Archived News Script
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday August 3rd, 2025
Silent Key – Dave Court EI3IO
We were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Dave Court EI3IO on Monday, the 14th of July 2025. Dave was a prominent expert in international spectrum management on behalf of the amateur radio service. First licensed as an amateur radio operator in 1963, he served nationally as the IRTS HF manager and IARU representative and internationally on the IARU Region 1 executive committee amongst other roles over the years.
Dave was widely known and respected by administrations and the amateur radio community worldwide. We extend our sincere condolences to his wife Sue, sons James and Richard, his extended family, and wide circle of friends.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. May he rest in peace.
IRTS Hamfest 2025
It is just over a month until IRTS Hamfest 2025. This takes place at the Mullingar Showgrounds outside Mullingar, Co. Westmeath over the weekend of September 6th and 7th. The event includes overnight operation from Saturday night to Sunday morning as part of the SSB field day weekend. Novice and experienced people will come together in one place along with a very wide array of amateur radio equipment and stations, technologies, and expertise across 30 acres. Entry is free for IRTS members. The dedicated website for the event and all the latest information can be found at www.irts.ie/hamfest .
IOTA Standings Table Updates
Information is being sought from operators for the EI HF IOTA standings table published on the IRTS website. This is a table showing the number of IOTA references worked by EI stations participating in RSGB’s IOTA award programme. If you took part in the IOTA event last weekend, now is a good time to consider including or updating your information in the table. You can view the existing EI HF IOTA standings table on the information section of the IRTS website and submit updates via email to pagemaster /at/ irts.ie .
South Eastern Amateur Radio Group Activating Hook Lighthouse
The South Eastern Amateur Radio Group, EI2WRC, will once again this year activate Hook Lighthouse ILLW reference IE0003 on Saturday and Sunday the 16th and 17th of August as part of the 28th International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend. For more info on the International Lighthouse and Lightship weekend, please see www.illw.net . Hook Lighthouse is located on the southeast coast of Ireland in Co. Wexford. The present structure is about 800 years old and is the oldest intact operational lighthouse in the world. For more info, please see www.hookheritage.ie .
EI2WRC would like to thank all the event staff at the Hook Lighthouse visitors centre and Phil Lawlor from Irish Lights for all their help in planning this event. To find out more about EI2WRC and their activities you can email them at southeasternarg /at/ gmail.com or please feel free to go along to any of their events or meetings. Their website is www.searg.ie and you can also find them on Facebook or /at/ seargnews on X.
North Dublin Radio Club and the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend
With thanks to Irish Lights, the North Dublin Radio Club EIØNDR will be active at the Baily Lighthouse in Howth in two weeks’ time on the 16th and 17th of August. Plans are for various stations. Visitors are welcome on the day.
VHF/Microwave News
Approximately one year ago, the FCC authorised a commercial company to conduct testing of telemetry, tracking, and command communications within the 70cm band. This company is seeking to build a space-based cellular broadband network with global coverage. Signals from this operation have been detected across Europe. Sparked by plans for this company to launch over 200 more satellites that would use parts of the 70cm band, concern has grown globally that they will interfere with amateur radio operations.
In addition to many other national and international amateur radio representative groups, the IRTS provided a submission to the FCC regarding this. The IRTS requested confirmation that the satellite transmissions will not cause harmful interference to authorized services operating in this band in Ireland.
IARU Intruder Watch Service Newsletter
Recently renamed from the Monitoring System to the Intruder Watch Service, the June edition of this insightful newsletter is available for download. Included is detailed information regarding new and infrequent interesting signals discovered on the amateur radio bands. This free report can be downloaded from the Monitoring System section of the IARU website located at www.iaru-r1.org .
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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