Scottish Charity number SC045038
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LRS Messages of the Day:
Sun 25 Oct 2026 – Galashiels Rally – 11:15am – Volunteer Hall, Galashiels. LRS table. Wed 28 Oct 2026 – LRS at BHH – Blood Bikes Scotland – Phil Dodsworth & John Taylor Wed 11 Nov 2026 – 7:30PM – 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.
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28 Oct 2026 – Blood Bikes Scotland by Phil Dodsworth & John Taylor GM3JRT
Blood Bikes Scotland (BBS) is a fully volunteer-run and donation-funded charity that provides a completely no cost courier service to 5 NHS Scotland Health Boards in Lothians, Borders, Fife, Central, and Tayside. BBS use both motorcycles and cars to move a variety of essential items 7 days a week, including: medicines and controlled drugs, tissue and blood samples, prescriptions, clerical and medical documents, medical equipments, and, occasionally, blood.
The alternative courier services cost the NHS precious funds and BBS has saved NHS Scotland over £450,000 in courier costs in the last 12 months.
Phil Dodsworth, a Trustee with BBS, will be giving a presentation all about BBS and how it functions. Our own Treasurer John GM4JRT also volunteers with BBS and will be on hand to answer any specific questions LRS members might have.
More information can be found on the Blood Bikes Scotland website: <https://bloodbikesscotland.
org/>28 Oct 2026 –
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/
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Sun 25 Oct 2026 – Galashiels Rally
11:15 am – Volunteer Hall, Galashiels.
See: Galashiels and District Amateur Radio Society (GDARS) GM4YEQ
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
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Sat 24 Oct 2026 – MOC Goudie Lecture: Vision 1926: Baird, Early Television and Museum Legacy, presented by Iain Logie Baird, grandson of John Logie Baird.
Sat 24 Oct 2026 -MoC Goudie Lecture – Vision 1926: Baird, Early… 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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HP 27″ Computer Monitor For Sale by Colin GM4HWO.
HP 27″ Full HD Computer Monitor – Model HSTND-9711-A (27fw Series) Size is 610 mm wide x 360mm high – 27 inch diagonal Condition: VGC, Tested & fully working. Screen is clean with no dead pixels. Includes mains power cable and HDMI lead . Key Features from the internet • 27-inch Full HD IPS Display – Crisp 1920×1080 resolution with wide viewing angles • Ultra-Slim Design – • Connectivity Options – HDMI & VGA • Energy Efficient – Low power consumption with LED backlighting • User-Friendly Controls – Rear-mounted buttons for easy menu navigation Price £35. COLLECTION FROM gm4hwo…
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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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GM3HAM/P Wins Cockenzie Quaich in VHF NFD 2015
The Lothians Radio Society GM3HAM/P, operating from our usual site near Gatehouse of Fleet in Dumfries & Galloway, was the leading station in Scotland and 2nd place overall in the Restricted section of VHF NFD 2015, winning the Cockenzie Quaich. (Photo taken on a previous occasion when we won it)! In addition we were…
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18 Aug 2015 – 24GHz GM-GW QSO by Brian Flynn GM8BJF
Congratulations to LRS member Brian Flynn GM8BJF who has just achieved his first QSO on 24GHz from Scotland to Wales. Report by Brian: Yesterday Alan GM0USI and I went to Gatehouse of Fleet (IO74WV) and had contacts on 24 GHz with Tony G(W)4CBW in IO83HH near Prestatyn. Signals were 59 each way and we ended…
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Iain Maconochie GM3GIG – Silent Key – 19 July 2015
Iain Maconochie GM3GIG died on 19th July 2015 at the age of 94. He was an active member of the Lothians Radio Society in the 1950s and 60s. He was a keen constructor, believing that operators should enjoy and practise the technical side of the hobby rather than just being “black box” operators. During WWII…
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4-5 July 2015 – VHF NFD – GM3HAM/P at Gatehouse
The Lothians Radio Society Contest Group operated GM3HAM/P in VHF NFD 2015 from our usual site near Gatehouse of Fleet. Conditions were nothing special, although 6m was well up on last year’s poor score. The wx was “challenging” at times, especially the Friday night, but the event was enjoyed by all. We adjourned to the Masonic Arms…
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2 July 2015 – Bienvenu en Edimbourg, Cedric F5PSR
Cedric F5PSR from the south of France contacted the secretary prior to coming to Edinburgh for an English language brush-up course in connection with his job as an air traffic controller at his local airport. On arrival in Edinburgh contact was made with Alan GM3PSP on 2m FM and a meeting was arranged at…
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Summer Pub Nights – 2nd & 4th Wednesdays in July & August
During July and August the LRS held informal Pub Nights on the usual meeting nights (2nd & 4th Wednesdays) at “wee Bennet’s” bar, 1, Maxwell St / corner of Morningside Rd on 8, 22 July & 12, 26 August. Pub Night 4 on 26th August Alan GM3PSP, Pete GM4BYF, Peter GM4DTH, Tommy GM4DCL, Briain GM8PKL,…
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15 June 2015 – Congratulations to Stuart Wright MM3TZP/LLB.
Colin GM4HWO & Stuart MM3TZP, LLB. Congratulations to Stuart Wright MM3TZP who has graduated Bachelor of Laws with 2.1 Honours from the University of Aberdeen. Stuart is the son of LRS member Colin Wright GM4HWO, and has operated with GM3HAM/P in VHF NFD a number of times.
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7 June 2015 – Livingston Rally
Microwavers Brian GM8BJF (LRS) & Alan GM0USI (Glasgow) There was a good turnout for the Central Scotland Mini Radio Convention in Livingston on Sunday 7th June 2015. Several LRS members attended and picked up bargains. Prof Tom Stevenson was among the lecturers, talking about the history of microelectronics. Full report with photos.
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24 June 2015 – LRS Summer Barbecue
Pete GM4BYF, Brian GM8BJF, Robin GM4YPL & Chris GM4YLN The annual summer barbecue of the Lothians Radio Society was held on Wednesday 24th June at the QTH of Pete GM4BYF & Kay GM6KAY at Fairmilehead, with 17 members and friends attending. Pete and Kay put on a great spread including steaks kindly brought by David…
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10 June 2015 – LRS Annual General Meeting
After the AGM, members adjourned to the new hotel deck to enjoy refreshments in the nice sunny evening. The Annual General Meeting of the Lothians Radio Society was held on 10th June 2015 at the Braid Hills Hotel. LRS President Andy Sinclair MM0FMF reported (via Skype from Germany) on another very successful year. Treasurer Peter…
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50th Anniversary of Death of Sir Edward Appleton
Photo courtesy of Edinburgh University The University of Edinburgh has commemorated the 50th anniversary this year of the death of Sir Edward Appleton, discoverer of the ionosphere, by laying a wreath at his gravestone in Morningside cemetery, Edinburgh, just a short walk from the meeting place of the Lothians Radio Society. It is easily found…
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11 April 2015 – LRS Members Win RSGB Awards
Chris Grierson GM4YLN & John Gould G3WKL. At the GMDX Convention at Bannockburn on 11th April 2015, RSGB President Dr. John Gould G3WKL presented trophies to two LRS members and one close friend of the LRS. Congratulations to them all. Chris Grierson GM4YLN received the RSGB Jack Wylie Trophy as the outstanding Scottish station…