Scottish Charity number SC045038
-
LRS Messages of the Day:
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 Buckstone Bar, next to the Braid Hills Hotel, if the current maintenance work on the Gathering Bar is not completed.
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
-
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.
LOCATION: if the current maintenance work in the Gathering Bar at the rear of the Braid Hills Hotel is not complete, this meeting will be held 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
-
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
-
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
-
26 Jan 2022 – Using a VDA on a Scottish Beach Pt.2 – Malcolm Hamilton GM3TAL
Malcolm talked (on Zoom) about using vertical dipole arrays from the shores of Loch Fyne. He had operated in the CQWW CW contest in November 2014 (LRS talk 11 Feb 2015) and again in 2021 along with Nick Henwood G3RWF (former RSGB President), with a different set of antennas. He shared his 2021 conclusions on…
-
12 Jan 2022 – Pirates – Offshore Radio 1974-1984 – James Gentles GM4WZP
James Gentles GM4WZP gave a repeat on Zoom of his talk from 8th Nov 2017 on the history of pirate radio in the UK in the 1960s and 70s. There was an excellent participation of 19 LRS members and visitors. Radio London Ship Click for report on 2017 presentation. This presentation was video-recorded – Click…
-
20 Jan 2022 – New GM3VLB SOTA Islands Award – LRS
André GM3VLB/P on the Flannan Isles 1999. André Saunders GM3VLB (SK) was active in many countries as GM3VLB, G3VLB, 5Z4KL (5Z5KL) from the 1960s onwards. In later years he became very keen on IOTA (Islands On The Air), activating Scottish Islands. André passed away in 2019 just before his 81st birthday. He left a legacy…
-
10 Nov 2021 – Getting Started with WSPR – Colin Murray GM4EAU
Wed 10th November 2021 : Near Real-Time Propagation Measurement : Getting Started with WSPR – Colin Murray GM4EAU. Precis: An explanation of WSPR, the Weak Signal Propagation Reporter protocol (pronounced Whisper) used to measure antenna performance and investigate radio propagation in near-real-time. The theory and practicalities were explained, followed by the steps required to observe WSPR traffic…
-
20 Oct 2021 – LRS Autumn Surplus Equipment Sale
The LRS autumn Surplus Equipment Sale was held on 20th October 2021 at St Fillan’s Church, as usual. This year the participants were suitably masked and socially distanced. As this was the first sale in two years there was a lot of “stuff” including GM8GEC & GM3VLB SK items. Click. Pete GM4BYF sold many GM8GEC-SK items. …
-
6 Oct 2021 – 122GHz – Pete Bates GM4BYF & Brian Flynn GM8BJF
Brian GM8BJF & Pete GM4BYF Pete, assisted by Brian, described the building and operation of their VK3CV TRA-120 122GHz transverters and their achievement of the first 122GHz GM-GM & G-GM QSOs in July 2020. VK3CV pcb. Crossing the border on 122GHz. Click for Full Report. ====================================
-
12 Aug 2021 LRS Perseids BBQ
The LRS 2021 Summer “Perseids” barbecue was held at “Bates Motel”, QTH of Pete GM4BYF & Kay Bates GM6KAY, and was a great success. Pete and guests at the grill. Enjoying the excellent BBQ grub outside. We moved into the sunroom as it got cooler. Click for full report. =====================================
-
28 July 2021 – LRS D/F Hunt
The 2021 LRS DF Hunt on Top Band was held on 28th July, starting from the “Tardis” on Braid Hills Road. Three teams attempted to find the Fox station GM3HAM/P operated by Peter GM4DTH. Brian GM4DIJ, Briain GM8PKL (cheers!), Melvyn GM4HYR, Mike GM8KCS. (Photos: Alan GM3PSP). Peter GM4DTH operating Fox GM3HAM/P in woods beside White…
-
2-4 July 2021 – GM3HAM/P – VHF NFD – Gatehouse of Fleet
The LRS GM3HAM Contest Group again took part in RSGB VHF NFD from Gatehouse of Fleet on 6m/4m, 2m & 70cm. Photos Colin GM4HWO, Peter GM4DTH. 2021-08-18: Result: LRS was again Runner-up in Restricted Section with 2944 normalised points, and earning the Cockenzie Quaich as Leading GM. Brian GM4DIJ & Andy MM0FMF 6m (Sat) / 4m (Sun). Also…
-
14 -16 May 2021 – GM3HAM/P – RSGB 2m Contest, Gatehouse of Fleet
Peter GM4DTH and Brian GM4DIJ Back to our favourite site, on a hill-top near Gatehouse of Fleet. Peter GM4DTH described the wx conditions as “grey and unsettled”. Radio conditions were below average with low signal strengths being the norm for the entire operating period. Unusually, we could not hear GB3VHF (144.430MHz). The antennas were an…
-
4-6 Sept 2020 – LRS GM3HAM/P – RSGB 2m Trophy, Gatehouse of Fleet
The LRS GM3HAM/P contest group were active during the 2m Trophy Contest from our usual site near Gatehouse of Fleet in Dumfries & Galloway. Participants were: Colin GM4HWO, Brian GM8BJF, Mike GM4IGS, Norrie GM1CNH, Bob MM0XRI (guest), Rob MM0RHU (guest) and Peter GM4DTH, with apologies (H&S) from Alan GM3PSP & Pete GM4BYF. The station made…
-
23 & 25 July 2020 – 122GHz – Two Firsts in 3 Days by Brian GM8BJF & Pete GM4BYF / G4BYF – Confirmed by UK Microwave Group
GM8BJF/P GM4BYF/P Brian GM8BJF reports: Pete…