Welcome to the Lothians Radio Society

Details

Colin GM4HWO was back as Net 28 controller on 14th October with 7 participants: Mike GM8KCS, Briain GM8PKL, Pete GM4BYF, Alan GM3PSP, Peter GM4DTH and Melvyn GM4HYR. Brian GM4DIJ had sent his apols from Galloway. No sign of Brian GM8BJF this week. Mike reported some necessary repair work on his rotator and that he had had a QSO with former member Toby MM0TSS while visiting Edinburgh. Briain's new antenna installation is almost done. He has just bought a capacitance meter as a mate for his clampometer. Pete and XYL Kay GM6KAY had just done a 12.5 mile Pentlands walk. On 70cm the previous night he had made several aircraft-scatter QSOs well-down into G-land and made a short recording (below) of his QSO with M0SAT (Watford). Click for map. Alan mentioned the Silent Key of former LRS member and HWU professor, Colin GM3LAV, which is posted on this website. He had also received a club membership enquiry. Colin GM4HWO and Pete are continuing with the sale of Andre GM3VLB-SK's equipment with the end maybe in sight soon (only 2 crates to go)! Colin is now very well-known at his local Post Office! Peter had viewed several talks from the RSGB Convention on-line, including one, which he recommended, about transceivers for VHF/UHF contest use. Melvyn, back from a trip to the west coast, was having rig problems. He had just viewed Ice Station Zebra (1968) after many years and noted how primitive the special effects were!                  Audio at bottom c/o Peter GM4DTH.

NOTE: photos of ops, rigs, projects etc welcome.

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The next LRS Viral Net #29 will be on Wed 21st Oct at 20:00a on 144.350MHz SSB - all welcome!

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Pete GM4BYF was Net 27 controller on 7th October with 9 participants: Mike GM8KCS, Norrie GM1CNH, Bill GM8SQM, Brian GM8BJF (weak signal), Stewart GM4ZOA, Briain GM8PKL, Peter GM4DTH and Alan GM3PSP (after fish-man called). Peter reported working 40 stations in the 2m contest the previous evening including several by aircraft-scatter. Norrie reminded people of the RSGB Conference online this weekend. Bill had just returned from Norfolk and en-route  had contacted Nick G4KUX (LRS speaker last October). Stewart called in briefly to say hello. Briain reported good progress in the installation of his new 8-element 2m yagi - see photo below. Alan (with his haddock safely in the fridge) reported on recent additions to the website including the reception of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on 3cm by VE7TIL (below) and Norrie's Antenna Bag article in RadCom. 

Regret no audio recording of Net 27.

 

Antenna installation - photo by Briain GM8PKL

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For reports of previous nets, go to Meeting Reports.

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Details

Click on item to open. Send items to GM3PSP.
Archived as News or Silent Keys in LRS Archive

1. RADIO NEWS ITEMS (Click on for full info).

NOTE: LRS MEETINGS ARE POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE BUT WE DO HAVE OUR "VIRAL NET" EACH WEDNESDAY AT 20:00a ON 144.350 MHz SSB. (Reports this page).    ALL WELCOME.

2020-10-24 SAQ Grimeton UN Day on 17.2kHz from 14:30 UTC & YouTube 

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2020-10-06 Scott VE7TIL BC receives X-Band signal from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

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 SCOTTISH RALLIES, MEETINGS 2020 CANCELLED

- 25 Oct - Galashiels Rally 

- 07 Nov - GMRT - Scottish Microwave Round Table 

2. SILENT KEYS (Click item for full SK). 

2020-10-08 SK: Prof Colin W Davidson GM3LAV, former LRS member. Professor and then Dean of Electrical Engineering at Heriot-Watt University.

 

Click for full LRS Silent Key of GM3LAV.

Click for HWU obituary.

3. ITEMS FOR SALE  (Click item for details)

2020-10-15 Additional items from Dave GM6KGZ.

2020-10-01 Alinco DX-R8E  HF Rx - £270, Dave GM6KGZ

2020-09-19 Updated list reduced prices Dave GM6KGZ

2020-09-18 Updated List - Norrie GM1CNH

4. ITEMS WANTED 

2020-07-28 NAG-144XL 2m valve power amplifier or similar unit (possibly Dressler). Condition not a problem as long as the transformer is OK - Brian GM8BJF

5. NEW ON LRS WEBSITE 

6. COVID-19: Click for Special Instructions.

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Details

The LRS GM3HAM/P contest group were active during the 2m Trophy Contest from our usual site near Gatehouse of Fleet in Dumfries & Galloway.

Participants were: Colin GM4HWO, Brian GM8BJF, Mike GM4IGS, Norrie GM1CNH, Bob MM0XRI (guest), Rob MM0RHU (guest) and Peter GM4DTH, with apologies (H&S) from Alan GM3PSP & Pete GM4BYF.

The station made 196 QSOs plus a few dupes.

Best DX: F6DKW 57097 JN18cs in Paris at 808.4km

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Photos - by Colin GM4HWO & Andy MM0FMF. 

L-R: Andy MM0FMF, Brian GM8BJF, Mike GM4IGS, Norrie GM1CNH, Colin GM4HWO, Bob MM0XRI, Rob MM0RHU & Peter GM4DTH - suitably masked!

 Andy MM0FMF  

Peter GM4DTH 

Recording of GM3HAM/P QSO with G4AQB.

(Full report in Society Activities) Click.

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                                         GM8BJF/P                                  GM4BYF/P 

Brian GM8BJF reports: Pete GM4BYF and myself have recently built up VK3CV 122GHz (2.4cm wavelength)  transceiver boards into portable systems and have been doing some tests with them. On Thursday 23rd July we had what we believe wss the first GM to GM contact across a distance of 0.69 km between two hills in Edinburgh and on Saturday 25th July we went down to the English border and had what we believe to be the first GM to G contact on the band. 

Interestingly, Doppler effects were observed even at walking speed on this band (no fire-engine required)!             
We were using the system in its most basic form with 25 mm circular horns. Plans are now afoot to add refinements such as GPS locking and improved antennas and try for longer paths having established the basic functionality of our setups.

John G3XDY of the UK Microwave Group has confirmed that these are "Firsts" for GM/GM & GM/G on 122GHz. Certificates will be awarded. Congratulations to Brian and Pete. 

     GM8BJF/P seen across the border from G4BYF/P.                                 (International DX !)

Full details with more photos and 3 short videos are on Brian's website at: 
https://gm8bjf.joomla.com/2-uncategorised/23-122-ghz-activities 

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Details

 

Brian GM4DIJ returned to his favourite portable location at IO74mu about 8km south of Stranraer, to operate in the 70MHz Trophy contest on 19th July. 

Brian's station was an FT847 into a TE Systems linear amp with 100W output. The antenna was the 11-element VHF NFD yagi re-spaced as a 6 element, which was a struggle to erect to 5m in the wind, but at least the wx was sunny.

Valid QSOs: 30

Claimed QSO points: 9224

Claimed # of exchanges: 23

Claimed # of DXCCs: 4

Claimed total score: 249,048

Best DX: G3XDY; JO02ob; 513km.

Mni tnx to Brian for providing this report.

See also Brian's 23cm entry in March 2020

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 WorldRadioHistory.com

Many thanks to Brian GM8BJF who has just reported finding a potentially very useful website: https://WorldRadioHistory.com which provides detailed links to a very large number of publications serving the Amateur, Broadcasting and Music interests. You can search for specific pages in the publications, from the first edition onwards.  

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Brian GM4DIJ has just received this from his friends in the SOC - Second-Class Operators Club:

From SOC mailing list
Temporary Ham Radio Q-Codes for our times:
QLD: I am locked down.
QUA: I am quarantined.
QPD: I am in the middle of a pandemic.
QTP: I have toilet paper. Want to trade for a new car?
QFC: I am flattening the curve.
QHG: I need a hug.
QSH: I am sheltering in place.
QHS: I have hand sanitizer. Want to trade for two new              cars?
QSD: I am observing social distancing.
QCV: I hate Coronavirus

Click for Special Instructions.

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MESSAGE FROM RSGB TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS

Dave Wilson, M0OBW, RSGB President, and Ian Shepherd, G4EVK, RSGB Board Chair have a message to radio amateurs.

“We hope that you all understand the very serious nature of the current health crisis. As you are now aware, the situation has dramatically worsened and we have all been ordered to stay at home unless travelling for a specific and unavoidable reason. As radio amateurs we are in the fortunate position of being able to talk to other amateurs and chat to those who are finding it tough going. Ian and I are asking you, as radio amateurs, to please do one thing for us: search out local amateurs and arrange a sked, not necessarily on air: there are many alternatives we can all use such as video calls, or even a simple phone call. Pay particular attention to those who you know or learn to be alone or who are vulnerable for whatever reason. We are all in this together! Keep safe.”

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Details

EFFECTIVE APRIL 01, 2020.

Amateur Radio operators are ordered to strictly observe the Coronavirus mitigation guidelines as they apply to amateur radio operating.

All ham radio operators are encouraged to stay at least 6 feet from the microphone in order to maintain proper separation from others.  The distance may be reduced if a mask is put on the microphone.

CW operators should wear appropriate gloves when handling keys.  Speakers should be securely covered with .01 micron particulate HEPA filters. 

There should be no more than 10 stations on the same frequency at the same time.

Disinfect your knobs, switches, etc before operating ... especially touch screens and PTT.  Shoe covers should be worn when using foot switches.  Use of hands-free VOX is strongly encouraged although from 6 feet away, it may be necessary to shout.

Disinfect all antenna cables coming into the station.

Only mobile stations and walkie-talkie contacts are permitted where sit-down service has been banned.   The 6 ft microphone separation guideline is suspended for these types of operation, but a mask on the microphone is strongly recommended.

Mobile operators are encouraged to remain in their vehicles except to get necessities.

Operators should leave their operating positions only for necessities.

Outdoor antenna work is allowed as long as there is social distancing among all who are present.

Hoarding of batteries, spare tubes, coax, etc. is discouraged and is unfair to others.  We are in this together.

New equipment and parts should be ordered online for front porch delivery.

Do not test (tune) your equipment unnecessarily. That is wasteful and inconsiderate. Testing should be reserved for those who actually need it.

Your understanding and cooperation in this matter is mandatory while particularly observing the Effective Date. 

(By NL7XM, received via N2BEG, Rochester NY).

Click for Special Instructions.

  1. 17 March 2020 - LRS MEETINGS POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
  2. 8 March 2020 - GM4DIJ 23cm DXpedition to Stranraer
  3. 11th March 2020 - How Not to Sail to the Faeroe Islands - Geoff Crowley MM5AHO
  4. 26 Feb 2020 - The Raspberry Pi Explained for Radio Amateurs - Video - Mike Richards G4WNC