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IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 18th December 2016


Promoting Amateur Radio on the Wild Atlantic Way

The QSL cards are printed, the co-ordinators have been nominated and the QSL Manager is at the ready. Open to all EI operators, from 1st January to 31st December 2017, nine special calls signs – EI11WAW through to EI99WAW will be available for activation. Each call sign will be associated with one of the counties making up the Wild Atlantic Way and will have its own distinctive QSL card depicting a highlight of the county linked to the call.

There is a co-ordinator nominated for each call sign – the list is on the IRTS web site. Every EI operator is more than welcome to use these special calls but must get clearance from a co-ordinator before going on air. If you have a preferred call sign you should contact the co-ordinator for that call sign. This clearance is essential to avoid any possibility of two operators being on air on the same band and mode at the same time.

For more information go to the IRTS web site www.irts.ie where there are links to WAW. The List of co-ordinators along with guidelines and background are available under Wild Atlantic Way –Operators Wanted. Also check out QRZ.COM.

On behalf of the Limerick Radio Club we thank all who contributed to getting this project to the starting line. Wishing a Happy and peaceful Christmas to all and many QSOs in 2017.


South Dublin Radio Club

This year's South Dublin Radio Club Christmas Party was a great success with a large crowd and plenty of visitors.

The club is on a break for Xmas and will return on January 3rd 2017.


Finnish 5 MHz

As and from 9th December 2016, the Finnish communications authority, FICORA, issued a decision permitting access to the new WRC-15 60m allocation for all Finnish amateur licensees. The allocation is from 5351.5 to 5366.5 kHz on a Secondary basis with a maximum power of 15W EIRP. All modes are permitted.


Phoenix Rally February 19th 2017

The Phoenix Rally will take place on Sunday 19th February 2017 at the usual venue of Coolmine Community School, Dublin 15. Should you require a table, please contact Tony on 087 243 9997.


IRTS VHF Squares Table 2016

Do you want to submit your VHF, UHF or indeed SHF squares worked between 1st January and 31st December? You are welcome to submit your worked squares to Steve EI5DD on wrights1 /at/ eircom.net. These will be entered into the table found on the IRTS website.


New 70cm Repeater EI7HXR

A new 70cm repeater EI7HXR was recently installed at Harney’s Cross near Clonmel, County Tipperary. The repeater operates on 430.850mhz and input on 438.450mhz (+7.6mhz) with a CTCSS tone of 103.5hz required. This new repeater is licenced and run by the Tipperary Amateur Radio Group.

It is connected to the Southern Ireland Repeater Network with an output power of 30watts. For further information about this repeater or the Southern Ireland Repeater Network go to https://sirnrepeaters.blogspot.ie .

Reception reports can be sent to Hugh EI2HI or John EI8JA


DX News

Jeff K5WE will be in the Cayman Islands from 21st to 30th December. He will sign ZF2WE with activity on all the HF bands, mainly CW and some RTTY. Logs will be uploaded to Logbook of The World and QSLs go via the home call.

Sila AK0SK travels to Taveta, Kenya from 22nd December to 6th January and will be on the air as 5Z4/AK0SK. He plans to be on 80m to 10m on SSB. QSL to the home call.

Harry JG7PSJ will be back on the Ogasawara Islands from 23rd December to 1st January using his JD1BMH callsign. Ogasawara counts as a separate entity for DXCC and has the reference number of AS-031 for the Islands on the Air Award.

Several seasonal special event stations are on the air at present. The most prominent one is OF9X manned by members of the Radio Arcala team. Have a look at their qrz.com page for full information. Other stations heard include PA16XMAS and YP9XMAS.


Items for inclusion in next week’s Radio News can be submitted via e-mail to “newsteam /at/ irts / dot / ie” for automatic forwarding to both the radio and printed news services. Urgent news items for the radio news may be telephoned to the radio news editor, Aidan, EI7JC on 085 7100511.

Please note that items for the radio news should reach the editor no later than midday on Thursday in order to be guaranteed inclusion in the following Sunday’s bulletin.

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