Archived News Script

IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 24th September 2017


Silent Key

It is with regret that we record the death of Rupert Masterson EI2FD of Ballinalee Co. Longford. Rupert died on Saturday, 16 September and his funeral took place on Wednesday last. Up until a couple of years ago Rupert was a regular caller on the News frequencies and was active on the bands generally.

To his partner Barbara, his son Paul and to his extended family we offer our sincerest sympathy. May he rest in peace.


Amateur Station Licence Examination

The next Amateur Station Licence Examination will be held on Thursday 7th December in the ComReg Offices in Dublin. Some applications have already been received. As places are limited and are allocated on a first come first served basis, those intending to sit the examination should apply soon. Full details, including entry procedure, examination fee and how to pay the fee online are available at www.irts.ie/exam . Please note that it is necessary to download the application form from the web page and forward the completed form and the appropriate fee so as to secure a place for the examination.

It is important to note that even if you pay the fee online you must still complete and forward the application form.

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is Thursday 16th November. Four Exam Reports which were previously published in Echo Ireland are available on the Downloads section of the website at www.irts.ie/downloads under "Studying for the Harmonised Amateur Radio Examination Certificate". These reports contain very useful information for anyone studying for the Licence Examination. Intending candidates are advised to pay particular attention to the syllabus for the examination especially Annexes 1 and 2.


Contest Results

Results of two recent IRTS contests have been published. Firstly, the August 2 Metres Counties Contest: participants in this contest had to contend with deep QSB at times, which particularly affected FM contacts. Nevertheless, there was a big increase over previous years in the number of stations and active counties logged, with participation by more than 60 EI and GI stations in 26 counties; the "missing counties" were Cavan, Donegal, Laois, Monaghan, Tyrone and Wicklow.

Adverse band conditions also affected the SSB Field Day stations; there was very little activity on 10 and 15 metres, so 20, 40 and 80 provided most of the logged QSOs. Five stations, including three club stations, submitted logs; see www.irts.ie/results for the full results of this and the 2 Metres contest.


South Dublin Radio Club

For the past few months the club has been meeting at 8:30pm every Tuesday. Since last week the club has returned to the 8pm start time. This means talks and events will start a little earlier and the club will close to the public at 10pm. The South Dublin Radio Club welcomes all visitors, SWLs and operators. The club meets at the Ballyroan community centre on the Marian Road in Rathfarnham.. For additional information please visit their website www.southdublinradioclub.ie


Limerick Radio Club

Members of the Limerick Radio Club will activate a HF station at the Wing Swing Day which will take place today Sunday 24th September at Atlantic Air Adventures, Shannon. The event is open from 1200 until 1600. See http://atlanticairadventures.com/ or you can also visit https://www.facebook.com/atlanticairadventures.

The next Limerick Radio Club meeting will take place on 12th October in the Limerick Institute of Technology.


South Eastern Amateur Radio Group

A little reminder that the South Eastern Amateur Radio Group will also be QRV as EI2WSVR today Sunday 24th of September from The Waterford & Suir Valley Railway station Kilmeaden Co. Waterford. This is to coincide with the Railways On the Air Weekend. The Waterford and Suir Valley Railway Company is a community heritage project. The South Eastern Amateur Radio Group would like to thank the manager Maria Kyte and all the staff of The Waterford & Suir Valley Railway for all their help and allowing us access to do this event each year. For more information, please see www.wsvrailway.ie

The South Eastern Amateur Radio Group will be holding “An introduction To Amateur Radio” course on Monday the 2nd of October at 7.30pm sharp in the Roanmore Social and Sports Centre, Cleaboy Road, Waterford. There will be two further classes on the 9th and 16th at the same venue and time. This will be an elementary type course designed to introduce potential candidates to the full Harmonised Amateur Radio Examination Certificate (HAREC) study course. It is intended for those who might like to study for the Amateur Radio exam but feel unsure if they have the ability to complete a full course. Places are limited and must be booked. For more info or to book a place please contact Sean EI2HZB on 083 1379764 or via email to “proffice /at/ searg /dot/ ie”

For anyone that wishes to find out more about the South Eastern Amateur Radio Group and its activities you can come along to any of their meetings. You can check their website www.searg.ie and you can also join them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.


DX News

Harald DF2WO is going back to Burkina Faso in West Africa from 28th September – 30th October. He will reactivate his XT2AW callsign. Look for him on CW, SSB and digital. QSL Manager is M0OXO.

The well-travelled DXpeditioner Stan LZ1GC makes another trip to the Pacific and will operate as H40GC from Nendo Island from 30th September - 20th October. The QTH is in the Temotu Province of the Solomon Islands and counts as a separate entity for the DXCC Award. The IOTA reference number is OC-100. QSL via Club Log OQRS.

A team of Russian operators signing RI1F will activate Victoria Island in the Barents Sea. For the DXCC Award it counts as Franz Josef Land but for the IOTA Award it has a separate reference number EU-190. The dates of the activation are weather dependant but are expected to be around 1st - 7th October. QSL via Club Log OQRS.

Takeshi JA1UII will be QRV as JD1BON on Ogasawara Island until the end of September. The IOTA reference is AS-031. Logs will be uploaded to Logbook of The World.


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, Mark EI6HPB on 086 355 2370.

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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