Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday May 4th, 2025
IRTS Hamfest 2025
The Irish Radio Transmitters Society is delighted to announce “IRTS Hamfest 2025” which is a celebration of all things amateur radio. This new initiative by the IRTS will take place over the weekend of September 6th and 7th in conjunction with the IRTS SSB Field Day Weekend. The venue for this event will be the Mullingar Showgrounds, Culleen, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath located just 6 km from Mullingar town centre.
A dedicated subcommittee has been set up and are already planning for what promises to be two jampacked days of numerous amounts of ham radio topics and live hands-on demonstrations. These will appeal to both licensed operators, shortwave listeners, and members of the public. More information regarding all the exciting activities being planned will be made known in due course. Please make a date in your diaries for IRTS Hamfest 2025 on September 6th and 7th at Mullingar Showgrounds!
New Weekly News Bulletin Announcement
The IRTS Newsteam are delighted to announce an additional EIØIRTS weekly news bulletin. The new bulletin will be provided by the Patriot Radio Communications Club EI7PRC who are based in Watergrasshill in Cork. This new bulletin will take place at 8 p.m. local time on Sunday evenings on 70.350 MHz FM simplex. This bulletin is on a trial basis so if you can receive it, please call in and support it. The IRTS would like to thank EI7PRC for providing this additional weekly news bulletin and wish them every success with it.
HAREC exams application deadline
The closing date for HAREC exam applications is tomorrow Monday the 5th of May. The Harmonised Amateur Radio Examination Certificate exams take place on the 17th of May 2025 in the Clayton Hotel Dublin Airport. The address is Stockhole Lane, Clonshagh, Co Dublin, K67 X3H5.
A complementary shuttle bus service is available from Dublin Airport to the venue. The morning exam will commence at 11 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m. The afternoon exam will then commence at 2 p.m. and concludes at 4 p.m. For further information, please see the licensing section of the IRTS website or contact Mick EI6IKB at IRTS_exams /at/ irts.ie.
ComReg 5 Year Notifications
Many licenced operators within EI have reported seeing Five Year Notifications from ComReg arrive in their inbox. This states that in accordance with your licence terms, you are required to confirm to ComReg each and every 5 years that the licence details are still correct. If you have received this notification, it is advised that you take a few minutes to complete the action now to avoid potentially forgetting to do so until it’s too late. ComReg note that failure to comply with this request may lead to revocation of your licence.
West Tyrone Amateur Radio Club AGM
The West Tyrone Amateur Radio Club is holding its AGM on Wednesday, the 14th of May 2025, in the Order of Malta Hall, Omagh. The AGM commences at 8 p.m. All radio amateurs and shortwave listeners are welcome to come along. The club will review the past year and elect officers for the incoming year.
Shannon Basin Radio Club Activation for Mills on the Air
Shannon Basin Radio Club will be taking part in the annual Mills on the Air event at Elphin Windmill in Co. Roscommon on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th May. The club is listed on the Mills on the air website and plans to start on that Saturday at around 11 a.m. SBRC looks forward to hopefully lots of QSOs as possible to support. The club is also supporting the Elphin windmill rebuild fundraising effort after storm Éowyn which resulted in significant damage to this treasured landmark.
Further information about the club may be found at www.sbrc.ie and via their social media channels.
South Dublin Radio Club Hosting an Amateur Radio Open Night
South Dublin Radio Club will be hosting an exciting amateur radio open night on May 27th as part of Dublin Tech Week. This is a week-long celebration of innovation and technology, uniting tech lovers, professionals, and communities across the city.
At the radio night on Tuesday the 27th of May, participants will be able to experience live radio demos, hands-on experiments, and learn how radio waves connect the world. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, tinkerer, or curious beginner, you will be able to discover the magic of amateur radio and how you can get involved. You can try your hand at radio operations, digital modes, and DIY electronics.
The centre of activity for the club is the Ballyroan Community Centre, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14. The Eircode is D14 F1W1 and all are welcome. More information about the week of events may be found at dublintechweek.com.
Limerick Clare Amateur Radio Club Update
Limerick Clare Amateur Radio Club has been in touch to say that their next club meeting will take place at 7.30 p.m. on the 8th of May 2025. It will take place in Room 10A05 in the Technological University of the Shannon, Midlands, Midwest at Moylish in Limerick. The featured presentation will deal with Slow Scan Television.
VHF/Microwave Updates
The IRTS VHF/UHF/SHF webpage has been updated with additional weekly nets and updated timings. Work has also commenced to update the repeaters, gateways, and beacon information. Reports and input to help update this information especially regarding inactive or off-air repeaters are most welcome via email to vhf_manager /at/ irts.ie.
The DX Info Centre forecasts periods of potentially good tropospheric ducting opportunities over the coming week. The best occurrences of tropo are likely to be on Thursday onwards but may be somewhat short lived.
Sporadic-E season is soon upon us and interesting openings on VHF and above may start appearing for short periods before it fully kicks off usually from late May onwards.
This weekend, there are a range of 2m, 70cm, and higher frequency activities including the RSGB 2m May contest, 10GHz Trophy Contest, and 432MHz to 245GHz contest. Details are available at rsgbcc.org.
The IRTS VHF+ management team is seeking input regarding any activity or interest in EI regarding the use of millimetre and sub-millimetre frequencies for radio experimentation. Specifically, information regarding usage above 275 GHz would be welcome and can include any relevant past or present academic and/or test and trial licence activities. This is an area of spectrum that is currently not allocated. The initiative is associated with a new IARU Region 1 VHF-plus committee study to explore potential for a possible amateur radio allocation. You can contact the IRTS VHF/Microwave management team via email at vhf_manager /at/ irts.ie.
Contest Updates
Well done to all those that took part in the recent IRTS VHF and UHF counties contest on Easter Monday last. You are asked to please note that the closing date for logs is tomorrow, Monday May 5th. Logs should be submitted to the IRTS contest manager via email at contestmanager /at/ irts.ie. Further details regarding the scoring and rules are available at www.irts.ie/contests
The next IRTS contest is the CW Field Day held over the weekend of the 7th and 8th of June. This starts at 15:00 UTC on the Saturday and ends 24 hours later. A 6-hour section is available for entry in addition to the full 24 hours. Good luck to all in the contest.
Radio Rally Updates
Lough Erne Amateur Club’s Radio Rally takes place in two weeks’ time 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. 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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