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This Week's News

IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday 25th December 2016
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Latest News from ComReg on 5 kHz

ComReg has just today published an amended version of the Amateur
Station Guidelines in Document ComReg 09/45R2. The main revision is
that the WRC-15 band of 5351.5 to 5366.5 kHz has been released with
immediate effect on a secondary basis.

No application or fee is necessary for this segment.

The power is 15 watts PEP (12dBW) measured at the output of the
transmitter or amplifier. All modes including digimodes may be used.
The WRC-15 decision was for 15 watts EIRP and this will be taken up
with ComReg. The Society recommends that USB be used for voice as has
been the convention on this band and as used by the primary user and
that the provisional IARU band plan be used:

5351.5 - 5354.0 kHz CW, Narrow band Modes 5354.0 - 5366.0 kHz All modes
USB for voice 5366.0 - 5366.5 kHz weak signal narrow band modes.

This allocation does not affect the availability of the existing
channels centred on 5280, 5300, 5332, 5348, 5400 and 5405 kHz.

Special authorisation is still required for these channels at an annual
licence fee of EUR30.

Let's hope for some more activity on 5 MHz to help our case for an
increased allocation.
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Publications Library

The society is developing an online library of publications consisting
of newsletters and other relevant publications covering the period up
to the year 2000. Have a look at www.irts.ie/library to see what is
currently available. At present we have more than 100 newsletters from
1988 to 2000 along with a few from the 1960s; also included is a
complete list of EI licences in issue in 1952. This material provides a
great insight into amateur radio activities during the years covered,
while the many technical articles included in the library are as
relevant now as when they were originally published.

Séamus EI8BP and Joe EI7GY are coordinating the project, and would like
to hear from anyone with material that could usefully be added to the
library.
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Counties Contest

The IRTS 80 metres counties contest takes place on Sunday next, New
Year's Day, from 15:00 to 17:00 UTC. There are SSB only and SSB/CW
mixed mode sections for fixed and portable stations. There is also a
mixed mode section for stations using one of the nine Wild Atlantic Way
special call signs, so the contest will present a great opportunity to
work these stations on the first day of the Wild Atlantic Way project.
To encourage more CW activity in the mixed mode sections, CW QSOs earn
double points. See www.irts.ie/contests for the full contest rules.
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Shannon Basin Radio Club

Shannon Basin Radio Club will hold their AGM on Friday 13th January
2017 at 8.30pm in Hannon's Hotel, Roscommon Town. All members are
requested to attend.

From 1st January 2017 Shannon Basin will activate both Sligo EI33WAW
and Leitrim EI22WAW.

We wish all amateur radio operators a very Happy Christmas.
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South Dublin Radio Club

This year's South Dublin Radio Club Christmas Party was a great success
with a large crowd and plenty of visitors.

The club is on a break for Xmas and will return on January 3rd 2017.
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Excitement is building for New Year's Day, 1st January 2017.

This will see the beginning of the Worked All GI (WAGI) Award which is
available for working W.A.B. Areas in Northern Ireland.

There are various classes of award, from basic to premier, with
Trophies available for Diamond, Double Diamond (Mobile & Outside EU
only) & Premier levels.

Each award can be claimed when the requirement is reached for HF,
Mobile or VHF/UHF; ranging from 5 squares in VHF/UHF to those higher
levels of 189 squares.

Details can be downloaded from the Worked All Britain Web Site and the
local operators are keen to assist others which is the motto of W.A.B.
Have fun and of course a Happy New Year in working towards WAGI.
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Fermanagh Repeater now Operational

GB3CP is now working again having been out of action for some time. RX
145.7375. TX 145.1375 CTCSS 110.9hz 1750hz tone. Location is South East
Fermanagh IO64IG
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Germany Get 5Mhz

The German telecoms regulator, BNetzA, has enabled access to the new
WRC-15 60m Amateur Allocation to all German Class `A' licensees as of
20th December 2016.

The allocation is from 5351.5 to 5366.5 kHz on a Secondary basis with a
maximum power of 15W EIRP and a maximum bandwidth of 2.7 kHz. All modes
are permitted and the German national amateur radio society, DARC,
recommends the use of USB and the IARU Region 1 provisional bandplan
for 60m.
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DX News

An IOTA expedition will take place from Al Safliyah Island, off the
coast of Qatar, from 1st to 7th January. Among the group taking part
will be our own Jeremy EI5GM and Dave EI9FBB. The callsign will be
A70X. (A Seven Zero X). The island has not been activated since 1995 so
large pile-ups are expected from those chasing the IOTA Award. QSL
Manager is M0OXO.

The DXpeditioner Mek SP7VC will be in the Azores from 27th December to
3rd January. He will be QRV all bands 10m to 160m using the callsign
CU2/SP7VC. Activity will be mainly on SSB. QSL via the home call and
Logbook of The World.

Neven LZ1COM travels to the Maldive Islands from 30th December to 5th
January. He will sign 8Q7ND on the HF bands. QSL to the home call.

Prefix hunters will have the opportunity to work special event station
HF800O (HF eight hundred O) during the first three months of 2017. This
station will celebrate the 800th anniversary of the city of Opole. QSL
Manager is SP6PAZ.
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Phoenix Rally February 19th 2017

The Phoenix Rally will take place on Sunday 19th February 2017 at the
usual venue of Coolmine Community School, Dublin 15. Should you require
a table, please contact Tony on 087 243 9997.
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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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