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This Week's News

IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday February 14th 2021
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Shannon Basin Radio Club

The Shannon Basin Radio Club has been holding regular on-line talks, on
a variety of topics, ranging from co-axial cable, QSLing to logging
software. On Friday the 29th of January, the talk was given by Bob Heil
K9EID of Heil Sound in the USA. Bob outlined his life story, starting
as a pipe organ musician, then learning to tune large pipe organs and
getting into amateur radio in his teens and setting up Heil Sound in
1966. He explained in detail how he got involved in creating unique
touring sound systems, for bands such as The Grateful Dead and The Who.
He then put his knowledge into creating microphones and headsets for
the radio amateur. He gave several live demonstrations on how his
headsets work, explaining phasing, the best microphones and settings
for different radios. There was then time for questions, of which there
were many. Bob finished the talk with a tune on his beloved organ. The
whole talk lasted two hours and was both informative and most
enjoyable. The club expresses their sincere thanks to Bob K9EID for
taking the time to talk to them.
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Request for nominations for IRTS Awards.

The IRTS Awards Committee is seeking nominations for "Awards for
Services to the Society or to Amateur Radio" and for "Awards to IRTS
Members for other achievements". The winners in the above categories
would normally be presented with their inscribed trophy or shield in
person at the AGM. However, due to the Corona-19 virus pandemic the
trophies and shields will be inscribed but will not be distributed to
the winners except where a winner specifically requests delivery of
same. It is important that our fellow experimenters and operators whose
work and effort on behalf of each one of us and for the Society be
recognised and rewarded. Please send your nominations for specific
awards to the Awards Manager to - holohaj2 /at/ hotmail.com
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French National Society, REF, announce growth in licence holders.

France's National Amateur Radio Society, REF, recently reported on
license figures for the last five years. The number of licences at the
end of 2020 in France was 13,956 compared to 13,482 at the end of 2016.
This represents a slight increase of 3.4 per cent over the five-year
period. In the same period, 1,200 candidates sat their 40-question
multiple choice licence examination and 748 were successful, a pass
rate of just over 62 per cent. In January 2019, the fee for applying
for or renewing the licence was abolished and it's likely this has
resulted in more amateurs keeping their callsign.
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World Radio Day

UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organisation's World Radio Day was declared by the United Nations
General Assembly in 2011 and they adopted the day as February 13th each
year. Spain's EA Digital Federation reports that nine special amateur
radio callsigns AO1WRD to AO9WRD will be active from Feb 12th to the
14th to Mark the UNESCO World Radio Day. Look out for other special
event stations to mark the occasion/ This should not be confused with
World Amateur Radio Day on April 18th as promoted by the International
Amateur Radio Union to mark the founding of the IARU in Paris in 1925.
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Limerick Clare Amateur Radio Club

Regrettably, due to COVID-19 and associated restrictions, the Limerick
Clare Amateur Radio Club has cancelled this year's Limerick Rally.
Hopefully, it will not be too long before plans can be made to return
to some normality so that we can meet again at the various rallies.
Until then, take care and stay safe. Club members continue to read the
IRTS weekly news on Monday evenings at 2000 on the Limerick 70cms
repeater using FM. The club also continues to support access to the
various digital modes through the 70cms repeater and the hot spot
located in Limerick city.
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March QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo

Due to current Codid-19 pandemic, face to face ham radio gatherings
have been cancelled all over the world. An alternative event online, is
the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo, which will be held on March the 13th
and 14th. You will have a choice of 80 plus speakers to listen to, you
can take part in a live kit building workshop by buying the kits in
advance, walk through a virtual exhibition hall featuring all the usual
traders and meet up with fellow hams in virtual lounges using the
latest technology. Your ticket will allow you to visit the event for
the following thirty days Early bird discount tickets are still
available on qsotodayhamexpo.com. Early bird tickets cost 10 US
dollars. The ARRL is the event partner and the platinum sponsor is Flex
Radio.
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On the Air next week

The ARRL CW DX Contest runs for 48 hours next weekend, starting at
midnight on Friday night. The object here is to work US States and
Canadian provinces. The exchange is signal report and your power
output. This traditionally has been a very well supported contest by EI
stations and scoring records for EI are held by EI7M in the multi
single and multi-two categories. The single operator high power record
is also held by EI7M operated by G0CKV and the low power record is held
by EI0DX operated by G4XUM. Both the single operator unlimited high and
low power records are both held by Gerard EI5KF and single operator
records are also held by EI6BT, EI7KD, EI4CF, EI0PLand EI4BZ. Check out
the rules and records on arrl.org. The only other major contest on next
weekend is the Russian PSK Worldwide running from noon on Saturday
until noon on Sunday. A reminder that the UKEICC monthly one hour 80m
CW Contest will be held on Wednesday week the 24th. Now to DX news: The
ARRL's DXCC award Programme is at the heart of DXing. Currently there
are nine EI stations on the waiting list for award approval and the
DXCC website says that there is about a three week waiting list for
cards or awards to be processed. The status of all EI amateurs on the
DXCC listings is published in Echo Ireland and is also updated at the
end of each month on the IRTS website at www.irts.ie/dxcc While
DXpeditions have been curtailed due the pandemic, there is still some
nice DX to be worked. Keep an eye on the DX Clusters. The OPDX bulletin
is free and emailed to subscribers weekly. Subscribe at
www.papays.com/opdx.html Dxworld.net provides daily news and regular DX
bulletins with no subscription required. John, W2GD will be active from
Aruba during February 14 - 23, 2021 as P44W. Look out for lots of
activity from the Caribbean area before and after next weekend's ARRL
DX CW contest. The 13th American Lighthouses Weekend will be held this
year between February 19-21st. For complete details and a list of
participating stations, see: www.grupodxbb.com.ar
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EI Nets

And finally, a reminder of some EI nets on during the coming week.
South Dublin Radio Club run a net on 144.330MHz USB from 8 to 9pm every
evening except Tuesdays when they meet on the Zoom platform. On Mondays
at 2000, the Shannon Basin Club hold their top band net on 1.847MHz
plus or minus QRM, On Tuesday next, the Cork VHF/UHF Group net is on
70.2625 MHz FM at 2100. On Wednesdays, the Shannon Basin Club 2 metre
net is on the club's repeater EI2CAR on 145.775MHz. On Thursdays. the
Shannon Basin 80 metre net is on at 2000 on 3.720MHz plus or minus QRM
at 20:00, On Saturdays, the North Dublin Radio Club - EI0NDR hold a
weekly net at 8pm on 145.575 MHz On Sunday mornings, South Dublin Radio
Club hold their 40m net on 7.123MHz from 0830 until IRTS news time with
Joe EI6EG at 1100. The Irish hour is held daily on 14.156MHz at 1700
with a special emphasis on the Sunday net.
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That is the news for this week. Items for inclusion in next week's
radio news can be submitted by email to newsteam/at/irts/dot/ie for
automatic forwarding to both the radio and printed news services. The
deadline is midnight on Thursday. Urgent items for the news may be
telephoned to News Editor Dave EI4BZ on 087-6290574.

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