Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday March 9th 2008
Exam Results
The results of the most recent theory examination for the Experimenter's Licence were issued earlier this week. Of the fifteen candidates who sat the examination eight were successful.
Since the IRTS took over responsibility for the examination just under three years ago six licence examinations have been held. Of the 126 candidates who have sat these examinations 75 or 60% secured a pass and many of these are now on the air. These figures show the success of the collaborative venture between ComReg and IRTS in putting the examination system on a firm footing. Congratulations to those who were successful in the recent exam. We hope to welcome you on the air real soon. To those who were not we say keep up the studies. There is a good record of unsuccessful candidates passing at a future attempt. The Radio Theory Links section of the IRTS website at www.irts.ie should be very helpful to those studying for the licence examination.
IRTS AGM 2008 - Galway
The IRTS Annual General Meeting will be hosted this year on the 26th and 27th of April 2008 by the Galway Radio Experimenters Club. The venue is the Salthill Hotel on the prom in Salthill, Galway. See their website for details at www.salthillhotel.com You can also call the hotel on 091 522711 to book accommodation. Rates are 75 Euro per person sharing double room and a single room is 85 Euro to include breakfast. Please mention the Galway Radio Club when booking.
If you prefer B&B, there are ample B&B’s in the Salthill area. The IRTS dinner will be held on Saturday evening the 26th of April in the hotel at 8 p.m. with music in the bar afterwards. On Sunday the 27th there will be a rally in the hotel from 11 a.m. with many of the traders that were at the Knock rally attending. Lunch will be available in the hotel and the AGM meeting will be held afterwards in the meeting room upstairs. Salthill is an ideal venue for a family weekend, walk the famous promenade and avail of the many attractions Salthill has to offer, the Sea Aquarium, cafes, restaurants and bars.
The Leisureland swimming complex is beside the hotel and Galway’s shopping centres are not too far away. For any help and rally details, contact the club’s officers: Damian Commins EI2HG on 086 8316382 or Tom Frawley EI3ER on 086 8224170.
AREN News
A meeting for all AREN members nationwide will take place on Saturday the 12th of April in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. All members are requested to attend. A copy of the Agenda has been circulated to all members.
There have been some changes at the Committee level. Outgoing Finance officer Dave Moore is succeeded by Tim McNight. John Ronan takes over as acting Co-ordinator (pending the appointment of a new National Co-ordinator). John Ketch will remain on the committee in a new role as Sectetary while Conor O Neill continues in Operations. Mark Wall stands down as PRO leaving the position open. Declan Horan stands down as Training and recruitment officer. Expressions of interest for these posts are welcomed. We would like to thank Dave, Mark and Declan for their support over the past few years.
Theory Classes
Theory Classes are continuing at South Dublin Radio Club and also Cara Amateur Radio Society. Classes at SDR take place each Tuesday from 8 to 10 p.m. while classes at Cara take place on Wednesdays from 8.30 to 10.30 p.m. For more information contact Michael EI2GKB.
South Eastern Amateur Radio Group
Going Forward, Francis Lenane EI5GOB will take over from Gareth EI7FZB as SEARG newsreader on Tuesday nights. Jim Cullinan EI4DT will serve as backup newsreader. The club would like to thank Gareth Wilmott EI7FZB for his service as newsreader over the past few years.
Please note that membership subscriptions are now due for 2008 and can be passed on to any committee member.
Upcoming Rallies
The Lagan Valley Radio Rally will take place on the 15th of March at Lagan Valley Hospital, Lisburn. For information contact Jim Henry, GI0DVU on 048 926 62270.
The Lough Erne Amateur Radio Club Annual Rally will take place in The Share Centre, Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh on Sunday the 13th of April 2008.
Ducie Island DXpedition
A team of European and US radio amateurs, using the call sign VP6DX, recently completed a DXpedition to Ducie Island, part of the Pitcairn Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. Over the period 11th to 27th of February, the team made over 180,000 QSOs, thus creating a new record for the largest number of contacts on an expedition. The VP6DX log includes just under 200 contacts with 50 separate EI stations on all bands from 12 metres to 160 metres. The band with the most EI QSOs was 40 metres, with 17 metres in second place.
Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News should be forwarded to Mark Wall, EI7IS at QTHR or by phone to 087-6302026 or 051-340850. 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 Friday in order to be guaranteed inclusion in the following Sunday’s bulletin.
[A]
