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IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 13th June 2010


Silent Key

EI4Z Tom O'Donnell who was in his mid-nineties and the oldest living EI passed away last weekend. in St. Mary's Hospital in the Phoenix Park after a long illness, against which he battled courageously.

This sad news was relayed by his son Philip, an ex-radio officer, who said of his father “He came from an era when ships were made of wood and men were made of steel.” Shortly before his death, Tom made Philip promise to carry on the EI4Z call-sign and wrote to Comreg expressing his wish.

As Philip already holds a PMG certificate, we hope to hear the EI4Z call QRV soon again activated by Philip.

To Philip, Joan, Ray and all the family we extend our deepest sympathy on Tom's death. May he rest in peace.


Revised Syllabus for the Amateur Station Licence

Examination Approved

Following positive discussions with ComReg in March and the subsequent submission of a very detailed document by the IRTS Examinations Board, ComReg has now approved a revised syllabus for the Amateur Station Licence Examination. The revised syllabus will be effective for examinations held from 1 January 2011 onwards.

In the five years since IRTS took over responsibility for the theory examination, the Examinations Board of the Society has compiled a significant question pool and has gained considerable experience in setting, organising and correcting the theory examination for an amateur radio Licence.

It was this experience, coupled with feedback from candidates and tutors, as well as some changes in emphasis on the requirements for a licence that convinced the Society that it was time to provide a more structured and focused syllabus for the theory examination.

The objective of the revised syllabus is not in any way to lower the standard of the examination but rather to better reflect the topics to be covered for the examination and to assist candidates and tutors to understand the extent and depth of knowledge required on the various topics.

The revised syllabus mirrors the structure and format of the examination, which is not being changed, and outlines for each subsection the topics that need to be covered. In addition, for each subsection there is a ‘Notes for Candidates’ section to help tutors and candidates organise their work in preparing for the examination in a more focused and meaningful way.

As at present, the revised syllabus is for an examination leading to a Harmonised Amateur Radio Examination Certificate (HAREC) and has been approved by ComReg as complying with CEPT Recommendation T/R 61-02.

We wish to express our sincere thanks to the staff of the Spectrum Licensing Division of ComReg for their constructive approach to this matter and for the timeframe within which approval for the revised syllabus was granted.

The web page at www.irts.ie/syllabus contains a link to the revised syllabus.

The 2011 syllabus is being published now in order to give as much notice as possible to tutors and prospective examination candidates of the changes. However, it is important to note that examinations held up to the end of 2010 will be based on the existing syllabus contained in the document “Studying for the Amateur Radio Examination” which is available for download from the IRTS web site.


Theory Examination

It is now less than two weeks to the closing date for the next Theory Examination for the Amateur Station Licence which will be held on Wednesday, 7 July at 2 p.m. in the ComReg Offices in Dublin and at the Limerick institute of Technology.

If you intend sitting the examination and have not yet applied to do so and paid the appropriate fee you should do so immediately.

For information on examination fees and other details see ‘Theory Examination’ in the Information section of the IRTS website at www.irts.ie The latest date for receipt of applications to sit the examination is Wednesday 23 June.


Class turns the tables on Instructors

In a show of their appreciation the Region 4 Theory Class in Limerick have presented Trophies to their Instructors. A class Rep has been in contact with the News Desk to have this item mentioned and to make it known that the Class appreciates the hard work, commitment, time & dedication shown to them by their Instructors recognized.

The trophies ware presented in the past week to Ger EI4GXB & Simon EI7ALB. Gerry EI3JU will receive his Trophy upon his return from his holidays. Thank you once again from your former candidates of the Limerick Region 4 Class. .


CQ Help for Friedrichshafen

The Society will again have a stand this year at the Friedrichshafen Rally from 25th to 27th June. Anyone travelling to the rally that is willing to give a couple of hours to help staff the stand please contact Seán EI7CD on 01-2851599 or by e mail to ei7cd /at/ gofree.indigo.ie


Theory Classes in Clane

Michael EI2GKB who has run very successful classed in the South Dublin Radio Club intends to run classes for the Amateur Station Licence examination in Scoil Mhuire, Clane, Co. Kildare in the autumn. If you are interested please contact Michael on 087-2481970.


CW Field Day

A number of groups operated under field day conditions last weekend for the annual CW Field Day. Shannon Basin Radio Club and South Dublin Radio Club both operated from the grounds of Garbally College in Ballinasloe, County Galway. During the 24 hours of the contest, the Shannon Basin group overcame problems with their computer, their antenna and the generator - all the elements that make up an enjoyable field day weekend!

The Dundalk Amateur Radio Society took up residence for the contest on Howth Head and reports suggest that they finished with a very satisfactory score. Other groups operating portable for the contest were in Wexford and Kinsale. All the groups reported good conditions on the higher bands - with good sporadic-E openings on 10 and 15 metres providing plenty of QSOs with field day stations in Continental Europe. Conditions on the lower bands were particularly difficult, with more than the usual level of atmospheric noise on Top Band in particular.


Portable Satellite Operation

Dave Ryan EI4HT / M0GIW be operating /P on Satellite from the following locaions over the next few weeks.

10th to the 29th of June from Pembroke Dock in the afternoons and from Rosslare Harbour in the evenings as passes allow. He will also be receive only when Maritime Mobile between Pembroke Dock and Rosslare Harbour each day as work allows.

During this time Dave hopes to also try some SSTV / P if anyone is about in the Wexford area. From 1st July to the 16th July Dave will be operating from Paphos in Cyprus from KM 64 ES.

Dave’s plan is to use Satellites AO51 & HO68 as the schedule allows. And APRS on ISS if active. Also APRS as nodes are available whilst out and about, Should be visible on www.aprs.fi as EI4HT-7

Dave will be using the following equipment. Kenwood Thd-7 and Kenwood VC-H1 for SSTV if sat schedule allows. Garmin e-trex for APRS. Antenna ARROW dual band satellite antenna.

The following callsigns depending on locations. EI4HT/p M0GIW/p and 5B4 / EI4HT / P from Cyprus.


New Yahoo APRS Group

The primary goal of this new group is to try to encourage APRS activity in the Northern Counties. The group is open to all Country wide the Groups address is as follows.

groups.yahoo.com/group/APRS-NI/


South Dublin Radio Club news

Declan Craig EI6FR will be giving a talk titled "IOTA and DX petitioning" on Tuesday 15th June at Terenure college at 8pm sharp. Visitors are welcome. The club is also running radio exam classes every week as usual.

Directions and information is available on the website: www.southdublinradioclub.ie


Wicklow Radio Club

The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 23rd June at 7:30 in the Glebe National School.


History this Week

1902 Colour TV patented by Otto von Bronk, Germany.

1909 SS Slavonia first to use SOS distress signal, sank off Azores.


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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