Scottish Charity number SC045038
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LRS Messages of the Day:
20-21 June 2026 – GM3HAM/P operated by Brian GM4DIJ in 50MHz Trophy Contest from near Stranraer – see below – Radio News Items.
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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LRS Barbecue POSTPONED from Wed 24th June. New date TBA ~ Aug.
Wed 9 Sept 2026 – Presidential Address – Andy Sinclair GM4LLD.
Wed 23rd Sept 2026 – LRS Visit to MOC Burntisland 2026 Exhibition – When Screens were Small, but the Magic seemed Huge – 100 Years of Television. There will also be a lecture by Prof. Tom Stevenson – 100 Years of Television – some Technical Milestones, including the early days of TV in Orkney.
RALLIES AND OTHER EVENTS
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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.
https://gmroundtable.org.uk/
One more speaker to present a microwave-related talk is still needed – contact Colin gm4hwo@gmail.com.Details will be available nearer the date.
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9 May – 30 Sept – Weds & Sats – MOC Exhibition 2026
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Friday 17 July 2026 – MOC Goudie lecture – The Pavek Museum of Electronic Communication, Minneapolis USA.
Our next Goudie Lecture will take place at 7.30 pm on Friday 17 July and is entitled The Pavek Museum of Electronic Communication, Minneapolis USA. It will be presented by the Museum’s Curartor, Dr Luis F. E. Souza, who is visiting Scotland for a conference in Edinburgh. The lecture is taking place on a Friday, as this is the only day available in Dr Souza’s busy schedule. Please see Events – Museum Of Communication for further information.The Pavek Museum has a similar background to the MoC, being started by Joseph Pavek [1908-1989] who was only slightly older than our own founder, Harry Matthews.To attend in person, please email enquiries@mocft.co.uk or REPLY ALL to this e-mail. Zoom 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
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20-21 June 2026 – GM3HAM/P operated by Brian GM4DIJ in 50MHz Contest.
I’m out /P from IO74MU for the 50MHz Trophy. Today and tomorrow. 3pm till I get hungry, and 9am to 3pm tomorrow.
Fairly minimalist effort 300W to a 5 ele
Listen for GM3HAM/P . No postcode bonuses, only countries and squares -
3-5 July 2026 – VHF NFD 2026 participation by LRS is CANCELLED. Sadly, the key players in the LRS contest group have decided this event will need to be cancelled. The main reasons are lack of resources and transport at this time. Participation in the Sept 2026 VHF event is being discussed.
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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, 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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20-21 June 2026 – GM3HAM/P operated by Brian GM4DIJ in 50MHz Trophy contest from near Stranraer.
Brian operated from his usual location near Stoneykirk, SW of Stranraer. “The weather was good if a little warm. I did the 24Hour section, but split it into two sessions. Saturday 3pm till 7pm. This was set by the falling off of SpE and the need for dinner. Sunday was 8am to 3pm. The band was open via SpE to most of Europe , Italy, France, Spain etc, but I was failing to get replies to CQ and to work what were very loud stations. I think it was a combination of heavy QRM in Europe and my…
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11 June 2026 – US Army’s breakthrough sensor to pinpoint radio signals on battlefield
US Army develops ‘breakthrough’ Rubidium vapour cell quantum sensor to pinpoint radio signals on battlefields. See: https://interestingengineering.com/military/us-develops-breakthrough-sensor-for-battlefield
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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.
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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
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17 June 2026 – LRS AGM 2026
John Taylor GM4JRT (Treasurer), Andy Sinclair GM4LLD (President), Dr. Iain Coates GM1MSS… 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 hires 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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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
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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.…
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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 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
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13 Dec 2023 – Xmas Curry
Good turnout of 15 for the 2023 LRS Xmas Curry at the Gurkha Cafe in Cockburn St. Photos taken by the waiter! Click for all the photos. ======================================
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6 Dec 2023 LRS Members at IET Lecture
Thanks to Colin Murray’s inspiration, several members of the LRS enjoyed attending an Institution of Engineering & Technology event at Napier University. The lecture given by Dr Carol Marsh OBE provided an interesting insight into the current status of the Scottish Space Programme and was focused on satellite communication & phased antenna arrays. Lots of…
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22 Nov 2023 – Borders Amateurs & Bletchley Park Bruce McCartney GM4BDJ & John Struthers GM8CVN
There was an excellent turnout of 21 for this very interesting talk by Bruce McCartney GM4BDJ via Zoom from Langholm, with John Struthers GM8CVN present at the LRS meeting at the BHH. Click for report. =======================================
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11 Nov 2023 – GMRT-2023 Scottish Microwave Round Table
A very successful GMRT was held at the Museum of Communication in Burntisland with an attendance of 46, followed by dinner & surplus auction at the Kingswood Hotel. Full report by Martin Hall GM8IEM & photos by Tom Stevenson & Colin Wright GM4HWO on the GMRT website (click). ========================================
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8 Nov 2023 – Sophie the Strutter – Gerard Lohan
Gerard Lohan Following an LRS talk 2 years ago (click) by Bob Thompson of the APSS (Aircraft Preservation Society Scotland), Gerard Lohan gave us an update on their “late production” Sopwith 1½ Strutter, named “Sophie”. Over the last 20 years they have built to the original drawings an (almost) exact replica of Sopwith’s WW1 bi-plane, The…
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Winter / Spring LRS Pub Nights
The committee has decided that, in addition to the Summer Pub-Nights, we shall also hold them during the winter and spring, on non-meeting Wednesdays in months with Five Wednesdays (believe it or not)! Wed 29 Nov 2023, Wed 31 Jan 2024, Wed 3 April 2024, Wed 29 May 2024. Meet as usual at 8:00pm…
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18 Oct 2023 – LRS Autumn Surplus Equipment Sale
The LRS Autumn Surplus Equipment Sale 2023 was held as usual at St Fillans Church in Buckstone. The items for sale consisted of a very large number of very small items! And the sale was followed by a raffle. Click for full report. ======================================
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22 Oct 2023 LRS Members at Galashiels Rally
A number of LRS members attended the Gala Rally. This is Pete GM4BYF’s table. Tnx Colin HWO for photo. Click for more. =======================================
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11 Oct 2023 – The First Restricted Service Broadcast Licence – Peter Laverock GM8GHQ.
Peter Laverock GM8GHQ talked about the UK Government’s Restricted Service Broadcast Licences. In 1983/4 he was instrumental in setting up the first station with this licence arrangement from the then “Home Office” and DTI – a two headed monster! Peter is a retired BBC Broadcast Radio Journalist who worked for the BBC World Service and…
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2-8 Oct 2023 – Terry Robinson GM3WUX “73-Cubed” Fundraiser for Cancer Research.
2-8 Oct 2023 – Terry Robinson GM3WUX “73-Cubed” Fund-Raiser for Cancer Research. (Photo from fund-raising page). Our good friend Terry Robinson GM3WUX (Glasgow), who has operated with GM3HAM/P on 50MHz / 70MHz a number of times at VHF NFD, did a fund-raiser in memory of his friend Jeremy Browne G3XZG who died of cancer last year.…
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20 Sept 2023 – Visit to MoC, and BBC talk by James Gentles GM4WZP
20 Sept 2023 – LRS Annual Visit to the Museum of Communication and talk by James Gentles GM4WZP on his BBC experiences. “Personal recollections of working for BBC Scotland in the early 1980s, the halcyon days of analogue TV” – James GM4WZP. We then toured the MoC 2023 exhibition “The first 100 years of broadcasting…
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17 Sept 2023 – Malcolm Hamilton GM3TAL Kiltwalk Fundraiser for Prostate Scotland
Malcolm Hamilton GM3TAL took part in the Edinburgh Kiltwalk on Sunday, 17 Sept 2023 (with handheld). “Its the first time that I’ve ever done this sort of fundraiser and I only heard about it late the previous week. I signed up for a 5 mile walk – a “Wee Wander” – and it’s not very far compared…