Welcome to the Lothians Radio Society

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2m rig of John GM8OTI used on the net 

There was a record attendance of 14 stations on the net on June 3rd: Colin GM4HWO (controller), Alan GM3PSP, John GM8OTI, Peter GM4DTH, Briain GM8PKL, Pete GM4BYF, Brian GM8BJF in Peebles (not heard by everyone), Malcolm GM3TAL, Brian GM4DIJ, Mike GM8KCS, Melvyn GM4HYR, Nathan MM3NDH (new - welcome; do come to LRS meetings when they re-start), David GM4ZNX (Dunfermline), Stewart GM4AFF, Montrose (see photo below). 

 

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The next LRS Viral Net will be held on Wednesday 10th June at 20:00a on 144.350MHz SSB.

This was the date for the LRS AGM which is postponed until further notice.

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There were 13 participants in the LRS Viral Net on May 27th: Controller Colin GM4HMO, Gavin GM4GVJ (Wallyford), Brian GM8BJF (Peebles), Pete GM4BYF, John GM8OTI, Alan GM3PSP, Brian GM4DIJ, Norrie GM1CNH, Mike GM8KCS, Peter GM4DTH, Melvyn GM4HYR, Robin GM4YPL (Linlithgow), and Brian GM8PKL. Brian BJF was heard bettor in Edinburgh this week after installing a new antenna - 4-ele beam. There was a good discussion including mysterious strong QRM on 144.65MHz, members' activities and hopes for future LRS activities. The AGM (June 10th) is certainly off but we shall have to see if the BBQ (June 24th) becomes possible. Any more shack photos?

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 There were 10 participants on the net at good strength on 20th May but your scribe managed to miss it, by accident! Callsigns kindly supplied by net controller, Colin GM4HWO: Melvyn GM4HYR, John GM8OTI, Pete GM4BYF, Briain GM8PKL, Bill GM8SQM, Norrie GM1CNH, Brian GM4DIJ, Mike GM8KCS and Peter GM4DTH.

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Participation in the Wednesday "Viral Net" is holding up very well for members to keep in touch during the  coronavirus shutdown. On May 13th we had 12 callers: Colin GM4HWO (net controller), Pete GM4BYF, Peter GM4DTH, Alan GM3PSP, Mike GM8KCS, Norrie GM1CNH, John GM8OTI, Briain GM8PKL, Melvyn GM4HYR, Brian GM8BJF Peebles (only heard by one or two), Robin GM4YPL Linlithgow & Brian GM4DIJ.

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On May 6th the net participants were: Colin GM4HWO, Pete GM4BYF, Robin GM4YPL, Brian GM8BJF, Mike GM4IGS, Briain GM8PKL, Peter GM4DTH, Norrie GM1CNH, John GM8OTI, Malcolm GM3TAL, Brian GM4DIJ, Alan GM3PSP, Mike GM8KCS,,  with Willy GM0CII calling in at the end.

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Another good net this week on Wednesday 29th April with Colin GM4HWO, John GM8OTI, Mike GM8KCS, Peter GM4DTH, Alan GM3PSP, Briain GM8PKL, Brian GM4DIJ, Melvyn GM4HYR, Robin GM4YPL and Brian GM8BJF. BJF in Peebles could  only be heard by DIJ who is located on Corstorphine Hill. 

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Another good turnout for the third "LRS Viral Net" on Wednesday 22nd April: Controller Colin GM4HWO, Pete GM4BYF, Brian GM8BJF, John GM8OTI, Alan GM3PSP, Briain GM8PKL, Peter GM4DTH, Melvyn GM4HYR, Norrie GM1CNH and welcome guest Bruce GM4BDJ. Most stations were using vertically-polarised antennas. Brian GM8BJF (Peebles) and Bruce GM4BDJ (Langholm) were only heard by one or two stations in Edinburgh.

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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).

2020-06-10 LRS AGM POSTPONED - Date TBD.

2020-05-24 Report on 8JXX2 yagi for 2m portable use by Norrie GM1CNH.

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2020-05-20 Marconi wireless telegraph to be recovered from the Titanic wreck of 1912.

Photo courtesy MSN News

 

Reproduction of Titanic receiver room at the Antique Wireless Museum in Bloomfield NY. Condition unlikely to be very good after 108 years!

 

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2020-05-07 Terry Robinson GM3WUX featured in Glasgow Evening Times article.

Photo courtesy Glasgow Evening Times

Terry has been a very welcome guest operator at GM3HAM/P in 6m & 4m VHF NFD for several years.

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2020-05-15 RSGB 2019 Scottish Memorial Awards announced (RadCom June 2020 p.16):

Jock Kyle Memorial to David Anderson GM6BIG (Kilsyth) for GB3CSB microwave beacon cluster.

Jack Wylie Memorial to Gavin Taylor GM0GAV (Perth) for his DX and contest work.

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2020-05-09 CORONAVIRUS: how Amateur Radio is connecting people during lock-down. (BBC-News)

2020-03-31 Social Distancing 

MHz!

ALSO: click for special instructions.

2020-03-19 RSGB Bans Multi-Operator Entries in all HF & VHF Contests up to 30 June 2020.

2020-03-11 GM3HAM QSL Manager, Pete GM4BYF is retiring from that position. It is planned to transfer that function to LoTW - Logbook of The World. 

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

3. ITEMS FOR SALE  (Click item for details)

2020-05-02 Silent Key Sale List Updated - GM1CNH

4. ITEMS WANTED 

2019-12 Codar AT5 Power Supply Unit - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

5. NEW ON LRS WEBSITE

2020-03-10 Andre Saunders GM3VLB and King Hussein JY1 - story by Colin GM4EAU.

 

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Brian GM4DIJ has just received this from his friends in the SOC - Second-Class Operators Club:

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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

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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).

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In view of the current Coronavirus pandemic with the risk of infection being passed from one person to another when attending meetings, the LRS Committee has decided to stop all meetings for the time being at the Braid Hills Hotel and the Surplus Equipment Sale at St Fillans' Church, up to and including 13th May ("What I Brought Tonight").

Decisions will be made nearer the time on whether to hold the Direction-Finding Contest (27th May), the AGM (10th June) and the Barbecue (24th June), but it ain't looking good!

Alan J. Masson GM3PSP

LRS President. 

PS - Click for special instructions.

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PS In the meantime, if you have any reports on your radio activities - portable expeditions, technical projects etc, that you would like to share with LRS members, please let me have them, preferably with photos (and not too much maths!), and I will put them up to keep the website fresh. 

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The first is already up (GM4DIJ 23cm DXpedition)     - see this page. - psp.

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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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Brian Howie GM4DIJ took part in the UK Microwave 23cm contest on Sunday 8th March from a site near Stranraer. He has kindly provided these photographs. 

Click for full report with more photos.

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Geoff's yacht Contender approaching Rockall during a charity sail there in 2018.

At the meeting on March 11th our good friend Geoff Crowley MM5AHO returned to talk about "How Not to Sail to the Faeroe Islands". 

Synopsis: Sleep deprivation is a problem in radio contesting and also in sailing single-handed. Geoff Crowley does both, and he recounted a few experiences during 2019 when lack of sleep caused problems in both sailing and in contesting. Some further examples from 2018, including a 1000 mile round trip to Rockall added interest about managing 24 hour activity. 

Click for full report including summary by Vic GM3OWU, and Geoff's slides.

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Photo courtesy RadCom

The RSGB Convention video "The Raspberry Pi Explained for Radio Amateurs" by Mike Richards G4WNC was shown  by James GM4WZP at the meeting on 26th February 2020. Click for short report with link to the video (RSGB Members only).

This lecture is based upon a new RSBG book by Mike - see above / click here.

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  1. 12th February 2020 - Robot Wars + Rampaging Chariots - Dr Roger Hill
  2. 22nd Jan 2020 - Aircraft Scatter & Useful Test Equipment for it - Pete Bates GM4BYF
  3. 8th Jan 2020 - LRS Video Night - "The Cold War" at Edinburgh Cine & Video Society
  4. 11th December 2019 - LRS Christmas Curry at the Gurkha