UPDATE 25/08/09

IRTS 2m Counties Contest

Next Sunday the 30th of August is the date for the
Autumn 2m counties contest. It takes place between
14.00 and 16.00 local. The full rules are available on
the IRTS website under the contest tab.

70cms Activity Hour

To try to promote activity and see if it is worthwhile
to run a 70cms Counties contest. We will be having a
70cms activity hour following the 2m contest on Sunday
the 30th August. Both FM and SSB stations will be
welcome and both Calling channels will be
monitored.432.2 for SSB and 433.5 for FM users.

We look forward to hearing many portable and fixed
stations on the day.


3DA0SS Swaziland

David, GI4FUM, has returned from Swaziland and reports
that the 3DA0SS expedition was a big success. Around
20,000 QSOs were made, many of them on the data modes.
The International Scout Camp was also a great success
with the scouts learning many new development skills.

The IRTS committee, with the agreement of the CQIR
Contest sponsor, Dargle Builders Limited, agreed that
the excess in the contest fund which amounted to more
than 1,000 Euro, should be donated to the Swazi
scouts towards the cost of providing clean water at
their campsite.

While David was there, the new pump was installed and
commissioned and clean water is now available for all
the camp needs. Following the AFRI75 expedition to
Swaziland and the resultant publicity for the Scout
Project there, many individual Society members donated
monies for projects at the campsite. We are happy to
act as a conduit for any such funding and if you are
interested in helping you should contact Paul EI2CA or
David GI4FUM.


ARRL Celebration

This year, the ARRL is honouring the 140th anniversary
of the birth of the League's first president and
cofounder. Hiram Percy Maxim, W1AW, was born on 2nd
September 1869.

The operating event is open to all amateurs, and the
goal is straightforward: Find the stations adding /140
to their call signs, and contact as many as possible
during the event period from 2-9th September. The /140
will be signed by any ARRL member who holds and ARRL
appointment.

There will be a Certificate available for anyone who
works at least 25 of the /140 Celebration stations

Time Period: 0000 UTC September 2 until 2400 UTC
September 9.

Exchange: All stations signing /140 send RS(T), their
appointment and their name; others send RS(T) and their
name. More details and deadline application on
www.arrl.org


Dave Court EI3IO

Dave will be moving to Bahrain (A9) on 28 August,
initially for a period of 2 years. No call-sign
information is available as yet. However you may find
Dave on 20m in A9 from September onwards, depending on
the time it takes to obtain residency etc.

A QTH has been chosen which appears to be good for all
bands 160m to VHF. Subject to licensing restrictions,
Dave plans to be QRV on most MF, HF and low VHF bands.
Equipment being taken includes an Elecraft K3
transceiver, Acom 1000 amplifier, yagis for 14 MHz to
70 MHz and an 18 metre Spider Beam fibre glass support
for MF and low HF verticals.

It should be noted that 600m, 60m, 6m and 4m are
currently not available in A9. EI3IO will still be QRV
from Ireland during the next few years, during vacation
trips to the family home in Shankill, where family
members will still be resident. The Dublin DX Cluster
EI7SDX will also remain QRV with internet access only -
click http://shandx.ath.cx/cgi-bin/ei7sdx.cgi or
telnet://EI7SDX.ath.cx:7300 for access."


30 Meter Multi-Mode Weekend

This weekend, the Amateur radio 10 MHz (30 metre) band
will be alive with digital signals during the
multi-mode weekend.

The objective is to promote experimenting and using
different digital modes on unique 30 Meter Band. A
number of digital mode groups will be participating
this weekend so if you wanted to try out a mode you
have thought about trying here is your chance to get
on the 30 Meter Band to try those digital modes and/or
try a digital mode software that includes multiple
digital modes.

This is NOT a contest.. no set times.. no rules.. no
exchanges.. no winners other than those that
participate with casual use of the 30 Meter Band to
experiment, rag chew, DX and have some fun!


This week in History

1919 George Fisk of AWA does first radio
'broadcast' in OZ.

1932 The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) began
its first experimental TV broadcast in England.


Next Theory Examination

The 21st of September is the closing date for
applications to sit the next Theory Examination for an
Amateur Station Licence which will be held on Tuesday
the 6th of October at 2p.m in the ComReg Offices in
Dublin. To reserve a place at the exam intending
candidates should forward the appropriate fee to Sean
Nolan EI7CD, 12 Little Meadow, Pottery Road,
Dunlaoghaire, Co. Dublin.

The fee is 50 Euro or 25 Euro for full-time
registered students, repeat candidates and those who
are retired, unemployed or have a disability.
Cheques and Money Orders should be made payable to
the IRTS. When forwarding the exam fee intending
candidates should enclose their postal address as
well as phone and e-mail contact details. Sean's
e-mail address for any further enquiries is “ei7cd
at gofree dot indigo dot ie”

Intending candidates should note in particular, that in
Section B of the paper – National and International
Rules and Operating Procedures’- questions on the
National Rules will be based on the new Wireless
Telegraphy (Amateur Station Licence) Regulations 2009
which came into force on I June 2009. These Regulations
and other matters in relation to the operation of
amateur stations can be found in the ‘Amateur Station
Licence Guidelines’ published by ComReg in Document
09/45 which is available on the ‘Publications’ section
of the ComReg website at www.comreg.ie

There is also some very useful information available
under ‘Radio Theory’ in the ‘Links’ section of the IRTS
website at www.irts.ie

Thanks to the IRTS for the information.