Scottish Charity number SC045038
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LRS Messages of the Day:
Sat 31 Oct 2026 – GMRT-2026 at MOC Burntisland & Dinner at Kingswood Hotel
Wed 11 Nov 2026 – 7:30PM – LRS Open Meeting – Need to book your place – The end of the 198kHz Radio 4 long wave service – Mark Hughes GM4ISM
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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Wed 11 Nov 2026 – 7:30pm – Open Meeting – The End of the 198kHz Radio-4 Long Wave Service by Mark Hughes GM4ISM.
There is an intention that every year we have an open evening with a keynote speaker, to which guests of the society are very welcome to attend. Because these are likely to be attended by more people than usual, they will be held in a larger room, and at an earlier time. Members and guests will need to register their interest in attending so that all attendees can be accommodated.
This year the event is: The story of the Radio 4 Long Wave service on 200 and 198kHz by Mark Hughes GM4ISM
Mark Hughes GM4ISM will tell the story of the last 35 years of evolution of the BBC Long Wave service and a glimpse at the engineering challenges that kept him (in the technical specialist team) busy as they pushed elderly transmitters way beyond their design life. The inevitable was warded off for a long time to a point that with changes in technology and the ‘political’ and contractual environment, we ended up with the services ceasing this year.
Mark Hughes GM4ISM was a keen young radio ham (licensed at 14), and a career in Electrical Engineering seemed to fit. After graduating in Electrical Engineering at Warwick University he was recruited by BBC transmission. He worked extensively with antennas and transmitters, ending as team manager of the Forfar and Shetland teams before moving to a technical specialist team which started with four members and ended up with over thirty by the time he retired.
11 November 2026 in the Gathering Bar at the Braid Hills Hotel.
Note that the open event starts 30 minutes earlier than our usual talks: 19:00 for 19:30 start.
Please reserve your place through this link:
https://www.lothiansradiosocie
ty.com/open-event-registration/ Please remember to add your email address on the form so that you receive an acknowledgment which is effectively your ticket for the event.
RALLIES AND OTHER EVENTS
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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. The panel of speakers is now complete. GMRT-2026 is now FULLY-BOOKED – all 50 places sold. WAITING LIST – Contact Colin GM4HWO. https://gmroundtable.org.uk/
CONTEST CALENDAR
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The LRS operates GM3HAM/P from a great site near Gatehouse of Fleet in Dumfries & Galloway.
(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
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25 Oct 2026 – Galashiels Rally
LRS members visited the Gala Rally, enjoying the Storm Boelo winds on the way down. LRS attendees included Jack GM1CQC, Iain GM1MSS, Pete GM4BYF, Colin GM4EAU, Colin GM4HWO and Brian GM8BJF. Among the people present was our good friend Chris Tran GM3WOJ from Tain. Photos by Colin GM4HWO: Entrance to the rally in the Volunteer Hall, Galashiels. The rally hall. The rally hall. Captain Birdseye. Bring & Buy Stall. Pete GM4BYF’s table. Chris GM3WOJ (all the way from Tain). Jack GM1CQC. LRS Secretary Iain GM1MSS & Colin GM4EAU. Brian…
2. RECENT MEETINGS
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28 Oct 2026 – Blood Bikes Scotland by Phil Dodsworth
Blood Bikes Scotland (BBS) is a fully volunteer-run and donation-funded charity that… Read more
3. SILENT KEYS
There are no current silent key notifications. Click on the heading to see the silent key archive.
4. ITEMS FOR SALE
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13 June 2026 Dell Monitor for sale by Andy GM4LLD.
Dell U2412M hi-res 1920 x 1200 LCD monitor Adjustable stand DisplayPort, DVI & VGA inputs 1920 x 1200 WUXGA resolution 4 port USB2 hub. Mains lead Very good condition, no screen blemishes. £35 Andy GM4LLD.
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28 June 2026 – Corsair CV450 modern PC PSU – for sale by Andy GM4LLD
Corsair CV450 modern PC PSU. Comes from my son’s PC as he has just updated with some new GPU that needs a bigger PSU. No box but clean and working. £20 Andy GM4LLD (ex-MM0FMF)
Lothians Radio Society activities – latest reports
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24 July 2024 – Summer Pub Night 2 at Wee Bennet’s Bar
The merry band at Wee Bennet’s Bar for Summer Pub Night 2.
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10 July 2024 – Summer Pub Night 1 at Wee Bennet’s Bar
Great turnout of 11 for first summer Pub Night at Wee Bennet’s Bar. “Bullshit Corner” (Commercial)!
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5-7 July 2024 – RSGB VHF-UHF NFD – GM3HAM/P
LRS members and friends took part again in RSGB VHF-UHF NFD from our cherished location on a hill behind Gatehouse of Fleet in Dumfries & Galloway with a clear view south down the Irish Sea. Arriving on the Friday evening we pitched our tents and then went down into Gatehouse for our traditional Team Dinner…
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26 June 2024 – LRS Summer Barbecue at Bates Motel
24 members & family enjoyed a great BBQ with Pete & Kay Bates on a sunny evening. We also celebrated Pete’s birthday. Full report with photos – click. ======================================
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12 June 2024 – LRS Annual General Meeting
12 June 2024 – LRS AGM 2024 There was a good turn-out (17) for the AGM. It had been a good year for meetings, contests & finances. Subs stay at £20. New committee elected: President Andy Sinclair MM0FMF Hon. Sec. Colin Wright GM4HWO Hon. Treas. Peter Dick GM4DTH Webmaster Alan Masson GM3PSP…
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5 June 2024 LRS D/F Hunt 2024 – GM3HAM/P
The Fox station GM3HAM/P, operated by Peter Dick GM4DTH was located on Corstorphine Hill. It was found first by Mike GM8KCS and James GM4WZP in 1h:30m, closely followed by Melvyn GM4HYR in 1h:33m. John GM4JRT and David GM3YMX did not find the Fox. Click for report. =======================================
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29 May 2024 – LRS Pub Night – Wee Bennet’s Bar
Wee Bennet’s Bar, Morningside John GM4JRT, Peter GM4DTH, Mike GM8KCS, Melvyn GM4HYR, Colin GM4HWO
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17-19 May 2024 – RSGB May 144MHz Contest at Gatehouse of Fleet
The brave band of LRS contesters had a very good contest near Gatehouse of Fleet. Colin GM4HWO has sent back many great photos to “base”. Click full report. Tnx to Andy MM0FMF for these RESULTS: QSOs 140 Calc QSO points 42410 ODX Call …
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8 May 2024 – “RAYNET – Recent Events & Technology Deployment” – Charlie Duncan GM6MUZ
“RAYNET Recent Events and Technology Deployment” by Charlie Duncan GM6MUZ. This talk was an update on technology implementations and recent events that Lothians RAYNET have been involved with. It also touched on the RAYNET role with community- and Local Authority resilience groups. (RAYNET = Radio Amateur Emergency Network). Click for report. =======================================
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24 Apr 2024 – “Contest Coaching” by Pete Bates GM4BYF
“Contest coaching – Tips & Tricks for Contest Operation” by Pete Bates GM4BYF Long-time contester Pete Bates GM4BYF talked about ways to improve your performance in Amateur Radio contests with useful information for both beginners and experienced contesters. Click Report. =======================================
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20-21 Apr 2024 – LRS at Norbreck Rally, Blackpool
The merry LRS group at the Sunam Indian Restaurant. Pete GM4BYF & XYL Kay GM6KAY at their table. Tnx Colin GM4HWO for pics – CLICK. ======================================
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10 Apr 2024 – LRS Spring Surplus Equipment Sale
There was an excellent turnout of 30 including many visitors, for the spring surplus equipment sale. Many interesting items, including 6 crates from a Silent Key, sold in a meeting that lasted 2 hours. Click for report with many photos.