Mark EI7IS has finished in the post of radio news editor and as such we immediately require a replacement. If anyone is interested please contact Finbarr Buckley EI1CS by e-mail at “buckleyf1 at eircom dot net” or via 021-4346622 as soon as possible. Full assistance will be provided to the person that takes over this post and Mark will assist them with the news for the first few weeks.
We mentioned in last week's bulletin that one of the Webmaster's Choice links on the IRTS web site is to an article on Good Operating Practice by ON4WW. We have now learned that this article has been extended and turned into a 56-page handbook and a slide presentation, entitled "Ethics and Operating Procedures for the Radio Amateur". The handbook and presentation are described as "a training aid aimed at newcomers and a reference work to be used by old timers to improve their behaviours on the ham bands".
Both the handbook and the presentation (which cover the same material) are now available for download from the Downloads page of the IRTS web site. The material is comprehensive and well written and we feel that students, teachers and existing licensees will find it well worth reading.
The annual MRG VHF/UHF SSB Challenge takes place today September the 7th 2008 between 1500 hrs and 1800 hrs local time. Any EI/GI operator holding an amateur/experimenters licence can participate. Clubs can also participate.
Logs to be forwarded to “ei2mrg at yahoo dot com”, arriving no later than the 7th of October 2008. Logs received after this date will not count towards any award. A trophy will be awarded to the winners of each section (Fixed & Portable). The complete Contest rules can be found on www.geocities.com/ei2mrg/page1.html or email “ei2mrg at yahoo dot com”.
Good luck in the contest!
The rare Blasket Island Group with IOTA reference EU-007 will be activated this coming week by a team led by Dave EI9FBB. The other team members are Jeremy EI5GM, Dave EI4BZ and Mark G4AXX.
The callsign will be EJ3HB and should be heard from Wednesday evening until around lunchtime on Sunday next. Listen on the usual IOTA and Worked All Ireland frequencies and a special effort will be made on Sunday morning to give out the rare WAI square V29 Kerry on 3.680 MHz.
The next Theory Examination for the Experimenters licence will be held on Thursday the 30th of October at 2 p.m. in the ComReg Offices in Dublin. Places for the examination will be allocated on a first come first served basis and will only be reserved on receipt of the examination fee. Intending candidates should forward the appropriate fee to Sean Nolan EI7CD, 12 Little Meadow, Pottery Road, Dunlaoghaire, Co. Dublin in order to reserve a place for the exam.
The fee is 50 Euro or 25 Euro for full-time registered students, repeat candidates and those who are retired, unemployed or have a disability. Cheques and Money Orders should be made payable to the IRTS and not to Sean Nolan. When forwarding the exam fee intending candidates should enclose their postal address as well as phone and e-mail contact details.
The closing date for applications to sit the examination, which will be strictly enforced, is Friday the 17th of October. Intending candidates should note that anyone who fails to produce a photo identity on the day of the examination will not be allowed to sit the examination. The photo ID can be a driving licence, a passport, an employment photo identity card or a student card containing a photograph. A national Garda photo ID would also be acceptable. Sean EI7CDs address can also be found in the IRTS call book or in the call book section of the IRTS website at www.irts.ie Sean's e-mail address for any further enquiries is “ei7cd at gofree dot indigo dot ie”.
Also available on the 'Where Do I Start' section of the IRTS website are Examination Notes with a sample examination paper as well as a link to the ComReg’s Experimenter Pages which contain some very useful data under Licensing Information.
Also in the Radio Theory Links section on the website is some very useful information for those studying for the examination. The examination consists of a question paper of 60 multiple-choice 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.
We wish all intending candidates the best of luck in the exam.
The next meeting of the Club will be on the Thursday the 9th of October at the usual venue, the Limerick Institute of Technology, Moylish at 19:30 local time. All those interested are welcome to attend.
South Dublin Radio Club are having a meeting of all members to discuss the finances and how the club is to go forward. This will take place on Tuesday the 2nd of September at 8 p.m. All members are welcome to attend.
SDR Plan on taking part in the SSB field day from Ballinasloe this year on the 6th and 7th of September. The SDR Barbeque will take place on Saturday the 27th of September from the QTH of EI3IO in Shankhill but is weather dependant.
A last reminder that the 17th annual Rally of the Cork Radio Club is being held at the Montenotte Hotel on Sunday the 14th of September 2008.
This is a new venue for the Rally and is very centrally situated and offers plenty of parking and easy access. It is a few hundred metres east of the St. Luke’s Cross at the top of Summerhill North. All usual Traders will be in attendance. Full accommodation and meals are available in the hotel to those wishing to avail of such services.
If anyone wishes to stay overnight for the Radio Rally there is a special room rate. Please mention that you are attending the CRC rally when booking rooms.
not sure of location please refer to the detailed directions and map at this link www.centralr.com/The_Montenotte_Hotel_Directions.html Further to that Cork Radio Club will have a call in on 145.750 MHz for those who prefer to talk to one of the club members on the day. Anyone trading, please contact CRC for further information on table availability as time is running short.
The Cork Radio Club meets every Monday night at 8.30 pm at 1a Assumption Road Cork. Further details from the club Secretary, Frank Mason EI6EVB at QTHR.
CARA are pleased to say that the two members who took the Exam, Dave and Brian have passed. The Club was founded on the Ethos of passing the Test by a small group of lads wanting to get their ticket and the classes are continous on Wednesday nights from 20:30 to 22:30 hours. CARA are doing the Morse also. Call Mikle (ei2gkb) contact number 087 2481970 for details. Also Classes are continous in SDR on Tuesday Nights from 20:00 to 22:00 hours, again contact Mikle on 087 2481970 for more information on the SDR classes.
Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News should be forwarded to Mark Wall, EI7IS at QTHR or by phone to 087-6302026 or 051-340850. 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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