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IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 9th October 2016
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IRTS Contest Today

The IRTS 40 metres Counties Contest is on today starting at 12:00 UTC
(that's 1.00 pm local time) for 3 hours. Contesters can use SSB only or
both SSB and CW. See www.irts.ie/contests for the full rules, which
include details of the contest preferred segments for 40 metres.
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Amateur Station Licence Examination

The next Amateur Station Licence Examination will be held on Thursday
1st December in the ComReg Offices in Dublin and at other centres if
warranted by the numbers. Some applications have been received and as
numbers are limited those intending to sit the examination should apply
soon. Full details, including entry procedure, examination fee and how
to pay the fee on line are available at www.irts.ie/exam . Please note
that it is necessary to download the application form from the web page
and forward the completed form and the appropriate fee so as to secure
a place for the examination.

It is important to note that even If you pay the fee on line you must
still complete and forward the application form.

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is Thursday 10th
November.

Four Exam Reports which were previously published in Echo Ireland are
available on the Downloads section of the website at
www.irts.ie/downloads under "Studying for the Harmonised Amateur Radio
Examination Certificate". These reports contain very useful information
for anyone studying for the Licence Examination. Intending candidates
are advised to pay particular attention to the syllabus for the
examination especially Annexes 1 and 2.
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South Eastern Amateur Radio Group

The IRTS 40 meters' Counties Contest takes place today Sunday 9th
October and the SEARG committee have decided to make it a little more
interesting and fun for SEARG members by offering a prize of a
dual-band handheld radio. This is also to encourage more club members
to support the contest and get on the air.

The SEARG competition rules are simple:

(1) Get on air and submit your log in time, to the IRTS contest manager
and

(2) The SEARG member/members who gets the highest score as deemed by
the IRTS contest results will be the winner.

You can team up, do it alone, work from home or even go portable.
Remember you must adhere to the Counties Contest rules as specified by
the IRTS.

The prize will be presented to the winner/winners at a future SEARG
meeting.

There will be no October meeting of the South Eastern Amateur Radio
Group as Monday 31st October is a bank holiday. The next meeting will
be the November meeting on Monday 28th November. New members or anyone
interested in learning more about amateur radio are very welcome to
attend.

For anyone that wishes to find out more about the South Eastern Amateur
Radio Group and its activities you can come along to any of our
meetings. You can check our website www.searg.ie and you can follow
SEARG on Facebook and on Twitter.
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Olivier ON4EI back in Ireland

Olivier EI8GQB/ON4EI, is back to Ireland from October 8th to November
3rd 2016 to operate EI8GQB &(EI1A during the Worked All Germany contest
(WAG) October 15to 16th and the CQ WW DX SSB Contest October 29 to
30th) using mainly green energy.

Olivier scored, with EI1A, top Europe score in Low Power/Single Op SSB
category using mainly green energy with his temporary 'Field Day like'
antenna park setup. This year Olivier is competing to qualify for the
WRTC 2018 in Germany.

You can follow this one-man expedition on www.qrz.com/db/EI8GQB or meet
him on the air. (See live operating frequency on his qrz.com banner).
QSL only via LOTW or via QSL MANAGER: PA3249 (direct or bureau).
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Next IRTS Committee Meeting

The next IRTS Committee meeting will be held on Saturday 22nd October
2016, Creggan Court Hotel, Athlone at 11am. IRTS affiliated clubs are
invited to send a club representative to attend meeeting.
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Morse Tests

Morse Tests will be available from 2pm in the Creggan Court Hotel,
Athlone during the afternoon of October 22nd.

The Morse test is by appointment only.

To obtain an appointment please contact Dave Moore EI4BZ at 087-6290574
or 021-4883555 or Sean Donelan at 01- 2821420. Cost of test is EUR20.
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Limerick Radio Club

Club meetings resume this Thursday 13th October in the Limerick
Institute of Technology, Moylish at 7.30pm. All are welcome.

Club members will participate in JOTA with the 1st Clare Scouts on
Saturday 15th October. The event will run from 12:00 to 18:00 local
time at Tullyvarraga, Shannon, County Clare. For further information
contact Simon EI7ALB on 087-2858884.
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North East Digital Repeater Group

The North East Digital Repeater Group exists to promote digital radio
in the North East and throughout Ireland.

The groups' intention is to provide a digital platform to promote the
advancement of digital amateur radio and to foster and encourage an
interest in digital amateur radio among young and older licensees.

Digital Amateur Radio is rapidly expanding throughout the world. You
can follow the North East Digital Repeater Group on Facebook.
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News from AREN

Five AREN members from four different counties assisted at this years
Sean Kelly Tour. AREN assisted in setting up the control center,
provided asset tracking and live weather reporting from the mountains.

A new Internet of things (IOT) based tracking device developed by EI7IG
was trialed on the event. John subsequently presented a paper on
project at the ARRL/TAPR conference in Florida last month.

Upcoming events On October 7th and 8th, AREN will take part in an
multi-agency exercise on Valentia Island, County Kerry run by Inter
Agency Emergency Management Office.

The 5th National annual training and development weekend will be held
at the usual venue of Lough Derg House, Dromineer County Tipperary on
19th and 20th November. New members welcome.

Inquiries about AREN are most welcome. Please contact Conor EI4JN and
or John EI7IG, QTHR. For further information on the Amateur Radio
Emergency Network, visit www.dot aren dot ie
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IPARC

The IPARC contest will take place on the first weekend of November
2016. Participation is very welcome. Full details and information on
IPARC can be found on the homepage www.iparc.de
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DX News

A group of 8 German amateurs will be QRV from Sao Tome from 8th to 23rd
October. They will use the callsign S9YY and will be active on CW, SSB
and Digital on HF and 2m EME. QSL manager is DH7WW.

One of the rarest European DXCC entities is Mount Athos. It is an
Orthodox spiritual centre comprising of 20 monasteries and one of the
monks holds the amateur radio callsign SV2ASP/A. Monk Apollo has been
active on the air from time to time and naturally attracts many callers
wishing to make a QSO with Mount Athos. The bad news is that Monk
Apollo is now in hospital and we wish him a speedy recovery and return
to his daily duties and hopefully a re-appearance on the amateur bands.

Harald DF2WO makes a return visit to Burkina Faso from 13th October to
20th November. He will reactivate his XT2AW callsign on the HF bands.
QSL manager is M0OXO.

Island chasers will be interested to hear of a DXpedition to Shiyal Bet
Island by a group of Indian Operators. The callsign will be AT2SL and
the IOTA reference number is AS-176. Dates are 12th to 17th October and
QSLs are via Club Log OQRS.
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JOTA

The Scout Jamboree on the Air, JOTA, takes place next weekend 15th and
16th October. Scouting Ireland and IRTS are making a special effort to
increase activity and a number of radio clubs and individual operators
have already indicated their intention to take part.

Activity can be for the whole weekend, just one day or even a few
hours. This is a really worthwhile activity for both Scouting and
Amateur Radio and will help promote the hobby particularly amongst
teenagers and young adults.

If you can help out either by hosting some scouts at your station or
giving a hand at the local club station please contact Paul EI2CA QTHR
or mobile 087 2523908. There is a particularly active and enthusiastic
scout group in Ashbourne County Meath who want to team up with a club
or individual operators. They are well resourced and have a premises in
the town complete with a mobile antenna tower. Let us know if you can
help.
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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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