Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday May 11th, 2025
News from the IRTS
The Irish Radio Transmitters Society is delighted to announce “IRTS Hamfest 2025” which is a celebration of all things amateur radio. This new initiative by the IRTS will take place over the weekend of September 6th and 7th in conjunction with the IRTS SSB Field Day weekend. The venue for this event will be the Mullingar Showgrounds, Culleen, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. This is located just 6 km from Mullingar town centre.
A dedicated subcommittee is planning for what promises to be two jampacked days of numerous amounts of ham radio topics and live hands-on demonstrations. These will appeal to both licensed operators, shortwave listeners, and members of the public. Please note that provisions for multiple SSB stations to be set up in the spacious location are being considered in the planning. Although the IRTS encourages all clubs to come and take part, clubs can also run their usual SSB field day activities as in previous years. Please make a date in your diaries for IRTS Hamfest 2025 on September 6th and 7th at Mullingar Showgrounds!
The IRTS Newsteam are delighted to announce an additional EI0IRTS weekly news bulletin. The new bulletin will be provided by the Patriot Radio Communications Club EI7PRC who are based in Watergrasshill in Cork. This new bulletin is transmitted at 8 p.m. local time on Sunday evenings on 70.350 MHz FM simplex. The 4-metre bulletin is on a trial basis so if you can receive it, please call in and support it. The IRTS would like to thank EI7PRC for providing this additional weekly news bulletin and wish them every success with it.
The IRTS would like to announce the appointment of a new secretary for the society. Andy McCarthy EI7IOB takes over the secretary position from Owen O’ Reilly EI4GGB with immediate effect. The IRTS would sincerely like to thank Owen for the massive amount of work he has done and also for the many hours he has spent dedicated to the role over the past three years. Likewise, all in the IRTS wish Andy the very best of luck as he takes on the secretary role.
The next IRTS committee meeting will take place on Thursday, June 5th at 8:00 p.m. on the Zoom platform. All IRTS affiliated clubs are reminded that under Rule 16.1, the members in each affiliated club, society, or other body may elect a representative and an alternate annually to attend IRTS committee meetings. Clubs wishing to send a representative should notify the IRTS Secretary, Andy EI7IOB at irts_secretary /at/ irts.ie in advance to ensure notification and links are provided.
HAREC exams take place next weekend
The Harmonised Amateur Radio Examination Certificate exams take place next Saturday, the 17th of May 2025, in the Clayton Hotel Dublin Airport. The address is Stockhole Lane, Clonshagh, Co Dublin, K67 X3H5. A complementary shuttle bus service is available from Dublin Airport to the venue. The morning exam will commence at 11 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m. The afternoon exam will then commence at 2 p.m. and concludes at 4 p.m. Best of luck to all those taking the exams.
ComReg 5 Year Notifications
Five Year notifications from ComReg that may be arriving in your email inbox state that in accordance with your licence terms, you are required to confirm to ComReg every 5 years that the licence details are still correct. If you have received this notification, it is advised that you take a few minutes to complete the action now. This may avoid you potentially forgetting to do so until it’s too late. ComReg note that failure to comply with this request may lead to revocation of your licence.
Mid Ulster Amateur Radio Club meeting
Mid Ulster Amateur Radio Club hold their monthly meeting today, Sunday 11th May in Tandragee Golf Club at 3 p.m. All are welcome and a carvery lunch is served at 1 p.m. if required. The club held a very successful Marconi Day weekend and will enter the VHF/UHF field day in June from the Mourne Mountains using the callsign GI3VFW. Any enquiries should be directed to muarc.secretary /at/ yahoo.co.uk or Seamus GI4SZW. His details are on QRZ.com
West Tyrone Amateur Radio Club AGM
The West Tyrone Amateur Radio Club is holding its AGM next Wednesday, the 14th of May 2025. The AGM commences at 8 p.m. in the Order of Malta Hall, Omagh. All radio amateurs and shortwave listeners are welcome to come along. The club will review the past year and elect officers for the incoming year.
South Dublin Radio Club Hosting an Amateur Radio Open Night
South Dublin Radio Club will host an exciting amateur radio open night on May 27th as part of Dublin Tech Week. This is a week-long celebration of innovation and technology, uniting tech lovers, professionals, and communities across the city.
Participants will be able to experience live radio demos, hands-on experiments, and learn how radio waves connect the world. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, tinkerer, or curious beginner, you will be able to discover the magic of amateur radio and how you can get involved.
The venue will be the Ballyroan Community Centre, Rathfarnham, Dublin D14 F1W1 and all are welcome. More information may be found at dublintechweek.com.
VHF/Microwave Updates
The next 145 Alive event is scheduled for Sunday the 20th of July 2025 from 12 p.m. until 3 p.m. local time.
The IRTS VHF+ management team is seeking input regarding any activity or interest in EI regarding the use of millimetre and sub-millimetre frequencies for radio experimentation. Specifically, information regarding usage above 275 GHz would be welcome and can include any relevant past or present academic and/or test and trial licence activities.
The initiative is associated with a new IARU Region 1 VHF-plus committee study to explore potential for a possible amateur radio allocation. You can contact the IRTS VHF/Microwave management team via email at vhf_manager /at/ irts.ie.
The IRTS VHF-plus management team is also seeking interest from operators regarding a series of potential EI-led multimode activation events for the 2m,70cm, and 23cm bands. If you are interested in getting involved, please let the team know via email to vhf_manager /at/ irts.ie. Ideas and input regarding any aspect of VHF and above in EI are welcome at any stage via email to the same address.
Contest Updates
The results from the IRTS VHF and UHF counties contest on Easter Monday are now available on the IRTS website. Congratulations to the winners and to operators who took part from all around Ireland. It was noted that the highest 2m counties scores in approximately 14 years were recorded during this event in addition to one of the highest 70cm counties scores of all time.
The next IRTS contest is the CW Field Day held over the weekend of the 7th and 8th of June. This starts at 15:00 UTC on the Saturday and ends 24 hours later. A 6-hour section is available for entry in addition to the full 24 hours. Good luck to all in the contest.
Radio Rally Updates
All roads lead to Lough Erne Amateur Club’s Radio Rally taking place next week on Sunday the 18th of May 2025. The venue is the Share Discovery Village, 221 Lisnaskea Road, Lisnaskea, Enniskillen, BT92 0JZ. Doors will open at 11 a.m. Entry costs five euro or five pounds which includes a ticket for the draw.
The rally will include a bring and buy and usual facilities including food and refreshments. Further details are available at LoughErneRadioClub.co.uk.
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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