Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 18th October 2015
IRTS News Services
The closing date for submissions for publication in the December edition of Echo Ireland is November 15th.
Radio News and EI-News rely on individuals and clubs to submit news items that are of interest to members.
Please make an effort to send newsworthy items to newsteam/at/irts/dot/ie on a regular basis.
IRTS Web Site
The design and page layout of the IRTS web site www.irts.ie has been updated to make it compatible with smartphones and tablet computers as well as laptops and desktop PCs. Currently, almost 30% of visitors to the IRTS site are using small handheld devices that require a fluid and adaptable page layout.
The site content remains largely the same as before and includes information on amateur radio and on topics such as how to get a licence, forthcoming rallies and contests as well as the services provided by the society to members. The site also includes the text of the weekly news bulletins; in fact, the weekly news scripts since February 1998 - more than 900 news scripts in all - are available in the News Bulletin Archives section, providing a unique and detailed history of amateur radio in Ireland since 1998. See the home page on www.irts.ie or look at www.irts.ie/sitemap to get a full picture of the site content.
Contest Calendar and Rules
The IRTS contest calendar for 2016 includes a number of changes from previous years. As signalled in the latest issue of Echo Ireland, the 80 metres Summer counties contest has been dropped, but an additional 40 metres contest, to be held in the Autumn, has been added. In addition, we will be running two one-hour evening 80 metres counties contests - an SSB contest in February and a CW event in November.
The contest rules have been updated. The updates include two principal changes: firstly, the requirement to pre-register Field Day contest stations has been dropped. Secondly, a bonus arrangement to encourage greater emphasis on CW is being introduced for the mixed mode sections of the HF counties contests. Look at www.irts.ie/contests for the 2016 calendar and rules.
IOTA Contest Results
Provisional results for the 2015 IOTA contest, which took place last July, have now been published. Most contestants reported poor HF conditions, so scores were somewhat lower than last year. 17 logs were submitted by EI and GI stations, see our contest results page www.irts.ie/results for a link to their results.
In other IOTA news, the RSGB have announced the setting up of a new organisation called the IOTA Foundation, which will manage the IOTA programme in partnership with RSGB. One of the tasks for the new organisation will be to develop a new online credit system, to be completed in 2017.
CEPT Conference Preparatory Group Proposals for WRC-15
The CEPT Conference Preparatory Group has held its final meeting leading up to World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 (WRC-15). Delegates to the meeting, which took place in Bergen, Norway, adopted the final European Common Proposals for WRC-15 and agreed on possible agenda items for future WRCs.
Of particular interest to the Amateur Service was the adoption of a European Common Proposal for a 100kHz allocation between 5350kHz and 5450kHz. This proposal represents the views of the majority of CEPT countries with the exception of Azerbaijan, France, Germany, Romania and the Russian Federation. The proposal will be included in the documents for discussion under Agenda Item 1.4 of WRC-15
Two possible Region 1-specific items for inclusion on the agenda of a future WRC are Agenda Item 1.2 -- to consider a primary allocation of 50-54MHz to the Amateur Service, and Agenda Item 1.4 -- to consider a possible harmonized Amateur Service allocation in the band 1800-2000kHz, based on studies regarding Amateur Service spectrum requirements. These proposals will be discussed in Committee 6 at WRC-15, and hopefully at least one will be considered for inclusion in the agenda for the next WRC. WRC-15 takes place in November next.
Clubs Holding Radio Theory Classes
The following radio clubs are holding radio theory classes: -
The Cork Radio Club. Names are still being taken for a prospective course for the amateur licence exam and anyone interested in either the course or the club should contact Dave EI4BZ on 087-6290574 or by Email to ei4bz /at/ eircom.net.
South Eastern Amateur Radio Group is organising radio theory classes. Anyone interested may contact Mark EI7IS or Seany EI2HZB. www.searg.ie You can follow SEARG on Facebook and on Twitter. Everyone welcome.
South Dublin Radio Club welcome enquiries and participants to partake in learning the radio theory necessary to obtain an amateur radio licence. www.southdublinradioclub.ie
Region 4 radio theory classes in the Limerick region. Interested parties are asked to contact Ger EI4GXB QTHR or on mobile 087-2532512.
Avondhu Radio Club are running classes over the coming winter months. For further information please contact: avondhuradioclub /at/ gmail.com
New IOTA Foundation
Islands on the Air (IOTA) celebrated its 50th anniversary as a premier DX programme in July 2014.
The RSGB are pleased to announce that a new organisation will be formed and it will be called the IOTA Foundation. IOTA enthusiasts, who will manage the IOTA programme in partnership with the RSGB, will run it. A major task for the new organisation will be to develop a new online credit system that is due to be completed in 2017.
Seefin Mountain Repeater
The North Cork Radio Group 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.
DX News
Three well-known US operators, AA4NC, AA4VK and WA4DAN, will be QRV from Fernando de Noronha from 19th to 27th October. They will sign PY0F/homecall and plan to be active on all bands 160-6m SSB, CW and RTTY.
Jose LU1FM will activate San Andres Island from 17th to 27th October using the callsign 5J0B. He will be on all bands 160m to 6m SSB and digital. QSLs go via the home call.
Beth MW0VOW will be back in Mozambique and signing C91B from 20th October to 3rd November. She will be accompanied by John ZS5J who also holds the callsign C91J.
A team of Cuban and US operators will operate as T42US from Havana from 21st to 28th October. They will also participate in the CQ WW DX SSB Contest on the weekend of 24th/25th October. Direct QSLs go via WB2REM and Bureau QSLs via K9DIG.
To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the United Nations the UN HQ Amateur Radio Club 4U1UN will be active as 4U70UN on 24th/25th October. QSL Manager is HB9BOU.
2m Nets
The South Eastern Amateur Radio Group have a 2m net on Tuesday nights after the IRTS weekly news. This is to promote the use of the band, which has seen a decline in use. The intended frequency used is 145.400MHz and net has had many stations calling in since its introduction. Everyone welcome to join in.
Fingal Radio Club and Dermot EI2HD continue their 2m call-in on Wednesday and every Wednesday at 7p.m. Please try and give your support by getting on the air. Keep 2metres alive. The frequency is 145.7625MHz, CTCSS 88.5KHz on the Dublin repeater
John EI5HI/A65HL
John EI5HL has just passed his UAE amateur radio exam and has a call sign A65Hl. There are only about 10 A65 ex-pat call signs in Abu Dhabi and John will be active on all bands shortly.
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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