• IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday February 25th, 2024

    From newsteam at irts dot ie@21:1/5 to All on Sun Feb 25 23:00:10 2024
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    This Week's News

    IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday February 25th, 2024
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    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.
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    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
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    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/
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    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
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    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.
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    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.
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    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.

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