Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday April 13th, 2025
Silent Key Aileen Finucane EI7FG
We regret to report the death of Aileen Finucane EI7FG on the 2nd of April 2025. Aileen was laid to rest in Shanganagh Cemetery in Dublin. She was married to the late Thomas EI8EC who passed away in 2020. We wish to extend our sympathies to her three children, grandchildren, extended family and friends. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam - may she rest in peace.
News from the IRTS
The 2025 Irish Radio Transmitters Society’s AGM takes place today, Sunday, April 13th, at 3:00 p.m. sharp in the Morrison Suite at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel in Carlow. Entry to the AGM will only be permitted to fully paid-up IRTS members. In line with previous years, membership will be checked prior to entry. People are reminded to be in the room and seated by 2:45 p.m. as the AGM will start at 3:00 p.m. sharp. The IRTS looks forward to welcoming all its members to the 2025 AGM.
Due to the SEARG radio rally taking place today, Sunday, April 13th, there will not be an 80m HF news bulletin today. Normal weekly 80m bulletins will resume on Sunday, April 20th.
The next HAREC exam is on May 17th
The next HAREC exam will take place on the 17th of May 2025. The location of the exam is the Clayton Hotel Dublin Airport, Stockhole Lane, Clonshagh, Co Dublin, K67 X3H5.
The morning exam will commence at 11 a.m. and end at 1 p.m. The afternoon exam will then commence at 2 p.m. and concludes at 4 p.m.
For further information, please see the licensing section of the IRTS website or contact Mick EI6IKB at IRTS_exams /at/ irts.ie.
South Dublin Radio Club AGM
South Dublin Radio Club’s AGM will take place at 8 p.m. on Tuesday 29th of April 2025 at Ballyroan community centre on the Marian Road in Rathfarnham. All members are asked to attend.
Activations for International Marconi Day
The Howth Martello Radio Group will once again be active as an award station during International Marconi Day on Saturday 26th of April. In 1905, the Marconi Company set up an experimental receiving station in the Martello tower monitoring transmissions from the RMS Monarch as it sailed to various locations in the Irish Sea.
The Martello tower now houses Ye Olde Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio which was set up in 2003 by the late Pat Herbert. EI0MAR is the callsign of the amateur radio station in the tower. For the remainder of April, the museum will open at weekends. From May, it will open seven days a week for the summer season between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Patriot Radio Communications, EI7PRC, will operate from Brow Head in County Cork on Marconi day as well. The club will use the special event call sign EI7IMD on April 26th. All QSOs are welcome.
VHF/Microwave News
Tim EI4GNB reports the welcome return of the 8m, 6m, 5m, and 4m beacon cluster. Their new home is Mount Maulin in Co. Wicklow. The callsign EI1MMH replaces the previous EI1KNH call to reflect the change of location. An additional change is that all these VHF beacons on the east coast of EI now use horizontal polarisation.
The team designed a 4-band 9 element Yagi antenna for the cluster beaming 60 degrees. The grid square locator is IO63VD which is approximately 5 km away from previous site. Early reports so far indicate an improvement or at least no significant loss compared to the previous deployment.
The beacons operate using a 10 minute "band hop" sequence rotating through the bands. You can expect to hear a short carrier, then FT8 three times at 500 Hz followed by a CW identification.
The 6m and 2m weekly nets run by Denis EI4KH will now start at 9 p.m., which is one hour later than the previous start time. The 6m SSB net takes place on Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. on 50.180 MHz. The 2m FM net operates on Thursday nights at 9 p.m. on 145.300 MHz.
Details of both the new beacon cluster and revised net times will also appear on the IRTS website over the coming days.
Contest Update
The IRTS 2m and 70cm Counties Contest will take place on Easter Monday, April 21st. The fast-paced 70cm counties contest starts at 2 p.m. local time and runs for just thirty minutes. The two-metre contest commences immediately afterwards and runs for ninety minutes from 2.30 p.m. until 4 p.m.
The modes used will be FM and SSB. Six different contest sections are supported which include a SWL category. Both are fun and friendly events, and all are encouraged to join in. Further information and the rules may be found at www.irts.ie/contests
World Amateur Radio Day
World Amateur Radio Day is next Friday, April 18th, 2025. It was on this day 100 years ago that the International Amateur Radio Union was formed in Paris. Since that time, the IARU has grown to include 160 member-societies in three regions across the world. Special event stations with IARU in their callsigns from across several countries will be the air over the coming days to mark the centenary.
Items for Inclusion in Next Week’s Radio News
That is the news for this week. Thanks to everyone for sending items into the weekly IRTS radio news. They are very much appreciated and are a great way to update the rest of the community about activities. If you have any club events, activities, meetings, or other items of interest, you are very welcome to email newsteam /at/ irts.ie with the details. These will be automatically forwarded to the IRTS radio and printed news services. The deadline each week is midnight on Thursdays.
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