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EI3DIB > NEWS 25.10.08 14:25l 223 Lines 8046 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: IRTS NEWS 26th October
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Sent: 081025/1301Z @:EI3DIB.#TIPP.IRL.EU #:2117 [Ardfinnan] FBB7.00g $:2117_EI3
From: EI3DIB@EI3DIB.#TIPP.IRL.EU
To : NEWS@WW
Irish Radio Transmitters Society
Radio News Bulletin
Sunday 26th October 2008
************************
Exam Agreement
A new examination agreement has recently been concluded
with ComReg. This means that the arrangement under which
the IRTS is responsible for setting, organising and
correcting the examination for an Experimenter's Licence
will continue over the next three years. The new
agreement also formalises the long standing arrangement
under which the IRTS is responsible for Morse testing.
The agreement between ComReg and IRTS about the theory
examination has worked extremely well and is to the
benefit of both ComReg and the radio experimenter
community. Since the IRTS took over responsibility for
the licensing examination three years ago 146 candidates
have sat the examination and 90 of these obtained the
HAREC qualification which is a pass rate of 62 percent.
The next theory exam is coming up on Thursday next 30
October at the ComReg offices in Dublin.
****
5 MHz
Good news at last. After a long process of contacts
between the military authorities and ComReg the first of
the 5 MHz licences issued on Friday week last October
17th. We hope by now that all of those who applied have
received the necessary permission. The permission varies
the terms and conditions of the licences concerned so as
to include three 3 kHz channels with centre frequencies
of 5280, 5400 and 5405 kHz. The practice is to use Upper
Sideband for voice transmissions on these channels. As
these are centre channel frequencies and the actual dial
readout on upper sideband is 5278.5, 5398.5 and 5403,5
kHz respectively i.e. 1.5 kHz on the low frequency side
of the centre of the channel. The maximum power allowed
is 200 watts. CW stations are encouraged to use the
bottom 300 Hz of the channels as this permits the use of
the channel for SSB at the same time.
It should be noted that military cadet stations in the UK
which use special non amateur call signs are allowed to
participate in the 5 MHz experiment in the UK. EI
stations with 5 MHz permissions can not communicate with
these stations and may only communicate with other
licensed experimenter or amateur stations.
Dave EI3IO was one of the first EI's on the band and has
sent us some observations. He indicates that 5 MHz with
its near optimum Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS)
properties provides superb and stable communication
during daylight hours around the Western European Isles
of EI, G, GI, GW and GM. At night, stations in North
America on the East Coast and the Mid West were easily
workable.
After 48 hours with the 5 MHz permission Dave worked 12
DXCC countries including Bermuda, Greenland and Puerto
Rico. In all he had 82 QSO's in that period with the
best DX being K5RK in Alvin Texas at 7189 kilometres.
Other EI's heard on the band were EI7CD, EI6IZ and EI7CC.
Finally a word of thanks to ComReg and to the primary
spectrum user for facilitating the release of the three
channels at 5 MHz for experimentation
****
Morse Cods tests at Mayo Rally
There will be Morse Code tests available at the upcoming Mayo
Rally on the 23rd of November. These tests must be booked in
advance by contacting Sean Donelan EI4GK telephone 01 2821420.
****
Congratulations to Roderick EI2P
We wish to extend our heartiest congratulations to
Roderick EI2P who celebrates his 90th birthday today.
Roderick has had a keen interest in amateur radio for
over 75 years and is active on the bands from his well
equipped station. He is as interested in experimental
radio today as he was when he first started out those
many years ago. His call, EI2P is one of the oldest, if
not the oldest in the country. Roderick has always been
a staunch supporter of the IRTS and is a Trustee of the
Society.
We wish Roderick the happiest of birthdays with his
family and we wish him and his wife Kate many more happy
years together.
****
Global Simulated Emergency Test November 2008
The next IARU EmComm Party on the Air is scheduled for
Saturday the 8th of November between 0400 and 0800 hours UTC.
The time of each exercise changes to allow more stations to
participate from around the world as well as recognising that
emergencies can happen at any time
This is an exercise between stations interested in emergency
communications and is not a contest. Activity will be
concentrated around the IARU Emergency Centre of Activity
frequencies whdich are 3760, 7060, 14300 and 21360 kHz.
****
IOTA Contest Results
Provisional results for this year's Islands On The Air Contest
have been published. Scores for the EI and EJ entries are
available on the IRTS web site, which also includes a link to
the full provisional results.
The top scoring EI/EJ station was EJ0GI, a combined team from
South Dublin Radio Club and City of Belfast Amateur Radio
Society, who operated from Inis Oirr. This group achieved 6th
place worldwide in their category. The other EI/EJ stations
with scores in the million-plus range were EI0W (Dundalk
Amateur Radio Society) and EI9HX (Pat O'Connor). Other EI/EJ
stations also achieved high category placings, as can be seen
from the contest results page on the IRTS web site.
Another joint EI/GI entry was GI0MPG, operating from Rathlin
Island, who achieved 13th place worldwide in their category.
This year's IOTA contest attracted more than 1800 entries
worldwide, making it one of the most popular contest of the
year.
****
South Dublin Radio Club News
Due to refurbishment of the current meeting premesis the Club
will be moving meetings to a new location for up to a year.
Next Tuesday 28th October will be the last meeting at the old
premisis and from Tuesday 4th of November the meetings will be
held in a Scout Hall about a mile away, from the current
location. Full details including a map is on the website:
http://www.southdublinradioclub.ie
****
Rallies
1-2 November: North Wales Radio Society
22nd North Wales Amateur Radio Show
Llandudno Radio Rally
The new site is the brand new John Bright high school in
Llandudno.
2nd November: Foyle & District Amateur Radio Club
Annual Rally in The White Horse Hotel Campsie, Londonderry
Doors open at 11:30 a.m. for Disabled access
Main event at 12-noon info www.mn0aku.org
Sunday 23rd November: Mayo Radio Rally, Belmont Hotel, Knock,
Co. Mayo. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Rally Director, Padraic
Baynes, EI9JA info www.ei7mre.org
****
DX Bulletins
Swaziland, 25-26 October David GI4FUM / EI4DJ will be active
during CQWW SSB from the former IRTS AFRI75 Dxpedition site &
antenna farm in Hawane using the call 3DA0DJ. The 3DA0DJ call
will be active from 18-28 October QSL via GI4FUM - see 3DA0DJ
details on "QRZ dot com"
Willis Island Dxpedition
A team of mainly German radio amateurs have been operating
from Willis Island, in the Coral Sea, north-east of Australia,
since earlier this month, using the call sign is VK9DWX.
The group's signals have been heard on most HF bands in EI and
GI, with 31 EI call signs and 25 GI call signs in the log by
Thursday 23rd October, for a total of 124 QSOs. 20 metres and
17 metres have been the best bands to work Willis Island from
Ireland, however the group's logs show QSOs with Irish
stations on all HF bands except 10 metres. Monday next, 27th
October, is expected to be the final day for the DXpedition.
****
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 Friday
in order to be guaranteed inclusion in the following
Sunday's bulletin.
Best 73 from John, Sysop @ EI3DIB.#TIPP.IRL.EU
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