Scottish Charity number SC045038
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LRS Messages of the Day
Wed 28 Jan – LRS – 8:00pm at BHH library – ALMA (Atacama Large mm Array) – A Radio Observatory in Chile – The Trials and 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 and 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 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. This is currently the most powerful radio telescope on Earth. It comprises a total of 66 antennas. 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
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 25th Jan 2012 – International Lighthouses Weekend 2011 by Geoff Crowley MM5AHO
Approaching Skerryvore Lighthouse Geoff Crowley MM5AHO described and showed video footage shot by his son Matt MM1EUI of their participation in the International
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RSGB EGM on 19th November 2011 – All Motions Carried
Photo courtesy RSGB At the RSGB EGM held on 19th November 2011 at the Hilton Metropole Hotel, Birmingham NEC, all the
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Wed 14th December 2011 – LRS Christmas Curry
Paul GM4UPN & Brian GM8BJF, winners of the annual “Largest Naan” competition in 2011. (Photo by GM3PSP) The annual Lothians Radio
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Wed 23rd Nov 2011 – Communication Receiver Design by David Stockton GM4ZNX
(Photo courtesy GM4ZNX) David Stockton GM4ZNX talked about Communication Receiver Design at the LRS meeting on 23rd November 2011. He described the evolution of
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5th Nov 2011 – GMRT – Scottish Microwave Round Table
LRS Member Chris GM4YLN with Brian GM8BJF who brought a ton of test equipment to Burntisland to provide rig-testing for GMRT participants.
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9th Nov 2011 – GPS – Global Positioning System – by Andy Sinclair MM0FMF
Graphic courtesy www.gps.gov LRS Secretary Andy Sinclair MM0FMF gave a comprehensive talk about GPS – Global Positioning System – and its applications
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Sun 23rd Oct 2011 – Galashiels Rally
Jack GM1CQC & Alan GM3PSP at the LRS table at the Gala Rally 2011. (Photo by Peter GM4DTH) The Galashiels
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VHF NFD 2011 – Lothians 2nd in Restricted Section
VHF NFD site with some of our operators relaxing. The results of VHF NFD 2011 are just out and show
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2nd June 2012 – Central Scotland Mini-Convention
(Photo courtesy L&DARC) Lecture Programme & Poster available below. The Livingston and District Amateur Radio Club held a very successful Central Scotland Mini Convention on
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5th Oct 2011 – Radio Expeditioning, by Tom Wylie GM4FDM
Tom GM4FDM & Ronald PA3EWP in their comfortable shack in Senegal (Photo by Tom GM4FDM) Well-known Scottish DXpeditioner Tom Wylie GM4FDM talked about
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19th Oct 2011 – Surplus Equipment Sale
The LRS autumn Surplus Equipment Sale was held on Wednesday 19th October at St Fillans Church Hall. There was a raffle with an assortment
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Special Meeting – “WWW” – 28th Sept 2011 – at MOC
(Photo by Peter GM4DTH) At a special meeting of the Lothians Radio Society at the Museum of Communication in