Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 16th May 2010
Theory Examination
The next theory examination for the Amateur Station Licence will be held on Wednesday, 7th July at 2pm in the ComReg Offices in Dublin and at other centres if warranted by the numbers.
Information on examination fees and other details please see 'Theory Examination' in the 'Information' section of the IRTS website at www.irts.ie
Intending candidates are also referred to 'Studying for the Amateur Radio Examination' in the 'Downloads' section of the website.
The latest date for receipt of applications to sit the examination is Wednesday, 23 June next but it is important to note that places at the exam are allocated on a first come first served basis.
AREN News
AREN members Liam EI3HK, Chris EI7AAB, Nick EI2JL and Paul EI2CA, provided assistance last weekend to the Inland Waterways Association in bringing boats between locks into the Dublin Basin for the Dublin Rally. The return leg will be on 21-23 May & anyone available to assist is requested to contact Liam EI3HK on 01-8316266 or 086-2521542
Upcoming events for AREN include the Croi cyle race in Galway on 23 May and the Galtee Walking Festival on 5 & 6th June in Tipperary. Please contact John Ronan EI7IG if you are available to help at any of these events, and new members are always welcome.
How did Amateurs get their bands?
On Tuesday May 4th, John Breen EI7BV gave a most interesting talk to South Dublin Radio Club. Titled “How did Amateur get their bands - the VHF, UHF, SHF & EHF bands”, the talk was a follow-on to one he had given last year which covered the bands below 30 MHz. A large number of club members were in attendance together with guests from the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and ComReg.
John traced the origins of amateur allocations starting with the 1947 World Radiocommunication Conference in Atlantic City. He showed how, at subsequent conferences, new frequencies were allocated, but also detailed the extent to which allocations to the amateur service were eroded with a reduction of primary and exclusive amateur bands to secondary or shared use.
John emphasised the work of IRTS and IARU nationally and internationally over the years in both obtaining and defending allocations for the amateur radio and amateur satellite services. We should all remember that without access to spectrum our hobby would be dead.
CASHOTA activation in Co Louth.
Dundalk Amateur Radio Society, will be activating St. Johns Castle, Carlingford, Co Louth. On Sat / Sunday, 29 / 30th May 2010. Castle No. EI ??? / C
WAI squares, EI Counties, and CASHOTA, conditions will be available to stations who call in, operation will be on all HF bands, and on most of the VHF / UHF bands as well. All QSL routes will be catered for.
Call sign of the station will be EI7DAR/P,
The organizers of the Carlingford Oyster Festival have invited the Dundalk ARS to demonstrate Amateur Radio to the public, and there will also be some Tall Ships in Carlingford Lough over the weekend. A good outdoor activity is expected for all the family.
Full details of the event will be available on : www.ei7dar.com and www.cashota-ireland.org/
Please run for next few weeks. WAI and grid reference will be supplied soon !
Stolen Antenna, Drogheda
The antenna is a Watson Multi-Ranger 9. It is a distinctive antenna, as many of you will know. It has a black bottom part with six headphone-like sockets, and an extendable whip. Even at its shortest it is about four feet and fully extended is more than six feet.
This particular antenna has some recently-added distinguishing features. When it was stolen, the whip was shortened for six meters. If extended by opening the little nut with a hex key, there are four further black "rings" along the whip. So if anyone is offered one of these for sale, check the whip for five black rings, marked with permanent marker.
If anyone happens to be offered one of these for sale in the next while, Anthony EI2KC would appreciate an email or a call at 086-8335055.
Alfa Romeo Special Event
Look for Frans, PC2F, to activate the special event callsign PC100AR between May 29th and June 26th.
Activity is to celebrate 100th anniversary (June 24, 1910) of the famous Italian car. Activity will be on the HF bands.
A special QSL card will be made after this period and will be sent via the Bureau or direct Also, an eQSL will be sent.
Rallies
Saturday 29th May 2010 Mid Ulster Amateur Radio Club Rally, Drumgor Youth Centre, Drumgor Heights, Craigavon Information: www.muarc.com
For further Rally info and contact details please check out the IRTS Website.
History this Week
1896 Edison patents first fluorescent electric lamp.
1897 Marconi transmits 14.5 Kms across Bristol Channel.
1897 Braun displays his cathode ray tube, Boston Exhibition
Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News should be forwarded to Charlie EI8JB, preferably via e-mail to “charlie dot carolan at gmail dot com” Or 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 Thursday in order to be guaranteed inclusion in the following Sunday’s bulletin.
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