Archived News Script

IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday December 16th 2007


80 Metre Counties Contest

The 75th Jubilee Year will formally come to a close with the 80 metres Counties Contest on January the 1st next. The year commenced with the Counties Contest last January and the Society has certainly celebrated in style throughout the 12 months with a very high profile both nationally and internationally. We would encourage all members and indeed operators generally to come on the band on New Year's Day and fly the flag for the Society and Amateur Radio. Full details of the contest rules are available on the IRTS website.


Theory Examination

The next theory examination for the experimenter licence will be held on Wednesday the 6th of February 2008 at 2 p.m. at the ComReg Offices in Dublin. A second centre outside Dublin could be utilised if warranted by the numbers wishing to sit the examination. The fee for the exam is 50 Euro or 25 Euro for repeat candidates, full time registered students, those who are retired, unemployed or have a disability. Anyone wishing to sit the examination should send the appropriate fee to Sean Nolan EI7CD, 12 Little Meadow, Pottery Road, Dunlaoghaire, Co Dublin. Cheques and money orders should be made payable to the Irish Radio Transmitters Society.

A contact phone number and an e-mail address if available should be included. Sean's address is available in the Call Book section of the IRTS website at www.irts.ie and his e-mail address is “ei7cd at gofree dot indigo dot ie”. Also available in the Where do I Start? section of the website are Examination Notes with a sample examination paper as well as a link to the ComReg Experimenter Pages which contain some very useful information. The examination consists of a multiple choice question paper of 60 questions divided into three main sections A, B and C and the time allowed is two hours. The pass mark is 60% and a pass is required in each of the three main sections of the paper.


Shannon Basin Radio Club

The Shannon Basin Radio Club would like to thank all those who took part in the EI2SBC Challenge. If anyone has Logs not yet submitted, please send them to “nfmulvihill at eircom dot net”. as soon as they can.


South Dublin Radio Club

At the South Dublin Radio Club's Christmas Party, Nicki Mullally EI9JF was announced as the winner of this year's club Autumn Challenge - the challenge involves working as much DX as possible during the month of November.

SDR will not meet during the Christmas break, meetings resume on Tuesday the 8th of January 2008.


Cork Radio Club

Aedan EI3EG brought along facinating videos on Quantam mechanics, gravity and elctricity and were shown at the club in the last three weeks. The videos explored the the difference of Einstien`s theory of realitivity and the Quantum theory. Everyone at the club were facinated and thanked Aedan for his contribution.

Last week the I.R.T.S. President, Finbarr EI1CS visited the club and all were very pleased to see him in light that he is very busy with IRTS business and has to share his time with more pressing matters. It is hoped the club will get together for the annual Christmas gathering at the club Premises soon. The Cork Radio Club meets at the Cork Film Archive building at 1a Assumption Road every Monday at 8.30 p.m.


South Eastern Amateur Radio Group

Please note that there will be no general meeting for the month of December. The next general meeting will take place on Monday the 29th of January 2008.


Coolmine Rally

The Phoenix Amateur Radio Club will run the Coolmine Radio Rally on Sunday the 10th of February 2008 at the Coolmine Community School, Clonsilla, Dublin 15. Doors open for traters at 9:00 a.m. and for the general public at 11:00 a.m. To book tables contact Tony on 087-2439997 or Tom on 086-3417017. The rally will feature a bring and buy sale and admission is 4 Euro.


Lough Erne Amateur Radio Club

The Lough Erne Amateur Radio Club Annual Rally will take place in The Share Centre, Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh on Sunday the 13th of April 2008. The rally will feature a Bring & Buy, Caravan Park and access from Lough Erne/Shannon Waterway. There will be food and parking is on site. Other facilities may be available by prior arrangement with The Share Centre.


QRP Kilometer per Watt Challenge

The QRP/p kilometer per watt challenge is flexible with no date, time or precise QTH. You go out where, when and how you wish, to operate QRP/p, and improve your kilometer per watt ratio. In order to maintain a permanent interest in the Challenge throughout the year, participants are invited to update their classification, “hunters” and/or “activators”, and indicate what kind of equipment they are/were using. So visit qrpfr.free.net for more information. The start date of the challenge is the 1st of January 2008. It is necessary to register on the site and update your score periodically. The purpose of the challenge is to promote Radio, Nature and Walking with an emphasis on QRP operation. The web site again is qrpfr.free.net.


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 Friday in order to be guaranteed inclusion in the following Sunday’s bulletin.

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