IRTS RADIO NEWS BULLETIN 

Sunday May 19th 1996


IRTS Committee Meeting

The inaugural meeting of the new IRTS Committee took place on
Saturday last May 11th in the Prince of Wales Hotel in Athlone.
The President Jim Ryan EI3DP and the Vice-President Bill
Somerville-Large EI9FK were elected at theAGM and at the 
committee meeting Joe Ryan EI7GY was elected as Secretary and Sean 
Donelan EI4GK was elected as Treasurer. Paul Martin EI2CA will 
fill the post of P.R.O.

All the other positions were also filled, in the main by the 
existing volunteers and a full list will appear in the Newsletter 
which should be with you during the coming week.
_______________________________


Department Of Communications
As many of you will be aware, discussions have been ongoing with 
the Department of Communications on several issues over the past 
two years. Agreement has now been reached on some of these issues 
while further discussions will continue on others.
The Society had sought a ten year licence for all experimenters 
and agreement has now been reached on a five year licence. This 
will cost the equivalent of five annual licences which is forty 
pounds.

The definition of power levels has caused some concern and a new 
definition, suggested by IRTS has now been agreed. However this 
will require an amendment to the Radio Experimenters regulations. 
An increase of permitted power levels is anticipated.


Amateurs who are licensed for operation on 50MHz will be aware of 
the time restrictions on operations in the Maghera service area 
and within three miles of a cable TV System. The Department have 
agreed to withdraw the restriction on the Maghera area but will 
not concede on the three mile exclusion area near cable systems. 
The Society will continue to press for the abolition of this 
restriction.
A request to allow RTTY operation on the 10MHz band was granted by 
the Department. It is not necessary for licencees to make 
individual applications to the Department. 

Permission was granted for a proposed ten metre beacon in Cobh, 
Co. Cork to be run by Cormac EI4HQ.


A proposal from the Society that examiners appointed by the IRTS 
could carry out morse tests on behalf of the Department has been 
accepted by the Department subject to certain conditions. These 
are now being studied by the committee and a positive decision is 
expected.

The next IRTS Committee meeting will be held in the Killeshin 
Hotel in Portlaoise on Saturday June 29th at 2.30 p.m.

Clubs are reminded that they may send a representative to 
committee meetings subject to rule 16 which can be found on page 8 
of the current handbook.

________________________________

Munro Day

In July 1995, a number of clubs and individuals climbed the Irish 
"Munros" - mountain peaks of over 3,000 feet above sea level - and 
operated on 2 metres and 70 cms.  This year, on Sunday August 4th, 
South Dublin Radio Club members will be climbing Brandon Mountain 
in County Kerry.  They hope that other clubs will be able to 
activate other peaks on the same day.  Joe Ryan, EI7GY would like 
to hear from anyone planning to head for the hills on that day.

________________________________


Classes

Two classes are currently drawing to a close in the Cork area. 
Cork Radio Club will hold their exam on Tuesday May 28th at half 
past four at the club premises, Wilton Park House in Bishopstown 
and anyone wishing to sit the exam should contact club Chairman 
Mike Kiely, EI2IB on 025-27238 or QTHR.
In East Cork, classes are being run in Youghal and the exam there 
will be held in the CBS at 1300 on Wednesday May 29th courtesy of 
school principal Kieran Greoger who will also sit the exam. 
Enquiries about the Youghal exam should be directed to Dennis 
OFlynn EI6HB at 021-667122 or QTHR.

We wish students in both locations every success in their 
endeavours and look forward to hearing many new callsigns in the 
Cork area in the coming months.
________________________________



Shannon River Run

The Award Certificates for the Shannon River Run have now been 
dispatched and are on their way to those who applied. It is still 
not too late if you would like one of these certs for the shack.
Just forward a copy of your log showing contacts with five of the 
Shannon River Run stations to Paul EI2CA QTHR. There is no charge 
for this award.

It was good to see quite a number of Short Wave Listeners applying 
for the award and there has been a large number of letters from 
members congratulating all who were involved.

Crews are reminded, if they have not already done so, to forward 
their Captains Log so that an overall report on the event can be 
prepared.

Many people have asked when is the next River Run? and we are 
pleased to report that initial discussions have taken place with 
the RSGB with a view to a combined event on the Northern Shannon 
and Lough Erne over the same weekend next year.

Further details will be announced as they come to hand and any 
enquiries should be directed to Paul Martin EI2CA QTHR.
________________________________


Items for inclusion in both the Radio News and Newsletter can be 
faxed to 021-632730.


The Radio News Editor, John EI7DNB, can be contacted at 021-353988 
in the evening and the Newsletter Editor, Dave EI4BZ is at 021- 
632444 during the day and 021-883555 in the evening. 


Mail can be sent on packet to either EI7DNB or EI4BZ on cluster or 
at the EI7DKB BBS or on Internet to jbarry@curia.ucc.ie