IRTS News for 24th April 1994 SATELLITES BOOST REGIONAL NEWS ------------------------------ The concept of a 24 hour news service in Britain was little more than a dream five months ago. With the help of 235,000 pounds worth of new technology it has become reality. A network of satellite telephones, radio cars and receiver sites had been installed throughout the UK in the time since Radio 5 was taken off the air last autumn, and have now become operational since the end of March with the replacement station Radio 5 Live, the 24 hour news and sports station. It is now possible to steer away from the London oriented news and place more emphasis on the regions. The co-ordination and installation of 4 Immarsat satellite phones has improved the quality and efficiency of broadcasts from around the UK. The Immarsat system has been frequently used abroad, especially in Bosnia, but seldom used by journalists in Britain before. Interviews and reports have hitherto been restricted to the South of England because the technology was concentrated around the London area. With satellite phones, BBC journalists are now able to go anywhere they want. The satellite dishes are transported in Peugeot 405 estate cars, and journalists are able to unpack them and link up with one of the satellites within a matter of minutes. Using digital technology, the Immarsat system will ensure reports are broadcast with the same quality as a studio broadcast, enabling a better sound quality than the old telephone report. Inmarsat cars have been spread around the UK, enabling journalists to get into the action quickly, thus improving their national news coverage. This has been the largest satellite deployment for radio and the first tried on this scale in the UK. CARLOW AND DISTRICT ARC ----------------------- The weekly theory and morse classes continue in the RTC, Carlow, every Wednesday at 7.30 pm. They are well attended, and 10 candidates hope to sit the exam early in May. During the Easter period the college was closed, but alter- native accommodation was made available,on 30 March and 6 April, at the local Eire Og G.F.C., Tullow Road, Carlow, free of charge. Members of Carlow and District ARC sincerely thank the Eire Og committee for their very kind gesture, and wish their club every success in their quest for the all-Ireland championships in 1995. The ARC will resume its meetings at the RTC on 13 April, at 7.30 pm. All are welcome. The club Treasurer wishes to remind all members that unpaid 1994 subscriptions are now overdue, and can be posted to Sean Corry, 56 Beechwood Drive, Rathnapish, Carlow, or handed in at a club meeting. DUBLIN 2M VOICE REPEATER ------------------------ The Dublin 2m voice repeater will shortly be taken off the air for routine maintenance, long overdue because of the inclement weather, which hampered work at the elevated site. It is hoped to resume service quickly. FORTHCOMING EVENTS ------------------ Fingal ARC will hold their Radio and Electronics Exhibition at Jury's Hotel, Ballsbridge, on 8 May. There will be many stands selling used equipment, surplus equipment, radio, electronics and computer equipment, along with the IRTS bookstand and membership services available. Talk-in on S22. Admission is one pound. The Parkanaur Rally, promoted by Mid-Ulster ARC, will take place at Silverwood Hotel, Lurgan, Co. Armagh on 15 May. The proceeds of this rally go to the Stanley Eakins Memorial Fund, providing additional funds for the pupils at Parkanaur School near Dungannon, Co. Tyrone. The usual traders will be present, a bring and buy stall will be available, and talk-in on S22. ARSI RALLY ---------- The ARSI Rally will be held in Terenure College School Hall on 22 May from 12.00 noon. Table space reservation and information may be had from Dave O'Rourke at 01 8405746. That concludes the bulletin for this week. Items for inclusion in the radio news should be sent to Steve Wright EI5DD, c/o Dept. of Pathology, Regional Hospital, Galway. Fax messages may be sent to EI5DD at 091 24216. All such items will be forwarded to Dave Moore for inclusion in the printed news. Items for the printed news only should be sent to Dave Moore EI4BZ, QTHr, or phoned to 021 632444 (daytime), or 021 883555 (evenings). Items may be sent by packet radio to EI4BZ at EI7DKB-5. Fax messages may be sent to 021 632730. BRAYIP:EI9FK Area: irtsnews > 73's, Colm. ÉÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍ» º BBSNET : EI2EDB @ EI7GM.#81.IRL.EU º º AMPRNET : COLM@EI2EDB.ampr.org º º Rathmichael, Co.Dublin. IO63wf. º ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ