This Week’s News
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday September 6th, 2026
Electromagnetic Compatibility Sub-Committee Opportunity
The IRTS is seeking an enthusiastic volunteer to assist with our Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Sub-Committee. This is an exciting and rewarding position within the society, offering the opportunity to work with state-of-the-art technology to identify areas of EMC non-compliance and help local amateurs and experimenters solve complex noise and interference issues. Ideally, the candidate would be based in or around the Dublin region. If you would like to contribute to this important work and support the amateur radio community, please contact our society secretary directly by emailing irts_secretary /at/ irts.ie for more information.
Volunteers Needed for the 2027 IRTS Hamfest Sub-Committee
The IRTS committee is also seeking enthusiastic volunteers to join the sub-committee for IRTS Hamfest 2027. As the current sub-committee's term comes to an end, we are looking to bring new team members on board to help plan and organize what stands as the largest and most anticipated event on the amateur radio calendar in Ireland. If you would like to get involved at an organizational level and lend your skills to making the 2027 event a success, please reach out to our society secretary by emailing irts_secretary /at/ irts.ie
IRTS Promoting Amateur Radio
The IRTS manages a Promoting Amateur Radio fund to support affiliated clubs, the fund intends to support a wide range of club projects with a particular focus on educational and promotional activities. In the past, grants were generously assigned to projects such as banner printing, leaflet design, and station equipment upgrades. TOG Hackerspace recently applied to the fund for support toward an upcoming callsign patch making activity. It will invite visitors to use TOG's industrial grade embroidery machines to create patches featuring their own call sign, visitors will be encouraged to make a voluntary contribution toward the material cost, while the remainder will be supported by the fund. As the activity is designed to promote amateur radio and IRTS, the application has received full support from IRTS. Affiliated clubs are encouraged to apply by contacting the treasurer David EI3IXB via email to irts_treasurer /at/ irts.ie
The IRTS is calling on all affiliated radio clubs to assist in promoting local activity across the country. Clubs with existing promotional literature, leaflets, or informational brochures are asked to scan a copy and forward it to the society secretary. The committee intends to make these resources accessible directly on the IRTS website, providing a centralized platform to promote individual clubs to prospective members and newcomers inquiring about the hobby. Please email any available promotional material to the secretary at irts_secretary /at/ irts.ie.
IRTS president Jeffrey EI7IRB who also organised the Dublin Maker would like to highlight the enthusiastic presence of amateur radio clubs and ham operators at the festival who showcased the hobby to more than 20 thousand visitors over the weekend. A video clip created with the courtesy of TOG hackerspace radio club is now available on IRTS social media accounts offering a glimpse of the event and the well represented ham radio community. The IRTS would also like to continue inviting clubs and operators nationwide to contribute content, including photos and videos, for sharing and tagging across IRTS social media platforms. Full credits will be given to the original creator.
Kildare Amateur Radio Club Announces Buy and Sell Extravaganza
Kildare Amateur Radio Club is proud to announce its upcoming Buy and Sell Extravaganza, scheduled for Saturday, October 18th, 2026. The event will take place at the Kill GAA Football Club in Kill Village, County Kildare, sharing Eircode W91 XP95, offering ample parking and easy access from the M7 motorway. Doors will open to the public at 11:00 a.m. Admission is five euro per person, with children under 12 years of age admitted free of charge. Organizers note that the success of the buy and sell depends on operators bringing their surplus gear, making it a prime opportunity to sell, trade, or swap items. The event is open to all amateur radio clubs, individual operators, CB operators, and shortwave listeners across the island of Ireland. For refreshments, the local clubhouse bar will open at 12:00 p.m., and catering services will serve hot lunches from 12:30 p.m. onwards, providing a relaxed atmosphere to meet up with fellow enthusiasts. Further details and updates can be found online at kildarearc.com
VHF/Microwave News
The IRTS 70-centimetre and 2-metre Counties Contests take place next Sunday, September 13th. The 70cm leg begins at 2:00 p.m. local time for 30 minutes, followed immediately by the 2-metre contest at 2:30 p.m. running for 90 minutes until 4:00 p.m. Both events include FM and SSB operating modes. Rules can be found on the IRTS website. The next 145 Alive UK event takes place on the same day starting at 12 p.m. Visit 145alive.com for more information and to register. Both events on the same day should hopefully result in lively activity across the VHF and UHF bands. Operators are encouraged to get on VHF and above and enjoy some fun on the bands. High-pressure weather systems look set to bring some enhanced tropospheric ducting conditions next week. Forecast models indicate marginal to fair tropo conditions developing near the start of the week, with potential opening opportunities across the Irish Sea.
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, news, meetings, or other items of interest, you are very welcome to email the radio news editor Keith EI5IN via email to newsteam /at/ irts.ie with the details. The deadline is midnight on Thursdays. Items intended for inclusion in Echo Ireland should be sent to echoireland /at/ irts.ie.
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