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IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday October 12th 2008


Theory Examination

We would like to remind intending candidates that the closing date for applications to sit the next Theory Examination for the Experimenter’s Licence is Friday next, 17 October. The examination will be held on Thursday, 30 October at 2.00 p.m. at the ComReg offices in Dublin.

In order to book a place the appropriate fee must be sent before the closing date to Sean Nolan EI7CD, 12 Little Meadow, Pottery Road, Dunlaoghaire, County Dublin. The fee is 50 Euro or 25 Euro for full-time registered students, repeat candidates and those who are retired, unemployed or have a disability. Cheques and Money Orders should be made payable to the IRTS. When forwarding the fee intending candidates should include their full postal address as well as phone and e-mail contact details.

It should be noted that the production of a photo ID on the day of the examination is mandatory. Any candidate failing to produce one on the day will not be permitted to sit the examination. The photo ID may be a driving licence, a passport, an employment photo identity card, a student card containing a photo or a Garda national photo ID.

Sean EI7CD’s address can be found in the IRTS call book or in the call book section of the IRTS website at www.irts.ie His e-mail address for any enquiries is "ei7cd at gofree dot indigo dot ie"


Radio Theory Examination Material

Anyone studying for the forthcoming theory examination - or indeed any experimenter who wants to learn more - should note that the IRTS website has links to numerous sources of information about radio theory.

Exam candidates will no doubt have a copy of the "Examination Notes and Sample Paper", available on the Downloads Page. This document includes a copy of the full HAREC syllabus. The Downloads page also includes other useful reading material such as the handbook "Ethics and Operating Procedures for the Radio Amateur" (mentioned in a recent radio news bulletin) and copies of IARU band plans.

The page "Where do I Start?" has some key links - including details of how to order the CD-based "Radio Experimenter's Examination Course Guide" as well as links to ComReg's Experimenters Pages, which are well worth a visit. Finally, we suggest browsing to the "Radio Theory" page, which has over 20 links to sites containing a wealth of relevant information, including sample examination papers. While the range and complexity of topics covered in some of these sites is beyond the requirements of the HAREC Syllabus, they do include some very helpful material.


Lecture on Amateur Radio

Some people will be interested in an upcoming lecture in Irish entitled Raidió Amaitéarach in Éireann – Amateur Radio in Ireland. The lecture is on Thursday evening next at 2000 hrs in Engineers Ireland, 22 Clyde Road, Dublin 4. The lecturer will be Tom Brosnan EI5JO.


European Common Allocations Table

In February last as a result of an initiative by IRTS based on a technical paper by Dave EI3IO, ComReg raised at the CEPT Working Group on Frequency Management WGFM the question of the inclusion of a mention of allocations to the amateur service in the region of 70 MHz in the European Common Allocations table (ECA). There was no mention of these in the table despite the fact that an increasing number of countries were giving operating facilities to the amateur and experimenter stations in that part of the spectrum.

This initiative has now yielded results as the revised ECA finalised and published very recently by the European Radio communications Office (ERO) includes a new footnote which reads as follows ‘EU9 In a growing number of CEPT countries parts of the band 70.0 to 70.5 MHz is allocated to the Amateur service on a secondary basis.’ During the consultation period on the draft ECA which ended on 16 August, the IRTS, with the Finnish, British, Czech Republic, Dutch and Norwegian IARU Societies made submissions supporting the inclusion of the footnote and pressing for its retention in the final table.

The new footnote now in the finalised table will assist Societies in CEPT countries which have been reluctant to grant allocations at 70 MHz because up to now there had been no mention of such allocations in either the ITU Radio Regulations or the European common allocations table.

We are very grateful to the Frequency Management side of ComReg for their assistance and cooperation in bringing this initiative to such a satisfactory conclusion.


Major Award goes to EI

The First Class CW Operators’ Club (FOC) is an international group of CW enthusiasts whose central aim is to encourage a high standard of operating and behaviour on the amateur bands.

FOC sponsors the Al Slater, G3FXB, Memorial Award. This is given once a year to an individual, group or society for an outstanding contribution to the hobby that reflects the attitudes and approach of G3FXB, a former President and a keen contester.

The 2008 award was presented to Paul, EI5DI, at the FOC’s annual dinner on 4th October, which celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Club’s formation. Paul is a past-President of IRTS and the author of SD contest logger.


Rallies

18th October: Carrickfergus Amateur Radio Group Rally in Downshire Community School Carrickfergus doors open 12 noon info www.gi0lix.eu

24-25 October: Amateur Radio Show Donington Park, Leicester Details www.lars.org.uk

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,Callsign change 18-19 October David GI4FUM / EI4DJ will be active from Swaziland during JOTA using the call 3DA0SS- Swazi Scouts. There will be a group of 20 Swazi scouts experiencing JOTA for the first time. QSL via GI4FUM - see 3DA0DJ details on “QRZ dot com”

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”


E-mail address Change

Due to very high volumes of spam e-mail, it was deemed necessary to shut down the "news at irts dot ie" address. Going forward, please send all input for the IRTS Radio News and Echo Ireland Newsletter to the new e-mail address which is "newsteam at irts dot ie". Again, the new e-mail for news input is "newsteam at irts dot ie".

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. Of 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.

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