Archived News Script

IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 31st January 2016


March Edition - Echo Ireland

Should you be thinking of submitting an article or item of news for inclusion in the March edition of Echo Ireland, you need to do so within the next two weeks. The magazine is currently being compiled in readiness for the IRTS AGM notification.

Please submit your material post haste to newsteam /at/ irts.ie


New 80 Metres Evening Contest

The first IRTS 80 Metres Evening Counties Contest takes place on Tuesday 9th February, from 20:00 to 21:00 UTC. This one-hour event is for SSB-only, with EI and GI counties as multipliers - a format that has proved very popular in our daytime HF and VHF counties contests.

The frequencies for this contest are 3600–3650 and 3700–3775, while the upper power limit is 100W PEP - so no "big guns" allowed! The 100 Watt power limit should help to provide a more level playing pitch and a great opportunity for anyone new to contesting to explore the competitive side of amateur radio.

See www.irts.ie/contests for the full rules. A CW-only version of this contest is scheduled for November.


Return of Cups and Trophies

The 2016 IRTS AGM will be held on the weekend of 9th and 10th April. Jim Holohan EI4HH Awards Manager, requests that the 2015 Cup and Trophy award holders return their awards as soon as possible, this makes it much easier for the Awards Committee to prepare them for the new recipients. Cups and Trophies can be returned to Peter EI4HX at QTHR or to any IRTS Committee Member. Also, anybody who intends to enter a project for the Folan Shield (home constructed equipment) should familiarise themselves with the rules and requirements in order to avoid embarrassment to all parties on the day.


Coolmine Rally February 2016

The Coolmine Rally operated by the Phoenix Amateur Radio Club will take place at Coolmine Community School, Grove Road, Dublin 15, D15 FW97 on Sunday 14th February 2016. Doors open 10am.

Contact number for enquiries, tables etc Tony 087 2439997


Fingal Radio Club EI2FRC

The call in on the 2 metres repeater, operated by Fingal Radio Club EI2FRC, and Dermot EI2HD is now happening on Thursday nights at 7.30pm. This is a change from Wednesday night to Thursday night.

Please support this initiative and keep 2 metres alive. Remember if you don’t use it you may loose it.


IRTS AGM 9/10 April 2016

The IRTS website has been updated to give details of the workshops which will run in conjunction with this year's AGM. From Contests to Moonbounce there is lots of interest to everyone. See www.irts.ie/agm


Cork Radio Club

The February meeting of Cork Radio Club will be held on Wednesday next February 3rd at 8pm in Carrigtwohill Community Centre.

Plans will be made for the annual outdoor activities like International Marconi Day on April 23rd and the IRTS Field Days on the first weekends of June, July and September. New members will be especially welcome and can contact Dave EI4BZ on 087-6290574 or email ei4bz /at/ eircom.net for further information.

The club would like to wish Dave EI9FBB the best of luck with his presentations on his recent DXpeditions at the IOTA Bash in Texas on February 26th and 27th and at the GMDX Convention on April 9th.

Dave and Jeremy EI7GM will be travelling to Bahrain to activate another new IOTA, Hawar Island, OC-202 from April 27th to May 1st.


Shannon Basin Radio Club

The Shannon Basin Radio Club will hold a meeting in Hannons Hotel Roscommon on Friday night 5th Feb at 8.30pm. All members are requested to attend and new members are very welcome.

For further details contact Brian EI8IU on 0861057325 or see www.shannonbasinradioclub.com


South Eastern Amateur Radio Group

The SEARG 2016 AGM will take place on Monday 29th February 2016 at 8pm sharp in the Roanmore Social & Sports Club, Cleaboy Road, Waterford.

All members are asked to attend and new members are very welcome.

For up-to-date news about the South Eastern Amateur Radio Group and it’s activities you can check our website www.searg.ie Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter.


DX News

Art NN7A who has paid many visits to Belize since 1988 returns this year to South Water Caye where he will sign V31JZ/P from 4th to 11th February. This island counts as NA-180 for the Islands on the Air Award. QSLs go via the home call.

David K1KA will travel to Calypso Bay in the St Kitts and Nevis Islands from 5th to 25th February. This will be a holiday-style operation and his callsign will be V47KA. QSL to his home call.

The Radio Club de Provins (F6KOP) in France is well known for DXpeditions to exotic spots around the world. Last year they operated as 3G0ZC from Juan Fernandez Island with 3 EI stations on their team. This year the destination is Lesotho in Southern Africa. Listen for 7P8C on the air from Maseru from 8th to 17th February.

Jean-Paul 3B8HC has been active from Mauritius in the past week and will be on holiday there until 8th February. His home call is HB9ARY. He operates all bands 10m to 80m. QSL manager is NI5DX.

Martin DL3ASM is back in Afghanistan with the NATO-led ISAF mission. He will be using his T6SM callsign from Camp Marmal until the end of March. QSL to his home call.


Items for inclusion in next week’s Radio News can be submitted via e-mail to “newsteam /at/ irts / dot / ie” for automatic forwarding to both the radio and printed news services. Urgent news items for the radio news may be telephoned to the radio news editor, Aidan, EI7JC on 085 7100511.

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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