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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Bell Rock Lighthouse & the Stevensons – MOC – Tonight – Tues 23rd
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia This month’s Goudie lecture at the Museum of Communication will be “The Bell Rock Lighthouse and the
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Presidential Address – Surface Mount Construction -14th Sept 2011
LRS President Pete Bates GM4BYF giving a demonstration of surface mount construction. The first meeting of the new 2011-2012
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“LRS Members and their Shacks”
A new section has been added to this website – “LRS Members and their Shacks“ thanks to the good work
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LRS Table at Cockenzie Mini-Rally – 12 Aug 2011
L-R: Alan GM3PSP, Jack GM1CQC, Paul GM4UPN, Colin GM4HWO & Andy MM0FMF at the LRS table at the CPSRC
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Informal Summer Pub Nights 2011
The 4th and final informal pub night for summer 2011 was held on Wednesday 24th August at “wee” Bennet’s Bar at Morningside.
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GM3HAM/P in VHF NFD – 2-3 July 2011
VHF NFD: L-R: Mike GM4IGS, Brian GM8BJF, Colin GM4HWO, Pete GM4BYF, Brian GM4DIJ, Robin GM4YPL & Alan GM3PSP. The GM3HAM/P Contest
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Training Courses at Cockenzie & Port Seton ARC
Bob Glasgow GM4UYZ has provided details of training courses to be offerred by the Cockenzie & Port Seton Amateur Radio
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Direction Finding Hunt – 25 May 2011
L-R: Brian GM4DIJ, John GM8OTI & Brian GM8BJF after locating the Fox station GM3HAM/P on the south side of
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Summer Barbecue – Wed 6 July 2011
The annual Lothians Summer Barbecue was held on Wednesday 6th July at the QTH of Pete GM4BYF and Kay GM6KAY who
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Cockenzie Quaich Displayed at LRS Meeting on 11th May
The Cockenzie Quaich, won by the GM3HAM/P Contest Group of the Lothians Radio Society for top Scottish station in the restricted
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Next Meeting – Wed 25 May 2011 – D/F Hunt
The next meeting of the Lothians Radio Society will be the annual Direction Finding Competition (D/F Hunt) on Wednesday 25th
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7-8 May 2011 – UHF-Microwave Contest at Gatehouse of Fleet
The GM3HAM Contest Group of the Lothians Radio Society took part in the 2011 RSGB UHF-Microwave Trophy Contest on 7th