Welcome to the Lothians Radio Society
6-8th July 2018 RSGB VHF NFD at Gatehouse of Fleet
- Details
- Written by Alan GM3PSP
The LRS GM3HAM Contest Group operated RSGB VHF-NFD from our usual contest site near Gatehouse of Fleet on the weekend of 6-8 July. The Wx was outstanding and excellent scores were achieved.
The results were announced on 16th August, with GM3HAM/P winning the Restricted Section (Martlesham Trophy) and Leading GM (Cockenzie Quaich). We also won both the 50MHz and 70MHz band awards.
Submitted scores (Restricted Section):
6m: 95 QSOs 40,576 pts 9A5ST @ 1946 km.
4m: 105 QSOs 39,025 pts EA8DBM @ 3127 km
2m: 244 QSOs 77,654 pts F6KCP/P @ 839 km
23cm: 30 QSOs 9,623 pts PA0S @ 657 km
Click for RSGB List.
And of course we spent the Friday evening enjoying dinner and diet lemonade in the Masonic Arms.
Wed 23rd May 2018 - Direction Finding Contest - GM3HAM/P
- Details
- Written by Alan GM3PSP
Competitors at the start of the 2018 D/F Hunt
The LRS Direction Finding Contest (D/F Hunt) was held 23rd May. Fox station GM3HAM/P on 1.875MHz AM was operated by Peter Dick GM4DTH.
A new competitor was James Gentles GM4WZP.
The fox station was located in woods near Cramond and was found first by Melvyn Bond GM4HYR at 21:06 and then by Mike Brunsdon Sr GM8KCS and Mike Jr MM3MDB at 21:11. Afterwards we all repaired to the Cramond Inn. Click for Full Report and photographs.
Wed 13th June 2018 Annual General Meeting
- Details
- Written by Alan GM3PSP
The AGM of the Lothians Radio Society was held in the Braid Hills Hotel on Wednesday 13 June 2018.
Brian Flynn GM8BJF elected President, Mike Burgess MM0MLB Hon Sec, Peter Dick GM4DTH Treasurer.
Elected committee members: Pete Bates GM4BYF, Andy Sinclair MM0FMF and James Gentles GM4WZP.
SUBSCRIPTIONS: Treasurer Peter Dick GM4DTH reported that the club's finances were healthy and recommended that the subscription should remain at £20 for adults and £10 for scholars. This was agreed.
FUTURE MEETINGS: President Brian Flynn GM8BJF asked members to volunteer to give talks to continue our very successful program.
Wed 9th May 2018 - Amateur Deep Space Reception - RSGB 2017 Convention Lecture by Paul Marsh M0EYT (Video)
- Details
- Written by Alan GM3PSP
LRS President Brian Flynn GM8BJF presented the video of the RSGB 2017 Convention lecture "Amateur Deep Space Reception" by Paul Marsh M0EYT at the meeting on 9th May 2018. Summary:
When in January Scott Tilley VE7TIL/VA7LF discovered a signal coming from the "dead" IMAGE satellite, Paul Marsh M0EYT gave the first independent confirmation.
In this video Paul Marsh, M0EYT gives an introduction to deep space mega-DX, the equipment needed and the techniques used to identify extremely weak signals coming from human-made space probes in various parts of our solar system. X-Band (8.4GHz) is the primary band of discussion but Paul also talks briefly about S and Ka reception equipment and antennas.
You can receive signals from spacecraft in excess of 1 billion km with a modest size dish in your garden. If you have an interest in EME or microwave weak signal reception, Amateur DSR can help you push the limits of what is possible with home-built equipment.
Click for full report with link to RSGB video.
Wed 25th April 2018 - Using Chinese ADF4351 & ADF5355 PLL Boards as Microwave Signal Sources - Brian Flynn GM8BJF
- Details
- Written by Alan GM3PSP
Brian Flynn GM8BJF talked about Using Chinese ADF4351 and ADF5355 PLL Boards as Microwave Signal Sources at the meeting on 25th April. He writes:
"Recently PCBs have become available from different Chinese internet outlets which have Analog Devices ADF4350/1 ADF5355 PLL ICs on them. The ADF4351 boards are available for prices starting at about £30 and the ADF5355 about £55 which is about the one off price for the chips in the UK. The chips have Microwave VCOs incorporated in them. The ADF4351 covers 35 MHz to 4.4 GHz and the ADF5355 covers 54 MHz to 13.6 GHz. Clearly these are very useful as microwave signal sources for our purposes. They cover all of our bands up to 19 GHz and can be multiplied further to our higher bands. As always every silver lining has a cloud and this talk will address some of the issues in using these devices and how to get best performance they are capable of from them". Full Report & ppt slides.
Wed 11th April 2018 - "Spring" Surplus Equipment Sale
- Details
- Written by Alan GM3PSP
The LRS "Spring" Surplus Equipment Sale on 11th April at St Fillan's Church was well attended. Most of the items were sold, with 10% donation to club funds.
A moment of merriment in an otherwise serious evening!
Wed 28 Mar 2018 - Wilderness Radio - Paul Gacek W6PNG
- Details
- Written by Alan GM3PSP
Paul at Dante's View, Black Mountains, CA.
We were delighted to welcome Paul Gacek W6PNG and his XYL from Laguna Beach, CA as the speaker at our meeting on 28th March 2018. Paul is a SOTA friend of Andy MM0FMF to whom our thanks for arranging this talk. Originally from London, and now splitting his time between CA and Berwick-on-Tweed, Paul talked about "Wilderness radio in the Western US with an emphasis more on photos than any kind of tutorial" and showed many photos of the beautiful places he has operated from. Click for Paul's blog.
Click for Full report with photos.
Wed 14th March 2018 - Microwave Antenna Testing - John McCormick, Leonardo
- Details
- Written by Alan GM3PSP
(Photo of a similar installation)
John McCormick from Leonardo Airborne & Space Systems gave a talk about the Compact Antenna Test Range (CATR) at Crewe Toll, Edinburgh, at the meeting on 14th March.
CATR is a dual-reflector test facility enclosed in a 24m x 14m x 8m anechoic chamber. It makes measurements of antenna performance from 500MHz to 40GHz.
Click for full Powerpoint presentation.
John McCormick
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