Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday March 9th, 2025
News from the IRTS
The EIDX group will once again take to the air, this time as 6Y7EI from Jamaica IOTA NA-097. Traveling from Ireland on March 12th, the group hopes to by QRV on the 13th to the 24th of March on all HF and 6m bands using CW, SSB, and FT8. The 12-man team this year comprises Heye DJ9RR, Enda EI2II, Thos EI2JD, David EI3IXB, Pete EI4GZB, Jim EI4HH, Jeremy EI5GM, Dermot EI6FM, Charlie EI8JB, Dave EI9FBB, Declan EI9HQ, and Kenneth OZ1IKY.
You can follow the group by searching Facebook for 6Y7EI or donate on the webpage www.eidxg.com to support them. They would like to express thanks to those who have already been so generous. The QSL manager will once again be Charles M0OXO through his online OQRS system. The group hopes to see even more EI callsigns in the log and improve on last year’s successful operation. On behalf of the society, we wish them well and hope you all get them in their log.
With the 2025 IRTS AGM weekend taking place over the weekend of April 12th and 13th, the IRTS awards committee is seeking nominations for “Awards for Services to the Society or to Amateur Radio” and “Awards to IRTS members for Other Achievements”. Details of these awards are available at www.irts.ie under the awards section. Nominations should reach the IRTS awards committee by email to awards /at/ irts.ie before Sunday, March 23rd please.
South Eastern Amateur Radio Group EI2WRC
Tables for individual traders or people who may have surplus radio gear or second-hand type equipment to sell at the SEARG Radio Rally are now available to be prebooked. As the club has to hire extra tables for the event, this will mean that any person who requires tables will be charged 10 euro per table which includes admission for one person into the rally. Additional tables will cost 10 euro per table and additional personnel will be 5 euro per person.
Table enquiries can be made to Seany EI2HZB on 083 4713001. Tables are limited and will be allocated on a first come-first served basis so contact Seany before March 30th, 2025, please.
SEARG members will be on-hand on the day to help traders transport equipment in and out of the rally area.
Only three hotel rooms remain available for the AGM weekend. As the hotel is almost full, no more rooms will be made available. Therefore, anyone who wants a room will need to book one immediately.
The complete line up of workshop speakers on Saturday April 12th has now been confirmed. Dinner tickets which cost 40 euro, are available now to be prebooked from Ralph EI2KU. All information on the above can be found on the relevant pages at irtsagm25.blogspot.com.
For more information about EI2WRC, their activities, and for contact details please see www.searg.ie
Radio Scouting Ireland (RSI) News
Over the weekend of February 22nd and 23rd, Radio Scouting Ireland (RSI) brought exciting radio-related activities to scouts attending the annual tree-planting event in Lough Dan Scout Centre, Co. Wicklow. A high-frequency (HF) station was set up using an ICOM 775DSP and an end-fed halfwave antenna, as well as a two-metre low power station to allow scouts supervised radio operation under the EI0YOTA callsign.
In addition, scouts also took part in a range of fun and educational games using PMR handsets. It was a fantastic event and a great opportunity to introduce over 200 scouts to the world of amateur radio. Facilitating the activity for the weekend were RSI members Ana Cañizares EI5IXB, John Mack EI6IZB, and Tom McCarthy EI5IEB.
On Wednesday the 3rd of March 2025, the club held its EGM. RSI is delighted to announce the following members have been elected to the committee: Dave McMullin EI6JLB as president and Noel Crowley EI2048 as chairperson. They wish the new members to the committee the very best in the year ahead. The club also wishes to thank the outgoing committee members for all their great work and volunteerism.
Radio Scouting Ireland report that they have a busy year ahead with some amazing opportunities to promote the hobby to young people. To meet these requests, they depend very much on the donations of equipment, the good will and assistance from the IRTS, radio clubs and operators throughout the country.
If you wish to follow what they are doing more closely, they have an active Facebook page and website at www.radioscouting.ie If you like what Radio Scouting Ireland is doing and wish to help, they have set up an iDonate page at www.idonate.ie/radioscoutingireland where you can make a donation.
Shannon Basin Radio Club Nets
The next Shannon Basin Radio Club's SSB DX net take place on Thursday night from 9 p.m. It will be on the 80m band this week in the region of 3.775MHz. Further details can be found at www.sbrc.ie and via the club's social media channels. Everyone is welcome including SWLs.
VHF/Microwave Updates
There’s plenty of activity on the VHF and UHF bands this week with opportunities for experimentation, self-training, as well as testing your skills.
Starting with Tuesday March 11th, the RSGB 432MHz FM Activity Contest takes place from 19:00 to 19:55 UTC. This is followed by the 432MHz UK Activity Contest from 20:00 to 22:30 UTC.
The European FT8 Activity series continues the following night, Wednesday March the 12th, with an activity evening on the 70cm band this time. This European series of activities is intended to promote FT8 and FT4 activity and takes place from 17:00 to 21:00 UTC. Details can be found at ft8activity.eu. Switching to the six-metre band on Thursday March 13th, you can take part in the 50 MHz UK activity contest event as well.
South Dublin Radio Club runs a nightly SSB net on 144.330MHz from 8 p.m. Weekly six-metre nets take place in the south of the country on Wednesday nights also from 8 p.m. on 50.180MHz. These are followed by 2m FM simplex nets each Thursday night from at the same time on 145.300MHz. All are very welcome to call in and further details are available on the VHF/UHF/SHF page on irts.ie.
The IRTS VHF/microwave team can be contacted via email to vhf_manager /at/ irts.ie.
Radio Rally Updates
Lough Erne Amateur Club’s Radio Rally will be held on Sunday the 18th of May 2025. The venue is the Share Discovery Village, 221 Lisnaskea Road, Lisnaskea, Enniskillen BT92 0JZ. Doors will open at 11 a.m. Entry costs five euro or five pounds which includes a ticket for the draw. The rally will include a bring and buy and usual facilities including food and refreshments. Further details are available at LoughErneRadioClub.co.uk.
Items for Inclusion in Next Week’s Radio News
That is the news for this week and thanks to everyone for sending items into the weekly IRTS radio news. They are very much appreciated and are a great way to update the rest of the community about activities. If you have any club events, activities, meetings, or other items of interest, you are very welcome to email newsteam /at/ irts.ie with the details. These will be automatically forwarded to the IRTS radio and printed news services. The deadline each week is midnight on Thursdays.
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