Welcome to the Lothians Radio Society

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Peter GM4DTH operating GS4WAB on 40m.

The Lothians Radio Society operated Special Event Station GS4WAB for the WAB Olympic Torch Event on Thursday 14th June 2012 from the QTH of Pete GM4BYF at Fairmilehead. Over 400 QSOs were made, principally on 40m. The Olympic Torch then continued its journey towards London for the opening of the Olympic Games on 27th August, with other local clubs hosting Special Event stations along the route. See Full Report with photographs of the LRS operators. 

Details of this event and the Follow the Torch award are available at:

http://wab.intermip.net/Follow%20The%20Torch%20Award.php

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The cunningly-hidden den of Fox GM4BYF.

The Lothians Radio Society held its annual Direction-Finding Competition (D/F Hunt) on Wednesday 23rd May 2012. Click for Full report.

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The GM3HAM/P UHF-Microwave Contesters 2012 planning strategy in the Gatehouse Conference Centre (aka the Masonic Arms)

Last weekend, 5th - 6th May 2012, members of the GM3HAM/P Contest Group of the Lothians Radio Society again took part in the RSGB UHF-Microwave Contest. Our location was on a hilltop above Gatehouse of Fleet in Kirkcudbrightshire where we have operated many times in the past. Conditions were good and so was the weather, although cold! Full report with many photographs soon.  

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The ZK2V QTH (Photo courtesy GM3WOJ / ZL1CT)

At the meeting of the Lothians Radio Society on Wednesday 9th May 2012, well-known Scottish DXer Chris Tran ZL1CT / GM3WOJ described his single-operator DXpedition to the island of Niue (OC-040) in the South Pacific from 21st October to 20th December 2011. Using the callsign ZK2V Chris made 35,686 QSOs from this rare DX entity. Report in preparation.

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Rob Ferguson GM3YTS (photo courtesy QRZ.com)

At the meeting of the Lothians Radio Society on 25th April 2012 Rob Ferguson GM3YTS, dedicated DXer and well-known as the Chairman of the GMDX Group, talked about the ARRL DX Century Club award (DXCC) and ARRL Logbook of the World (LOTW), the on-line system for QSLing contacts. As a bonus, Rob also described his DXpedition to Malawi as 7Q7GM. Full report.

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Andre's first QSL card as 5Z5KL in Kenya

At the meeting of the Lothians Radio Society on 11th April 2012 Andre Saunders GM3VLB talked about "Radioactivating East Africa in the 1960s/70s". Andre was accompanied by his wife, Veronica, who acted as projectionist. Report here.

Andre says: "The alternative title to my talk might be "From Scottish Crystals to Tanzanian Gemstones" - the 'Scottish Crystals' were the lumps of galena which allowed an 11-year old lad on the shores of Loch Lomond to detect the then Scottish Home Service 18 miles away, and eventually to become an active radio ham in Kenya, which had then just recently gained independence from its colonial masters. With my first licence - 5Z4KL - I became instantly 'rare DX', but when not looking for a "new one", there were unlimited opportunities  to operate /P and /M. To understand the reference to 'Tanzanian Gemstones', you'll just have to come to the talk! Veronica and I look forward to meeting up with old friends again on the 11th...Vy 73 de André, GM3VLB."

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John GM8OTI and his homebrew 23cm & 13cm transverters and yagis

At the meeting of the LRS on 28th March 2012 LRS Past-President Dr. John Cooke GM8OTI talked about "Homebrew Microwave Construction". John is an avid SOTA operator and has designed and constructed all his lightweight portable equipment, progressively moving up in frequency band, now on 13cm. When first licensed in 1978 John wanted to get into microwaves. After returning to the hobby a few years ago he's finally got there. John wants to convince others that building microwave equipment is nowhere near as difficult as some people like to make it sound! Report in Meeting Reports.

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Colin GM4HWO & Peter GM4DTH after their presentation.

At a most enjoyable meeting of the LRS on 14th March Colin Wright GM4HWO described the "Utility Radios" that were manufactured by a number of companies as affordable broadcast receivers for the home during World War II. Then Peter Dick GM4DTH showed film footage of broadcasting during the war and played a selection of recordings of BBC radio programmes of that era. Report with photographs in Meeting Reports, including some nice stills from the film material.

  1. 22nd Feb 2012 - Modifying PC PSUs for Radio Use by Brian Flynn GM8BJF
  2. Wed 8th Feb 2012 - Aurora Explained by Dr. David Gavine
  3. Wed 11th Jan 2012 - Video Evening - 'The Spies Who Lost the Battle of Britain'
  4. Wed 25th Jan 2012 - International Lighthouses Weekend 2011 by Geoff Crowley MM5AHO