Scottish Charity number SC045038
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LRS Messages of the Day
25 Feb 2026 – BHH 20:00h – Digital Voice Modes by Allister Watson GM7RYR
- See Upcoming Meetings below.
LRS MEETINGS
LRS meetings are normally held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month (except July and August) at 8:00pm at the Braid Hills Hotel, 134 Braid Road, EH10 6JD.
In July and August Pub Nights are held at 7:30pm at Wee Bennet’s Bar at Morningside Station, on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays. There are also occasional Wee Bennet’s evenings arranged during the main club season.
Most items are archived in Meeting Reports or Society Activities.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
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22 Apr 2026 – BHH 20:00h – Microwave energy generation advances which enabled the development of WW2 airborne radar by Dr Peter Grant, Emeritus Regius Professor of Engineering, University of Edinburgh.
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SESAME – March IET Talk: The Voyager Interstellar Mission – 4th March at 2.00pm Napier University Colinton Campus – Rivers Suite.Launched in 1977, the Voyager 1 & 2 spacecraft continue to send back scientific data despite now being almost 1 light-day from Earth.How has this been done and what of the future?The talk to be given by LRS members, James Gentles GM4WZP (engineer) and Dr John Cooke GM8OTI (scientist), will cover the achievements necessary to maintain this flow of scientific data back to Earth and the scientific discoveries made.You do not have to register but it does help us plan the event. The link to register is given below.
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Wed 25 Feb 2026 – 8pm at BHH – Digital Voice Modes by Allister Watson GM7RYR.
Title: The Digital Shift: How DMR is Changing the Face of Amateur Radio
While traditional FM remains a staple, lowest common denominator mode for radio amateurs, the digital voice modes offer crystal-clear audio, extended battery life, and the ability to talk across the globe using nothing more than the technology you already have in your pocket.
You can of course use a radio and a local repeater or hotspot !
This presentation introduces the various digital “flavours” available to amateur radio operators today, focusing on why DMR has emerged as the clear leader for digital voice.
See and hear how this professional-grade technology has been re-purposed by the amateur community to create a truly global, interconnected radio network.
RECENT MEETINGS
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Wed 11 Feb 2026 – LRS Quiz Night 2026
The LRS Quiz Night 2026 was prepared and organized by Brian Howie… Read more
RALLIES AND OTHER EVENTS
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Sun 12 April 2026 – Norbreck (Blackpool) Rally
Pete GM4BYF confirms that parking at the rear of the Norbreck Hotel will be free provided that car owners register on the tablet provided within the convention.
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Saturday 28th March 2026 – 27th ANNUAL GMDX CONVENTION & DINNER
The 27th Annual GMDX Convention & Dinner will be held on Saturday 28th March 2026 at the King Robert Hotel, Stirling, FK7 0LJ.
A link to the Convention Programme is below, along with the booking form. Please use the instructions on the booking form, or visit the GMDX website link below to secure your booking: https://gmdx.org.uk/27th-annual-gmdx-convention-dinner/ It would be very much appreciated if you could book as soon as possible. See you there! Thanks & 73. Gordon, MM0GOR GMDX SecretaryGMDX Convention Programme 27th March 2026 -
Sunday 25 Oct 2026 – Galashiels Rally
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Friday 14th August 2026 18:00 to 21:00 Cockenzie & Port Seton Junk Night, Port Seton Community Centre, South Seton Park Port Seton EH32 0BG
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Sat 31 Oct 2026 – GMRT-2026 at MOC Burntisland & Dinner at Kingswood Hotel
The 2026 Scottish Microwave Round Table (GMRT-2026) will be held as usual at the Museum of Communication in Burntisland, followed by dinner at the nearby Kingswood Hotel.
Looking for a programme organizer for GMRT – contact Colin GM4HWO.
Details will be available nearer the date.
CONTEST CALENDAR
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2026 RSGB Contest Rules published 20 Dec 2025:
2m May contest back to old slot.
70cm and 23cm 24hours again for VHF NFD.
Bonuses rather than multipliers (Post code etc) retained.https://www.rsgbcc.org/vhf/rul
es/26rules/frameindex.html Tnx Brian GM4DIJ.
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The LRS operates GM3HAM/P from a great site near Gatehouse of Fleet in Dumfries & Galloway.
5-6 July 2025 – VHF NFD – see report in About LRS – Contest / Portable.
(This photo by Andy MMØFMF / now GM4LLD, is in RSGB RadCom Sept 2025, p.80).
RSGB GB2RS NEWS
Every Sunday morning in the Edinburgh area at 09:30h from LRS member Peter Dick GM4DTH. 70.425MHz FM, 145.525MHz FM & 433.525MHz FM. Then call-in to Peter at 10:00h on 145.575MHz for local net. Several LRS members often there.
RADIO NEWS, SILENT KEYS and FOR SALE / WANTED
Click on image or “read more” to open full article.
Send items to Alan GM3PSP:
webmaster@lothiansradiosociety.com
Items usually archived as News or Silent Keys in LRS Archive after 1 month.
1. RADIO NEWS ITEMS
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RSGB Old Timers’ Honour Roll 2026
The February 2026 issue of RSGB RadCom magazine lists all those who have been members of the RSGB for 50
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NASA says ISS will return to Earth in 2030
NASA has announced that the International Space Station (ISS) will return to earth in 2030, set to de-orbit into the
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2 Feb 2026 – GM4DIJ/B Personal Beacon in Edinburgh on 1296.7415 MHz now being heard widely.
Brian GM4DIJ is now running an attended low-power personal beacon callsign GM4DIJ/B on 1296.7415MHz in the 23cm band. It is
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29 Jan 2026 – LRS Committee Meeting at QTH-GM4HWO.
The LRS Committee met at Colin GM4HWO’s QTH on 29th January 2026. Rear: Colin GM4HWO, John GM4JRT, James GM4WZP. Front:
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Sept-Oct 2026 – DXpedition to Colombia by Norman MM0BMG
Following last year’s event. Norman is organizing another DXpedition to Colombia in the autumn of 2026. RSGB RadCom has accepted
2. SILENT KEYS
There are no current silent key notifications. Click on the heading to see the silent key archive.
3. ITEMS FOR SALE
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14 Feb 2026 – Microwave Modules 144MHz to 70MHz Transverter for Sale by Pete GM4BYF.
14 Feb 2026 – Microwave Modules 144MHz to 70MHz Transverter for Sale by Pete GM4BYF Measured Power :-9W output on
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Microwave Modules 144MHz to 1296MHz Transverter for sale by Pete GM4BYF
Fully tested – 10W in on 144 generates 2W on 1296. Specification attached below. Offering to LRS members for £50. I
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7 Feb 2026 – FREE Technical Books available from Andy GM4LLD
I have the following books available for FREE. If you want one, please reply direct to andy.gm4lld AT gmail.com <http://gmail.com> and I
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29 Jan 2026 – Items for Sale by Norman MM0BMG (Reduced Prices).
Norman has reduced the prices of many of the items on his list: GM1CNH Equipment Sale Updated: 29 January 2026
Lothians Radio Society activities – latest reports
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6 Oct 2021 – 122GHz – Pete Bates GM4BYF & Brian Flynn GM8BJF
Brian GM8BJF & Pete GM4BYF Pete, assisted by Brian, described the building and operation of their VK3CV TRA-120 122GHz transverters
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12 Aug 2021 LRS Perseids BBQ
The LRS 2021 Summer “Perseids” barbecue was held at “Bates Motel”, QTH of Pete GM4BYF & Kay Bates GM6KAY, and
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28 July 2021 – LRS D/F Hunt
The 2021 LRS DF Hunt on Top Band was held on 28th July, starting from the “Tardis” on Braid Hills
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2-4 July 2021 – GM3HAM/P – VHF NFD – Gatehouse of Fleet
The LRS GM3HAM Contest Group again took part in RSGB VHF NFD from Gatehouse of Fleet on 6m/4m, 2m & 70cm.
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14 -16 May 2021 – GM3HAM/P – RSGB 2m Contest, Gatehouse of Fleet
Peter GM4DTH and Brian GM4DIJ Back to our favourite site, on a hill-top near Gatehouse of Fleet. Peter GM4DTH described
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4-6 Sept 2020 – LRS GM3HAM/P – RSGB 2m Trophy, Gatehouse of Fleet
The LRS GM3HAM/P contest group were active during the 2m Trophy Contest from our usual site near Gatehouse of Fleet
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23 & 25 July 2020 – 122GHz – Two Firsts in 3 Days by Brian GM8BJF & Pete GM4BYF / G4BYF – Confirmed by UK Microwave Group
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21st July 2020 – Website: https://WorldRadioHistory.com
WorldRadioHistory.com Many thanks to Brian GM8BJF who has just reported finding a potentially very useful website: https://WorldRadioHistory.com which provides detailed links
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19th July 2020 – GM4DIJ/P in RSGB 70MHz Trophy Contest from nr Stranraer in Galloway.
Brian GM4DIJ returned to his favourite portable location at IO74mu about 8km south of Stranraer, to operate in the 70MHz
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22 Sept 2021 – WWI Aircraft Electrical Systems including Radio – Bob Thomson, APSS
Bob Thomson of the Aviation Preservation Society Scotland described the work to reconstruct a Sopwith Strutter 1 1/2 aircraft, especially
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5th April 2020 – Temporary Q-Codes
Brian GM4DIJ has just received this from his friends in the SOC – Second-Class Operators Club: From SOC mailing listTemporary
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01 April 2020 – HAM COVID-19 Guidelines
EFFECTIVE APRIL 01, 2020. Amateur Radio operators are ordered to strictly observe the Coronavirus mitigation guidelines as they apply to amateur