Welcome to the Lothians Radio Society

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We again had 10 participants for Viral Net 34 on 25th November 2020, controlled by Colin GM4HWO: Mike GM8KCS, Pete GM4BYF, Brian GM8BJF, Peter GM4DTH, Melvyn GM4HYR, Alan GM3PSP, John GM8OTI, Briain GM8PKL, Brian GM4DIJ. Colin's new skylight was now fitted and he had put up two extra aerials including a folded dipole, now looking for rotators. Mike was working on his FT-817 and a car radio. Pete, a newbee to the technology, had several Raspberry-Pi projects. He would be giving a talk to the Wigtownshire ARS soon via Zoom and would try to make this available to LRS members. Brian BJF was only audible to some, not including your scribe! Pete reported that BJF was working on a spectrum analyzer, signal generator and a GPS unit. Peter had had  another QSO with Toby MM0TSS/M who will shortly be taking over the RSGB GB2RS reserve newsreader position in his area. Melvyn was skipping household jobs for the time being to work on a Raspberry-Pi project. He had found some photos of Leith Nautical College for the website. Alan had found his LRS website problem was due to his Chrome browser and had switched to Edge, also trying Firefox. He had just put up some interesting photos on the home page and was correcting menu issues with much help from John. John himself had local noise issues but was surviving. Briain would get back to his antenna work on the next calm day. He had found some great photos of work up a tower at Green Lowther in heavy icing conditions which he would supply for the website. Brian DIJ and Brian BJF had both been on the contest at the weekend but conditions had been very poor. DIJ had only worked 8 stations including 2 in IO83 and none on 13.9cm. There was a suggestion of holding an LRS meeting on ZOOM.   E&OE. Audio tnx Peter:

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The next LRS Viral Net #35 will be on Wed 2nd Dec at 20:00a on 144.350MHz SSB - all welcome!

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Ten participants took part in Viral Net 33 on 18th November 2020, controlled by Colin GM4HWO: Mike GM8KCS, Pete GM4BYF: Brian GM8BJF, Alan GM3PSP, Norrie GM1CNH, Peter GM4DTH, Brian GM4DIJ, Briain GM8PKL and John GM8OTI. Mike was working on his FT-817 which needs an ATU. His G5RV antenna needs a balun, but he was not planning any roof-climbing any more! Pete had recorded his choir's Christmas concert. UHF conditions were poor with only aircraft-scatter giving a QSO with G8CUL in IO91 (Oxfordshire). Pete's antenna had been rotated by the wind. He was due to present a talk to the Wigtonshire ARS on-line. Both Pete and Peter had some ideas to help the antenna situation of Bill GM8SQM who had had difficulty hearing some stations on this net. Colin's skylight had been fitted and he now hoped to put up new antennas. He was looking forward to his 60th birthday shortly. Brian BJF was audible by some but not all tonight. He was suffering from SM-PSU noise from his linear amp. Alan continued to work on the website but with a problem of spurious text being inserted at the bottom of articles. John and Andy were helping with this. Norrie had ordered a new vertical antenna for /P operation and was planning expeditions for next year. Peter was thanked by Alan for continuing to provide audio recordings of these nets. Brian DIJ had been in the microwave contest on Sunday and had worked Pete. Briain was hoping that his rotator would not cause problems for his (lawyer) neighbour next door!. He noted that the latest I-phones contained 14Bn chips! John reported that he had been following the recent Space-X launch. Audio tnx Peter:

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There were 8 participants in Viral Net 32 chaired by Colin GM4HWO on 11th November 2020: Peter GM4DTH, Briain GM8PKL, Pete GM4BYF, Alan GM3PSP, John GM8OTI, Mike GM8KCS and Brian GM4DIJ. Nothing heard from the Peebles direction. Peter reported on frequency calibration work he had been doing. Briain and Alan reported on meeting up in the wine aisle (where else?) at Morrisons supermarket. Pete and Kay were recovering from a week on the beach on the Island of Rhodos last week - it's tough, but somebody has to do it! Alan was continuing work with archival photos on the LRS website. Colin hoped to have the work completed on his skylight. Mike had repaired his G5RV antenna and had fitted a balun. He had seen a nice D/F Rx on eBay. Brian had been on CW and had been out running.

Audio tnx Peter:

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The next LRS Viral Net #33 will be on Wed 18th Nov at 20:00a on 144.350MHz SSB - all welcome!

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Colin GM4HWO was back in control at Viral Net 31 on 4th November with six participants: Briain GM8PKL, Peter GM4DTH, Mike GM8KCS, Alan GM3PSP & Brian GM4DIJ. Colin had been busy in his shack with his Pye equipment. Briain was still working on his new 2m antenna installation. Peter had had another QSO with Toby MM0TSS on a visit back to Edinburgh. Mike was working on his antennas and his boiler! Alan reported on the many archival photos from Peter, Norrie & David GM4ZNX (tnx) which he was preparing for the website - see list under "News" on this page. Brian was back from Stranraer. Audio tnx Peter:

 

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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).

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.

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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. 

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2020-12-02 GM3WOJ 3cm beacon (Invergordon) audio stream  is back. (tnx Brian GM8BJF).

GM3WOJ beacon received at GM8PKL (Braid Hills).

Click for Link to Audio.

Click for full story.

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2020-11-26 German Spy Set from Edinburgh (MoC)

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2020-11-21 Radio used on Mt. Everest in 1953.

This photo of the radio equipment used on the Mt. Everest expedition in 1953 appeared in the obituary of the later-transgender writer Jan Morris.

Photo c/o The Times.

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2020-11-20 Arecibo dish now completely collapsed.

 Photo c/o MIT Technology Review.

Further collapse on Dec 1st. Photo c/o The Telegraph

The gale-damage sustained by the 305m diameter dish in Puerto Rico (second largest in the world) has now led to its complete collapse after 57 years as the principal radio-telescope of SETI - Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence.

Click for U-Tube video. Tnx GM8BJF.

Click for Chinese 500m dish video. Tnx GM8OTI.

Click for video of final collapse. Tnx GM8OTI.

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

3. ITEMS FOR SALE  (Click item for details)

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

2020-11-21 November 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 

. 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