Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday January 5th, 2025
Silent Key – Alvin Goebel EI3KB
We were saddened to learn of the death of Alvin Goebel EI3KB who died on December 14th, 2024. Alvin was aged 81 and lived in Minnesota, USA. We extend our sympathies to his wife Mary, his son Don, sisters Gail and Jeri, as well as his extended family and friends.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
News from the IRTS
The committee and officers of the IRTS would like to wish all our members and friends of the society a very happy and prosperous New Year. Thank you all for your great support of the society in 2024 and we look forward to your continued support throughout 2025 and beyond.
The next IRTS committee meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 8th, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. on the Zoom platform. All IRTS affiliated clubs are reminded that under Rule 16.1, the members in each affiliated club or, society may elect a representative and an alternate annually to attend IRTS Committee meetings. Clubs wishing to send a representative should notify the IRTS Secretary, Owen EI4GGB at irts_secretary /at/ irts.ie in advance to ensure notification and links are provided.
Limerick Clare Amateur Radio Club
As another year starts, Limerick Clare Amateur Radio Club would like to wish all their members, licensed radio amateurs, and SWLs a happy and prosperous 2025. Their first monthly club meeting of 2025 will be held on Thursday the 9th of January at 7.30 p.m. sharp and will feature a look forward to activities for 2025. They state that their club's annual rally has been a perennial success and has afforded members, other licensed amateurs, and SWLs alike, an opportunity to meet in a congenial setting. In 2025, the rally will take place on the 9th of March in Treacy's Oakwood Hotel in Shannon. Please note the change of venue from recent years. The club is delighted that Long Communications has confirmed attendance and there will be plenty of bring and buy tables. To book a table, you are asked to please contact Dermot Gleeson, EI2GT, at 087 2352028.
Despite recent storm damage which has impacted their Hex Beam antenna, their weekly Saturday activation of EI4SAM continues but with fewer frequencies in play. The station is active from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the initial calling frequency of 7.123 MHz, plus or minus QRM. All callers are welcome.
Shannon Basin Radio Club AGM
Shannon Basin Radio Club wishes a Happy New Year to all and announce that their annual general meeting will take place on the 24th of January at 8 p.m. Their AGM will be held in Hannon’s Hotel in Roscommon town, Eircode F42 PH33. All members are invited to attend. Newcomers are welcome also. Finger food and light refreshments will be available, and a good social evening is planned for after the meeting. Accommodation is available in the hotel if required.
The club’s first SSB DX net of 2025 will kick off on the 160m band on Thursday next, January 9th. Starting at 9 p.m. on 1.847MHz plus or minus QRM, all stations are invited to ring in the New Year by calling in. Further information will be provided via the club’s social media channels over the coming days. For more information about the club’s activities and upcoming AGM, you are invited to visit www.sbrc.ie or send an email to admin /at/ sbrc.ie.
VHF/Microwave Updates
This is a last call for net control stations for the next 145 Alive event. It takes place on Sunday the 26th of January 2025 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. local time. It is not a contest but a more relaxed event promoting the use of the 2m band.
The IRTS VHF/microwave managers are coordinating net control stations from EI for this. If you are interested in taking part as a net controller, contact them via email to vhf_manager /at/ irts.ie. So far, 57 net control stations have registered with seven from EI. EI net control stations already registered will soon receive further information regarding frequency allocations from the IRTS VHF/microwave team. Frequently updated information may also be found on the 145 Alive Activity Event Group on Facebook. The 2025 contest and activity season kicks off this week with the RSGB 144MHz UKAC contest on Tuesday the 7th of January from 20:00 UTC to 22:30 UTC. SSB, CW, FM, AM, JT6M, and FSK441 modes can be used.
It is followed by a VHF-UHF FT8 Activity event on the 70cm band on Wednesday 8th. The FT8 and FT4 modes are used, and it runs from 17:00 to 21:00 UTC. On Thursday, January 9th, you can also try your hand at the RSGB 50MHz UKAC contest. This takes place from 20:00 UTC to 22:30 UTC.
Information regarding local weekly nets in EI can be found on the newly updated IRTS VHF/UHF/SHF webpage.
IRTS members active on VHF and above may like to consider a New Year’s resolution to submit their worked squares information for this webpage also. You can send the information to the VHF/microwave managers by email to vhf_manager /at/ irts.ie also.
Latest Edition of the IARU Monitoring System Newsletter
In the November 2024 edition of the IARU Monitoring System Region 1 newsletter, stations reportedly of Chinese origin have started to appear on the HF bands. One is a Chinese broadcast station operating in the 15m band using a digital radio mode. The newsletter continues with examples of reported known and somewhat unusual signals that regularly encroach on the amateur radio bands. If you are interested in learning more, the newsletter is available for download at www.iaru-r1.org SWLs or anyone interested in trying to find these signals can use free web-based software defined radios like those hosted on www.kiwisdr.com if lacking suitable equipment.
Lagan Valley Amateur Radio Society Rally
The Lagan Valley Amateur Radio Society annual rally takes place on the 1st of March 2025 at the Hillsborough Village Centre, 7 Ballynahinch Road, Hillsborough, BT26 6AR. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. and the rally ends 1 p.m. Further details can be found at www.lvars.uk
Items for Inclusion in Next Week's Radio News
That is the news for this week. Items for inclusion in next week’s radio news can be submitted by email to newsteam /at/ irts.ie for automatic forwarding to both the radio and printed news services. The deadline is midnight on Thursday.
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