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IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday February 5th 2006


Trophy Returns

It is now time to return Trophies presented at the 2005 Limerick AGM in preparation for this years upcoming AGM. The deadline for returns is the 18th of March 2006. Trophies can be returned to Peter Grant, EI4HX at QTHR, Awards Committee, or any Committee Member.


IRTS AGM 2006

Preparations are well advanced for this years IRTS AGM, which is being held on Sunday April 23rd at the Vienna Woods Hotel in Cork and is being hosted by Cork Radio Club. The weekend will follow the usual format with a dinner on the Saturday night, a rally on Sunday and the Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday afternoon. The Vienna Woods Hotel is located on the eastern side of Cork City just off the Glanmire roundabout at the city side of Glanmire village.

For those wishing to stay in the hotel overnight, only double rooms are available and these can only be booked through Dave EI4BZ on 087-6290574 at a cost of €110.00 per room with breakfast. Please note that there are only a few rooms left at the Vienna Woods. However, rooms are also available at the neighbouring Ibis Hotel at a cost of 59 Euro for a single room and 69 Euro for a double room. Breakfast costs Euro 8.50. The telephone number for the Ibis Hotel is 021-4354354. Rooms are also available at the nearby John Barleycorn Hotel at a cost of 45 Euro for a single and 85.00 Euro for a double room including a full Irish Breakfast. The telephone number here is 021-4821499. Enquiries to Finbarr EI1CS on 021-4346622 or Dave EI4BZ on 087-6290574.


Theory Examination

As announced last week, the IRTS had sent the results of the theory examination held on the 18th of January to ComReg on 24th of January. ComReg issued the results to candidates earlier this week. The results were issued within two weeks of the holding of the examination, which the Society considers to be very satisfactory.

Of the nineteen candidates who sat the examination, thirteen passed which is a pass rate of 68%. The pass rate in the essay type examination held in June last was 71%. Some of the candidates who failed had very near misses and we would expect them to pass at a future sitting. We would also expect the pass rate to increase somewhat if Clubs get back to running formal classes now that a system of regular twice yearly examinations organised, run and corrected by the Society has been established on a firm footing. On this front, a small group within the Society is at an advanced stage of preparing a course template for the examination in PowerPoint format. This will contain a very detailed outline of all of the topics and material that needs to be covered for the theory examination. It is intended that this could be used as a detailed plan for those in Clubs wishing to run courses or as a study guide for the many people who may necessarily have to study on their own for the examination. It is intended to launch this project at the AGM in April and samples of the relevant CD ROM should be available free to Clubs and individuals.


Cork Radio Club

On Monday the 6th of February, Con EI7DJB will demonstrate how to generate electricity using a magnet coil and an electrolytic capacitor combining them to light an LED, hence the no batteries torch.


Coolmine Rally

The annual Phoenix Radio Club Rally will be held on Sunday February 26th at the Coolmine Community School in Blanchardstown and not as originally planned on the 12th of February. Morse testing will be available throughout the day for anyone wishing to take the test. Doors open to traders at 9.30 a.m. and to the general public at 11.00 a.m. All enquiries to Tony on 01-8252074 or 087-2439997


Limerick Rally

The Limerick Radio Club would like to remind everyone of their upcoming Rally. It will be held in the Greenhills Hotel, Ennis Rd, Limerick on Sunday the 12th of March. Icom UK has confirmed attendance and will have the IC7000, IC756Pro3 and IC7800 on display. The club is presently in negotiation with several other suppliers. The first of the raffle prizes has already been secured and it is a DSP Speaker from BHI UK. Anybody interested in a table or simply needing further information feel free to contact Paul EI6FE on 061 360122.

Further news will be forthcoming as soon as we have it. Members of LRC are looking forward to a successful rally and meeting all their old friends again.


Lough Erne Amateur Radio Club

The Lough Erne Amateur Radio Clubs 25th Annual Radio Show will take place in the Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen, on Sunday the 23rd of April 2006. Doors open at 12 noon and Admission is £3 or 5 euros. There is generous car parking space and refreshments on site. There is a Bring & Buy stand with no fees. There will be traders big & small selling Amateur Radio gear, components, electronics, computer components and various new, surplus and second-hand equipment. UK traders are expected. Usual large attendance from North and South is expected as the club returns to the familiar venue. For information on accommodation or trade stand space contact Alan Gault GI6PYP on 07771 811484\028 6634 1108, "alan dot r dot gault at homecall dot co dot uk" or Herbie Graham GI6JPO on 028 6638 7761. Call early to avoid disappointment.


South Dublin Radio Club

South Dublin Radio Club will hold its AGM on Tuesday the 21st of February at 8 p.m. Also the club will be running the annual Spring challenge during the month of February starting on the 1st of February at 00:00 hours and finishing on the 28th of February at 00.00 hours. The rules are published in the IRTS Handbook or may be obtained from the Club Chairman or committee.


Limerick Radio Club

John Ketch (National AREN Co-ordinator) will be talking about Emergency Communications at Limerick Radio Club on 7.30pm, Thursday the 9th of February 2006 at Limerick Institute of Technology.

The Annual General Meeting of the Limerick Radio Club will be held on the 23rd of February 2006. It will start at 8.00 p.m. sharp in the limerick Institute of Technology, Moylish, Limerick. All members are requested to attend.


South Eastern Amateur Radio Group

The Annual General Meeting of South Eastern Amateur Radio Group will take place at 8.00 p.m. in the Roanmore Centre, Cleaboy Road, Waterford on Wednesday the 22nd of February. All members are asked to attend and visitors are welcome.


Theory Classes in Mayo

Theory classes will commence in Co. Mayo soon. The classes will be held in Ballyvary on Saturdays. Anyone wishing to participate should contact Terry Ebdon on 087 130 8560 immediately. The classes are organised by The Mayo Radio Experimenters Network.


AREN

2006 AREN training will begin in February and it will be organised by distributing material on e-mail and in the post, and by using a directed net to go through it using the format set out in the manual.

The net will take place on Saturday mornings once a month at 09:30 for 1.5 hours local as this will leave the rest of the day free. This will continue on the third Saturday of each month.

The next NET will take place on February the 25th and it will consist of an introduction to emergency situations. These exercises have been prepared by Munster Co-ordinator, Conor O'Neill, EI4JN.

Following the success of last years AREN trip to Isle of Man for the Manx National Rally, expressions of interest are invited from any AREN members who would like to assist Raynet again this year. The rally takes places over the 5th and 6th of May. For information see www.manxrally.org Full training will be provided. For further details contact Munster AREN co-ordinator, Conor O Neill, EI4JN on 021 4801111 or e-mail "ei4jn at eircom dot net".


EI DXpedition to Southern Africa 2007

The December issue of Echo Ireland carried a request for expressions of interest from members who would like to take part in a DXpedition to various countries in Southern Africa in 2007. If there is sufficient interest then initial planning will commence next month with a view to the expedition taking place in Spring 2007 as part of the IRTS 75th Jubilee celebrations. Contact Paul EI2CA if you wish to be put on the list for further information by emailing him to "paul at comma dot ie" or telephone 087-2523908.


Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News should be forwarded to Mark Wall, EI7IS at QTHR or by phone to 051 853806 or 087 6302026. Items for the radio news can also be faxed to 087 5 6302026. News should be submitted via e-mail to "news 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 Fridays.

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