Archive of old radio news posted on the LRS website
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- Written by Alan GM3PSP
- Hits: 209
31 Aug 2023 - Mission to raise Titanic's radio from Atlantic seabed. (Click)
(Times sub needed to open).
RMS Titanic Inc, the US company that holds the salvage rights, plans to send a remotely-operated vehicle into the ship's interior to recover objects from the Marconi radio room.
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28 July 2023 - Date set for satellite to fall to Earth in landmark re-entry attempt - Click.
Aeolus satellite photo c/o ESA.
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Tuesday 17 July 2023 7:30pm
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5 July 2023 - RADIO AMATEURS 'HACK' NASA SPACECRAFT: NASA's STEREO-A spacecraft is approaching Earth for a close encounter in August. Ham Radio operators have intercepted signals from it and decoded great images of the sun. Click for full story
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Sunday 2 July 2023 SAQ Grimeton on 17.2kHz Alexanderson Day.
Click for interesting website.
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Tues 20 June 2023 - 7:30pm - MoC Goudie Lecture - Treasure Islands
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29 May 2023 - BBC to close Radio 4 198kHz Long Wave in March 2024.
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16 May 2023 - MOC Goudie Lecture
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15 APR 2023 - RSGB JOCK KYLE TROPHY awarded to GMRT organizing committee.
It was presented to Andy Sinclair MM0FMF, on behalf of the Scottish Microwave Round Table committee, on 15th April 2023 at the GMDX Convention at Bannockburn. Photo: GMDX.
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13 Apr 2023 - SOLAR MAX MIGHT ARRIVE EARLY: Evidence is mounting that Solar Cycle 25 might peak much earlier than expected. New research by a leading group of solar physicists predicts maximum sunspot activity in late 2023 or early 2024 with a peak that could be twice as strong as the previous solar cycle.
Image c/o Spaceweather.com.
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13 April 2023 - RSGB Election
Candidates - Ben Lloyd GW4BLM, Paul Nicholls, M0PVN & Len Paget GM0ONX. CVs, personal statements & interviews at:-
http://www.rsgb.org/main/agm-2023/candidate-video-interviews-and-personal-statements/
Vote on-line at:
http://www.rsgb.org/main/agm-2023/cast-your-vote/ until 9:00 on 13 April 2023.
Security code part 1 is your membership number. Part 2 is the first four digits of your callsign.
Please take the time and effort to cast your vote and show your support of the RSGB. The internet voting service CLOSES at 9am on 13 April 2023.
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11 April 2023 - MOC Goudie Lecture.
18 March 2023 - MOC Goudie Lecture
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6 Mar 2023: BBC Scotland Centenary celebrated by Radio Amateurs from Glasgow - click. (Jack GM4COX of WoSARS at centre rear).
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24 Feb 2023 - "Secret Cinema Hidden in Edinburgh Basement Flat".
Photo c/o BBC.
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13 Feb 2023 - SAQ Grimeton on 17.2kHz on World Radio Day.
SAQ was received by Brian GM4DIJ & Peter GM4DTH.
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11 February 2023 - MOC Goudie Lecture:
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28 Jan 2023 - Half-page article "Ham Radio tunes in to a new Generation" on p.39 of Times of 28 Jan 2023. It features well-known Martin G3ZAY, & Nikolas M0IPY.
Photo c/o Times.
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27 Jan 1926 - History: first demonstration of "real" Television by John Logie Baird.
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21 Jan 2023 - Colin GM4EAU in RadCom
The Feb 2023 issue of Radcom p.16 has a column by our committee member Colin Murray GM4EAU on his winning the RSGB Construction Competition, Software, with "WATT - a WSPR Analysis & Traffic Tool".
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7 Jan 1904 - History: CQD distress call was introduced. CQ meant "seek you" with D for "danger". Replaced by SOS in 1906.
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6 Jan 1838 - History: Samuel Morse demonstrated his electric telegraph.
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1st January 2023 - Happy New Year from a friend of Brian GM4DIJ.
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- Written by Alan GM3PSP
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24 Dec 2022 - SAQ Grimeton Christmas Eve transmission on 17.2kHz CANCELLED due to Covid Infections among crew. Click for SAQ news.
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07 Dec 1931 - HISTORY: Coaxial cable was invented on this date.
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23 Nov 2022 - Lancaster bomber cockpit reconstructed, including R1155 & T1154.
Photo c/o Daily Mail
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22 Nov 1906 - HISTORY: The international CW emergency signal SOS was adopted on this date. ( ... --- ... )
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15 Nov 2022 - Peter GM4DTH received his first MF Amateur Radio beacon SA6RR, Sweden, on 478.94kHz.
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Sat 10 Dec 2022 - MOC Goudie Lecture:
' A Big Idea: A Thread Across the Ocean”.
22 Nov 1906 - HISTORY:
The international CW emergency signal SOS was adopted on this date.
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16 Nov 2022 - Radio Amateurs will track Artemis-1 Moon Mission.
Photo c/o NASA. Click for story.
LATEST: Artemis 1 was launched on 16 Nov 2022.
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14 Nov 2022 - TOM STEVENSON INTERVIEW ON BBC RADIO ORKNEY
MoC Chairman, Prof Tom Stevenson, was interviewed via Zoom by BBC Radio Orkney. One of their staff, Huw Williams, had attended his lecture at the Orkney International Science Festival in September and wanted to include some of the material in a special local programme that they are preparing to celebrate the BBC centenary. It will last for an hour and will go out at 18:00h on Monday 14 November. You can listen live at:
Sunday 30th Oct 2022 - Galashiels Rally
Volunteer Hall, St John Street, 11:00 GMT (Change clocks)!
New book at SBRG stall: £10.00. "Border Radio Pioneers & WW2"
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28 Oct 2022 - CONGRATULATIONS
to Charlie Duncan GM6MUZ
Coordinator of the Lothians RAYNET Group, who has been awarded the RSGB RAYNET Cup 2022 "for his meticulous preparation, co-ordination & dedication to duty on behalf of the Scottish team of RAYNET members on Operation Unicorn". (Procedures following Queen's death at Balmoral Castle).
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22 Oct 2022 - GMRT-2022 at MoC, Burntisland.
Lecture Program:
Roger Blackwell GM4PMK: "EME from the Hebrides - an Update 10 years on".
Brian Howie GM4DIJ: "OpenEMS for Microwaves".
The GM4LBV Projects Trophy - judges Ian White GM3SEK & David Stockton GM4ZNX.
Malcolm Hamilton GM3TAL: "Microwaves - theory & practice or 5 different ways to cook eggs".
Pete Bates GM4BYF: "122GHz Operations & Experiences".
21 Oct 2022 - ARCHIVES:
Here is a photo from 1987 which has been rediscovered recently:
Kay Bates GM6KAY (R) (XYL Pete GM4BYF) with Mary G6BID running the stand of BYLARA (British Young Ladies Amateur Radio Association) at the RSGB Birmingham NEC exhibition in 1987.
(Ham Radio Today, June 1988).
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15 Oct 2022 - MoC Goudie Lecture - Music Synthesisers by Paul Mauchline.
Lecture followed by lunch. Also on Zoom. Pre-booking essential.
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7-9 Oct 2022 - RSGB 2022 Convention at Milton Keynes.
Live and with streamed lectures.
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8 Sep 2022 - Aurora as seen from Space - click.
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3 Sept 2022 RSGB 2m Trophy
Congrats to LRS member Brian GM4DIJ who came 3rd out of 17 in the 6h Open Section.
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23 Aug 2022 - Aurora on Jupiter:
Jupiter has aurora too. James Webb telescope.
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8 Aug 2022 - Alan Dimmick GM0USI featured in Times article about his latest photo exhibition about Glasgow.
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27 July 2022 - MOC Lecture by Dr Tom Stevenson.
13 July 2022 - WRTH-2022 will be the last.
The 2022 edition of World Radio & TV Handbook will be the last to be published.
(Tnx Colin GM4HWO).
21 June 2022 - MoC Goudie Lecture - 'The Origins of British Broadcasting' by John Blackie.
12 June 2022 - One Acorn Too Many! (Tnx Briain GM8PKL)
5 June 2022 - SOTA on BBC-1 Countryfile on Sunday 5th June at 6:00pm. (Tnx GB2RS)
31 May 2022 - New-Style RSGB RadCom Basics is available online to all. (Click).
20-22 May 2022 - DAYTON HAMVENTION & USAF MUSEUM - Brian GM8BJF was there!
Space Shuttle at USAF Museum
Click for report with many photos.
18 May 2022 - Transatlantic Tests Centenary
Click to view RSGB YouTube video (12 mins).
14 May 2022 - MoC Goudie Lecture 'Development of the Cavity Magnetron' by Prof. Peter Grant.
8 May 2022 - 11:00-16:00 UTC+01:00 - RSGB May Microwave Contest at Lauder Common. GM3HAM/P was operated on 432MHz by Norrie GM1CNH & Peter GM4DTH. MF Rx for Aircraft NDBs. Organizer: Norrie GM1CNH.
Weds & Sats, 11:00-16:00h. Entrance free. Donations welcomed.
Final preparations. Courtesy MoC.
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26 Apr 2022 - CONGRATULATIONS - LRS member Colin Murray GM4EAU has won the RSGB CONSTRUCTORS' CONTEST 2022 (Software Section) with his WATT software (WSPR Analysis & Traffic Tool). There were 30 entries in the Constructors' Contest. Click for full LRS website article, including RSGB certificate. Colin talked on this subject to the LRS on 10th Nov 2021 - Ciick. At the LRS AGM on 8th June 2022 it was proposed that Colin be awarded the LRS Osprey Trophy for this achievement. The Feb 2023 issue of RadCom p.16 carried an article by Colin about his award.
24 Apr 2022 - Norbreck (Blackpool) Rally
Details: https://narsa.org.uk/
2022-04-20 - Wanted - R1155 Receiver, any condition, for restoration project. Ian Sheffield GM3VEI (Dunbar). Via GM3PSP.
9 Apr 2022 - MOC Goudie lecture "Pirates!" by James Gentles GM4WZP (LRS).
9 Apr 2022 - GMDX Convention, King Robert Hotel, Bannockburn. Face-to-face, not Zoom. Hope to video-record talks.
Photo courtesy Times. UA1XYZ/M ?
10 Mar 2022 - MOC-2022 Exhibition - Celebrating 100 Years of Broadcasting - in preparation.
After the two-year enforced closure of the Burntisland based MOC museum, we are planning to open a new free public exhibition from May. The exhibition will mark an important anniversary in the history of radio and TV broadcasting.
In 2022, British broadcasting has entered its centenary year, marking both 100 years since the first experimental scheduled broadcasts were made in the UK and the start of the BBC - the world’s oldest national broadcaster. It will also register our presence back in the community and town etc.
The Museum’s 2022 exhibition will be in the Museum at 131 High Street, Burntisland (KY3 9AA). The exhibition will feature a 100 year Broadcasting timeline running from 1922 to 2022 highlighting famous radio and TV programmes and events illustrated by items from our collection- crystal set radios, valve wirelesses to TV cameras, recalling the great moments in broadcasting history, events of the day and other memorabilia. Hopefully we can set up a broadcast demonstration for young people to enjoy and illustrate some of the technical aspects of the history of broadcasting. We also want to show how broadcasting has evolved into today’s world of on-line streaming, smart-phones and HDTV. There will be an additional exhibit covering Royal Broadcasting in this Queens Platinum Jubilee year.
Everyone will be welcome to come in to see the exhibition -normally on Wednesdays and Saturdays over May to September. There will be no charge for entrance to the exhibition. The museum is a registered charity and run only by volunteers.
We need volunteers to take part in a rota to cover the opening periods .
Please pass on your details to me if you a happy to help during the opening, May to Sept.
If anyone would like more information please contact myself, John Blackie by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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01 Mar 2022 - Mni tnx to Colin Murray GM4EAU who is now routinely arranging Zoom availability of LRS meetings, and recordings.
23 Feb 2022 - There will be NO ASRA (Glasgow) Rally in 2022.
22 Feb 2022 - Barnton Secret Bunker museum approved. (No opening date yet).
11 Feb 2022 - The Story of EZNEC Antenna Modelling Software - Roy Lewallen W7EL, courtesy WARC. Click for recording.
09 Feb 2022 - SpaceX - geomagnetic storm just doomed 40 Starlink internet satellites.
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- Written by Alan GM3PSP
- Hits: 1388
2021-12-24 SAQ Grimeton on 17.2 kHz from 07:30 UTC.
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2021-11-19 GB3RMK 6m Beacon Back on Air.
QTH IO77rm Muir of Ord (GM3WOJ)
50.002 & 50.460MHz: 20W dipole beaming N/S.
See QRZ.com entry for keying schedule.
Rprts to GM3WOJ via beaconspot or DX Summit.
(Tnx LRS Brian GM8BJF - beacon builder).
2021-11-10 WSPR may aid search for missing MH370 airliner. This will be included in GM4EAU's talk on Nov 10th. Click for article scan.
2021-11-06 RSGB Convention Videos now on-line.
2021-11 L(A)RS 75th Anniversary - formerly the Edinburgh & Lothians Section of the RSGB, the Lothians Amateur Radio Society was founded in November 1946 (exact date not known) at a meeting at the Chamber of Commerce, 25 Charlotte Square Edinburgh. President: T. H. Nisbet; Secretary: George Millar GM3UM. RSGB A.R.: Jack Wilson GM6XI. (Click for full article).
2021-11 Scottish Microwave Round Table - GMRT - postponed to 2022
Taking a leaf from the Olympics book - the 2021 GMRT unfortunately won't be able to go ahead, but there's every intention of it running in 2022.
It's not just Covid; the Museum of Communication lecture area is undergoing a major roof replacement, and the venue is unlikely to be useable by November 2021.
It is anticipated that this year Covid would impact the numbers attending; we need at least 40 people to make the event viable at £10 per head. In addition, Covid is likely to impact the ability to secure speakers who are willing to travel to the event, so setting up a suitable programme would be a major challenge.
We really do hope to see the event happening in 2022, and look forward to seeing you there.
- John GM8OTI.
2021-10-24 Galashiels Rally Cancelled.
2021-10-24 SAQ Grimeton UN-Day tx on 17.2kHz:
2021-10-13 Plans to open Barnton Secret Nuclear Bunker to the public.
Photo courtesy Edinburgh Evening News
2021-10-09 MOC Goudie Lecture:
2021-10-08 LRS 10GHz Activity (tnx John GM8OTI):
Five club members, Tom Melvin GM8MJV, Pete Bates GM4BYF, Brian Howie GM4DIJ, Brian Flynn GM8BJF and John Cooke GM8OTI had a lot of fun on 10GHz on Friday 8th Oct - such a number of 10GHz QSOs probably not seen in GM for a while.
Tom went to Pete's to check his new 10GHz gear, then we managed various QSOs: DIJ and BYF at home, MJV on the garage roof at BYF's QTH, BJF on the B7007 south of Middleton, and OTI at the car park up at Swanston on the Pentlands.
2021-10-02 WSPR may aid search or missing MH370 airliner.
2021-09-25 - Poles cracked Enigma Code first.
Photo courtesy BBC News.
2021-09-21 - Congratulations to Pete GM4BYF and Brian GM4DIJ - celebrating 50 years continuous RSGB membership - RadCom Oct 2021.
2021-09-16 - Lunar Pathfinder - the first UK satellite to go to the Moon in 2024. Tnx Colin GM4HWO.
Lunar Pathfinder.
2021-09-11 MOC Goudie Lecture Quintinshill 1915 by David W Brown. (Zoom).
2021-08-02 Quantum: Flagship UK telecoms satellite launches. (Tnx Colin GM4HWO).
2021-07-18 B2 Spy Set, BBC Antiques Roadshow. Estimated value £10,000 to £15,000.
Click to view (go to about 52mins). Courtesy BBC.
2021-07-17 MoC Goudie Zoom Lecture Star-Gazing with Stephen Hawking by Prof. Joe McGeough, University of Edinburgh.
2021-07-14 Noctilucent Clouds by Peter GM4DTH.
2021-07-04 SAQ Annual Alexanderson Day Transmission on 17.2kHz
Not bad for 17.2kHz !
2021-07-01 GM6SR's Top-Band Crystal (click for full SK article.
2021-06-23
Yes, we've given up CW here.
2021-06-19 MoC Goudie Lecture The Fishwives of Fisherrow by Simon Fairnie of Musselburgh Museum.
2021-06-09 Barnton Quarry Nuclear Bunker given Category A Listed Building Status.
Photo courtesy EEN.
2021-05-23 - RSGB Videos on YouTube.
2021-05-23 RSGB video: 2020, a year like no other.
2021-05-22 Sunspot causes blackouts up to 20MHz.
2021-05-21 Scientists find source of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) being sent to earth.
2021-05-15 MOC Goudie Lecture by Prof.C. Withers - Mapping Scotland's Islands.
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2021-05-10 NASA spacecraft hears ‘hum’ outside our solar system.
2021-05-04 Military Morse code experience helps elderly couple bust out of assisted living facility!
2021-04-30 New 6m Beacon GB3RMK at Rosemarkie, installed by Brian GM8BJF of LRS. The beacon is now back on the air on new frequency of 50.460MHz, running 80mW QRP. It idents on FSK, CW & PI4. Chris GM3WOJ is looking for a low-band base station suitable for conversion as a PA. Reports and spots appreciated. "We were up at the site (in the snow) installing this morning. It is well placed to the south".
2021-04-25 2m Repeater GB3AG near Dundee - temporarily closed due to Silent Key of keeper Peter Carnegie GM1CMF. Back on in one week with new keeper Garry Bertie MM0XET.
2021-04-23 Pink Noise Generator Project for RSGB GB2RS Transmissions - Peter GM4DTH.
Completed Pink Noise Generator board.
As you know I can be rather critical when it comes to audio quality. I am concentrating on local communications with relatively high signal strengths. Weak dx signals are a different case and require a different approach.
In this case I am looking to improve the quality of my own transmission when providing the news service. For reasons unknown the audio quality from equipment using NBFM designed for the radio amateur market rarely matches equipment used in commercial service. I suspect that there is no consistency with handling the output from a microphone. I would expect some frequency tailoring and a degree of signal compression followed by pre-emphasis to modulate the transmitter. The receive path should have matching de-emphasis and quality audio circuitry. The amateur equipment is made for a global market and I suspect that may play a role in the disappointing audio. Many users seem happy to listen with a tiny loudspeaker that has remain unchanged since they were introduced in 1960’s 6 transistor portable radios powered by flying bomb batteries. Listening to pre and post news calls reveals a wide range of audio quality with a substantial number falling into the poor category. It is often the older equipment that sounds better. Leaving CTCSS on when not needed further degrades the audio.
I have never been satisfied with the transmit audio from the Yaesu FT736 I use for the news. Its microphone path to the modulation stage colours the audio in a manner I dislike. There is a port designed for data use which bypasses all the modulation audio stages and I have been using that. One has to be careful with levels as there is no limiter or any other processing or protection when using that port.
This whole process was triggered after I recorded the news transmission from the new station in the borders and with it my own audio recovered from a Marconi modulation meter (flat response no de-emphasis). When checking the recording I thought I would apply quick and dirty de-emphasis using the audio editing software. The audio then sounded rather good. Looking at the correction curve I felt that it was wrong. I suspect that the data port I was using may actually be phase modulating rather than frequency modulating. I do have the correct pre-emphasis applied for FM but it will be wrong for PM.
At this point I thought it may be best to start again. This is where the pink noise generator will play a role. There are two ways of checking the transmission audio. The best is to use an audio spectrum analyser and a tracking generator and look at the actual response. I do not have that combination. Passing noise through the system will also reveal the response. It is the poor mans approach but it should work. I am only interested in frequency and amplitude response I am not interested in its phase characteristics.
My plan is to feed the noise via an equalisation network to the ‘data’ port which should allow me to approach the ideal response. I hope that will allow me to maximise the audio quality.
Before the equalisation, the audio is passed through a compressor to gently lift the talk power then onto a limiter which should do nothing unless the audio is overdriven. I use Peak Programme Meters (PPM) to watch the levels. 4 on the meter gives 50% modulation (1.2kHz deviation) and 6 gives 100% modulation (2.4kHz deviation). Anything over 6 triggers the limiter. (I have attached tow photos one showing the source mixer PPM with the test tone on the other is the equipment programme meter) Note that I do not use 2.5kHz as a maximum, this is to allow a greater degree of frequency error in receivers assuming they have correct IF filters installed. The last time I checked the transmitter frequency it was off by 24Hz and seems to be relatively stable. I have not carried out a long term assessment.
- Peter Dick GM4DTH
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2021-04-17 MOC Goudie Lecture by Roy Johnstone - TV Programmes we used to watch.
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2021-04-13 Titanic Radio Operator's post-card for sale
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2021-04-02 - Silent Key - Samuel Morse, on this date in 1872.
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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.
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2021-03-20 Cockenzie & Port Seton Mini-Rally on 13 Aug Cancelled.
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2021-03-16 How long will an electric car’s battery last? (It depends)!
Photo courtesy wikipedia.com
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2021-03-15 "HAMS" - film of Aberdeen ARS in 1961.
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2021-03-13 MOC Goudie Lecture by Mike Bullock - The Northern Lighthouse Board - More than Lighthouses.
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2021-03-12 Union Chain Bridge - now under repair. (Subject of LRS talk on 25 Sept 2019). (Click).
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2021-03-05 Sinclair ZX81 made in Dundee turns 40.
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2021-03-03 IARU EMC Software: recommended by Norrie GM1CNH re new OfCom regulations.
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2021-02-20 MOC Goudie Lecture by Prof. Tom Stevenson: Orkney - Energy Islands.
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2021-02-17 Ham Radio signal from Chinese Mars spacecraft recorded by Scott Tilley VA7TIL.
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2021-02-11 RF Line-of-Sight Tool (SCADACore) (Tnx GM4DIJ)
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2021-02-06-08 AM Rally (HF+6m), tnx Mike GM8KCS
See: AM Rally Homepage for full info.
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2021-02-06 New Short RSGB Video: Did You Know?
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2021-02-01 Titanic Radio Room Retrieval scrapped.
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2021-01-25 "Rutherglen BAOR Officer on Air to Home" - Lieut. Roy Dawson, later-GM3GBX.
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2021-01-24 Elon Musk SpaceX launches record 143 satellites in one mission.
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2021-01-21 George Szymanski in the Philippines
DU1GM/GM4COK wants to hear from you!
Former LRS member George in the Philippines would love to hear from any members who remember him.
See: DU1GM (dxhams.com)
See: LRS Archive (scroll down to callsign).
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2021-01-17 WWI Secret Listeners video BBC
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2021-01-12 Lecture "The Demise of Ferranti" by Prof. John Wilson - now on YouTube (click).
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- Details
- Written by Alan GM3PSP
- Hits: 1572
2020-12-25 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM LRS SECRETARY, ANDY MM0FMF:
The LRS committee would like to wish all members a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2021.
Let's hope we can start seeing some vaccine rollout and an improvement in the situation such that we can start meeting each other face to face soon.
In the absence of meetings, there is the informal club net which takes place each Wednesday evening at 8.00pm on 144.350MHz USB.
Also, our president and webmaster, Alan GM3PSP continues to update the club's website several times a week with news and events, both local and worldwide. Alan is always searching for items for inclusion on the website so if you have anything then please email him directly, contact details are on the website.
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