The Irish Radio Transmitters Society (IRTS) is a national

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

for

amateur radio Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is the use of the radio frequency radio spectrum, spectrum for purposes of non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, private recreation, radiosport, contesting, and emer ...

enthusiasts in

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

. Key missions of the IRTS include promoting amateur radio experimentation and representing the interests of Irish amateur radio operators before Irish and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. In particular, since 2005 in agreement with Communications Regulator (

Comreg The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) () is the general communications regulator for Ireland, covering almost all possible types of communications. Founded on 1 December 2002, ComReg took over from the Office of the Director of ...

), the IRTS supports the entire examination process for the Experimenter's Licence including setting, organising, and correcting examinations for the Irish

amateur radio license Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is the use of the radio frequency spectrum for purposes of non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, private recreation, radiosport, contesting, and emergency communi ...

. The organization has no paid employees, and all tasks are performed by volunteers.Irish Radio Transmitters Society (2008)
Irish Radio Transmitters Society Home Page
Retrieved 4 August 2008. IRTS is the national member society representing Ireland in the

International Amateur Radio Union The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) is an international confederation of national organisations that allows a forum for common matters of concern to amateur radio operators worldwide, and collectively represents matters to the Internatio ...

.International Amateur Radio Union (2008)
"Member Societies"
Retrieved 1 August 2008.

History

Radio in Ireland can be traced back to the 1800s with Professor George Francis Fitzgerald of TCD who in conjunction with

Heinrich Hertz Heinrich Rudolf Hertz (; ; 22 February 1857 – 1 January 1894) was a German physicist who first conclusively proved the existence of the electromagnetic waves predicted by James Clerk Maxwell's equations of electromagnetism. Biography Heinri ...

clarified and confirmed

James Clerk Maxwell James Clerk Maxwell (13 June 1831 – 5 November 1879) was a Scottish physicist and mathematician who was responsible for the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation, which was the first theory to describe electricity, magnetism an ...

's mathematical theories of the

electromagnetic field An electromagnetic field (also EM field) is a physical field, varying in space and time, that represents the electric and magnetic influences generated by and acting upon electric charges. The field at any point in space and time can be regarde ...

. This work led Fitzgerald to conclude in 1883 that an oscillating electric current would produce electromagnetic waves, which was experimentally confirmed by Heinrich Hertz in 1888 and used in the development of wireless telegraphy. Fitzgerald was the first to suggest a method of producing radio frequency waves which forms the basis for modern radio. An early pioneer of experimental radio in Ireland was Colonel M.J.B. Dennis who in 1898 at his home in Baltinglass, County Wicklow carried out experiments into radio transmissions. In 1913 he was one of the founding members of the Dublin Wireless Club. In 1922 the Radio Society of Ireland was founded as a National Society. The National Society and the Dublin Wireless club merged into the Wireless Society of Ireland in 1925, by this time broadcast radio was becoming popular, and a year later the first National Station

2RN 2RN was the first radio broadcasting station in the Irish Free State. It began broadcasting on 1 January 1926 and continued until 1933, when it was succeeded by Radio Athlone (later Radio Éireann; now known as RTÉ Radio). The station was run by ...

started broadcasting. The original "Irish Radio Transmitters Society" was formed in 1926 by members of the WSI who were more interested in the construction of amateur transmitters and receivers rather than broadcast equipment. The IRTS that exists today consists of an amalgamation in 1932 of this group with the Wireless Society of Ireland. The first president of IRTS was Colonel Dennis, who by then had the call sign EI2B. He held office for many years and was active in amateur affairs until the war brought a stop to these in 1939. Colonel Dennis died in 1945 in his early eighties.

Services

The IRTS produces a quarterly magazine ''Echo Ireland'', detailing activities and information about Amateur Radio in Ireland, which is available to all members by post or online. A monthly online magazine "EI News" is circulated to members in the months when Echo Ireland is not produced. A weekly news service is also broadcast on amateur radio frequencies. Members may use the QSL card service and avail of the technical panel for help in with aspects of amateur radio. Throughout the year the society organises amateur radio contests on frequencies from 70 cm to 80m.

Examinations

Since 2005 the IRTS supports the entire examination process for the Experimenter's Licence. The society provides a course guide for the CEPT Class B exam and examinations are held twice yearly. A separate morse code test can be arranged for those wanting to obtain a CEPT Class A license, which allows the operator to apply for a two letter callsign and may allow the operator to operate equipment in countries where morse code is still a requirement. Membership of the IRTS is not required to sit these exams.

References

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Non-profit organisations based in the Republic of Ireland Organizations established in 1932 1932 establishments in Ireland Radio in Ireland Organisations based in Dublin (city)

History

Services

Examinations

See also

References