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This Week's News
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday August 11th, 2024
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News from the IRTS
Exciting News! The Irish Radio Transmitters Society (IRTS) is thrilled
to announce its participation in the vibrant Dublin Maker 2024
festival. This year's event will take place at the historic Richmond
Barracks, Saint Michael's Estate, Dublin 8 (Eircode D08 YY05) on
Saturday, August 31st and Sunday, September 1st, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
each day. Thanks to a record-breaking turnout in 2023, Dublin Maker has
expanded to a two-day celebration, promising even more fun and
innovation. This dynamic `show and tell' festival showcases a diverse
range of creators, including tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators,
tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, artists, science clubs, students,
authors, and commercial exhibitors. These talented makers, from all
ages and backgrounds, come from all over Ireland and beyond to share
their passion and creativity.
Dublin Maker aims to entertain, inform, and connect the makers of
Ireland, inspiring the next generation of inventors and creators. The
IRTS is excited to be part of this mission, showcasing the fascinating
world of amateur radio and the society's efforts to promote this
engaging hobby in Ireland and beyond. Don't miss out on this fantastic
event! Admission is free, and everyone is welcome. Come and meet the
IRTS team, explore the wonders of amateur radio, and discover how you
can get involved. A big thank you to Jeffrey Roe EI7IRB for his
invaluable assistance in making our participation possible. Mark your
calendars and join us for a weekend full of creativity, innovation, and
community spirit at Dublin Maker 2024!
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HF Newsreaders Required
HF newsreaders are required to join our current panel of newsreaders
for the weekly Sunday morning 40m and 80m IRTS news bulletins. There is
very little involved in reading a bulletin and no experience is
necessary. If any licensed IRTS member living in EI feels like that
they would be interested in becoming part of the IRTS newsreaders panel
or if you require more information, please get in touch with the IRTS
News Coordinator Seany EI2HZB by phone on 083 4713001 or via email to
irts_pro /at/ irts.ie.
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Amateur Station Licence Study Guides
The 4th edition of the IRTS HAREC Amateur Radio Station Licence Study
Guide is now back in stock and available to be purchased. An errata
page has also been included in this edition. This textbook will assist
anyone studying for the Irish Harmonised Amateur Radio Examination
Certificate, which is required to obtain an amateur radio licence in
Ireland. For more information about the guide or to order a copy,
please see the study guide section on www.irts.ie
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South Eastern Amateur Radio Group EI2WRC
EI2WRC will once again activate Hook Lighthouse ILLW Ref: IE0003 on
Saturday and Sunday the 17th and 18th of August as part of the 27th
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 making it the most
sought-after lighthouse for this great event, not alone nationally
within Ireland but also internationally. Activity will be on HF and on
the Southern Ireland Repeater Network. For more information about Hook
Lighthouse, please see www.hookheritage.ie The South Eastern Amateur
Radio Group would like to thank Larry Colgan and all the event staff at
the Hook Lighthouse visitors centre in addition to Phil Lawlor from
Irish Lights for all their help in planning this event.
For more information about EI2WRC, their activities, and for contact
details please see www.searg.ie
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Shannon Basin Radio Club on Inishbofin
Shannon Basin Radio Club activated Inishbofin (EU121) again using their
club callsign EJ3Z for the recent IOTA contest 2024. Six club members
headed out on Friday 26th July and set up base in the local national
school. They used two antennas: a 40-metre quarter-wave vertical with
radials and a SGC auto tuner in addition to the club's new multi-band
Spiderbeam antenna. The Spiderbeam took a lot of work and time to
assemble which meant they had to rely on the vertical for part of the
contest. Conditions were generally good with some QSB at times. Ten
meters was quiet, but strong signals were reported on the 40 and 80
metre bands. The weather was good with sunscreen needed urgently at
times. A great weekend was had by all, and the club is looking forward
to the next opportunity.
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Collective Communication at Balinacourty LightHouse
Lighthouses on the Air weekend takes place over the 17th and 18th of
August. EI3CC will be at Balinacourty LightHouse near Dungarvan Co
Waterford. They will be using the same HF gear and set up this year
that enabled them to work three VK stations during the same event last
year. Their hopes are high that they will make just as many contacts
around the world as they did then, or even more. You are invited to
come and join them, see for yourselves, and have a go at making radio
contact with DX stations if you feel so inclined. They state that you
can also try your hand at operating through the only amateur radio
geostationary satellite, QO-100 with their proven set up. If you are
interested in amateur radio, they can almost guarantee enjoyment.
Refreshments will be available as well so if you're at a loose end next
weekend, please drop by and say hello to the Collective Communication
crew. Have a chat, and if you want to, work some HF or satellite
stations!
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Limerick Clare Amateur Radio Club
Limerick Clare Amateur Radio Club will activate Loop Head Lighthouse
ILLW Ref: IE0009 on Saturday and Sunday the 17th and 18th of August as
part of the 27th International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend. Loop
Head Lighthouse, located at the mouth of the Shannon Estuary, is
steeped in history and rich in maritime heritage with its origins
dating back to the 1670s. The existing tower style lighthouse was
constructed in 1854. It is also a Signature Discovery Point on the Wild
Atlantic Way. For more information, please see
www.loopheadlighthouse.ie The Limerick Clare Amateur Radio Club would
like to thank Simon Day, the event staff at the Loop Head Lighthouse
visitors centre, and Rory Mc Gee from Irish Lights for all their help
in planning this event.
As part of its ongoing positive engagement with the Shannon Aviation
Museum, the Limerick Clare Amateur Radio Club has installed a
full-feature Flightradar24 receiver at the club station for the benefit
of members and the museum.
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Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the First Trans-Global Two-Way Radio
Communication
In October 2024, radio amateurs in New Zealand and the UK will be
celebrating and re-enacting the very first trans-global two-way radio
communication that took place one hundred years ago. Special callsigns
will be active. Awards and QSL cards will be available for those who
make contact with these special stations. Two amateur radio stations
will operate from the original locations in New Zealand and the UK,
contacting other stations around the world and re-enacting that
historic first radio communication. The callsign G2SZ will be aired
from the 14th to the 20th of October and the callsign ZL4AA will be
used from the 12th to the 20th of October. In addition, two other
amateur radio stations with callsigns reflecting the centenary will be
active. GB2NZ will be operated from the 29th of September 2024 to the
26th of October 2024 from several UK locations. The callsign ZM100DX
will be operated from early September 2024 to the 26th of December 2024
from multiple locations in New Zealand on CW, SSB, and other modes. For
further details, visit www.gb2nz.com or www.zl4aa.org.nz
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The Cable that Changed the World
RT� will premiere a documentary of particular interest to
communications enthusiasts called "The Cable that Changed the World".
This explores the story of the first transatlantic communications cable
to traverse the ocean floor, from Valentia Island, County Kerry, to
Newfoundland, Canada, 165 years ago. It will air tomorrow night, Monday
the 12th of August at 9.35 p.m. on RT� One and RTE Player.
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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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News Archives
IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday August 11th, 2024