Irish Radio Transmitters Society
Radio News Bulletin
Sunday 9th August 2009

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Next Theory Examination

The next Theory Examination for the Amateur Station
Licence will be held on Tuesday the 6th of October at
2p.m. in the ComReg Offices in Dublin. Places for the
examination are limited and will, as usual, be
allocated on a first come first served basis and will
only be reserved on receipt of the examination fee.
Intending candidates should forward the appropriate fee
to Sean Nolan EI7CD, 12 Little Meadow, Pottery Road,
Dunlaoghaire, Co. Dublin in order to reserve a place
for the exam.

The fee is 50 Euro or 25 Euro for full-time registered
students, repeat candidates and those who are retired,
unemployed or have a disability. Cheques and Money
Orders should be made payable to the IRTS. When
forwarding the exam fee intending candidates should
enclose their postal address as well as phone and
e-mail contact details.

The closing date for applications to sit the
examination, which will be strictly enforced, is Monday
the 21st of September. Intending candidates should note
that anyone who fails to produce a photo identity on
the day of the examination will not be allowed to sit
the examination. The photo ID can be a driving licence,
a passport, an employment photo identity card or a
student card containing a photograph. A national Garda
photo ID would also be acceptable.

Sean EI7CDs address can also be found in the IRTS call
book or in the call book section of the IRTS website at
www.irts.ie Sean's e-mail address for any further
enquiries is “ei7cd at gofree dot indigo dot ie” Also
available on the ‘Downloads’ section of the IRTS
website are Examination Notes with a sample examination
paper. Also, in the Radio Theory Links section on the
website is some very useful information for those
studying for the examination.

The examination consists of a question paper of 60
multiple-choice questions divided into three main
sections A, B and C and the time allowed is two hours.
The pass mark is 60% and a pass is required in each of
the three main sections of the paper. Intending
candidates should note in particular, that in Section B
of the paper – National and International Rules and
Operating Procedures’- questions on the National Rules
will be based on the new Wireless Telegraphy (Amateur
Station Licence) Regulations 2009 which came into force
on I June 2009.

These Regulations and other matters in relation to the
operation of amateur stations can be found in the
‘Amateur Station Licence Guidelines’ published by
ComReg in Document 09/45 which is available on the
‘Publications’ section of the ComReg website at
www.comreg.ie
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Incoming-Watch your Heads!!

The tool bag that went missing during a space walk at
the International Space Station on November 18, 2008 is
due to re-enter the earth's atmosphere in the next
couple of days.

During STS-126 mission astronauts ventured outside the
International Space Station to do repair work, but lost
a bag of tools they had taken along.
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AMSAT-UK Space Colloquium Videos

The videos of the presentations at this years
successful AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium in
Guildford are now available to watch on the British
Amateur Television Club (BATC) website

All 18 videos can be seen at http://www.batc.tv/
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Space Station SSTV Active

The VC-H1 SSTV camera unit will run in auto mode
(Robot-36 transmitting once every 3 minutes) and should
be operational on 145.800 MHz from approximately
0800-1600 UTC each day.
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TAPR now on Twitter

TAPR has been ham radio's pre-eminent digital voice and
data technology group for over 25 years and it is now
on Twitter under the username taprdigital

TAPR was a pioneer in developing packet radio
technology and most recently has been a leader in the
development of SDR (Software Defined Radios).
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Shack Cleanup

Radio Shack is getting a marketing makeover. Starting
August 6, the electronics retailer will change its name
to 'The Shack,' a rebranding move designed to shed the
last-century association with radio technology and
embrace today's digital wireless world.

To celebrate the name change, Radio Shack will conduct
a "Shack Summer Netogether," a live event featuring two
17-foot laptop computers in New York and San Francisco.
Equipped with Web cams, the laptops will allow live
video and audio exchanges between the two cities.
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Tipperary Amateur Radio Group

The August meeting of the Tipperary Amatuer Radio
Group will take place in Raheen House Hotel Raheen
Road Clonmel on Thursday next the 13th at 8.00 pm, all
are welcome.
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Crossakiel Amateur Radio Association

C.A.R.A are holding their first club event, which is a
field day on Sunday 16th August in Crossakiel. They
hope to be active on 80m-2m and on 145.550 Simplex.

Please have a listen out for the EI4CARA club station
on the bands. The Club meets every Wednesday at 8pm in
the Welcome Wagon in Crossakiel. Everyone is welcome
to attend.
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Limerick Radio Club

On the 15th and 16th of August, members of Limerick
Radio Club will be participating from Tarbert Island
Lighthouse for the International Lighthouse Weekend,
using the call-sign EI4TLH.

Club members, who intend taking part in the event
should contact John EI6IW at QTHR or by e-mail to
“johne at gofree dot indigo dot ie”
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International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend 2009

More than 300 lighthouses in more than 51 countries --
from Argentina to Wales -- will be on the air for the
2009 International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend.

The event, held for the 11th year in a row, takes place
Saturday, August 15 0001 UTC-Sunday, August 16 2359
UTC. While not a contest, the ILLW is more of a QSO
Party and Amateur Radio demonstration.

The ILLW aims to raise public awareness of lighthouses
and lightships and the need for their preservation and
restoration, promote Amateur Radio and foster
international goodwill. Stations at more than 40 US
lights are expected to be on the air for the event,
and several stations will identify with special event
call signs.
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South Eastern Amateur Radio Group

The next general meeting will take place at 8.30 p.m.
on Monday the 31st of August.

Please Note: Both Committee and General meetings take
place on the last Monday of each month. Committee
meetings take place at 8.00 p.m. and the general
meeting follows at 8.30 p.m. General meetings are open
to all members and visitors are very welcome.
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AREN Net

Net’s are held on the 7th and 21st of each Month. It is
envisaged that the net on the 21st of each month will
be a digital mode training net.
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Rallies

C.R.C. Rally 2009

The Cork Radio Club is holding their Rally in the
Montenotte Hotel in Cork on the 13th of September.
Special rates for those who wish to stay overnight just
mention Cork radio Club.

Food all day, plenty of parking & doors open at 11am.
All the usual traders will be there.

Mayo Rally

The 2009 Mayo Rally will be held on Sunday November
22nd in Castlebar. The venue is The Welcome Inn Hotel,
Where the 2008 rally was held at short notice, and
doors open at 11.00am.

Rally Director, Padraic Baynes, EI9JA, is now taking
bookings for stands at the Rally. He can be contacted
on 087 6957154. The hotel will be offering a Rally
special deal for accommodation. Full details will be
available soon.
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Items for inclusion in next weeks Radio News should be
forwarded to Charlie EI8JB, preferably via e-mail to
“charlie dot Carolan at gmail dot com” Or by phone to
087-6265418 News can also be submitted via e-mail to
“newsteam at irts dot ie” for automatic forwarding to
both the radio and printed news services.

Please note that items for the radio news should
reach the editor no later than midday on Thursday in
order to be guaranteed inclusion in the following
Sunday’s bulletin.