Welcome to the Lothians Radio Society

Details

Colin GM4HWO was the controller for Viral Net #41 on 13th January 2021 with participants: Melvyn GM4HYR, Mike GM8KCS, Pete GM4BYF, Alan GM3PSP, Brian GM4DIJ, and Peter GM4DTH.

Colin had a quiet birthday the previous week with his younger son, Callum. He continues to sell old valves for amazing prices, e.g. a total of 3 for £550 to China. He had had a visit from Brian GM8BJF from Peebles. Melvyn was still busy fitting out his daughter's new house. Mike mentioned a nasty cycle crash he had seen on the closed section of Braid Road in icy conditions. He had links to 3 videos of amusing car servicing jobs which he would share via the LRS e-mail reflector. He mentioned an upcoming AM rally on HF. Pete had made 24 QSOs on the 70cm contest including M0SAT in Watford on aircraft scatter. Best Dx was G4ZTR in Colchester at 515km. He also continued to sell valves from GM3HOQ-SK and GM3VLB-SK. With the snowy Wx he was busy changing his car to snow tyres. He suggested we should be using the club callsign GM3HAM whenever possible. He noted that the currently-advertised anti-radiation mobile phone stickers were useless! Alan had posted an article on the demise of Ferranti on the website but then removed it as the content was all business with nothing technical! He had posted two SKs on the website: John Hein GM1YME and Eric Lamb of L.N.C.. Otherwise he was trying to tidy his pig-stie of a radio shack. Brian congratulated Colin on his 60th, noting that he had passed his already, equal to that of Jack GM6XI-SK when he first knew him! With the current Wx he was not doing much running but had managed 8km on Monday. He had made 12 QSOs in the 70cm contest including GI6ATZ near Belfast but any aircraft scatter bursts were too short to be useful. He had got a spectacular view of the recent aurora overhead by going to Currie.  Peter had listened to the 70cm contest with his new headphones. E&OE.

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The next LRS Viral Net, #42, will be on Wed 20th Jan at 20:00h on 144.350MHz SSB.

All welcome to call in!

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There were only 5 participants in Net 40 on 6th December, the first in the New Year of 2021, but they managed to fill the whole hour of the net!: Pete GM4BYF (Controller), Briain GM8PKL, Mike GM8KCS, Melvyn GM4HYR & Brian GM4DIJ. Apologies from Alan GM3PSP & Peter GM4DTH - ("don't ask" x2), and Colin GM4HWO who was celebrating his 60th birthday.

Briain had been busy installing smoke alarms and would be assembling his 2m beam (in his lounge) the following day to fit to his new pole. See photos on his QRZ.com page. Mike had been active on a 60m net. Attempts at repairing hand-portables had resulted in several being dumped. He had heard the Irish 2m beacon tonight at S5. He had seen several people at West Linton who had been skiing on the Pentlands. Melvyn continued to work on his daughter's new house including installing central heating radiators. He noted that new smoke detectors were now wireless, greatly simplifying the new legal requirement for them to be linked together. Others also discussed this. Melvyn suggested a virtual junk sale (!) and mentioned a digital warbling noise on 2m - probably the GB7DE digital repeater in Edinburgh on 145.6375MHz - psp. Brian had been busy repairing things - his old soldering iron and his FT-847 which had lost its 15m band function. On the 2m contest last night his best DX was G8REQ on the Wirral, worked via aircraft scatter. Pete commented on ice problems including when he had to deliver music sheets over 8km in Musselburgh. On smoke detectors he mentioned new batteries which were predicted to last 10 years. On 2m he had worked 26 stations, the best DX being G8CUL in Didcot, Oxon. The GD beacon was very strong through Allermuir Hill!! To avoid rotator noise he recommended earthing the rotator case to the pole. Brian recalled a frog being put in Colin's sleeping bag at Field Day many years ago. The weather, especially the ice had limited his running recently but he had been out once or twice.  Having just received a new computer and monitor he now had to transfer all the software from his old machine. He would be participating in the Wigtownshire club net on Zoom tomorrow. Pete wound up the net mentioning difficuties replacing surface-mount components. He now used a digital microscope to see what he was doing! He was also concerned that the days of cheap Chinese components might be over with post-Brexit customs duty and VAT being payable and a customs declaration label required for each item..

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For reports and recordings of previous nets, see 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).

2021-01-17 WWI Secret Listeners video BBC

LRS MEETINGS ARE POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE BUT WE DO HAVE OUR "VIRAL NET" EACH WEDNESDAY AT 8-9pm ON 144.350MHz SSB. (Reports on this page).    ALL WELCOME.

And if you miss it, each net is recorded by Peter GM4DTH. Click on link at the bottom of the report.

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Don't forget the RSGB GB2RS NEWS BROADCAST is available every Sunday morning in the Edinburgh area at 09:30h from LRS member Peter GM4DTH on 70.425MHz FM, 145.525MHz FM, 433.525MHz FM, followed by call-in to Peter at 10:00h on 145.575MHz. Usually several LRS members there.

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

2021-01-06 SK - Eric Lamb, Ship's Radio Officer & Marine Radiocommunication Lecturer, Bonnyrigg.

- Click for EEN obituary.

- Click for link to full SK by Colin GM4HWO

- Click for link to his LRS lecture on 22 Jan 2014.

- Funeral webcast link Wed 20th Jan @ 11am

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2020-12-23 SK - John Hein GM1YME, Edinburgh.

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3. ITEMS FOR SALE  (Click item for details)

2021-01-09 Free to a good home but must be collected from (EH12) QTH of Norrie GM1CNH: IC-7000 user manual ; AT-150 user manual.

2020-12-30  December List - Norrie GM1CNH

- 2021-01-01 Diamond MX-3000 Triplexer added.

2020-12-11  Elecraft K2 CW Transceiver - £325 ono - Andy MM0FMF

2020-12-11  Maplin N27GG Lab PSU - £45 & Lucas LSL C22 Sealed 12V Battery - £45 - Dave GM6KGZ

2020-12-07  Fluke 115 True RMS Multimeter, original packaging - £100 - Dave GM6KGZ

2020-12-04  Tecsun  PL-680  Multi-Band Portable Radio - £75 - Dave GM6KGZ. 

4. ITEMS WANTED 

5. NEW ON LRS WEBSITE 

    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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Details



 

                                         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. 

John G4BAO has credited Brian and Pete with the GM-G "First" in his GHz Bands page (64) in the November 2020 RadCom & link to Brian's webpage.

     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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Details

 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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Details

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