Scottish Charity number SC045038
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LRS Messages of the Day
Thu 29 Jan – LRS Committee Meeting – If you have any issues, please inform Hon Sec Colin GM4HWO by Monday 26th.
Wed 28 Jan – LRS – 8:00pm at BHH library – ALMA (Atacama Large mm Array) – A Radio Observatory in Chile – The Trials & Tribulations of working at greater than 100 GHz – Bill Dent GM8RBT (Retired System Astronomer at ALMA).
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 25 Feb 2026 – 8pm at BHH – Digital Voice Modes by Allister Watson GM7RYR.
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Wed 11 Feb 8:00pm at BHH – LRS Quiz Evening. How much have you learned on your Amateur Radio journey and how much has been forgotten? (Teams of 4, so there is plenty of space to hide.) Brian Howie GM4DIJ @ James Gentles GM4WZP.
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Wed 28 Jan – LRS 8:00pm in BHH library – ALMA (Atacama Large mm Array) – A Radio Observatory in Chile – Trials & Tribulations of working at greater than 100 GHz by Bill Dent GM8RBT.
Bill will talk about the ALMA radio observatory in Chile. This is an array of 66 dishes, the largest and most powerful in the world, operating together at frequencies of 30-1000GHz in the Atacama desert, one of the driest places on earth. He will describe the site, some of the technical challenges of observing at >100GHz, and show some of the astronomical results. Bill is retired from System Astronomer at ALMA.
RECENT MEETINGS
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14 Jan 2026 – LRS Video Night 2026.
The Video Night 2026 was presented by Colin Murray GM4EAU in the… Read more
RALLIES AND OTHER EVENTS
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Sun 12 April 2026 – Norbreck (Blackpool) Rally
Pete GM4BYF confirms that parking at the rear of the Norbreck Hotel will be free provided that car owners register on the tablet provided within the convention.
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Saturday 28th March 2026 – 27th ANNUAL GMDX CONVENTION & DINNER
The 27th Annual GMDX Convention & Dinner will be held on Saturday 28th March 2026 at the King Robert Hotel, Stirling, FK7 0LJ.
A link to the Convention Programme is below, along with the booking form. Please use the instructions on the booking form, or visit the GMDX website link below to secure your booking: https://gmdx.org.uk/27th-annual-gmdx-convention-dinner/ It would be very much appreciated if you could book as soon as possible. See you there! Thanks & 73. Gordon, MM0GOR GMDX SecretaryGMDX Convention Programme 27th March 2026
CONTEST CALENDAR
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2026 RSGB Contest Rules published 20 Dec 2025:
2m May contest back to old slot.
70cm and 23cm 24hours again for VHF NFD.
Bonuses rather than multipliers (Post code etc) retained.https://www.rsgbcc.org/vhf/rul
es/26rules/frameindex.html Tnx Brian GM4DIJ.
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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, 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 Jan 2026 – Powerful X-Class Solar Flare causes Aurora in Scotland and Auroral Radio
Aurora from Dyke, Moray. Peter GM4DTH reports that an X1.9 flare and an associated CME were responsible for the events
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8 Jan – Strange Data Transmission on Medium Wave Band.
Brian Howie GM4DIJ reports: “I’ve come across a high-speed RTTY-sounding signal on the Medium Wave Band on 570kHz . I can
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Sept-Oct 2026 – DXpedition to Colombia by Norman MM0BMG
Following last year’s event. Norman is organizing another DXpedition to Colombia in the autumn of 2026. Norman can now confirm
2. SILENT KEYS
There are no current silent key notifications. Click on the heading to see the silent key archive.
3. ITEMS FOR SALE
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17 Jan 2026 – Items for Sale by Norman GM1CNH / MM0BMG
Equipment for sale v2025-08-17 GM1CNH Equipment Sale Updated: 17 August 2025 Alinco HF Mobile Whip Antenna 2.7 m mobile whip;
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17 Jan 2026 – Please note: all unsold items offered by Dave-6 GM6KGZ have now been removed from this website at his request. Look out for any new items that may appear!
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22 Feb 2025 – Triangular Mast 15m FREE to Pick up
Sat 22 Feb 2025 – 15m Tower : dismantled 2 sections x 7m triangular 0.5m. FREE to pick-up from Tom
Lothians Radio Society activities – latest reports
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Wed 23 May 2012 – D/F Hunt
The cunningly-hidden den of Fox GM4BYF. The Lothians Radio Society held its annual Direction-Finding Competition (D/F Hunt) on Wednesday 23rd
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UHF-Microwave Contest – 5th-6th May 2012
The GM3HAM/P UHF-Microwave Contesters 2012 planning strategy in the Gatehouse Conference Centre (aka the Masonic Arms) Last weekend, 5th – 6th May
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Wed 9th May 2012 – ZK2V DXpedition by Chris Tran ZL1CT / GM3WOJ
The ZK2V QTH (Photo courtesy GM3WOJ / ZL1CT) At the meeting of the Lothians Radio Society on Wednesday 9th May 2012, well-known Scottish
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Wed 25th April 2012 – DXCC, LOTW & 7Q7GM Malawi DXpedition by Rob GM3YTS
Rob Ferguson GM3YTS (photo courtesy QRZ.com) At the meeting of the Lothians Radio Society on 25th April 2012 Rob Ferguson GM3YTS, dedicated DXer
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Wed 11th April 2012 – Radioactivating East Africa in the 1960s / 70s by Andre GM3VLB
Andre’s first QSL card as 5Z5KL in Kenya At the meeting of the Lothians Radio Society on 11th April 2012 Andre Saunders
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Wed 28th March 2012 – Homebrew Microwave Construction by John Cooke GM8OTI
John GM8OTI and his homebrew 23cm & 13cm transverters and yagis At the meeting of the LRS on 28th March 2012 LRS
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9th March 2012 Aurora Summary by GM4BYF
The double CME eruption of March 7th produced a complicated magnetic situation. Most likely both CMEs “ate” each other (hence
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Wed 14th March 2012 – WWII Utility Radios by Colin GM4HWO & Peter GM4DTH
Colin GM4HWO & Peter GM4DTH after their presentation. At a most enjoyable meeting of the LRS on 14th March Colin Wright GM4HWO described the
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22nd Feb 2012 – Modifying PC PSUs for Radio Use by Brian Flynn GM8BJF
GM8BJF measuring voltage on a modified PC PSU At the meeting of the Lothians Radio Society on 22nd February LRS member Dr. Brian Flynn
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Wed 8th Feb 2012 – Aurora Explained by Dr. David Gavine
At the meeting of the Lothians Radio Society on Wednesday February 8th Dr. David Gavine talked on “Aurora Explained” – how it is caused by
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HAPPY NEW YEAR!
(Photo by GM3PSP) A Happy New Year to all our readers! We look forward to welcoming you to the meetings of
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Wed 11th Jan 2012 – Video Evening – ‘The Spies Who Lost the Battle of Britain’
CHL – Chain Home Low radar installation The first meeting of the LRS in 2012 was the Video Evening on