Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday February 14th 2021
Shannon Basin Radio Club
The Shannon Basin Radio Club has been holding regular on-line talks, on a variety of topics, ranging from co-axial cable, QSLing to logging software. On Friday the 29th of January, the talk was given by Bob Heil K9EID of Heil Sound in the USA. Bob outlined his life story, starting as a pipe organ musician, then learning to tune large pipe organs and getting into amateur radio in his teens and setting up Heil Sound in 1966. He explained in detail how he got involved in creating unique touring sound systems, for bands such as The Grateful Dead and The Who. He then put his knowledge into creating microphones and headsets for the radio amateur. He gave several live demonstrations on how his headsets work, explaining phasing, the best microphones and settings for different radios. There was then time for questions, of which there were many. Bob finished the talk with a tune on his beloved organ. The whole talk lasted two hours and was both informative and most enjoyable. The club expresses their sincere thanks to Bob K9EID for taking the time to talk to them.
Request for nominations for IRTS Awards.
The IRTS Awards Committee is seeking nominations for “Awards for Services to the Society or to Amateur Radio” and for “Awards to IRTS Members for other achievements”. The winners in the above categories would normally be presented with their inscribed trophy or shield in person at the AGM. However, due to the Corona-19 virus pandemic the trophies and shields will be inscribed but will not be distributed to the winners except where a winner specifically requests delivery of same. It is important that our fellow experimenters and operators whose work and effort on behalf of each one of us and for the Society be recognised and rewarded. Please send your nominations for specific awards to the Awards Manager to - holohaj2 /at/ hotmail.com
French National Society, REF, announce growth in licence holders.
France’s National Amateur Radio Society, REF, recently reported on license figures for the last five years. The number of licences at the end of 2020 in France was 13,956 compared to 13,482 at the end of 2016. This represents a slight increase of 3.4 per cent over the five-year period. In the same period, 1,200 candidates sat their 40-question multiple choice licence examination and 748 were successful, a pass rate of just over 62 per cent. In January 2019, the fee for applying for or renewing the licence was abolished and it's likely this has resulted in more amateurs keeping their callsign.
World Radio Day
UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s World Radio Day was declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2011 and they adopted the day as February 13th each year. Spain's EA Digital Federation reports that nine special amateur radio callsigns AO1WRD to AO9WRD will be active from Feb 12th to the 14th to Mark the UNESCO World Radio Day. Look out for other special event stations to mark the occasion/ This should not be confused with World Amateur Radio Day on April 18th as promoted by the International Amateur Radio Union to mark the founding of the IARU in Paris in 1925.
Limerick Clare Amateur Radio Club
Regrettably, due to COVID-19 and associated restrictions, the Limerick Clare Amateur Radio Club has cancelled this year’s Limerick Rally. Hopefully, it will not be too long before plans can be made to return to some normality so that we can meet again at the various rallies. Until then, take care and stay safe. Club members continue to read the IRTS weekly news on Monday evenings at 2000 on the Limerick 70cms repeater using FM. The club also continues to support access to the various digital modes through the 70cms repeater and the hot spot located in Limerick city.
March QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo
Due to current Codid-19 pandemic, face to face ham radio gatherings have been cancelled all over the world. An alternative event online, is the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo, which will be held on March the 13th and 14th. You will have a choice of 80 plus speakers to listen to, you can take part in a live kit building workshop by buying the kits in advance, walk through a virtual exhibition hall featuring all the usual traders and meet up with fellow hams in virtual lounges using the latest technology. Your ticket will allow you to visit the event for the following thirty days Early bird discount tickets are still available on qsotodayhamexpo.com. Early bird tickets cost 10 US dollars. The ARRL is the event partner and the platinum sponsor is Flex Radio.
On the Air next week
The ARRL CW DX Contest runs for 48 hours next weekend, starting at midnight on Friday night. The object here is to work US States and Canadian provinces. The exchange is signal report and your power output. This traditionally has been a very well supported contest by EI stations and scoring records for EI are held by EI7M in the multi single and multi-two categories. The single operator high power record is also held by EI7M operated by G0CKV and the low power record is held by EI0DX operated by G4XUM. Both the single operator unlimited high and low power records are both held by Gerard EI5KF and single operator records are also held by EI6BT, EI7KD, EI4CF, EI0PLand EI4BZ. Check out the rules and records on arrl.org. The only other major contest on next weekend is the Russian PSK Worldwide running from noon on Saturday until noon on Sunday. A reminder that the UKEICC monthly one hour 80m CW Contest will be held on Wednesday week the 24th. Now to DX news: The ARRL’s DXCC award Programme is at the heart of DXing. Currently there are nine EI stations on the waiting list for award approval and the DXCC website says that there is about a three week waiting list for cards or awards to be processed. The status of all EI amateurs on the DXCC listings is published in Echo Ireland and is also updated at the end of each month on the IRTS website at www.irts.ie/dxcc While DXpeditions have been curtailed due the pandemic, there is still some nice DX to be worked. Keep an eye on the DX Clusters. The OPDX bulletin is free and emailed to subscribers weekly. Subscribe at www.papays.com/opdx.html Dxworld.net provides daily news and regular DX bulletins with no subscription required. John, W2GD will be active from Aruba during February 14 - 23, 2021 as P44W. Look out for lots of activity from the Caribbean area before and after next weekend’s ARRL DX CW contest. The 13th American Lighthouses Weekend will be held this year between February 19-21st. For complete details and a list of participating stations, see: www.grupodxbb.com.ar
EI Nets
And finally, a reminder of some EI nets on during the coming week. South Dublin Radio Club run a net on 144.330MHz USB from 8 to 9pm every evening except Tuesdays when they meet on the Zoom platform. On Mondays at 2000, the Shannon Basin Club hold their top band net on 1.847MHz plus or minus QRM, On Tuesday next, the Cork VHF/UHF Group net is on 70.2625 MHz FM at 2100. On Wednesdays, the Shannon Basin Club 2 metre net is on the club’s repeater EI2CAR on 145.775MHz. On Thursdays. the Shannon Basin 80 metre net is on at 2000 on 3.720MHz plus or minus QRM at 20:00, On Saturdays, the North Dublin Radio Club - EI0NDR hold a weekly net at 8pm on 145.575 MHz On Sunday mornings, South Dublin Radio Club hold their 40m net on 7.123MHz from 0830 until IRTS news time with Joe EI6EG at 1100. The Irish hour is held daily on 14.156MHz at 1700 with a special emphasis on the Sunday net.
That is the news for this week. Items for inclusion in next week’s radio news can be submitted by email to newsteam/at/irts/dot/ie for automatic forwarding to both the radio and printed news services. The deadline is midnight on Thursday. Urgent items for the news may be telephoned to News Editor Dave EI4BZ on 087-6290574.
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