Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 11th October 2015
Amateur Station Licence Examination
Friday next, the 16th of October is the closing date for applications for the next Amateur Station Licence Examination which will be held on Thursday, 5th 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.
Remember, the closing date for receipt of completed applications is Friday next, 16th October. Three Exam Reports which were previously published in Echo Ireland are 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. Intending candidates are advised to pay particular attention to the syllabus for the examination especially Annexes 1 and 2.
South Eastern Amateur Radio Group
The South Eastern Amateur Radio group would like to inform people of a change to their website address. The old website address www.searg.com is now invalid and our new website address is www.searg.ie We look forward to receiving many hits on our new website location.
The Saturday workshop talks from the AGM weekend held back in April are now available for viewing on the SEARG You-Tube channel. All four talks from Paul O’Kane EI5DI, David Deane EI9FBB, Don Field G3XTT and Greg Mossop G0DUB can be viewed at www.youtube.com The South Eastern Amateur Radio Group would like to thank Eoghan Kinane EI5HBB for all his hard work in producing the videos for YouTube.
Final preparations are now being made for the theory classes, which we hope to start in the coming weeks. We do have a small number of places available and if anyone is interested please contact Mark EI7IS or Sean EI2HZB as soon as possible.
For up-to-date news about the South Eastern Amateur Radio Group and it’s actives you can check our website www.searg.ie and you can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Scouts Jamboree on the Air JOTA
The annual Scouts Jamboree on the Air, JOTA, takes place over the weekend 17th and 18th October next. This is an event where scouts and amateur radio operators come together and make contact with scouts in other countries around the world to exchange greetings. The event is open to all and you are requested to simply contact your local scout group if you have an interest in participating. IRTS can provide you with an Operators Briefing document if you have not taken part before. We already know of a number of stations planning to operate from EI and GI.
Paul EI2CA, is organising a major station in Navan to facilitate a number of scout groups in the North East. They are in need of some additional operators on Saturday the 17th and if you can help out contact Paul on 087 2523908. His details are also on the IRTS website.
We have a second enquiry from a scout group in Raphoe County Donegal who will be on an exercise in the Blue Stack mountains over the weekend of the event. This scout group is now looking for a licensed operator, close by in the Donegal region, to mount a short SOTA or AREN type operation for them on the Saturday evening. Again contact Paul EI2CA if you can help.
Mayo Radio Experimenters Network.
The Mayo Radio Experimenters held their annual A.G.M. on Wednesday evening 7th October at 9.30pm in the Welcome Inn Hotel, Castlebar. There was a good attendance on the night. The outgoing Chairman Padraic Baynes EI9JA thanked everybody who attended meetings and activities and helped out at all the events over the last year. The Sectary Brendan Minish EI6IZ reported on correspondence with the IRTS and other business. He also reported on his handling of all QSL cards going to and fro - from the clubs’ activities over the past year. The Treasurer Adrian Healy EI2HAB, gave a report on all the clubs expenditure for the year.
The assembled meeting discussed possible club activities for the forthcoming year. However, no firm decisions were made and final decisions will be made nearer to the dates.
The new committee elected for the coming year are: Chairman: Jimmy Kelly EI2GCB, Sectary: Brendan Minish EI6IZ, Treasurer: Adrian Healy EI2HAB, Pro: John O Grady EI8GIB, IRTS Rep: Gerry Cregg EI4GD, Rally Director: Padraic Baynes EI9JA. QSL Manager: Brendan Minish EI6IZ.
North Cork Radio Group
NCRG would like to advise that the Seefin Mountain repeater (SMR) is back on the air. News is read every Tuesday evening at 8.30pm and we welcome any reports on the reception of the bulletin. The frequency is 430.925mHz.
The 5MHz Newsletter
Paul G4MWO writes to let us know that the latest edition of The 5 MHz Newsletter – Summer 2015 (No.14) is now available for free download in PDF format from
It can also be found in the ‘external links’ section of the Wiki 60 Meter Band page and on the RSGB 5MHz page.
This 5th Birthday edition includes news on the CEPT European Common Proposal for an amateur 5MHz secondary allocation for WRC15, 5MHz allocations in Hungary, Oman, The Netherlands and Honduras. An updated listing of WebSDRs covering 5MHz. A Pyramid Antenna for 5MHz and the new FSQ datamode, optimised for NVIS. All this is tinged with sadness though, as we also report the passing of one of our regular contributors, details of which can be found within the newsletter.
DX News
A 12-man German Expedition Team will operate as V73D from Majuro in the Marshall Islands from 13th to 28th October. They will be QRV with four stations on all bands CW, SSB and RTTY. IOTA reference is OC-029 and QSLs should go via ClubLog OQRS.
Jay K4ZLE will be in Uganda until 19th October. During his spare time he will operate as 5X2A, mainly on CW but also some RTTY. QSL to his home call.
A multi-national team will sign D4D from Boa Vista in the Cape Verde Islands from 17th to 24th October. They will be on 80m to 6m SSB, CW and RTTY. QSL Manager is EB7DX.
Two Polish operators will be in Macao from 16th to 28th October. Their callsign will be announced in due course and will have an XX9 prefix. The operators are SP9FIH and SP2FUD and both have experience of handling pile-ups in various parts of the world.
Oliver W6NV will be QRV as ZD7W from St Helena from 14th October to 2nd November. He will be active on all bands 160m to 10m SSB and CW and will participate in the Worked All Germany CW Contest and the CQ WW DX SSB Contest during his stay. QSL to his home call.
Oliver EI8GQB will be active between 6th to 30th October 2015. He will use his caravan using green electric energy from the top of a windy Irish hill.
He will activate the callsign EI1A whilst participating in the Worked All Germany Contest (October 17th to 18th) and the CQ WW DX SSB contest (October 24th to 25th)
He will also operate with a new SO2R optimized antenna farm. Look at www.qrz.com/db/ei8gqb to follow him live with his new array of antennas
The Irish Hour
The Irish Hour continues to meet on Sundays at 1700 Z on 21317 kHz (St. Patrick frequency) in spite of poor band conditions and the latest series of solar storms. Keep an ear out on the frequency.
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.
[A]
