IRTS Free New Member Offer

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The Irish Radio Transmitters Society (IRTS) is making an offer to EI Amateur / Ham Radio Licence holders of a free first year of membership to encourage local amateurs to join their national society.

To avail of the offer, you need to of been first licenced between 1st January 2016 to 31st March 2017 in a personal (non club or special event callsign).

Membership will give new licence holders experience of the benefits of the Society, including use of the QSL Bureau.

To apply for membership it is only necessary to download and complete a membership application form available on the IRTS website, entering the note "New Licence" under your signature.

For existing members of the IRTS who obtain their full licence between the above dates the Society will give one year free membership on expiry of their current subscription.

Irish Radio Transmitters Society (IRTS) - http://www.irts.ie/join

4m Ham Radio Band for Australia?

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Australia's national amateur radio society the WIA has expressed an interest in getting an allocation at 70.0-70.5 MHz 

Earlier this year, the Australian Communications and Media Authority opened consultation on proposed updates to frequency plans for the 70 to 87.5 MHz and 148 to 174 MHz VHF bands.

As the WIA had signified interest in a 70 MHz amateur allocation to the ACMA back in July 2014, and again in recent discussions with the ACMA, the Spectrum Strategy Committee decided that a submission to this consultation was in order, principally to flag the amateur radio community’s interest.

Historically, the 70.0 to 87.5 MHz band has been used by commercial, community, government and defence communications services. The ACMA is proposing to update its Radiocommunications Assignment and Licensing Instruction document, which covers these VHF bands, known as R – A – L – I ~ RALI ~ MS 42.

The WIA is pitching for use of a band between 70 and 70.5 MHz that aligns with allocations across Region 1, which covers Europe, Russia, the Mediterranean, Middle East and Africa, commonly known as the 4m band.

The WIA will be pitching for a 70 MHz allocation, along with a suite of other frequencies, including the 60 metre band that the World Radiocommunications Conference agreed on last year.

WIA - http://www.wia.org.au/

National Parks on the Air 2017 Update

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This successful event, highlighting the centenary celebration of US National Parks Service has attracted over half a million QSLs.

A mixture of activator teams got together, young and old, and cross generation family groups including  Bill Jourdain, AB4BJ, who got together with 17-year-old Ruth Willet, KM4LAO, and her mom, Sharon, KM4TVU, to activate Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.

During the period between July 28-August 3, the schedule shows 43 activations, including the rare Channel Islands National Park in California, and the even rarer Denali National Park in Alaska.

There is expected to be a peak inactivity around the 25th August (the actual centenary day)

National Parks on the Air - https://npota.arrl.org/