Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 14th July 2019
Threat to the 144 – 146 MHz Band
Allocations of the radio spectrum are agreed at World Radiocommunication Conferences which are held every four years. Members will be aware that, ahead of the next conference, a proposal has been floated by the French administration to extend existing aeronautical mobile service allocations in Region 1 to a number of additional frequency bands, including the 144 – 146 MHz band currently allocated exclusively to the amateur service. If accepted, this proposal would have very serious consequences for radio amateurs, given the importance of the 2 metre band for a variety of applications. The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) and its member societies, including IRTS, will be vigorously resisting this proposal.
See www.irts.ie/144mhz for the full background to the work being done by IRTS and IARU on this development.
Digital Voice Personal Hotspot Frequency Allocation
The frequencies used by some operators for these devices has become an issue and it has become necessary to allocate specific frequencies for their use.
434.000 Mhz & 438.800 Mhz are the two frequencies recommended so we would request anyone using a personal hotspot device to consider reprogramming their unit to one of these frequencies. Thanks for your cooperation in this matter.
Galway Digital Radio Network
The Galway Digital Radio Network have received confirmation of the Licenses EJ7IBD for the Inishbofin Island DMR Repeater and EI7LRD for the Loughrea DMR Repeater. The two repeaters are on the bench in preparation for the airwaves.
The Inishbofin Island Repeater, EJ7IBD, will be set up with a 4 stack vertical system beaming East towards the mainland. This Repeater will prove excellent DMR coverage of the western Side of Connemara and up as far as Achill Island. This is the first repeater to be established on an Island and issued with an EJ prefix.
The Loughrea DMR Repeater will be established to the South East of Loughrea and will provide a huge coverage to the East and South East running 40 Watts into an Omni-Directional 4-Stack Vertical Array. The footprint of this repeater will probably overlap the coverage of the Mount Leinster Digital Repeater.
These two repeaters should be established and operational on site in the next two weeks. There will be a third Repeater, EI7AKR, due on air around September operating from Abbyknockmoy, Co. Galway thus completing the DMR Network in Galway. With all three DMR Repeaters, plus EI7RHD in Galway City, there will be at least 96% coverage of County Galway along with overspill into neighbouring counties.
More information may be obtained from galwayvhfgroup.blogspot.com/ and also the Galway Digital Radio Group Facebook site. All listeners are free to join their Facebook site as this is regularly updated with news of their projects.
The “Dublin Maker” Festival
South Dublin Radio Club (EI2SDR) will have an exhibit at the “Dublin Maker” festival in Merrion Square, Dublin, Saturday 20th July.
Dublin Maker is a free to attend, community run event and takes the form of a “show and tell” experience where inventors & makers showcase their creations in a carnival atmosphere. It is a family friendly showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness, and a celebration of the maker movement. It’s a place where people show what they are making and share what they are learning.
There will be a myriad of interactive “Maker” exhibits, all demonstrating the fun Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Visitors will find everything from Lasers to Wood Turning to EIRSAT-1.
The South Dublin Radio Club exhibit will demonstrate many aspects of amateur radio. In keeping with the “Maker” ethos, the club plans to demonstrate as much home built equipment as possible. This will demonstrate the skills that one can learn through amateur radio and how amateur radio integrates the latest developments in technology. After all, Amateur Radio is the original “Maker” hobby!
The EI2SDR exhibit will include;
HF & VHF stations operating for the duration of the festival; demonstrating all modes of communication. Antennae will be homemade. Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) home built & based on a Raspberry-Pi. Morse Keys & Oscillators to give visitors a chance to give Morse a go!
Software Defined Radio waterfall running on a screen, which will be used as a visual aid to explain Radio communications to visitors. Digital modes demonstrationsincluding FT8. Various projects made by club members from simple AM Receivers and beyond.
And more…
“Dublin Maker” takes place in a carnival atmosphere and is for all ages. There will be live music, food stalls and toilet facilities on site. Entry is free. “Dublin Maker” runs from 10am to 6pm, Saturday 20th July, Merrion Square, Dublin City.
You can find more information about the festival online at www.dublinmaker.ie or by following the festival on Twitter /at/ DublinMaker
Alternatively, you can find more information on EI2SDR’s involvement by visiting the club website www.southdublinradioclub.ie or you can keep tabs on the clubs experience at the event on Twitter /at/ SDRadioClub
South Eastern Amateur Radio Group
Reminder that the South Eastern Amateur Radio Group will be holding a Radio Foxhunt on Sunday the 21st of July 2019 in Castemorris Woods, Croan, Co Kilkenny at 12pm.
DX News
The DXCC entity of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta will be on the air from 15th – 21st July. Look for the callsign 1A0C which will be on all bands 6 – 80m on CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8. The callsign is held by The Order of Malta’s Italian Relief Corps. QSLs will be available by using OQRS.
The 50th anniversary activity from Market Reef is continuing. OJ0C will be on from 13th – 20th July followed by OJ0DX from 25th – 31st July.
Gayle K6GO and Mike NA6MB will be QRV from the Cayman Islands until 19th July. They are using the callsigns ZF2GO and ZF2NA. QSL to the home calls.
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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