Scottish Charity number SC045038
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LRS Messages of the Day:
4 Nov 2026- GMRT Report by Bill Dent GM8RBT – see below.
Wed 4 Nov 2026 – LRS Net 211 – 20:00h 144.350MHz SSB – all welcome.
Wed 11 Nov 2026 – 7:30PM – LRS Open Meeting – Need to book your place – The end of the BBC 198kHz Radio 4 long wave service – Mark Hughes GM4ISM. Note that this meeting will be held in the larger Buckstone Bar, next to the 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
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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 Buckstone Bar next to 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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31 Oct 2026 – Scottish Microwave Round Table GMRT 2026
The 2026 Scottish Microwave Round Table was held, appropriately, on Halloween this year. The event was sold out and the lecture room at the MOC/Burntisland was full. There were interesting talks – several from LRS members, including Andy (GM4LLD) on portable microwave operating (lugging dishes up some cold Scottish mountains), Peter (GM4BYF) and Brian (GM8BJF) on tricks and techniques on SM component soldering (with lively participation and experiences from the audience). Also Martin (GM8IEM) talked about his sequencer design for the IC9700, and Mark (GM4ISM) gave some ideas about modding commercial microwave gear for amateurs (aka ‘bodging’). There were some cool bits of identifiable (and unidentifiable) microwave goodies for sale, some fancy test gear for GHz visitors, and tasty food for lunch. A good day out and meet up with other microwavers from Scotland and south of the border.
The room was full! 
Andy introduced Brian GM8BJF talking about SM soldering tricks 
Mark/GM4ISM talked about bodging commercial microwave equipment for amateur use. 
Some interesting microwave bits for sale 
Fancy testgear available (not for sale) 
Speakers: Mark/GM8IEM, Peter/GM4BYF, Brian/GM8BJF, Martin/GM8IEM, and Andy/GM4LLD 
More pictures at https://gmroundtable.org.uk/gmrt-2026-photos/
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
There are no RADIO NEWS ITEMS. Click on the heading to see the radio news archive.
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
There are no current items for sale. Click on the heading to see any archived items.
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.