This Week’s News
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday August 23rd, 2026
IRTS Appoints HAREC licence exam coordinator and Chief Morse Tester
After a brief period of vacancy, the IRTS is pleased to announce the appointment of two new officers to key society roles. Diarmuid, EI4LF, takes over as the new HAREC licence exam coordinator. Diarmuid began his radio journey in the mid-1970s and has been an active operator since 1988. Beyond amateur radio, he brings extensive professional experience as a communications tech engineer, having also taught with the Defence Forces Signal Corps and at various universities.
Eamonn, EI7LC, steps into the role of Chief Morse Tester. A highly experienced CW operator, Eamonn is a strong advocate for Morse code training, having founded the "Nervous Novices CW Net" to help newcomers build confidence on the air. His contributions to the mode were further recognized in May when he was invited to join the prestigious First Class CW Operators' Club.
The IRTS extends its warmest congratulations to both Diarmuid and Eamonn and wishes them every success as they serve the amateur radio community in their new positions.
South Dublin Radio Club at Dublin Maker Festival and Upcoming Remote Station Talk
South Dublin Radio club will be demonstrating Amateur Radio this weekend at Leopardstown racecourse as part of the free Dublin Maker festival on the 22nd and 23rd of August. Feel free to drop by between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. or listen out for EI2SDR on the air.
South Dublin Radio Club member Niall EI6HIB will then give a talk on Tuesday, 25th August, on the construction and operation of his remote amateur radio station. Niall will cover the development of the station, the equipment used and the practicalities of operating a HF station remotely. The station is based around a FlexRadio and covers 160 to 10 metres, using an inverted-L, a vertical, and a three-element multiband Yagi. The talk will take place at the South Dublin Radio Club's regular Tuesday night meeting at Ballyroan Community Centre, Marian Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, commencing at 7.30 p.m. Visitors are very welcome.
Shannon Basin Radio Club Invitation for SSB Field Day
Shannon Basin Radio Club extends a warm invitation to radio clubs to join them for the upcoming IRTS SSB Field Day, which takes place over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, September 5th and 6th, 2026. The club will be operating from the expansive grounds of Garbally College in Ballinasloe. Clubs or individual operators interested in setting up alongside them or joining in the field day activities are invited to get in touch. For further information, please contact Anthony, EI6GGB, by emailing admin /at/ sbrc.ie
Sperrin Amateur Radio Club Celebrates New Clubhouse Opening
The Sperrin Amateur Radio Club holds its regular monthly meetings on the second Wednesday of every month just outside Cookstown, County Tyrone. To mark the official completion of their brand-new clubhouse facilities, club members recently gathered for a celebratory summer barbecue on site. The club extends a warm welcome to both existing members and prospective newcomers to drop in and visit their updated operating premises. Visit sperrinarc.co.uk for further information about the club.
VHF/Microwave News
The IRTS 70-centimetre and 2-metre Counties Contests take place on Sunday, September 13th. The 70cm leg begins at 2:00 p.m. local time for a 30-minute sprint, followed immediately by the 2-metre contest at 2:30 p.m. local time running for 90 minutes until 4:00 p.m. Both events include FM and SSB operating modes, and participants are reminded to submit their logs by September 27th. Rules can be found on the IRTS website. The next 145 Alive UK event takes place on the same day starting at 12 p.m. Visit 145alive.com for more information and to register. With both events on the same day, Sunday, September 13th promises an exceptionally high level of activity across the VHF and UHF bands. Whether operating fixed, mobile, or portable, all operators are encouraged to turn on their radios, get on the air, and make the most of the lively band conditions.
Amateur satellite enthusiasts are being requested to assist with telemetry tracking for ASRTU-1 (AO-123) over the coming days. The satellite has faced long-term power constraints after its solar panels failed to deploy post-launch. Controllers at the ground station recently issued commands to adjust the satellite's attitude to improve solar exposure. Amateurs capable of receiving and decoding digital telemetry are strongly encouraged to monitor upcoming passes, gather signal data, and submit telemetry files to assist controllers in stabilizing the spacecraft's power and orientation.
Items for Inclusion in Next Week's Radio News
That is the news for this week. Thanks to everyone for sending items into the weekly IRTS radio news. They are very much appreciated and are a great way to update the rest of the community about activities. If you have any club events, news, meetings, or other items of interest, you are very welcome to email the radio news editor Keith EI5IN via email to newsteam /at/ irts.ie with the details. The deadline is midnight on Thursdays. Items intended for inclusion in Echo Ireland should be sent to echoireland /at/ irts.ie.
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