Welcome to the Lothians Radio Society

Details

The next LRS Viral Net, #54, will be on Wed 14th April at 20:00a on 144.350MHz SSB.

All welcome to call in!

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The participants in Net #53 on 7th April were: Colin GM4HWO (controller), Bernie GM4WZG (Dalgety Bay), Pete GM4BYF, Brian GM8BJF, Alan GM3PSP, Peter GM4DTH, Briain GM8PKL, Brian GM4DIJ, Mike GM8KCS, Melvyn GM4HYR, Bill GM8SQM, Norrie GM1CNH, Alan MM0VPM (Dalkeith)..  

Colin had been in touch with Peter Barclay again. We are a little short of numbers for the 2m contest on 14-15 May. Bernie was a welcome visitor from Fife. A former LRS member he has given at least one talk and is interested in re-joining. Pete's pump-up mast was not working, maybe due to ice problems. It may need to be replaced! On 2m last night the static was "dire" but he worked 25 stations including an "iffy" G4NBS in Cambridge. He had been contacted by GM4IFF about the 122GHz project. He relayed 73s from Brian BJF in Peebles who was not audible by everyone. Alan PSP bragged that he had just had his first haircut of the new era. He was working with Peter, and Veronica Saunders on the possibility of putting up Bob McFarlane's SOE talk on the website with the slides and audio recording. There was support for this from several others. Peter mentioned that a new GB2RS transmission had started at 12-noon from Borders-Chirnside. Briain was using his vertical antenna and had worked Fraser MM0EFI/P on Mona Gowan. Brain DIJ had worked 15 stations on 4m on Sunday including Phil G3TCU/P on CW in Surrey at 555km and others on aircraft scatter. On 2m last night he worked our good friend Nick G4KUX in Bishop Auckland. Mike was trying to repair his transverter. His NAG amplifier was now switching correctly. He had heard an AWACS RAF plane crossing the border to the south. He had also heard Ian GM3SEK in Wigton last night. Melvyn was hearing Bernie and Bill OK. His beam was back up and could be vertical or horizontal. Bill was glad to be back. He had also worked Nick G4KUX. Norrie was offering a talk on the new EMF regulations and calculations, hopefully in October. Alan MM0VPM was a welcome call-in from Dalkeith at the end. E&OE. Audio tnx Peter:

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Net #52 on 31st March had 11 participants: controller Colin GM4HWO, Alan GM3PSP, Pete GM4BYF, Briain GM8PKL, Mike GM8KCS, Melvyn GM4HYR, John GM8OTI, Peter GM4DTH, Brian GM4DIJ, Norrie GM1CNH.

Colin was working on radio maintenance and antennas. He had been contacted by Peter GM0PXV, a former member who wished to make contact again. He had helped John GM3BST-SK in his latter years in a care-home in Loanhead. Alan had put a note on the website about plans to operate GM3HAM in the 2m contest in May from our usual site at Gatehouse of Fleet. Pete was checking his 10GHz equipment for the new season and had found several problems. He might operate it from home in the contest. For the May 2m contest we should check the rules regarding post-codes. Briain would work on his antennas tomorrow. He hoped to work Bernie GM4WZG, 6-7 miles line-of-site from the Braids to Dalgety Bay in Fife on the higher frequencies. Last night he was 5&9 on a lamp. Mike had had a total disaster with his transverter for the NAG amplifier, with a dry joint and then a spider causing a short in the PA. Melvyn's VHF antenna was not yet up. He continued to work on his daughter's house-drains. (Some people have all the luck). He had done a nice walk at Dundas House near South Queensferry. John's PA was working OK. He had been doing mostly astronomical photography with the recent clear skies. Peter was testing his new headset. He had again worked Toby MM0TSS on QRP. For possible portable operation he recommended checking the availability of pubs and public toilets! He confirmed that the LRS donation had been made to the Museum of Communication. Brian had fitted a new mic lead. He had run a half-marathon on Monday and had been walking on Corstorphine Hill. He hoped to operate 3cm from home. including working BYF on the south side of Fairmilehead from Corstorphine by bouncing his signal off the Pentland Hills. Norrie had updated the data list for the 2m contest in May and could provide equipment. E&OE. Audio re-coded tnx Peter:

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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).

2021-04-01 ISS Astronaut Tim Peake will be speaking on My Journey to Space at the Usher Hall on November 11th. Tickets now on sale at the give-away prices of £27:50 and £33:00.

2021-03-31 144 MHz VHF May Contest 2021: LRS Contest Group GM3HAM is planning to go out on weekend 14-15-16 May 2021. A field has been booked for that weekend at Gatehouse of Fleet  - camping on site. 6 attendees so far. We are looking for people to attend especially to set up and dismantle the site. Contact Colin GM4HWO or via the GM3HAM reflector.

2021-04-17 MoC Goudie Lecture "TV Programmes we used to watch" by Roy Johnstone on Zoom.

2021-03-20 Cockenzie & Port Seton Mini-Rally on 13 Aug Cancelled.

2021-03-16  How long will an electric car’s battery last? (It depends)!

Photo courtesy wikipedia.com

2021-03-15 "HAMS" - film of Aberdeen ARS in 1961.

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2021-03-12 Union Chain Bridge - now under repair. 

            (Subject of LRS talk on 25 Sept 2019).

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LRS MEETINGS ARE POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE BUT WE DO HAVE OUR "LRS 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 each 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 usually on 145.575MHz. with several LRS members there.

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

2021-04-02 - SILENT KEY - Samuel Morse, on this date in 1872.

3. ITEMS FOR SALE  (Click item for details)

2021-04-03 For Sale by Dave GM6KGZ:

- Roberts Stream 65i Radio - £100

- Roberts Stream 218 Radio - £55

- Dave 6 Tel:  0131 539 2858

2021-04-03 For sale by Norrie GM1CNH (April List).

2021-03-31 For Sale by Colin GM4HWO:  150 MHz VHF 2m folded dipole with a 1.2 metre boom fully tested and fitted with a coaxial tail with N type socket ready to use - £15

2021-03-27 For sale by Dave GM6KGZ: 

  - MyDEL MP-304 MkII  30 Amp Linear PSU - £65

  - ICOM  HM-151 Remote Mic for IC-7100 - £25

  - Realistic  Pro  2042  Radio Scanner - £75

  - Tecsun PL-680 - Shortwave Radio - £75.

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   - Sony CMT-M333NT  Mini Hi-Fi - £60. (Click).

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2021-03-11  XIEGU QRP HF & 50 MHz Transceiver. P.out 0.1-5W. Built-in Auto ATU & 3.8Ah batt. - £275 - Dave GM6KGZ. 

4. ITEMS WANTED 

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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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