Archived News Script

IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 25th June 2017


Silent Key – Tony EI4DIB

The death has occurred of Tony Allen EI4DIB, late of Drogheda County Louth on Sunday last 18th June, after a long illness. Tony was very well known in amateur radio circles and his love for VHF, especially 4metres, was well known.

Everyone Tony came into contact with, witnessed the selfless giving of his many skills and talents. Tony was a long standing and valued member of amateur radio clubs and groups in the North East. He will be sadly missed by everyone who had the privilege of coming into contact with him.

We extend our deepest sympathy to his family and many friends.

May he rest in peace.


Contest News

Results of the IRTS CW Field Day, held over the weekend of 3rd & 4th June, have been published. Four contest logs were submitted, one in the Restricted / 24 hours section and three in the Restricted / 6 hours section. Band conditions were reasonably good, especially on Sunday with good openings on both 10 metres and 15 metres. See www.irts.ie/results for all the details.

Next weekend we have another Field Day contest, this time the IRTS VHF/UHF Field Day, which runs for 24 hours from 14:00 UTC on Saturday 1st July. This contest is on five bands 50, 70, 144, 432 and 1296 MHz, with an Open Section covering all five bands, and a Restricted Section for those operating on just one band. This is a field day contest with site and power supply requirements for all contest entrants, however non-contesters can work the field day stations from the home QTH and no doubt such QSOs would be very welcome. The IRTS contest coincides with similar contests in the UK and continental Europe, so expect to hear plenty of DX on the VHF and UHF bands over next weekend.


Planning Permission – Antenna Installations

The subject of planning permission was raised at the AGM in April. A small group headed by Gerry EI8CC is currently compiling information about planning issues that members may have experienced in relation to their antenna installations.

If you wish to share any relevant information please contact Gerry by email; gerrygervin /at/ gmail.com


5.7GHz Survey

At the request of the IARU we are carrying out a survey of use of the band 5570 to 5850GHz. Would any licensed amateurs using the band please forward details of their use of this band to Seán Nolan EI7CD. The email address is ei7cd /at/ gofree.indigo.ie and the landline is 01-2851599


Brandmeister – DMR Radio

For the last two months, a Brandmeister Master server based in Ireland has been on test. This week it has been made public. Brandmeister is a decentralised network of master servers for digital DMR networks and appears to be the most popular system operating at present. For more information on Brandmeister, look at https://wiki.brandmeister.network/, for discussions on DMR in Ireland contact your local digital repeater keeper.

You can ask a question on the Brandmeister Ireland Facebook Group, or contact John, EI7IG /at/ QTHR who is monitoring the Ireland Calling talkgroup 2722 (accessible on reflector 4780 on brandmeister) most evenings.


DX News

John G4IRN will operating holiday-style from the Maldive Islands from 26th June until 6th July. He plans to use 100 watts to wire antennas and his callsign will be 8Q7RN. QSL via Club Log OQRS and logs will also be uploaded to Logbook of The World.

Ken KH6QJ will be in East Kiribati from 28th June until 4th July. He will reactivate his T32AZ callsign and QSLs go via the home call.

Antonio EA5RM will be back in Bolivia from 28th June until 14th August and will use his CP1XRM callsign when time allows. QSL directly to his home call.

The callsign JW7QIA will be aired by Peter LA7QIA from Spitsbergen, Svalbard from 24th June – 1st July. He will be QRV on all HF bands plus 6m CW and SSB. QSL to the 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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