Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 17th January 2016
Return of Cups and Trophies
The 2016 IRTS AGM will be held on the weekend of the 9th and 10th April. Jim Holohan EI4HH Awards Manager, requests that the 2015 Cup and Trophy award holders return their awards as soon as possible, this makes it much easier for the Awards Committee to prepare them for the new recipients. Cups and Trophies can be returned to Peter EI4HX at QTHR or to any IRTS Committee Member. Also, anybody who intends to enter a project for the Folan Shield (home constructed equipment) should familiarise themselves with the rules and requirements in order to avoid embarrassment to all parties on the day.
Contest Rules
Following consultation with contesters, the committee has decided to update the IRTS contest rules in two areas. The first area relates to remote stations: these are permitted under the existing rules, however there were no guidelines as to acceptable use. The new General Contest Rules specify a number of limitations on remote operation in our contests, including the fact that the operator must be physically in the same DXCC entity as the remote station, also remote transmitters or receivers outside the station location are not permitted.
The second area dealt with in the latest amendments to the Rules is the use of the DX Cluster. Recognising that the cluster is generally accepted and used in VHF/UHF contests, the Rules now permit the use of the cluster in VHF/UHF Field Day, however the cluster may not be used for posting messages or arranging skeds, nor is self-spotting or asking to be spotted permitted. The prohibition on cluster use for other contests remains.
See www.irts.ie/contests for the full contest calendar and rules.
IRTS Committee Meeting 9th January 2016
A Committee meeting was held in Portlaoise on January 9th. Seán EI7CD expressed a desire to move aside from his role as the Society’s IARU Representative after lengthy service. All present thanked Seán for his unparalleled service in that role. It was agreed to appoint Dave Court EI3IO as the Society’s IARU Representative and also to the position of HF Manager. Dave is a member of the Executive Committee of IARU Region 1. Seán EI7CD will continue as ComReg Liaison and in his role on the Licence Examination Board.
At the meeting, John Owen-Jones EI1EM was appointed to the position of Minutes Secretary; Micheal Foertig EI3GYB is the new IARUMS Coordinator. The purpose of the IARU Monitoring Service is to defend the amateur bands against non-authorised use.
A full list of IRTS Officers is available at www.irts.ie/officers
The Next IRTS Committee Meeting Saturday 20th February
The next Committee Meeting will be on Saturday 20th February in Athlone. Members who wish to have an issue raised at the meeting should contact the Secretary Ger EI4GXB at secretary(at)irts.ie
St. Patrick’s Day on the Air
Amateur Radio Operators are encouraged to get on the air on St. Patrick’s Day March 17th 2016 and receive the annual St. Patrick’s Day award. The sole aim of this one- day award is to enjoy the festivities and connect with other stations across the world. If you wish to find out more details or to register a station for the day, then go to stpatrickaward.webs.com
Fingal Radio Club EI2FRC
The call in on the 2 metres repeater that is operated by Fingal Radio Club EI2FRC, and Dermot EI2HD, on Wednesday evenings at 7pm will change in the first week in February.
The day will change from Wednesday to Thursday and the time will change from 7pm to 7.30pm on Thursdays. Therefore as and from Wednesday 3rd February 2016 there will be no 2 metre call in, however tune in on the Thursday 4th February at 7.30pm and the usual callers will be there. Please support this initiative and keep 2 metres alive. Remember if you don’t use it you may loose it.
UKEICC DX CW Contest
The first annual DX CW contest sponsored by the UK and Ireland Contest Club takes place next weekend 23rd and 24th January. It runs for 24 hours starting at noon on Saturday.
Everyone is welcome to take part. Multipliers are UK and EI districts, and other DXCC countries on each band from 80 to 10m. The exchange is your Serial and 2-character District Code. There's no need to exchange reports, if only because they don't mean anything in contests.
EI and UK contesters compete on equal terms. You'll need to know your District Code - they are listed in the rules at ukeicc.com together with the results of the December DX SSB contest.
DX News
A major DXpedition to the South Sandwich Islands and South Georgia Island is scheduled to start around 17th January. Members of the Intrepid DX Group will first of all spend 8 days operating from South Thule Island in the South Sandwich Islands. They will use the callsign VP8STI. They then travel to South Georgia where they will sign VP8SGI for a further 8 days. Up-to-date details can be found on www.intrepid-dx.com/vp8/
Leo PP1CZ returns to the island of Fernando de Noronha from 19th to 26th January. He will be using the callsign PY0F/PP1CZ. QSL info is direct to his home QTH.
Bertrand DF3FS makes his third trip to Kenya from 23rd January to 7th February. As before he will operate holiday-style using the callsign 5Z4/DF3FS.
Stig SM3PHM will be on holiday from 17th January to 3rd February on the Caribbean island of Dominica. His callsign will be J79M. QSL via his home call and also Logbook of The World.
Coolmine Rally February 2016
The Coolmine Rally operated by the Phoenix Amateur Radio Club will take place at Coomine Communicaty School, Grove Road, Dublin 15, D15 FW97 on Sunday 14th February 2016. Doors open 10am.
Contact number for enquiries, tables etc Tony 087 2439997
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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