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IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 17th January 2016
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Return of Cups and Trophies

The 2016 IRTS AGM will be held on the weekend of the 9th and 10th
April. Jim Holohan EI4HH Awards Manager, requests that the 2015 Cup and
Trophy award holders return their awards as soon as possible, this
makes it much easier for the Awards Committee to prepare them for the
new recipients. Cups and Trophies can be returned to Peter EI4HX at
QTHR or to any IRTS Committee Member. Also, anybody who intends to
enter a project for the Folan Shield (home constructed equipment)
should familiarise themselves with the rules and requirements in order
to avoid embarrassment to all parties on the day.
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Contest Rules

Following consultation with contesters, the committee has decided to
update the IRTS contest rules in two areas. The first area relates to
remote stations: these are permitted under the existing rules, however
there were no guidelines as to acceptable use. The new General Contest
Rules specify a number of limitations on remote operation in our
contests, including the fact that the operator must be physically in
the same DXCC entity as the remote station, also remote transmitters or
receivers outside the station location are not permitted.

The second area dealt with in the latest amendments to the Rules is the
use of the DX Cluster. Recognising that the cluster is generally
accepted and used in VHF/UHF contests, the Rules now permit the use of
the cluster in VHF/UHF Field Day, however the cluster may not be used
for posting messages or arranging skeds, nor is self-spotting or asking
to be spotted permitted. The prohibition on cluster use for other
contests remains.

See www.irts.ie/contests for the full contest calendar and rules.
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IRTS Committee Meeting 9th January 2016

A Committee meeting was held in Portlaoise on January 9th. Seán EI7CD
expressed a desire to move aside from his role as the Society's IARU
Representative after lengthy service. All present thanked Seán for his
unparalleled service in that role. It was agreed to appoint Dave Court
EI3IO as the Society's IARU Representative and also to the position of
HF Manager. Dave is a member of the Executive Committee of IARU Region
1. Seán EI7CD will continue as ComReg Liaison and in his role on the
Licence Examination Board.

At the meeting, John Owen-Jones EI1EM was appointed to the position of
Minutes Secretary; Micheal Foertig EI3GYB is the new IARUMS
Coordinator. The purpose of the IARU Monitoring Service is to defend
the amateur bands against non-authorised use.

A full list of IRTS Officers is available at www.irts.ie/officers
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The Next IRTS Committee Meeting Saturday 20th February

The next Committee Meeting will be on Saturday 20th February in
Athlone. Members who wish to have an issue raised at the meeting should
contact the Secretary Ger EI4GXB at secretary(at)irts.ie
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St. Patrick's Day on the Air

Amateur Radio Operators are encouraged to get on the air on St.
Patrick's Day March 17th 2016 and receive the annual St. Patrick's Day
award. The sole aim of this one- day award is to enjoy the festivities
and connect with other stations across the world. If you wish to find
out more details or to register a station for the day, then go to
stpatrickaward.webs.com
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Fingal Radio Club EI2FRC

The call in on the 2 metres repeater that is operated by Fingal Radio
Club EI2FRC, and Dermot EI2HD, on Wednesday evenings at 7pm will change
in the first week in February.

The day will change from Wednesday to Thursday and the time will change
from 7pm to 7.30pm on Thursdays. Therefore as and from Wednesday 3rd
February 2016 there will be no 2 metre call in, however tune in on the
Thursday 4th February at 7.30pm and the usual callers will be there.
Please support this initiative and keep 2 metres alive. Remember if you
don't use it you may loose it.
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UKEICC DX CW Contest

The first annual DX CW contest sponsored by the UK and Ireland Contest
Club takes place next weekend 23rd and 24th January. It runs for 24
hours starting at noon on Saturday.

Everyone is welcome to take part. Multipliers are UK and EI districts,
and other DXCC countries on each band from 80 to 10m. The exchange is
your Serial and 2-character District Code. There's no need to exchange
reports, if only because they don't mean anything in contests.

EI and UK contesters compete on equal terms. You'll need to know your
District Code - they are listed in the rules at ukeicc.com together
with the results of the December DX SSB contest.
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DX News

A major DXpedition to the South Sandwich Islands and South Georgia
Island is scheduled to start around 17th January. Members of the
Intrepid DX Group will first of all spend 8 days operating from South
Thule Island in the South Sandwich Islands. They will use the callsign
VP8STI. They then travel to South Georgia where they will sign VP8SGI
for a further 8 days. Up-to-date details can be found on
www.intrepid-dx.com/vp8/

Leo PP1CZ returns to the island of Fernando de Noronha from 19th to
26th January. He will be using the callsign PY0F/PP1CZ. QSL info is
direct to his home QTH.

Bertrand DF3FS makes his third trip to Kenya from 23rd January to 7th
February. As before he will operate holiday-style using the callsign
5Z4/DF3FS.

Stig SM3PHM will be on holiday from 17th January to 3rd February on the
Caribbean island of Dominica. His callsign will be J79M. QSL via his
home call and also Logbook of The World.
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Coolmine Rally February 2016

The Coolmine Rally operated by the Phoenix Amateur Radio Club will take
place at Coomine Communicaty School, Grove Road, Dublin 15, D15 FW97 on
Sunday 14th February 2016. Doors open 10am.

Contact number for enquiries, tables etc Tony 087 2439997
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Items for inclusion in next week's Radio News can be submitted via
e-mail to "newsteam /at/ irts / dot / ie" for automatic forwarding to
both the radio and printed news services. Urgent news items for the
radio news may be telephoned to the radio news editor, Aidan, EI7JC on
085 7100511.

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.
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