Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 1st April 2018
Counties Contests
Tomorrow, Easter Monday, there are two short IRTS counties contests, a one-hour 70cms contest at 1pm local time, followed by a two-hour 2 metres contest at 2pm. Both contests have mixed mode SSB/FM and FM-only sections.
Full details are at www.irts.ie/contests note in particular the permitted SSB frequencies and FM channels, also the QSY Rule that applies to FM channels only.
Amateur Station Licence Examination
The next Amateur Station Licence Examination will be held on Thursday 31st May in the ComReg Offices in Dublin. Some applications have already been received.
As places are limited and are allocated on a first come first served basis those intending to sit the examination should apply soon. 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. It is important to note that even 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 Thursday 17th May.
Five 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.
International Marconi Day 2018
International Marconi Day celebrates the huge part Guglielmo Marconi played in the development of wireless.
IMD is a 24 hour amateur radio event that is held annually to celebrate the birth of Marconi on 25 April 1874. In 2018 it will be held on 21st April from 0000 UTC to 2359 UTC
The purpose of the day is for amateur radio enthusiasts around the world to make contact with Historic Marconi Sites using communication techniques similar to those used by Marconi himself. This is not a contest but awards are made to stations contacting a requisite number of registered Award Stations. For a list of Award stations go to gx4crc.com/imd-stations/
The Howth Martello Radio Group will be activating EI0MAR from the Martello tower in Howth again this year. In 1905 the tower was a receiving station set up to demonstrate the Marconi system to engineering staff from the British Post Office in support of an application for a contract for wireless telegraphy. The Royal Mail Ship Monarch with wireless telegraphy transmitting equipment on board sailed to various locations in the Irish Sea and its signals were monitored and logged in Howth.
EI0MAR plans to be QRV from about 0800 to 1800 UTC as an Award Station and invites visitors to the event. Especially welcome will be operators willing to give some time to go on air either on phone or CW. You can contact the station manager Tony EI5EM by telephone on 087-2147531 or by email "ei0mar /at/ eircom /dot/ net" if interested to operate on the day.
IRTS Annual General Meeting
On the 14th and 15th April are two dates for your calendar.
We need to finalise those wishing to attend the dinner as soon as possible so please purchase your tickets from the IRTS Website or email Steve EI5DD “wrights1 /at/ eircom /dot/ net”
Lectures will be held on Saturday afternoon from 2pm. On Sunday the Rally will take place in a spacious conference hall located underneath the Hotel. The Rally is to be held on Sunday the 15th April with Doors opening a 10:00 am earlier than most rallys! There will be representation from 8 Radio Groups/Clubs around the country. We have 10 Traders and possibly some individuals - Please note that tables have to be booked by emailing Steve Wright at the above email address.
Meals will be available on Sunday in the Carvery for all the weary travellers prior to the AGM.
There are numerous B&Bs in the area of Salthill which may be found on the B&B finders on the internet. Those wishing to travel should note that the it is easy to get either a Bus or Taxi from the Train/Bus Station to the Galway Bay Hotel. The Galway Bay Hotel is approximately 3 miles from the station.
If you have a free travel pass this is ideal for the journey as it will cost you nothing to come to Galway for the Day on either the train or bus.
EI-DX Group
A little reminder that the EI-DX Group are currently active from Malawi on their annual dx-pedition, signing 7Q7EI. They are active on all HF bands using CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8 modes until April 2nd. They will be listening out in particular for EI callsigns so make sure to get in their log. QSL via Charles M0OXO,LOTW & via the buro. Uploads will be made to Clublog daily if possible.
IECRO Ireland Radio Club - EI0IPN
Are you or any of your friends interested in sitting the HAREC examination in June? The IECRO Ireland radio club will be running a number of rapid revision classes in various villages throughout the midlands over the next few weeks to boost the knowledge of any candidates wishing to maximise their chances of success in the forthcoming exam. Demonstrations of various modes on UHF/VHF and HF will be provided. All interested candidates are welcome to attend. For additional information and to book a place, please email Jay “info /dot/ iecro /at/ gmail /dot/ com”
EI100MCV – OPERATORS REQUIRED
A reminder that any operators who wish to use the event call sign EI100MCV this year should contact Dave at “dave /dot/ ei6al /at/ gmail /dot/ com”. Anyone who operates the call sign must forward an ADIF log by email to Dave EI6AL. Dave will maintain a master log and will do the necessary upload to Clublog.
Limerick Radio Club
LRC wishes to thank all who attended our Rally last Sunday 25th March, including Traders, Bring & Buy, other club stalls and LRC club members, who helped make it a success. There were some nice raffle prizes on offer including 60 minutes on a Boeing 737 Simulator, donated by Atlantic Air Adventures, Shannon; along with two tickets to the IRTS AGM Dinner (donated by LRC) and items of equipment.
Brendan EI0CZ, Harry EI2KL and Tom EI5CA continue with Morse Practice, on the Limerick 2 metre repeater after the IRTS News at 20:00 on Mondays, and at 20:00 on Tuesdays.
DX News
An 8 man French team will be QRV from St Brandon Island with the callsign 3B7A from 5th – 17th April. This is an experienced DX team having been to Tromelin (FT4TA) in 2014 and Juan de Nova (FT4JA) in 2016. QSL via Club Log OQRS.
It is over 20 years since IOTA reference OC-265 has been activated. The good news is that Andy VK5MAV will be QRV from Cato Reef signing VK5MAV/9 from 9th – 18th April. QSL via Club Log OQRS.
Gab HB9TSW will be with the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo until 19th April. Look for him using his Z68BG callsign on 80 – 17m CW during his spare time. QSLs go via his home call.
Mike CT1IUA is active as D4IA from the Cape Verde Islands until 9th April. Activity will be mainly on CW and QSL to his home call. IOTA reference is AF-086.
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, Mark EI6HPB on 086 355 2370.
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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