Irish Radio Transmitters Society
Radio News Bulletin
Sunday 7th February 2010

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IRTS is supporting Engineers Week 2010

Following the success of last year, IRTS, together with local radio
clubs, is once more involved in Engineers Week organised by Engineers
Ireland from 8th to 13th February. This year sees an expanded number of
locations and sessions.

There will be 18 presentations of "Decoding the Code - from Samuel
Morse to SMS" in Athlone, Limerick, Cavan, Bailieborough, Kiltimagh,
Balla, Dundalk, Tullamore, Carlow and Cork and up to 500 school
children are expected to attend. Most sessions are fully booked.

In Dublin IRTS has been invited to take part in Family Day at Engineers
Ireland Headquarters at 22 Clyde Road
on Saturday 13th.

Participants will be able to come and experience the wonderful world of
electronics and communications. They will discover how radio waves
travel across the world and see how, a century before the invention of
SMS texts, coded abbreviations were used to send messages quickly
around the globe. They will also have the opportunity to identify
electronic components and to build a simple electronic circuit to take
away and use
to send messages.

Further information from Séamus EI8BP at (087) 259 0691
or from www.engineersweek.ie
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Echo Ireland

The current Issue of Echo Ireland has gone off to be printed and should
be with our members over the
coming days.
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Nomination of Awards for IRTS Trophies.

The time is here again for nominations for the several awards for IRTS
trophies that are required from within the membership, this includes
the awards for service to the Society, or to amateur radio. Awards in
this section may be to members or non-members.

Also Awards for other achievements, awards in this section include the
70 cms trophy, the 4 and 6 Metre shields, the SWL award, and the awards
for quality construction projects. These are confined
to members only.

When considering your nominations please refer to previous successful
nominees as included in
www.irts.ie/cgi/awards.cgi

Nominations may be from Clubs or individuals, must be in writing, and
can be forwarded to the awards committee by regular post addressed to
Peter Grant EI4HX, QTHR or by email to ei4hxperimental /at/ eircom.net
Chair of awards committee or any other member of the awards committee.
Pat EI2HX or Pat EI9HX.

Closing date for nominations is April 2nd 2010
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Norman Fitch G3FPK Silent Key

The Radcom VHF/UHF columnist Norman Fitch G3FPK was found dead at his
home in Purley, Surrey on Friday January 29th Norman was a keen
operator on the VHF/UHF and Microwave bands and had been writing the
RadCom VHF/UHF column for over 20 years.

In April 1989 he took over VHF/UHF from Ken Willis, G8VR, when it was
part of the Spectrum Analysis. The column then became VHF/UHF News and
eventually, it became the VHF/UHF column of today.

He will be greatly missed.
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Request for Return of Trophies presented in 2009

It is time once again to recall all trophies presented
at the 2009 AGM in Athlone.

Trophies and cups can be returned to the IRTS stand at the Phoenix
Radio Rally, or to any IRTS Committee Member to arrive to Peter EI4HX
on or before the IRTS committee meeting in early March 2010. This will
allow time for engraving to be done, and also any
small repairs.
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REPEATER MEETING 10 FEBRUARY

The Keepers of Sligo, West Tyrone and Fermanagh Repeaters are among an
expected strong attendance for talks and an equipment demonstration led
off by John McCullough GI4BWM, Chairman of the RSGB Emerging Technology
Coordinating Committee.

The meeting is hosted by Lough Erne ARC at 7.00 pm on Wednesday 10
February in SHARE, also venue for the Club's traditional April Rally -
this year on Sunday 11 April. The meeting kicks off at 7pm and all are
welcome
to attend.

More information is available from Michael Clarke Mi5mtc, Chairman
Lough Erne ARC email mi5mtc at learc.eu website www.learc.eu Tel
028/048- 6862-1436
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GB10GKA Special Event Station

To mark the 10th Anniversary of the closure of the World's largest
Maritime Radio Station, Portishead Radio / GKA, a special callsign
GB10GKA has been granted. GB10GKA is being activated for a period of
one month 30th April 2010 through 27 May 2010.

Hours of operation will be dependent on individual operator's free time
however, it is intended that the callsign will be active extensively
throughout the licenced period. Operation will be primarily on CW.

Operations will be on all HF bands each manned by an
ex-GKA Radio Officer.

Point of contact: Tony Roskilly G3ZRJ g3zrj.morsekey /at/
btinternet.com

Information about Portishead Radio can be found at:
http://www.gka.btinternet.co.uk/
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New Club Startup North Cork

There is a new Radio Group starting up in the North
Cork Area.

Currently a small group of small group of Amateur Radio operators and
enthusiasts. Membership is open to all with an interest in the group
and its commitments to
radio awareness in North Cork.

Further info is available via the website
http://www.northcorkradiogroup.com

Membership is currently 10.00 per annum, applications and the club
constitution are also
located on the Webpage.
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CARA AGM

The Crossakiel Amateur Radio Association's AGM is being held at the
Welcome Wagon Crossakiel, on 17th February
at 20.30pm.

All members are requested to attend.
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South East Amateur Radio Group

The Annual General Meeting of South Eastern Amateur Radio Group will
take place at 8.00 p.m. on Monday the 22nd of February 2010 in the
Roanmore Social & Sports
Club, Cleaboy Road, Waterford.

All members are asked to attend and visitors are
welcome.
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Limerick Radio Club

The AGM of the Club will be held on Thursday 25th February 2010 at the
Limerick Institute of Technology at 7:30 pm. All members of the Club
are
requested to attend.

The regular monthly meeting on the 2nd Thursday of the month (11th
February) has been cancelled to facilitate
the AGM later in the month.
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South Dublin Radio Club AGM

The South Dublin Radio Club annual general meeting (AGM) will take
place on Tuesday 2nd of March.

Classes are still being run every Tuesday evening and
visitors are always welcome.
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Rallies

Phoenix A.R.C Rally 14th February

The Rally will be held as usual at Coolmine Community School near
Blanchardstown on Sunday 14th February 2010.Doors open from 9am to
2.30pm. Usual traders will be present and to encourage a real Amateur
Radio orientated Rally bring and buy tables
will be free of charge.

For tables contact Tony at 087-2349997 or Tom at 01-8211043 this is the
first rally of the New Year and usually a very enjoyable occasion.
Refreshments and plenty of car parking are available

Limerick Radio Club

Radio, Electronics & Hobbies Fair

The Radio, Electronics & Hobbies Fair takes place on Sunday 7th
March 2010 at the Radisson SAS Hotel, Ennis
Road, Limerick.

Doors Open at 11:00 AM. Admission is 5 Euro. No charge for children
when accompanied by an adult. There will be the usual traders attending
the Fair. A Bring & Buy
Sale will also take place.

Lagan Valley ARS Rally 20th March

The Lagan Valley ARS Rally will be held at 11.30am in
The Village Centre, Hillsborough

Contact: Jim Henry, GI0DVU on 048 9266 2270

Lough Erne Rally 11th April

Lough Erne Amateur Radio Club Annual Rally - The Share Holiday Village,
Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh BT92 0EQ N. Ireland. Access from Erne/Shannon
Waterway. 11.30 am Details Iain 028 66326693, Email gibbjgbb /at/
aol.com
(www.learc.eu)

Dundalk Rally 25th April The Rally will commence at 11.00am, followed
by the IRTS AGM at 2.00pm.

Further details for booking, trader's tables or any other info please
e-mail the following, Thos EI2JD chairman /at/ ei7dar.com or Peter
EI4HX secretary /at/ ei7dar.com

Mid Ulster Radio Club Rally 29th May

This year the Rally will be held at Drumgor Youth Centre, Drumgor
heights, Craigavon. More details will be available closer to the time.
If interested in booking a table for the event or for more information,
please go to www.muarc.com or contact
0044(0)2838348451.

For more information on Rallies please check the
IRTS Website.
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This week in History

1893 Edison opens first motion picture studio, West
Orange, New Jersey.

1899 SS "R F Matthews" collided with the lightship, which alarmed the
lighthouse ashore to get assistance. This was the first time ever a
distress call was transmitted by radio from a ship at sea!
Sent 'HELP' etc...
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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.