(BUTTON) Go Back

This Week's News

IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday February 25th, 2024
__________________________________________________________________

IRTS Updates

The IRTS Awards Committee is seeking Nominations for "Awards for
Services to the Society or to Amateur Radio", "Awards to IRTS members
for Other Achievements", and nominations for awards for construction.
Details of these awards are available at www.irts.ie under the awards
section. Nominations should reach the awards manager, Jim Holohan EI4HH
before the newly extended deadline of Friday, March 15th.

The IRTS Contest Manager Mark EI6JK would like to make everyone aware
of the following changes to some of the IRTS Contest rules. Firstly, he
would like to announce that all IRTS contests are now on the WA7BNM
contest website. The following changes have been introduced to the 80m
evening contest to encourage participation and to bring the contest in
line with other similar contests. The creation of two extra high-power
sections, one for SSB/CW and one for SSB only. This is in line with the
80m daytime contest on New Years Day.

Mark would also like to make you all aware of the following rule
changes to the general rules. Rule 5.8: CW decoders may not be used,
whether local or remote has been changed to Rule 5.8: CW decoders may
be used, whether local or remote and Rule 5.9: Unless otherwise stated
in the individual contest rules, the use of the DX Cluster or other
spotting networks is not permitted has been changed to Rule 5.9: Unless
otherwise stated in the individual contest rules, the use of the DX
Cluster or other spotting networks is permitted. If you have any
further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mark EI6JK by
email to contestmanager /at/ irts.ie.

A reminder about the EIDX Group's upcoming DXpedition to Lesotho. From
March 20th to the 29th 2024, DJ9RR, EI2II, EI2JD, EI3ISB, EI3IXB,
EI4HH, EI5GM, EI5GSB, EI6FR, EI8KN, EI9HQ, EI9FBB, and PA3EWP will be
QRV as 7P8EI. They will operate up to eight stations from 160m through
10m on CW, SSB, and digital. You will be able to QSL via M0OXO's online
QSL request system.
__________________________________________________________________

Soldering Workshop in Tog Hackerspace

Tog Hackerspace is hosting an exciting and educational Beginner
Soldering Workshop. In this class, their experienced instructors will
guide you through the process of soldering components onto a circuit
board. You'll learn about the different types of soldering tools,
materials, and techniques. Their hands-on approach will allow you to
practice what you've learned, so you can feel confident in your newly
acquired skills. It will take place on Sunday 3rd of March 2024 from 11
a.m. until 1.30 p.m. The cost is EUR35 plus fees. The venue is Unit 1B
Motor City, Kylemore Road, Dublin 12, D12 KRW1. For more information
visit www.tog.ie
__________________________________________________________________

Maritime Radio Day 2024

Registration is now open for Maritime Radio Day 2024 which takes place
annually on the 14th and 15th of April to commemorate the almost 100
years of wireless telegraphy service for seafarers which ended with the
closure in the UK of Portishead Radio on the 30th of April 2000.
Commencing at 12:00 UTC on the 14th and finishing at 23:00 UTC on the
15th, this event is a great opportunity to QSO with ex-Marine Radio
Officers and Coast Station Professionals who exchange details of their
previous ships and coast stations. The mode of operation is CW, and all
the HF bands are used including the WARC bands. A certificate of
participation will be issued to all who submit results. Amateur Licence
holders are invited to register and take part as "Friends of MRD". SWLs
may also submit logs. For more information, you can visit
www.radioofficers.com/mrd -2024/
__________________________________________________________________

UK and Ireland Contest Club

The next 80m contest of the 2023-2024 UK and Ireland Contest Club
season takes place next Wednesday 28th February 2024 at 8 p.m. local
time on CW. The bonus station EI5G will be operated by Ger EI5KF and
the second bonus station G5GEI will be operated by Bob M0ITR. You can
learn more about this at www.ukeicc.com
__________________________________________________________________

Upcoming Rally Dates

Lagan Valley Amateur Radio Society is holding their annual rally next
weekend on Saturday, 2nd March 2024 at Hillsborough Village Centre, 7
Ballynahinch Road, Hillsborough, BT26 6AR. Doors will open at 10:30
a.m. and entry costs EUR5 or �5. Further information may be found at
www.lvars.uk

The Shannon Basin Radio Club rally and monster raffle takes place on
Sunday April 14th. It will be held in the Shearwater Hotel in
Ballinasloe, Co. Galway as part of the 2024 IRTS AGM weekend. Doors
will open at 10 a.m. and admission will be EUR5. Further information
may be found at www.sbrc.ie/agmweekend

Lough Erne Amateur Radio Club's 40th rally will take place on Sunday
5th May 2024. It will take place at the Share Discovery Village located
at 221 Lisnaskea Rd, Lisnaskea, Enniskillen BT92 0JZ. Doors will open
at 11 a.m. Admission will be five euro or five pound which includes a
ticket for the draw on the day.
__________________________________________________________________

Strongest Flare of the Current Solar Cycle

On February 22nd, the strongest solar flare of the current solar cycle
was detected. Flares are classified according to their strength and the
smallest ones are B-class, followed by C, M and X, which is the most
extreme. The largest flare in recent days, an X6.3 flare was the sun's
most powerful outburst since 2017. What makes this more notable is that
it was the third X-class flare in 24 hours from our very active sun at
the moment. These flares cause temporary radio blackouts on the
sun-facing side of our planet.
__________________________________________________________________

Items for Inclusion in Next Week's Radio News

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.ie for
automatic forwarding to both the radio and printed news services. The
deadline is midnight on Thursday.

[C]
News Archives