Return to HF
Well, a long time longer than originally planned, but I'm glad to say that I'm back on HF for the foreseeable future with 100W and a Yaesu FT-857. I've even managed to cross off a few call signs from the "to contact list" 
Still have a few to contact...
Amateur Full (Reciprocal) Radio Licence, 21.11.2008
<drum roll> My new callsign is.......MIØJVI </drum roll> 
It appeared pretty quickly on the Ofcom Online Licensing Centre, given that the form was only posted late on Monday evening past Now for the EI one to arrive, when I finally get around to sending it to ComReg 
Experimenters’ Exam – 30 October 2008 : UPDATED
Well, this time yesterday I was waiting on the train to Dublin from Belfast Central. After a 2hr journey, I was standing on Dublin's Amiens Street bound for Lower Abbey Street, the site of the ComReg Offices which took a moment or ten to find!
1350GMT arrived and I was shown into the Room where I would be doing the exam by the 2 invigilators from the IRTS, EI7CD and EI4GK. After the rules were read out and formalities dealt with we started the paper at 1400GMT - 3 sections (A- Radio Theory, B- National and International Regulations and C- Safety and EMC), 60 questions and pass of 60% in each section to pass overall.
Ninety minutes later, having finished and read through the paper a few times, I submitted it and left along with a few of the other chaps doing it, heading back to Connolly Station, and arriving back in Belfast shortly after 1900GMT where I got the Derry train back to Ballymoney.
Upon reflection, the whole experience was a good one- Dublin has been the farthest I've travelled on my own and the experience of a proper Radio Licence examination was good as before now I've only ever sat them in radio clubs' meeting places and not at a Government Agency's HQ before.
Let's just hope I get good news in the next 2 weeks.........
UPDATE: Today, 14/October/2008 I have found out that I passed! So watch this space for the new callsigns...
University Update
Well, I'm now into the 2nd teaching week of the Autumn Semester and thankfully so far there have been no major problems - all the rooms have been sussed out and have already got coursework to do 
The joys of the student life............. So far, everyone seems nice, students and lecturers alike, some more so than others.
At leas there's only 10 full weeks left of Semester
Advanced RCE
As you are more than likely aware, I'm planning to sit the Advanced RCE sometime within the next few months, having heard that a local(ish) club is planning to facilitate the exam in December 2008. For this exam, and the course they are offering, they want £105 (the last time I checked).
This got me thinking last week...and I wondered if it would be less expesive to travel to the Republic of Ireland to sit the exam in the ComReg offices in Dublin. To my pleasant surprise, when I included return train tickets to Belfast and on the Enterprise Service to Dublin Connolly, inclusive of the cost of sitting the exam and the study material provided by the IRTS, the total came to £60.
I'm quite happy to self teach the material for the Advanced Exam or for the Experiementer's Exam (in RoI) and with the vast difference in the cost of sitting each I'm increasingly considering going to Dublin, after which I may apply for both an EI callsign and use the HAREC facility (due to the fact that the Republic of Ireland, like the UK, is a CEPT signatory) to apply for a 'Reciprocal' licence with Ofcom.
Comments please...
Lough Erne Amateur Radio Show, 13-04-2008
Sorry for lateness......
The 26th Enniskillen Rally took place on the 13 April at the Share Centre, Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh.
As usual there was a good turnout, both of the GI and EI Amateur populations, with Experimenters as far as Dublin travelling up to the rally. This was my 6th time travelling to Fermanagh for the event which prior to 2007 was held in Enniskillen town itself but for reasons beyond the control of the organisers it was relocated some 13 miles south of the town on the banks of the Lough Erne-Shannon Waterway.
It was an early start for grandad and I who had to travel the 110miles or so, to make it for 12noon opening time.
Purchases were few on the ground, the event becoming more of a social occasion. I did buy two RSGB publications on HF aerials and got another bunch of cards from the bureau, including one from JA7COI (thank you Ichiro!) It was also good to meet up with amateurs I'd only ever spoken to and not actually met, and of course the one's I've met on several occasions.
Chances are we'll head to Fermanagh again next year so watch this space!
Twitter Feed
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