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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6-7 July 2013 VHF NFD at Gatehouse of Fleet
Alan GM3PSP, Brian GM4DIJ, Danny GM6CMQ, Brian GM8BJF, Colin GM4HWO, Mike GM4IGS, Terry GM3WUX, Pete GM4BYF, Robin GM4YPL, Chris MMOZCT,
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Summer Pub Nights – 2nd & 4th Weds, July & Aug 2013
During the summer break in July and August we held informal Pub Nights on the normal meeting nights of the
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26th June 2013 – Summer Barbecue
Enjoying the BBQ in the garden before the midges drove us inside! The Annual Summer Barbecue of the Lothians Radio
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GM8OTI/P 10GHz Hilltopping – 26 May 2013
John GM8OTI/P with his Hilltops portable 10GHz station on Cairnharrow Hill, Dumfries & Galloway. The first UK Microwave Group 10GHz contest
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AGM – 12th June 2013 – Election Results
At the Annual General Meeting of the Lothians Radio Society at the Braid Hills Hotel on 12th June 2013 the following committee
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MOC Lecture “Invention and Inspiration in the Digital Age’ – Thurs 23rd May
EVENING LECTURE at THE MUSEUM of COMMUNICATION 131 High Street, Burntisland KY3 9AA on Thursday, 23rd May at 7.30
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22 May 2013 – restoring the R1155 / T1154 Part 2 by Ian Ropper GM0UHC
Ian Ropper GM0UHC returned to the Lothians on 22nd May 2013 to present Part 2 of his talk “Restoring the R1155 /
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4-5 May 2013 RSGB Microwave Trophy
L-R: Robin GM4YPL, Chris MM0ZCT, Andy MM0FMF, Pete GM4BYF, Alan GM3PSP, Brian GM8BJF, John GM8OTI. Seven members of the
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D/F Hunt – Wed 8th May 2013
The brave souls who made it to the Fox station half-way up Caerketton Hill. The annual LRS Direction Finding Contest was
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24th April 2013 – Code Breakers – Video Evening
At the meeting of the Lothians Radio Society on 24th April 2013 an American-made video of the work of Code Breakers was shown. It
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LRS Members at Norbreck Rally, Blackpool on 7th April 2013
On the Sunday, as well as attending the rally, John GM8OTI worked GM0USI on the Mull of Galloway on 10GHz
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10th Apr 2013 – An Evening with Microwaves by GM8OTI & GM8BJF
The LRS had an Evening with Microwaves presented by Brian GM8BJF and John GM8OTI on 10th April 2013. They described how they designed, constructed