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IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 26th October 2014


Good News on 70 MHz

Some time back Dave EI3IO launched an initiative to try to secure a line in the European Common frequency Allocation table (ECA) that would provide for the granting of spectrum in the segment 69.9 to 70.5 MHz to the amateur service on a secondary basis and to amend Footnote EU9 to the table to state that CEPT administrations may allocate all or parts of that band to the Amateur service . The documentation which Dave drafted, which included briefing for National Societies, was adopted by IARU Region 1 and support was obtained from Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Iceland and Ireland. The documentation explained that about thirty CEPT administrations had already allowed national amateur use of the band but that some remaining CEPT countries required a clear regulatory decision before they were able to open all, or parts of this band to secondary two-way amateur usage.

Dave EI3IO, representing IARU Region 1, presented the proposal at the recent meeting in France of CEPT's European Communications Committee Frequency Management Working Group. The proposal received the support of more than ten CEPT administrations and was adopted. This excellent outcome does not necessarily mean that frequencies between 69.9 and 70.5 MHz will be immediately available in all CEPT countries but it does, however, provide a clear basis for IARU member societies to seek a 4 metre allocation from their national licensing authority.

The ECA is approved, revised and published by the ECC once per year. It is expected that the revision incorporating the changes regarding 70 MHz will be published in the summer of 2015. This is another excellent example of what can be achieved by amateurs working together within the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU).


UKEICC 80m SSB Contest

The first 80m SSB contest organised by the UK & Ireland Contest Club took place last Wednesday evening (22 October), with the results announced only eighteen minutes after the one-hour deadline for uploading logs. There was a record number of entries from Ireland, thirteen from EI and two from GI. The outright winner of the low-power section was Ger EI4GXB, with Oliver EI8GQP close behind in third place. In the high-power section, Pat EI9HX and Mark EI6JK were placed third and fourth.

Entrants who have error-free logs get a bonus of 20% of their score, to be applied in the Club's next 80m contest on 26th November - this time it will be CW. The full results are posted at ukeicc.com.


Limerick Radio Club

Brendan EI0CZ has been running CW classes on the Limerick Radio Club 2M repeater over the last month or so on Monday & Thursday nights. Classes begin after the Monday night news and at 20.00 local on Thursday nights.

The club are indebted to Brendan for giving his time and expertise to these classes.


DX News

A team of experienced French operators will be active as FT4TA from the Indian Ocean island of Tromelin from 30 October – 10 November. This is the first activity from here since the FR/F6KDF/T expedition in the year 2000. Tromelin is at No. 10 in the most wanted DXCC lists.

The well-known DXer Toshi JA8BMK will be in Nepal from 31 October – 20 November. He will operate holiday style on all bands using the callsign 9N7BM. QSLs go via his home call.

Another chance to work Nepal is 9N7CJ who is there until 4 November. This is Joel F3CJ who is on a trekking holiday in the country.

The DXCC entity of Guantanamo Bay will see activity from W4WV and KE4KDY using the calls KG4WV and KG4DY until 30 October. This will be mainly SSB and QSL to the home call.


Amateur Station Licence Examination

The next Amateur Station Licence Examination will be held on Thursday, 27th November in the ComReg Offices in Dublin. Full details, including entry procedure, examination fee and how to pay the fee on line are available at www.irts.ie/exam . Please note that it is necessary to download the application form from the web page and forward the completed form and the appropriate fee so as to secure a place for the examination. If you pay the fee on line you must still complete and forward the application form. The closing date for receipt of completed applications is Tuesday 11th November. Three Exam Reports which were previously published in Echo Ireland are now available on the Downloads section of the website at www.irts.ie/downloads under Studying for the Harmonised Amateur Radio Examination Certificate. These reports contain very useful information for anyone studying for the Licence Examination


Items for inclusion in next week’s Radio News can be submitted via e-mail to “newsteam /at/ irts / dot / ie” for automatic forwarding to both the radio and printed news services. Urgent news items for the radio news may be telephoned to the radio news editor, Aidan, EI7JC on 085 7100511.

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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