Scottish Charity number SC045038
-
LRS Messages of the Day:
LRS Barbecue POSTPONED from Wed 24th June. New date TBA ~ Aug/Sept.
27 May 2026 – D/F Hunt report now complete – see Recent Meetings.
Wed 10th June – 19:30h – LRS Pub Night at Wee Bennet’s Bar, Morningside Stn.
Wed 17th June – 20:00h – LRS AGM at Braid Hills Hotel.
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
-
LRS Barbecue POSTPONED from Wed 24th June. New date TBA ~ Aug/Sept..
Wed 10 June – 19:30h – LRS Pub Night at Wee Bennet’s Bar, Morningside Stn.
Wed 17 June – 20:00h – LRS AGM, Braid Hills Hotel.
TUES 16 JUNE – 19:30h MOC Goudie Lecture – The Remarkable Mary Somerville – Queen of 19th Century Science – by Ian Archibald. See below – Rallies etc.
RALLIES AND OTHER EVENTS
-
Sunday 25 Oct 2026 – Galashiels Rally
-
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
-
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.
https://gmroundtable.org.uk/
Speakers to present microwave related talks are urgently needed – contact Colin gm4hwo@gmail.comDetails will be available nearer the date.
-
9 May – 30 Sept – Weds & Sats – MOC Exhibition 2026
-
Tuesday 16 June 2026 – MOC Goudie Lecture
MoC GOUDIE LECTURE – TUESDAY 16 JUNE 2026The next MOC Goudie Lecture will take place at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 16 June and is entitled The Remarkable Mary Somerville – Queen of 19th Century Science. It will be presented by local historian Ian Archibald and is timed to coincide with Burntisland Civic Week. Please see Events – Museum Of Communication for further information.To attend in person, please email enquiries@mocft.co.ukZoom access details will be sent to you about 10 days before the Lecture.Attendance in person costs £5. Those viewing the lectures online are encouraged to make a voluntary donation of £5 in support of MoC activities via our web page at Shop – Museum Of Communication. We are a charitable organisation that relies entirely on donations for financial survival.Please be aware that our lectures are not recorded. There is therefore no catch-up facility.
CONTEST CALENDAR
-
Pete GM4BYF has confirmed that the Lothians Contest Group will participate in VHF NFD on 3 – 5 July 2026 and is looking for more members to come along for the weekend and help set up the station and operate. The group is also looking for help with transporting equipment to the site at Gatehouse of Fleet in Dumfries & Galloway. Rough camping is available on site; public toilets, shops and an excellent pub / restaurant are nearby- There will be a team meal as usual on the Friday night in the Masonic Arms in Gatehouse.If you are interested, please contact Pete GM4BYF = gm4byf@blueyonder.co.uk
-
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, RECENT MEETINGS, 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
-
RadCom June 2026 – LRS NARSA Rally Photo in RSGB RadCom
The LRS group photo taken at Pete GM4BYF’s table at the NARSA (Blackpool) Rally has been published in RSGB RadCom magazine, June 2026 issue, p.80.
-
Sat 27 June 2026 – BBC to close Radio-4 198kHz Long-Wave Service.
The BBC will close its Radio-4 198kHz Long-Wave service from Droitwich, Burghead and Westerglen on Saturday 27th June 2026. It had operated since Sept 1934. The RSGB and the BBC Amateur Radio Group are planning to mark this event on the air. Click for info.
2. RECENT MEETINGS
3. SILENT KEYS
There are no current silent key notifications. Click on the heading to see the silent key archive.
4. ITEMS FOR SALE
-
26 Apr 2026 – Bencher BY-1 Dual Paddle for Sale by Andy GM4LLD.
Bencher BY-1 dual paddle key. Chrome mechanics on black base. Used and slightly worn but in very good condition otherwise. Pictures available on request. Price £125 or offer. Andy Sinclair GM4LLD (formerly MM0FMF
-
10 Mar 2026 – For Sale: Sigma 2010 Skip Master 25-30MHz am/fm/ssb, fibreglass home base antenna
John GM4JRT has for sale this aerial a Sigma 2010 skip master 25-30MHz am/fm/ssb , fibreglass home base antenna , works well without an ATU on 10 m and 11m band I have the aerial at my QTH , photo attached – collection from QTH GM4HWO @ Liberton Sigma 2010 skip master 25-30MHhz am/fm/ssb , fibreglass home base antenna, power handling 1000 watts, length 5.48 m/ 18 feet, Gain 9.9 dB, impedance 50 ohms, frequency 25-30MHz (with tuning), construction fibreglass, swr 1:1.3, Mounting bracket pole, the sigma euro-comm ½ wave skip master 2010 is a high performance base station antenna.…
-
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 Item Description Price Alinco HF Mobile Whip Antenna 2.7 m mobile whip; antenna mounting bracket and spring; adjustable vehicle mounting bracket; heavy duty; boxed. NEW – £150 Anritsu MT8820A Radio Communication Analyser 30 MHz to 2.7 GHz, spectrum analyser, 2G/3G mobile phone tester, output power, modulation, RF signal generation, £300 Badger Boards HF Antenna wideband folded dipole antenna with balun N(f) connector; heavy duty centre spacer; termination resistor; 1.5 MHz to 30 MHz; supplied with 2 x 50 ft antenna…
Lothians Radio Society activities – latest reports
-
30 Jan 2017 – Silent Key – Bob McFarlane, S.O.E. Agent
Bob McFarlane, one of the last surviving members of the S.O.E. – Special Operations Executive – in WWII, died at home in Kelso on 30th January 2017 aged 93. Bob had given two talks in recent years about his experiences – to the LRS on 24 February 2014 and at the MoC on 24 September 2014. (Click…
-
8 Feb 2017 – James Clerk Maxwell – Prof. Tom Stevenson, MoC
At the meeting of the LRS on 8th February 2017 our good friend Prof. Tom Stevenson of the Museum of Communication in Burntisland presented a biography of James Clerk Maxwell and described some of his contributions to science which have had a huge impact on our modern way of life. Maxwell [1831 – 1879] was a member of the Clerk family…
-
25 Jan 2017 – The Williamson Amplifier – Prof Joe McGeough
The meeting of the LRS on 25th January 2017 was a talk on “How Theo Williamson’s Amplifier Changed the Sound of Music” which was given by Prof Joe McGeough (above), a former Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Edinburgh. Photo courtesy Science Museum, London The Williamson amplifier refers to a type of valve audio amplifier whose…
-
8 Jan 2017 – Silent Key – Vic Imamura JA5VQ / MM0JVQ
It is with great sadness that we record the passing of LRS member Vic Imamura JA5VQ / MM0JVQ at the age of 74 on 8th January 2017 in Japan. Vic and XYL Keiko JG5JUS came to Edinburgh for some months every summer for a number of years, living in a flat in Morningside and attending LRS…
-
11 Dec 2016 – RSGB Recreates First Transatlantic Radio Transmission at Ardrossan
The 1921 transmitter in Greenwich CT courtesy Scotsman. Scottish RSGB Board member Len Paget GM0ONX and Jason O’Neil GM7VSB recreated the first reception at Ardrossan in 1921 of a transatlantic transmission from the USA by Paul Godley in Greenwich, CT. Click for full story.
-
11 Jan 2017 – Video Evening at ECVS – ‘The Dish’
The annual LRS Video Evening was presented by Peter Dick GM4DTH on 11th January 2017 at the Edinburgh Video Society, and was enjoyed by all present. Before the main feature, The Dish, Pete GM4BYF: gave a very useful description of the radio communications used for the Lunar Landing including the role of the Parkes Dish. The Dish…
-
14 Dec 2016 – Christmas Curry at the Himalaya Tandoori
Mike MM0MLB, Kay GM6KAY & OM Pete GM4BYF, Marwyn XYL-GM8OTI, Andy MM0FMF The LRS 2016 Christmas Curry was held on Wednesday 14th December at the Himalaya Tandoori Restaurant at Bruntsfield Place. There was a turnout of 15 for a very merry evening. Peter GM4DTH, Tommy GM4DCL, Roy GM3SRV Click for Full Report with more photos.
-
23 Nov 2016 – Valves, Tubes & Bottles – Malcolm Hamilton GM3TAL
At the meeting of the LRS on 23rd November 2016 Malcolm Hamilton GM3TAL talked about ‘Valves, Tubes and Bottles’. and invited members to tell of their own favourite valves. The development of the thermionic valve drove the advance of radio and electronics in the last century. Despite the stunning achievements of silicon device technology, valves are still…
-
15 Oct 2016 – JOTA – Jamboree On The Air at Bonaly Scout Camp
Malcolm GM3TAL operating GB0BSS The Lothians Radio Society again operated in JOTA – Jamboree On The Air – from the Bonaly Scout Camp Site on Saturday 15th October 2016. Using the special-event callsign GB0BSS, the operators were John Cooke GM8OTI and Malcolm Hamilton GM3TAL. This year they were in the Training Room, which was a…
-
9 Nov 2016 RAYNET FEEDNET Emergency Communications System – Charlie Duncan GM6MUZ, Stan Frey GM8ZQY
At the meeting of the LRS on 9th November 2016, Charlie Duncan of Lothians RAYNET and Stan Frey talked about the FEEDNET digital communications system employing the MESH data network that has been installed in the Firth of Forth area for use in emergency situations. A leading technical contributor to this project is LRS member Bernie McIntosh GM4WZG…
-
26 Oct 2016 – Aerial Photography – James Gentles GM4WZP
James Gentles GM4WZP made a very welcome return to the LRS on 26th October to present Aerial Photography. In James’s last talk, on 23 January 2013, he described Kite Aerial Photography (click for report). Technology has advanced greatly in just 3 years, with drones now available to provide much greater flexibility and capability. Visit James’s website Gentles Limited…
-
19 Oct 2016 – LRS Surplus Equipment Sale
LRS Secretary, Mike MM0MLB welcoming everyone. The LRS Autumn Surplus Equipment Sale and raffle was held on Wednesday 19th October 2016 at St Fillan’s Church, Buckstone Drive, Edinburgh 10. There was a good turnout of LRS members and from other clubs, including GM1SXV all the way from Glasgow. Some of the many items for sale. The highlight of…