Archived News Script

IRTS RADIO NEWS BULLETIN Sunday April 12th 1998


IRTS AGM

All is in readiness for the the IRTS AGM being hosted by Cork Radio Club next weekend, April the 18th and 19th in Jury's Hotel on the Western Road in Cork.

The weekend will follow the usual format with the dinner dance being held in Jurys on Saturday night and the rally and the AGM itself taking place on Sunday.

Tickets for the dinner dance costing 19.00 are still available and all information on both tickets and accommodation availability can be got from Dick EI6HH on 021-545154.

A special rate has been negotiated with Jurys Hotel and there is a large selection of bed and breakfast establishments within walking distance on the Western Road.

On the Sunday, all activities will again be held in Jurys where the rally will open to the public at 11.00am. All the major traders will be in attendance along with several new ones and anyone who has attended a recent Cork Rally will know that it should not be missed.

Morse testing will be held on a drop-in basis during the rally and intending candidates are reminded to come early as the testing must finish by 2.00pm.

Some table space at the rally may still be available and if you are interested, please contact Con EI7DJB on 088/2146045 or 021/270136 as soon as possible.

The IRTS Annual General Meeting will start at 2.30pm and will be preceded by a special general meeting at 2.15pm to consider some changes to the constitution and rules.

There is still time to nominate somebody for one of the trophies awarded for services to either the Society or the hobby. You may mail your nomination to the Secretary, Joe Ryan EI7GY or you can hand it to the awards committee on Sunday morning.


East Cork AREN

Some members of East Cork AREN Group completed and passed the Department of the Marine restricted RT marine licence examination held under the auspices of BIM in Youghal. This licence includes VHF, MF and HF operation on the marine bands. The tutor wa s Capt. Peter Walter and the course was organised by Mike EI4HF, who already holds this license. The members include Denis EI6HB, Ger EI8HT, Hugh EI3FTB, Brian EI9EN and Damien EI3FJB.

Members of the Tipperary AREN group also availed of the course and Hugh EI2HI, Liam EI7FE and Paul EI3ENB are also proud holders of this license.

Some members have been granted an extension to their licence to allow third party traffic while the remainder have applied for the extension as part of the membership of the AREN Group.

East Cork members, Mike EI4HF, Sarah EI3DFB and Brian EI9EN travelled to Tipperary last weekend to assist the Tipperary AREN Group with the Galtee/Glen of Aherlow Walk. The group on their return to terra firma reported a satisfying sojourn to the mountains and are eagerly looking forward to their next outing.


2 Metre Counties Contest on Easter Monday

The Spring 2 Metres Counties Contest will be held on tomorrow Easter Monday, April the 13th,from 3.00 to 5.00pm local time.

Intending participants are reminded that there are some changes to the last published rules in the handbook, the important ones being that a club entry must be in a portable category and a club entry cannot take part in the FM only section.

FM only stations must be single operator but may be fixed or portable.

Logs must be submitted within 30 days to the Contest Manager at P.O. Box 462 Dublin 9 and should be include a summary sheet showing station location, section entered, final claimed score, the equipment used and the names and callsigns of the operators.


Low Band Activity

Following the release of the 136kHz band to the amateur community in Ireland and Britain, Finbar EI3CF has been heard regularly on the air. To date there are no reports of any other EIs joining Finbarr on long wave.

However, Ted EI3CY has now modified his Lowe HF225 general coverage receiver to receive 136kHz and has built an interface to resonate his 80 meter quarter wave wire antenna, He succeeded in copying Finbar on Sunday last and hopes to be on the air with a homebrew transmitter in the near future.

Shortwave Listener Robert Turner EI 1294 also reports hearing Finbar down in Enniscorthy.

One of the problems facing those with long wave ambitions in the Dublin area is the all pervasive Atlantic 252 which is inclined to cause serious QRM.

We look forward to hearing more about EI longwave activity in the near future.


Worked All Ireland Awards

Activity continues on the WAI nets both on 80 metres and on 145.350MHz. Tony EI9IL in Limerick recently joined the ranks of those mobile on 80 metres when he did a test run last weekend. Tony promises more activity in the near future.

Declan EI9HQ will be on his travels once again next weekend and will make the trip from Dublin to Cork for the IRTS AGM activating the rarer squares off the main roads.

He also promises to activate some of the rarer squares in the Cork area over the weekend.

Other mobile activity is also expected over the AGM weekend so keep a listen on 3.680MHz and on 145.350MHz.

Tom Rea EI2GP is the Worked All Ireland Award Manager and all award applications should be sent to him at Bridge Street, Headford, County Galway.


Items for inclusion in both the Radio News and

Newsletter can be faxed to 021-632730 or passed on the telephone to Dave EI4BZ at 021- 632444 during the day and at 021-883555 in the evening.

Mail can also be sent on packet to EI4BZ and EI7DNB on cluster or at the EI7DKB BBS. The Radio News Editor John EI7DNB can be contacted at 021-353277 after 1830.

All input to either the Radio News or the Newsletter can be sent by e-mail to news@irts.ie

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