Over the past few weeks, we have highlighted some of the features of the new IRTS web site. To round up the review of the site, this week we would like to remind members that a web site is only as good as the content. It is important that we keep the content up to date and relevant. Webmaster Joe EI7GY is relying heavily on members to provide material for the site, and updates for this material from time to time.
The new site has been visited on almost 4,000 separate occasions in the three weeks since it was launched. Visitors have come from 45 countries, with 40% of the visits being from overseas; clearly, the site is an important reference point for many.
Joe EI7GY is grateful for the feedback from members and other users to date, and has made many changes to the site as a result of suggestions received.
As you may be already aware a small group within the Society has been working for some time on preparing a Course Guide for the Radio Experimenter's Examination. The guide uses a web page presentation on CD ROM and contains a very detailed outline of all of the topics included in the HAREC syllabus on which the multiple-choice examination is based.
The Guide is intended to assist individuals to prepare for the examination or to act as a detailed template for those organising classes. It can also be used as a refresher course for those already licensed. For the first time, the Guide brings together in one source all of the material necessary for the examination including all the Regulations, National, International and CEPT.
At the Committee meeting on Saturday, Paul EI2CA the Society's PRO gave a demonstration of a pre-launch version of the Guide. Users are promised a very impressive, informative and useful package. Clubs have been written to in the last week with a view to commencing, in September, a series of classes for the examination. The course guide will be launched at the AGM and there will be a meeting and demonstration for club representatives at 1315 on the Sunday afternoon prior to the AGM of the Society.
It's time again to call for nominations for the various awards and trophies presented on merit at the IRTS A.G.M. for service to the Society or to Amateur Radio.
Clubs and individuals are asked for nominations of suitable persons to the Awards Committee. Please be reminded that there are two awards for constructions and an award for the SWL contest. Nominations to Peter Grant EI4HX, Chair Awards Committee @ QTHR or to "ei4hxperimental at eircom dot net" Nominees must be full Current members of IRTS!
Please note that the return of trophies is now overdue. Those currently holding trophies awarded at last years AGM are asked to return them to the awards manager as soon as possible.
The IRTS AGM, which is being held on Sunday April the 23rd at the Vienna Woods Hotel in Cork and is being hosted by Cork Radio Club. The weekend will follow the usual format with a dinner on the Saturday night, a rally on Sunday and the Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday afternoon. The Vienna Woods Hotel is located on the eastern side of Cork City just off the Glanmire roundabout at the city side of Glanmire village.
The Shannon Basin Radio Club meetings are held in the Royal Hotel Roscommon on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 8.30 p.m.
A committee meeting of South Eastern Amateur Radio Group will take place this coming Wednesday the 5th of March at 8.00 p.m. in the Roanmore Centre, Cleaboy Road, Waterford. Committee members are asked to attend.
A Special Event will take place over Easter weekend to mark the 1916 90th Anniversary Commemoration. The station will run from the SDR club QTH using the callsign EI90GPO. Activity will be on all HF bands from 80 metres to 10 metres.
Six meters (50 MHz - 52 MHz) is now legal in Hungary (HA). The new allocation is effective since the 29th of March 2006. 7.1 to 7.2 MHz in the 40-metre band is also allocated.
The usage conditions of both bands will follow the IARU Region 1 band plan recommendations.
Those of you new to the HF bands and finding DX hard to come by given the sunspot minimum, might be interested in the following; With the Spring equinox just past, LF conditions to the Pacific area in the mornings have been excellent. In particular VK and ZL signals on 40 metres between 07:00 and 08:00 local time have been extremely strong both on CW and SSB. These stations have been much easier to work than on 20 metre band even using simple low dipoles. Check around 7130 on SSB and 7015 on CW.
Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News should
be forwarded to Mark Wall, EI7IS at QTHR or by phone to 051-853806 or 087 6302026. Items for the radio news can also be faxed to 087 5 6302026. News should be submitted via e-mail to "news at irts dot ie" for automatic forwarding to both the radio and printed news services. Please note that items for the radio news should reach the editor no later than midday on Fridays.
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