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EI5IN > NEWS 02.08.26 14:07l 71 Lines 7145 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 10908_EI5IN
Subj: IRISH RADIO TRANSMITTERS SOCIETY NEWS
Path: IZ3LSV<IK6IHL<IK7NXU<HB9ON<DK0WUE<ZL2BAU<VK3AT<EI5IN
Sent: 260802/1206Z 10908@EI5IN.EI5IN.IRL.EURO LinBPQ6.0.25
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Irish Radio Transmitters Society
Radio News Bulletin
Sunday August 2nd, 2026
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Updates from the IRTS
Traditionally, the IRTS AGM weekend is hosted on a voluntary basis by a member club. The society is inviting clubs from across Ireland to volunteer to host the 2027 AGM and pledges full logistical support to whichever club steps forward. If interested or want to learn more about whats involved, please contact the IRTS Secretary at irts_secretary@irts.ie
IRTS Hamfest 2026 is only a week away, taking place at Mullingar Showgrounds. Admission and parking are completely free for everyone. The event opens at noon on Saturday 8th, featuring radio exhibitions and presentations from 20 clubs around the nation. A highlight of the day will be the Saturday afternoon talk by ComReg offering insights into how they support the ham radio hobby. You are most welcomed to camp on-site on Saturday evening. Coming up on Sunday 9th, there's an earlier start at 10 a.m. with both exhibitions and radio rally from 15 vendors throughout the day. On-site catering will be provided by a burger van. Vehicle entrance to the site is through the back gate, please follow signage as you approach.We look forward to seeing all of you there.
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Seeking New Chair for the IRTS EMF Sub-Committee
The IRTS is seeking a new Chairperson for the Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Sub-Committee to succeed Tony Proudfoot, EI3LC, who is stepping down from the role. The EMF Sub-Committee plays a vital role in monitoring safety guidelines, technical standards, and regulatory developments affecting radio operators in Ireland. Because the position involves attending key in-person liaison meetings and representing the society, a candidate based in or near the greater Dublin area is ideally preferred.
Anyone with an interest in electro-magnetic safety, regulatory standards, or technical governance who would like to contribute to the hobby is invited to express their interest. To inquire about the role or submit an application, please contact the IRTS Secretary by email at irts_secretary@irts.ie.
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HF Newsreaders Required
HF newsreaders are required to join our current panel of newsreaders for the weekly Sunday morning IRTS news bulletins on HF - especially for the 80m band. There is very little involved in reading a bulletin and no experience is necessary. If any licensed IRTS member feels like that they would be interested in becoming part of the IRTS newsreaders panel or if you require more information, please get in touch with the IRTS news editor, Keith EI5IN via email to newsteam@irts.ie
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North Dublin Radio Club Lighthouse Weekend
With thanks to Irish Lights, the North Dublin Radio club EI0NDR will be active at the Baily Lighthouse in Howth in two weeks' time on the 15th and 16th of August. There are plans are for various stations, and visitors are welcome on the day.
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South Dublin Radio Club at Dublin Maker 2026
South Dublin Radio Club will once again be exhibiting at Dublin Maker, taking place at Leopardstown Racecourse on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd August. The club's stand will feature a range of amateur radio demonstrations, including HF and VHF operating, software defined radio, digital modes, satellite communications, Morse code, radio direction finding, and a variety of homebrew projects. Club members who would like to volunteer at the stand or demonstrate a radio-related project on either day are invited to contact Adrian, EI9HAB. Further information about Dublin Maker is available atdublinmaker.ie
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Ham Radio Ireland Launches August Edition
Ham Radio Ireland, Ireland's bi-monthly independent radio publication covering amateur radio, CB radio, and PMR 446, is available free of charge. Downloads are accessible via the Collective Communications, Ham Radio Ireland, and Delta Mike Facebook pages.
The magazine offers broad coverage including home-construction projects, outdoor and portable operations, satellite activity, VHF/SHF operation, equipment reviews, news, and events. The publication notes that it is not intended to compete with the IRTS journal, Echo Ireland, which caters specifically to Society members and official business.
The magazine has expanded its reach globally, with over 5,000 issues downloaded across more than 70 countries. The editorial team expresses its appreciation to the IRTS for sharing details on forthcoming events and activities, welcoming the opportunity to serve as an additional platform for promoting IRTS news. The August edition will be released on the evening of Sunday, August 2nd. The editorial team remains on the lookout for submitted articles, particularly focusing on homebrew construction projects and portable operations.
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VHF/Microwave News
John K9JMS, based in Florida, USA, is conducting weak-signal propagation testing on the 8-metre and 4-metre bands. Licensed amateurs in the U.S. do not have access to either 8 metres or 4 metres so this activity may be of interest to operators in EI. Operating under the experimental callsign WQ2XDM, the station is transmitting digital modes including FT8 and WSPR to explore long-distance paths and technical signal characteristics. Because this is a specialized experimental station dedicated to technical research, it operates under specific FCC study guidelines. Irish operators and listeners are encouraged to monitor the 8-metre and 4-metre bands for these transatlantic signals and submit reception reports to help John with data collection. Further details including the testing schedule can be found on the QRZ.com page for WQ2XDM.
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IRTS VHF/UHF Field Day Results Published
The results for the recent IRTS VHF/UHF Field Day Contest have been uploaded and are now available to view at irts.ie/results. A total of seven logs were submitted for this year's contest, with participants taking advantage of excellent VHF conditions throughout the event weekend. On the 6-metre band, the Patriot Radio Communications team put in a stellar performance, logging contacts across Ireland, Scotland, Poland, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Slovenia, and Italy. On 2 metres, Joe, EI7GY, enjoyed remarkable reach, working stations in Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, France, and Spain. While activity on UHF was quieter overall, John, EI7FAB, achieved the "Best DX" distance of 130 kilometres on both the 70-centimetre and 23-centimetre bands.
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Items for Inclusion in Next Week's Radio News
That is the news for this week. Thanks to everyone for sending items into the weekly IRTS radio news. They are very much appreciated and are a great way to update the rest of the community about activities. If you have any club events, news, meetings, or other items of interest, you are very welcome to email the radio news editor Keith EI5IN via email to newsteam@irts.ie with the details. The deadline is midnight on Thursdays. Items intended for inclusion in Echo Ireland should be sent to echoireland@irts.ie.
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