Welcome to the Lothians Radio Society

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LRS President Brian Flynn GM8BJF was the speaker at the meeting on 23 Jan 2019 when he gave two talks:

1. Modern Roll-Your-Own PCBs.

Brian stressed that the messy days of etching your own PCBs with ferric chloride were now history! He described how high quality PCBs can be bought from numerous suppliers in China, and the procedures to be used when ordering them. Click for Full Slide-Show.

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2. Receiving the Es'hail-2 Geostationary Satellite

Photo credit: Es'hailSat

In his second talk, Brian showed how to receive the recently-launched AMSAT Es'hail-2 geostationary satellite. He has been receiving the 10 GHz transponder output at his QTH in Peebles and has established that it can be done with quite simple gear. As it is planned to be operational for 20 years in its geostationary orbit it could have quite an influence on amateur radio and be readily accessible.

Rx set-up: 60cm Sat TV dish, PLL LNB & SDR dongle.

Click for Full Slide-Show.

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Photo - courtesy Mike MM0MLB.

After meeting first at the Booking Office on Waverley Bridge, the LRS 2018 Christmas Curry was held on 12th December at the new venue of the Gurkha Café & Restaurant in Cockburn St where we had a very enjoyable Nepalese meal. 

 

In the Booking Office bar beforehand, we were joined by Robin GM4YPL and his XYL.

L-R: Veronica Saunders, Andy MM0FMF, Robin GM4YPL & XYL, Andre GM3VLB

Click for full report with many more photos.

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Peter Dick GM4DTH again hosted the LRS Video Evening. It was held on 9th January 2019 as usual at the Edinburgh Cine & Video Society in Fettes Row.

The title of the show was "The Dish on the Dish" a comprehensive record of the first moon-landing, from President Kennedy's decision for Americans to be the first to land on the moon, to the successful completion of the Apollo-11 mission in 1969 with the three astronauts' safe return to earth.

Click for Full Report with stills from the video.

 

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At the meeting on 28th November 2018, LRS President Brian Flynn GM8BJF presented the videos of two talks given at recent RSGB National Conventions.

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(1) 3000 + km QSOs on 2m by Tropo & MS  

by John Regnault  G4SWX  ~ 45 mins

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(2) Home Design and Construction 

by Bob Burns G3OUU   ~  30 mins

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Click for full report and links to both videos.

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At the meeting of the LRS on Wed 14th Nov 2018 Prof Joe McGeough of Edinburgh University talked about 'Why Churchill Waged R.V. Jones' "Most Secret War".

During his darkest hours Prime Minister Winston Churchill turned to a young scientist, R V Jones, still in his twenties, to explain how enemy bombers were able to carry out precision bombing over Britain at night even when the skies were covered in clouds, and to find a solution. Using information from Bletchley Park and the Enigma machine there Jones provided the answers. It was the start of a close working relationship between the elderly statesman and the young scientist. Later in the war Jones devised “ Window “ using Aluminium foil to confuse the enemy radar during the D Day landings. 

Click for Full Report.

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LRS Members James Gentles GM4WZP and Andy Sinclair MM0FMF did an audience brainstorming session on the design of a portable antenna for 13cm.

Members of the LRS again organized the Scottish Microwave Round Table on 3rd November 2018 at the Museum of Communication in Burntisland. This enjoyable event, chaired by Martin Hall GM8IEM, was attended by 34 from all over the UK and there were 19 at the dinner afterwards in the Kingswood Hotel, with an auction by Roger Blackwell GM4PMK.

1. 3cm Beacon Update - David Anderson GM6BIG.

2. NI Beacon Cluster - Gordon Curry GI6ATZ

3. Deep Space Project - John Cooke GM8OTI

4. 13cm SOTA Update - Andy Sinclair MM0FMF

5. Crowd Design of a 13cm Portable Antenna - James Gentles GM4WZP and Andy Sinclair MM0FMF

LRS President Brian Flynn GM8BJF (R) presented the GMRT Construction Trophy to Peter Howson GM8GAX (Alloa) for his reflectometer for 70cm, 23 cm & 13 cm.

Full report with many photos on the GMRT website now.

 

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SWR bridge circuit discussion

At the meeting on 24th October David Stockton GM4ZNX (our resident radio genius) attempted to answer any (radio) questions that members were brave enough to ask. Click for Report.

Log-Periodic Antenna characteristics.

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In addition, the two trophies won by the LRS GM3HAM Contest Group in RSGB VHF NFD 2018 in July were on display - the Martlesham Trophy & Cockenzie Quaich. A group photograph was taken of the GM3HAM/P operators present, holding the trophies. Alan GM3PSP, Pete GM4BYF, Brian GM4DIJ.

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The LRS Autumn 2018 Surplus Equipment Sale was held on 17th October at St Fillan's Church, Buckstone. There was a good turnout and lots of ju.. surplus equipment was sold.

 

The sale included many items from Silent Key John Royston Buchanan GM8BYF. 

Click for photos.

 

  1. 26 Sept 2018 - 'The X-Factor' - Karl Weibye - joint meeting at Museum of Communication, Burntisland
  2. 12th Sept 2018 - Presidential Address - Personal Beacons - Brian Flynn GM8BJF
  3. 1-2 Sept 2018 - 2m Trophy at Gatehouse of Fleet
  4. Wed 4th July 2018 - LRS Summer Barbecue