-mail address for any further enquiries is"ei7cd at gofree dot indigo dot ie".
The examination consists of a question paper of 60 Mltiple-choice questions divided into three main sections A, B and C and the time allowed is two hours. The pass mark is 60% and a pass is required in each of the three main sections of the paper. We wish all intending candidates the best of luck in the examination
Wexford VHF Group
The Wexford VHF Group with Network Southern Area Radio Experimenters' Club using the callsign EI9E/P was the leading overseas entry in the RSGB's VHF National Field Day held over the first weekend in July. The group was placed second in the Open section. There were 14 entries in the Open section and 63 entries in total. The results have been posted on the RSGB VHF contest committee website at www.vhfcc.org/results/08/nfd/nfd.html
The group operated on all five bands from 50 MHz to 1296 MHz from the White Mountain in Co. Wexford.
MRG VHF / UHF Challenge 2008
The MRG Group are currently receiving logs from participating stations and will announce the winners soon after the final submission date for the logs. Contest Logs to be forwarded to “ei2mrg at yahoo dot com” arriving no later than 7th October 2008. Logs received after this date will not count towards any award.
2 Metre Counties Contest Results
Apologies for the late publication of the results of the 2 Metre Spring Counties Contest which was in part due to a change in Contest Manager. The high power portable section was won by the Shannon Basin Club EI2SBC/P with 73 QSO’s, 21 counties and 7959 points operating from Longford. The outside EI winner in this section was Martin Hunter MI0CLP/P with 37 QSO’s, 17 counties and 2431 points operating from Armagh.
The low power portable section was won by Joe Ryan EI7GY/P with 68 QSO’s, 20 counties and 6670 points operating from Laois. The high power fixed section was won by was won by Joe Fadden EI3IX with 30 QSO’s, 8 counties and 622 points operating from Mayo. The outside EI winner of this section was George McHugh GI4SRQ with 16 QSO’s, 8 counties and 352 points operating from Armagh.
The low power fixed section was won by Eoin Fagan EI9O with 30 QSO’s, 14 counties and 1848 points operating from Longford. The FM only single operator section was won by Peter Grant EI4HX with 38 QSO’s, 16 counties and 2928 points operating from Cavan. Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to all of the stations that took the trouble to participate. The full results are available on the Contests section of the IRTS website at www.irts.ie
Contest News
The International Police Association Radio Club (IPARC) Contest is being held 1-2 November. Further details from Uwe, DL8KCG E-mail: dl8kcg(at)darc.de
AREN News
The new AREN Handbook should be arriving by the end of September, Any AREN members who has not received one by then please contact John EI7IG at QTHr
Rallies
24th to 25th of October the Amateur Radio Show Donington Park, Leicester will take place. For details see www.lars.org.uk
On the 1st and 2nd of November, the 22nd North Wales Amateur Radio Show and Llandudno Radio Rally will take place at the new site which is the brand new John Bright high school in Llandudno,.
Evening Course at UCD
History of Radio and Television in Ireland, “Irish Broadcasting: A Social Revolution”. This autumn University College Dublin is running an evening course exploring the history of Radio and television in Ireland.
The course takes place at UCD Belfield on Monday evenings, from September 29. For further details contact UCD at (01) 716-7123.
Dundalk Radio Club
The next meeting is on the 1st October at Marconi House, 113 Castletown Road,Dundalk, Co Louth. The Club have a live link to the EI7DAR repeater from Their website www.ei7dar.com
Tipperary Amateur Radio Group
The next monthly meeting of the Tipperary Amateur Radio Group will take place on Thursday next the 2nd of October at 8.00 pm in Raheen House Hotel ,Raheen Road Clonmel.
Limerick Radio Club
The next meeting of the Club will be on the Thursday the 9th of October at the usual venue, the Limerick Institute of Technology, Moylish at 19:30 local time. All those interested are welcome to attend.
DX Bulletins
SOUTH COOK ISLANDS, E5. Bill, N7OU will be QRV as E51NOU from Rarotonga, IOTA OC-013, from September 15 to October 11. He will be active on 40 to 10 meters using only CW. QSL to home call.
Swaziland, 18-19 October David GI4FUM / EI4DJ will be active from Swaziland during JOTA using the call 3DA0JOTA . There will be a group of 20 Swazi scouts experiencing JOTA for the first time. QSL via GI4FUM - see 3DA0DJ details on “QRZ dot com”.
Swaziland, 25-26 October David GI4FUM / EI4DJ will be active during CQWW SSB from the former IRTS AFRI75 Dxpedition site & antenna farm in Hawane using the call 3DA0DJ. The 3DA0DJ call will be active from 18-28 October QSL via GI4FUM - see 3DA0DJ details on “QRZ dot com”.
Cycle 24 Sunspot
On Monday last, 22 September it was reported that for the first time in months a significant sunspot was emerging on the sun. Its magnetic polarity identified it as a new Cycle 24 sunspot. The new cycle sunspot is an encouraging sign that ‘Old Sol’ may finally be commencing a new period of activity.
For more information, visit spaceweather.com for sunspot photos and updates.
E-mail address Change
Due to very high volumes of spam e-mail, it was deemed necessary to shut down the "news at irts dot ie" address. Going forward, please send all input for the IRTS Radio News and Echo Ireland Newsletter to the new e-mail address which is "newsteam at irts dot ie". Again, the new e-mail for news input is "newsteam at irts dot ie".
Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News should be forwarded to Charlie EI8JB, via e-mail to “charlie dot Carolan at gmail dot com. Of 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 Friday in order to be guaranteed inclusion in the following Sunday’s bulletin.
[A]
