Archived News Script

IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 1st February 2009


Silent Key

Eamon Cassidy EI5AJ

We regret to announce the death of Eamon Cassidy EI5AJ who died 28th January 2009 at his home in Limerick. Eamon was a long-time member of the I.R.T.S and Limerick Radio Club, having served on the Club Committee for many years. He also served as Chairman on a number of occasions over the years.

Eamon was an excellent CW operator and a member of the International First Class Operator’s Club (FOC). Our deepest sympathies to his wife Margot, his sons Andrew, Raymond, daughters Jane and Sharon and his extended family. Ar Dheis De go raibh an Anam Dilis.


40 Years of the Radio News

In 1968, the IRTS approached the Department of Posts and Telegraphs for permission to transmit a weekly news bulletin of general interest to radio experimenters and amateurs. The 19th of January this year saw the 40th anniversary of the commencement of these news transmissions. The Radio News has been kept going over the past 40 years without interruption even during the occasional postal strike when the typed news scripts were delivered by hand to the small number of newsreaders involved.

Initially the news was read at 1200 local each Sunday on 3560 kHz AM by either the late Bill Mc Ilwaine EI9F from Dublin or the late Pat Conway EI3Z from Athlone. This was followed at 1230 by an SSB transmission read by Jim EI2BB. The news was also transmitted on 2 metres from Navan read by the late Shane Mc Namee EI2A.

Over the years the news service has expanded and today, in addition to the news on HF, regional news bulletins are transmitted on 2 metres FM from different locations throughout the country. On this 40th anniversary of the radio news service it is good to give a moments thought and to pay tribute to those who have kept the service in operation over those 40 years both scriptwriters and newsreaders alike.


IRTS Webmaster

Gerry Kavanagh EI8DRB has taken over the position of IRTS Webmaster.

Joe EI7GY continues as the Membership Records Officer for the society and also as part of the team that organises the theory examination for the Experimenter's Licence


Trophy Returns.

It is now time for the return of all trophies presented at the 2008 AGM. Trophies may be given back to any IRTS Committee Member as soon as possible or by post direct to the Awards Committee Chairman Peter EI4HX QTH-R: 37 Glenmore Park, Dundalk, Co Louth.

Final date for return, is February 21st 2009.


Nomination for awards

It is also now time for nominations for the various awards, which are presented each year at the IRTS AGM, for members who deserve recognition for their dedication to IRTS, to their local Club, or to Radio in General.

Also for the submission for the construction awards, and SWL trophy, and 4M and 6M Shields etc.

Nominations please to awards committee. or direct to Peter EI4HX ei4hxperimental /at/ eircom.net as soon as possible,nomination deadline February 21st 2009.


Theory Classes in Cork

Classes for the next theory examination in the summer have commenced in the Cork area.

Anyone interested in joining the class should contact the IRTS Region 5 Representative Dave Moore EI4BZ on 087-6290574 or by email at ei4bz /at/ eircom.net.


ENGINEERED...A WEEK OF WONDER!

Engineers Ireland will host a "week of wonder" for Primary and Post Primary students in February 2009. IRTS in collaboration with Engineers Ireland will run a number of workshops at Engineers Ireland's Dublin headquarters. These will consist of a two-hour, hands on, programme which will act as in introduction to communications and radio technology

The Society also intends to package the programme so that clubs around the country will be able to run similar workshops. We have already approached a number of clubs and they have indicated their willingness to participate by running one or more workshops in their area. Engineers Ireland will provide clubs with local partners such as technical schools or libraries who are anxious to participate.

The Society would urge clubs to commit to becoming involved as soon as possible. There are obvious benefits for all involved. With the programme packs provided by the Society, clubs would need three or four personnel to run the workshop. If your club or group are interested in helping out, contact Paul EI2CA on 087 2523908 or by email to paul /at/ comma.ie


Engineers Ireland & Limerick Radio Club Limerick Radio

Club has agreed to participate in the event from February 9th 13th which will be held at the Limerick Institute of Technology, Moylish, Limerick. Further details will be announced prior to the date. Any member willing to participate in this event is asked to contact ei4lrc /at/ eircom.net.


EI100cqd

During the weekend of 23-25 January, EI100CQD was active from the Vintage Radio Museum in Howth to commemorate the centenary of the first use of wireless telegraphy to send a distress message at sea.

On 23 January 1909, the RMS Republic was severely damaged when rammed by the SS Florida off Cape Cod in Massachusetts. The Republic eventually sank, but not before its 1600 passengers and 300 crewmembers were firstly transferred to the Florida and from there to the SS Baltic, which eventually arrived at the scene as a result of the distress call.

Jack Binns was the radio operator aboard the Republic and, despite the radio room being damaged and being exposed to the elements, he managed to patch up the equipment and continue to transmit for almost two days summoning help and guiding rescue ships to the scene. The Baltic was the first vessel on the scene having searched in the dense fog for over 12 hours.

CQD was the international distress call used at that time. To commemorate the event, EI100CQD took part in the celebrations, along with other stations around the world.

As was considered fitting, CW was the preferred mode of operation. However, on Sunday, the station was also QRV on phone listening for EIs on 2 and 40 metres. Forty was almost unusable for EI but several QSOs were completed on 2 metres.

Tony (EI5EM) was interviewed about the event for Seascapes on RTE1 radio and the programme was transmitted on the date of the centenary. A podcast of the programme is available on the RTE web site.

There is also a clip on youtube.com that can be found by searching youtube for EI100cqd.

For more details on the disaster, see www.jackbinns.org


AREN Net

Nets are scheduled for the 7th and 21st of the month at 19:30. It is envisaged that the net on the 21st of the month will be a digital mode training net. Members without email access should contact John, EI7IG at 0868167310 for more details.


Dundalk Amateur Radio Society

The next meeting of Dundalk Amateur Radio Society is next Wednesday the 4th of February 2009,Richard MI3CQR will be giving a lecture on Digital PMR radio systems and D-Star technologies.

Please check out www.ei7dar.com for more details. All are welcome to attend.


Tipperary Amateur Radio Group

The next meeting of the Tipperary Amateur Radio Group will take place, next Thursday the 5th of February in the Raheen House Hotel, Clonmel at 8.00pm All are welcome


Limerick Radio Club

The AGM of the Club will be held on Thursday 26th February 2009 at the Limerick Institute of Technology at 7:30 pm. All members of the Club are requested to attend. The regular monthly meeting on the 2nd Thursday of the month (12th February) has been cancelled to facilitate the AGM later in the month.


Listen for new Sats using web receiver

You can listen for the five new Amateur Radio satellites, launched Friday Jan 23rd by using a Web based Software Defined Radio (SDR).

Some of the Radio Amateurs who were involved in the very successful Delfi-C3 / DO-64 Amateur Radio satellite have made available a WebSDR receiver that listeners around the world can use to receive signals from the new Amateur Radio satellites.

The URL of the receiver is websdr.pa3weg.nl/


Radio Rallies

15th February 2009 Coolmine Radio Rally,

The Coolmine Radio Rally, run by the Phoenix Radio Club will be held in the Coolmine Community School, Clonsilla Dublin 15 on Sunday 15th February 2009,Doors open 9.30 am

Table bookings and information please contact Tony 087-2439997 or Tom 01-8211043 See map on www.coolminecs.ie/locationmap.php

Radio, Electronics & Hobbies Fair

The Radio, Electronics & Hobbies Fair takes place on 8th March 2009 at the Radisson SAS Hotel, Ennis Road, Limerick. Doors Open at 11:00 AM. Admission €5. There will be the usual traders attending the Fair. A Bring & Buy Sale will also take place. Tables for the Bring & Buy Sale can be reserved by contacting ei4lrc /at/ eircom.net.

The cost per table is €10.The Club will have its own stand at the Bring & Buy Sale. Members willing to donate items of equipment etc for sale on the stand should contact any member of the committee prior to the event. The usual raffle with excellent prizes will also be held.

Saturday 14th March 2009

Lagan Vally ARS Rally in the Village Centre, 7 Ballynahinch Road Hillsborough, Co. Down Doors open 11:30 a.m. Information:Jim Henry, GI0DVU Telephone 048 9266 2270 gi0dvu.co.uk/lisburnrally.aspx

Sunday 29th March 2009

Lough Erne Amateur Radio Club Annual Rally at The Share Centre, Lisnaskea Co. Fermanagh Doors open 12 noon Bring and Buy, Food, on-site parking Access from Lough Erne/Shannon Waterway Details: Ian 02866-326693. EMail: Gibbjgbb /at/ aol.com www.lougherneradioclub.co.uk

Evening Rally 3rd April 2009-01-26

The Church Island Radio Group’s Rally is scheduled to take place at the club QTH in The Parochial Community Hall, Bellaghy, Co.Derry. FROM 8-10PM on Fri 3rd April 2009. more info available at our web site

The big event in April is the IRTS AGM Weekend, on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th April. This takes place in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone. Weekend events include the IRTS Annual Dinner, a Radio Rally and the IRTS Annual General Meeting.

More details of these events will be given in later bulletins, and are also available on the IRTS web site at www.irts.ie/rallies


Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News should be forwarded to Charlie EI8JB, via e-mail to “charlie dot Carolan at gmail dot com” Or by phone to 087-6265418 News can also be submitted via e-mail to “newsteam 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 Thursday in order to be guaranteed inclusion in the following Sunday’s bulletin.

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