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EI2GYB > NEWS 09.02.90 11:30l 67 Lines 8251 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 50654_EI2GYB
Subj: IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday February 8th, 2026
Path: IZ3LSV<IW8PGT<LU4ECL<VK2RZ<VE3CGR<GB7OSW<GB7BED<EI2GYB
Sent: 260209/1026Z 50654@EI2GYB.DGL.IRL.EURO LinBPQ6.0.25
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IRTS Radio News Bulletin Sunday February 8th, 2026
Updates from the IRTS
The deadline for the 2026 Spring edition of Echo Ireland is Tuesday February 10th. If you wish to submit articles, further information and guidance can be found at irts.ie/echoireland. Items should be sent via email to newsteam /at/ irts.ie to reach the IRTS Echo Ireland editor, Veronica Holohan.
IRTS Awards Curator Mark Kilmartin EI4FNB asks that that anyone in possession of IRTS trophies to please begin the process of returning them. Mark will attend the Phoenix Radio Club rally in Coolmine next Sunday. This would be a good opportunity to arrange the return of the trophies. His email address is available on the IRTS website under Awards Curator for anyone that wants to get in touch with him directly about this.
As reported last week, we are delighted to welcome our new Automatic Station Coordinator who is Richard Hendy MI3CQR. In addition to being a long-time IRTS member, Richard is also a two-time recipient of the prestigious IRTS Arup Cup for exceptional service to the Society or to Amateur Radio. Although newly appointed, Richard is already welcoming any questions or help you may require regarding automatic station licence applications or renewals prior to submission to ComReg. You are welcome to contact Richard via email to automaticstations /at/ irts.ie
For anyone new to the IRTS or the hobby, you may be interested to learn that you also receive the weekly IRTS news via email and read it on the IRTS website each week. To receive a copy via email, visit irts.ie/radionews for details. The email versions of the news are dispatched on Mondays. Please make sure to check your spam folder in case it is inadvertently misdirected by your email provider.
Meet Howard EI9LC, the New IRTS PRO
The IRTS is entering a new era of digital engagement. We are pleased to formally introduce Howard EI9LC, who has very recently stepped into the role of Public Relations Officer. With a focus on streamlining communications and expanding the society's online footprint, Howard has already hit the ground running with a series of vital infrastructure updates and a fresh social media strategy. Howard has successfully unified all social media accounts under a single, official owner address. A new Facebook page has been launched to act as the official "voice" of the society. Search for ei0irts on Facebook to find this. News about the IRTS will also be accessible via other social media channels which include Threads, BlueSky, and X. You can contact the IRTS PRO Howard EI9LC via email to irts_pro /at/ irts.ie
IRTS HAREC Amateur Radio Licence Study Guide
The third printing of the IRTS Study Guide arrived last week. All the preorders have been fulfilled by Pat EI2HX by now. Anyone interested in buying the book is welcome to place their order on irts.ie/guide, where you can also download a free PDF version of the book. The errata to the Study Guide have been updated, too. If you bought the printed book in the last two years, or if you are using the free PDF, you can download the current errata from irts.ie/errata. The authors would like to wish much success to all the HAREC students, including those attending the current course run by the National Short Wave Listeners Club.
Silent Key - Michael Babe EI4CG
We are saddened to report the passing of Michael Babe EI4CG on February 1st, 2026. Micheal was a founder member of Dundalk Amateur Radio Society and had not been active for many years. We extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Agnes, son Colin, daughter-in-law Sarah, extended family, and his friends from both within Dundalk Amateur Radio Society and his wider circle. Ar dheis D‚ go raibh a anam. May he rest in peace.
Galway Radio Experimenters Club Visit to Bletchley Park
Galway Radio Experimenters Club (GREC) are visiting the UK National Museum of Computing and the RSGB National Radio Centre in Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes, on Thursday, the 5th of March 2026. These are exceptional sites to visit if you have an interest in computing history and ham radio. They would like to extend an invite to any radio amateurs or SWLs who might like to join them there for guided tours of both centres. Please contact Enda Folan, EI6JZB on 086-8108118 for further details of travel and access.
VHF/Microwave News
The latest IARU VHF+ newsletter has been published. In this issue, the VHF+ committee provides information and clarifies the situation regarding the 23 cm band, specifically the use of the 1296 MHz segment in 2026 for contests, terrestrial, and EME operations. You can download the newsletter and learn more about the work of the IARU via the Committees and Workgroups section at iaru-r1.org
Round 2 of the European 70cm FT8 activity series for 2026 takes place on Wednesday evening February 11th. FT8Activity is an open and friendly activity contest designed to promote FT8 and FT4 operation on VHF and UHF bands for radio amateurs.
IRTS members active on VHF and above are encouraged to submit their worked squares information for 2025 simplex contacts and earlier years where applicable. The IRTS VHF/Microwave management team comprising Keith EI5IN and Denis EI4KH is updating the information for the VHF/Microwave section of the IRTS website. You can reach them by email to vhf_manager /at/ irts.ie
IARU Region 1 Intruder Watch Service newsletter
The December 2025 edition of the IARU Region 1 Intruder Watch Service newsletter notes that radar transmissions received throughout 2025 accounted for approximately 65% of all non-amateur traffic recorded in the IARU Intruder Watch Service database during that year. This represents more than 10,000 transmissions. The free report can be downloaded from the Monitoring System section of the IARU website located at www.iaru-r1.org
Contest and Events
The 2026 "Coolmine Rally" run by Phoenix Amateur Radio Club takes place next Sunday, the 15th of February 2026. Doors open at 10 a.m. at Coolmine Community School, Dublin, D15 FW97. Contact Tony EI7GI at 087 2439997 for further information.
The next UK and Ireland Contest Club contest in the 2025-26 series of 80m contests is on Wednesday 25th February 2026 at 20:00 UTC on CW.
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, activities, meetings, or other items of interest, you are very welcome to email the radio news editor Keith EI5IN via email to newsteam /at/ irts.ie with the details. These will be automatically forwarded to the IRTS radio and printed news services. The deadline each week is midnight on Thursdays.
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