Apparently the Irish authorities have agreed to allow Irish amateurs access to four 3kHz-wide frequencies in the 5MHz range - 5280, 5290, 5400 and 5405. Access is subject to individual application, and is not available to non-resident visitors operating under CEPT rules. Hopefully we’ll be hearing two of our regular chasers, EI2CL and EI7CC, on the band very soon. Enjoy!!
73 de Les, G3VQO
In reply to G3VQO:
Excellent news. I’ve heard some blatant abuse on 5MHz from EI. Not by EI stations but by a G station on holiday in EI working back into G. He knew he was breaking the rules as did the extremely keen and active on 5MHz G station having a waffle with him.
You know there’s something fishy when the G on holiday gave his callsign as
"G4xxx portable in Ireland" rather than EI/G4xxx/P
Andy
MM0FMF
In reply to G3VQO:
Thanks for the good news, Les, hopefully I will be back on the band soon,
73
Brian G8ADD
In reply to G3VQO:
This is really good news. It will be good to work Mike, Pete and others in the summer of 2008 when 3.MHz propagation is difficult during the day.
Do you know if non-residents can apply for an EI licence and NoV rather than operating under CEPT rules. I would quite like to go on another trip to EI next year and 5MHz would be really useful. I was really lucky with propagation to the UK on the last trip but it may not be so good next time.
73 John GW4BVE
In reply to GW4BVE:
As I understand it John it will only be available to resident amateurs and not available to visitors. It is by personal application so will,presumably, be similar to our NOV.
Roger G4OWG
In reply to G4OWG:
Thanks Roger. Hope they relax the rules a bit when 5MHz gets established in EI
73 John GW4BVE
In reply to GW4BVE:
Some info here.
Roger G4OWG
In reply to GW4BVE:
You could always phone and ask ComReg (Tel. 01 8049600), or alternatively send an e-mail to licensing@ComReg.ie
Probably best to wait until it is up and running in EI first though.
Steve 73
In reply to GW4BVE:
It appears from the ComReg site at http://www.comreg.ie/radio_spectrum/licence_types.541.874.rslicensing.html
that there is no requirement to be resident in Ireland to apply for a licence with an EI callsign. The form-filling looks rather tedious, and the cost is EUR12. Once you have the initial licence, you will have to apply for the 5MHz permit separately. Other “add-on” permits (30m, RTTY, 6m, 4m, etc) are currently issued free-of-charge, so I suspect this will be the same.
Good luck with your application.
73 de Les, G3VQO
In reply to G3VQO:
Thanks Les, Steve, Roger for all the info. It looks to be worth a go for 12 Euro. I would certainly be a bit of insurance for the next trip.
73 John GW4BVE
In reply to GW4BVE:
Good luck John - I’ve been searching for where I read that it would only be available for stations actually resident in EIRE rather than holders of EI callsigns,but can’t find it. I may have dreamed it of course 
Roger G4OWG
In reply to G4OWG:
Hi Roger
I wonder if you read it in the very first post on this thread and sub-consciously thought you had read it somewhere else?
73 Mike GW0DSP
In reply to GW0DSP:
No Mike it was specifically about non resident/domicile holders of EI licenses which as Les has pointed out are easily come by.
Roger G4OWG