23 Mar 2009

UPDATE 23/03/09

Licence Renewals

Arising from the meeting of the IRTS and ComReg on 12 February and
in the context of the commencement in the near future
of the issue of Lifetime Licences, ComReg has agreed to
accept applications for renewal of currently lapsed
licences under the existing arrangements up to Friday
17th April 2009.

All applications for renewal of lapsed licences should
be made on the ComReg Application Form 02/04R3
(available on the ComReg website at www.comreg.ie),
quoting the relevant licence reference number (LER) or
Call-Sign and be accompanied by payment of all
outstanding fees. In this instance ComReg, in a
departure from standard procedure, is prepared to
reinstate the old Callsign on renewal of the licences.

Applicants should however include a letter giving a
brief explanation as to why the usual reminders which
may have been received from ComReg were not responded
to. If you are aware of anyone to whom this item is
relevant please bring it to their attention.

It should be noted that following the introduction
of Lifetime Licences all applications for new
licences, whether previously licensed or not, will
be required to pay the lifetime licence fee for new
applicants of €100.



IRTS AGM

The IRTS AGM weekend, which is hosted by the Shannon
Basin Radio Club, takes place on Saturday 25th and
Sunday 26th April 2009. The venue is the Shamrock Lodge
Hotel Athlone, which boasts ample car parking space and
the best facilities around.

Tickets for the annual dinner are now available from
Brian Canning EI8IU, Brian can be contacted on 086
2514822 of via email from brianei8iu @ eircom.net

There will also be a Rally and Annual Gereral Meeting,
for further details in relation to the dinner or rally
please contact Brian EI8IU, Tony EI6DL, or Pat EI9HX
There is also lots more information available on the
AGM weekend from the IRTS website.


IRTS 40 Metre News Frequency

Arising from WRC-03 the 7100 to 7200 kHz segment of the
40 metre band will become amateur exclusive with effect
from the 29th March. In anticipation of this the IARU
Region 1 at its Conference in Cavtat in November last
adopted a revised 40 metre bandplan.

This bandplan would put the existing 40 metre radio
news frequency of 7043 kHz in a section of the band
which is for narrowband modes only. Accordingly, from
Sunday next, 29 March, the 40 metre radio news will
move 12 kHz higher in frequency to 7055 kHz which is in
an all mode segment of the band.

The radio news may ultimately move to a frequency above
7100 kHz depending on the capability of stations to
transmit above 7100 kHz.


HF Band Plan

Band Plans are modified from time to time to reflect
changes in international regulations and in operating
requirements. A new HF band plan comes into effect in
IARU Region 1 - which includes Ireland - on Sunday 29th
March. The new band plan takes account of the fact
that, under international regulations, the segment 7100
to 7200 kHz will be upgraded to 'amateur primary' from
that date.

The principal changes incorporated in the new band
plan are in the 40 metre band, with exclusive CW
now extended to 7040 kHz, and two SSB contest
preferred segments - from 7060 to 7100 kHz and from
7130 to 7200 kHz.

Priority for intercontinental operation will now be in
the segment 7175 to 7200 kHz. Revised centres of
activity for SSB QRP and emergency traffic are also
included in the new band plan.

SSB operators should note in particular that the new
band plan indicates lowest dial settings for LSB Voice
mode of 1843, 3603 and 7053 kHz

A copy of the new band plan may be downloaded from the
downloads page of the IRTS web site
www.irts.ie/downloads


IRTS News on Mayo Repeater


The IRTS news is now broadcast on the Mayo Repeater on
Sunday evenings at 8pm local time. The news readers are
John, EI7IQ, Padraic, EI9JA and Jimmy, EI2GCB. The Mayo Radio Experimenters Network
plans to extend the service soon. The Mayo club
will have a stand at the Enniskillen Rally this year.



New Canadian Island and Lighthouse activation

A Group of Canadian Amateurs will be activating
Bluffers Park Island (new CISA island) and new
lighthouse in Ontario.

The Group will be using a special call sign VC3Y on
March 21st-22nd, 2009, celebrating 50 Years of the York
Region Amateur Radio Club.



Rallies

Rallies during March include the Lough Erne Amateur
Radio Club Rally in Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh on
Sunday 29th March. More details are available on the
IRTS website.


History this week


1909 Einar Dessau of Denmark makes one of the first
Amateur broadcasts via Shortwave Radio.


Thanks to the IRTS for all of the above information.

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