Scottish Charity number SC045038
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LRS Messages of the Day:
20-21 June 2026 – GM3HAM/P operated by Brian GM4DIJ in 50MHz Trophy Contest from near Stranraer – see below – Radio News Items.
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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LRS Barbecue POSTPONED from Wed 24th June. New date TBA ~ Aug.
Wed 9 Sept 2026 – Presidential Address – Andy Sinclair GM4LLD.
Wed 23rd Sept 2026 – LRS Visit to MOC Burntisland 2026 Exhibition – When Screens were Small, but the Magic seemed Huge – 100 Years of Television. There will also be a lecture by Prof. Tom Stevenson – 100 Years of Television – some Technical Milestones, including the early days of TV in Orkney.
RALLIES AND OTHER EVENTS
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Sunday 25 Oct 2026 – Galashiels Rally
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Friday 14th August 2026 18:00 to 21:00 Cockenzie & Port Seton Junk Night, Port Seton Community Centre, South Seton Park Port Seton EH32 0BG
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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.
https://gmroundtable.org.uk/
One more speaker to present a microwave-related talk is still needed – contact Colin gm4hwo@gmail.com.Details will be available nearer the date.
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9 May – 30 Sept – Weds & Sats – MOC Exhibition 2026
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Friday 17 July 2026 – MOC Goudie lecture – The Pavek Museum of Electronic Communication, Minneapolis USA.
Our next Goudie Lecture will take place at 7.30 pm on Friday 17 July and is entitled The Pavek Museum of Electronic Communication, Minneapolis USA. It will be presented by the Museum’s Curartor, Dr Luis F. E. Souza, who is visiting Scotland for a conference in Edinburgh. The lecture is taking place on a Friday, as this is the only day available in Dr Souza’s busy schedule. Please see Events – Museum Of Communication for further information.The Pavek Museum has a similar background to the MoC, being started by Joseph Pavek [1908-1989] who was only slightly older than our own founder, Harry Matthews.To attend in person, please email enquiries@mocft.co.uk or REPLY ALL to this e-mail. Zoom access details will be sent to you about 10 days before the Lecture.
Attendance in person costs £5. Those viewing the lectures online are encouraged to make a voluntary donation of £5 in support of MoC activities via our web page at Shop – Museum Of Communication. We are a charitable organisation that relies entirely on donations for financial survival.Please be aware that our lectures are not recorded. There is therefore no catch-up facility.
CONTEST CALENDAR
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20-21 June 2026 – GM3HAM/P operated by Brian GM4DIJ in 50MHz Contest.
I’m out /P from IO74MU for the 50MHz Trophy. Today and tomorrow. 3pm till I get hungry, and 9am to 3pm tomorrow.
Fairly minimalist effort 300W to a 5 ele
Listen for GM3HAM/P . No postcode bonuses, only countries and squares -
3-5 July 2026 – VHF NFD 2026 participation by LRS is CANCELLED. Sadly, the key players in the LRS contest group have decided this event will need to be cancelled. The main reasons are lack of resources and transport at this time. Participation in the Sept 2026 VHF event is being discussed.
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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, 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
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20-21 June 2026 – GM3HAM/P operated by Brian GM4DIJ in 50MHz Trophy contest from near Stranraer.
Brian operated from his usual location near Stoneykirk, SW of Stranraer. “The weather was good if a little warm. I did the 24Hour section, but split it into two sessions. Saturday 3pm till 7pm. This was set by the falling off of SpE and the need for dinner. Sunday was 8am to 3pm. The band was open via SpE to most of Europe , Italy, France, Spain etc, but I was failing to get replies to CQ and to work what were very loud stations. I think it was a combination of heavy QRM in Europe and my…
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11 June 2026 – US Army’s breakthrough sensor to pinpoint radio signals on battlefield
US Army develops ‘breakthrough’ Rubidium vapour cell quantum sensor to pinpoint radio signals on battlefields. See: https://interestingengineering.com/military/us-develops-breakthrough-sensor-for-battlefield
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RadCom June 2026 – LRS NARSA Rally Photo in RSGB RadCom
The LRS group photo taken at Pete GM4BYF’s table at the NARSA (Blackpool) Rally has been published in RSGB RadCom magazine, June 2026 issue, p.80.
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Sat 27 June 2026 – BBC to close Radio-4 198kHz Long-Wave Service.
The BBC will close its Radio-4 198kHz Long-Wave service from Droitwich, Burghead and Westerglen on Saturday 27th June 2026. It had operated since Sept 1934. The RSGB and the BBC Amateur Radio Group are planning to mark this event on the air. Click for info.
2. RECENT MEETINGS
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17 June 2026 – LRS AGM 2026
John Taylor GM4JRT (Treasurer), Andy Sinclair GM4LLD (President), Dr. Iain Coates GM1MSS… 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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13 June 2026 – Dell Monitor for Sale by Andy GM4LLD
Dell U2412M hires 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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26 Apr 2026 – Bencher BY-1 Dual Paddle for Sale by Andy GM4LLD.
Bencher BY-1 dual paddle key. Chrome mechanics on black base. Used and slightly worn but in very good condition otherwise. Pictures available on request. Price £125 or offer. Andy Sinclair GM4LLD (formerly MM0FMF
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10 Mar 2026 – For Sale: Sigma 2010 Skip Master 25-30MHz am/fm/ssb, fibreglass home base antenna
John GM4JRT has for sale this aerial a Sigma 2010 skip master 25-30MHz am/fm/ssb , fibreglass home base antenna , works well without an ATU on 10 m and 11m band I have the aerial at my QTH , photo attached – collection from QTH GM4HWO @ Liberton Sigma 2010 skip master 25-30MHhz am/fm/ssb , fibreglass home base antenna, power handling 1000 watts, length 5.48 m/ 18 feet, Gain 9.9 dB, impedance 50 ohms, frequency 25-30MHz (with tuning), construction fibreglass, swr 1:1.3, Mounting bracket pole, the sigma euro-comm ½ wave skip master 2010 is a high performance base station antenna.…
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29 Jan 2026 – Items for Sale by Norman MM0BMG (Reduced Prices).
Norman has reduced the prices of many of the items on his list: GM1CNH Equipment Sale Updated: 29 January 2026 Item Description Price Alinco HF Mobile Whip Antenna 2.7 m mobile whip; antenna mounting bracket and spring; adjustable vehicle mounting bracket; heavy duty; boxed. NEW – £150 Anritsu MT8820A Radio Communication Analyser 30 MHz to 2.7 GHz, spectrum analyser, 2G/3G mobile phone tester, output power, modulation, RF signal generation, £300 Badger Boards HF Antenna wideband folded dipole antenna with balun N(f) connector; heavy duty centre spacer; termination resistor; 1.5 MHz to 30 MHz; supplied with 2 x 50 ft antenna…
Lothians Radio Society activities – latest reports
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14th June 2012 – LRS Operating GS4WAB in Olympic Torch Event
Peter GM4DTH operating GS4WAB on 40m. The Lothians Radio Society operated Special Event Station GS4WAB for the WAB Olympic Torch Event on Thursday 14th June 2012 from the QTH of Pete GM4BYF at Fairmilehead. Over 400 QSOs were made, principally on 40m. The Olympic Torch then continued its journey towards London for the opening of the Olympic Games…
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AGM – Wed 13th June 2012
The Annual General Meeting of the Lothians Radio Society was held on Wednesday 13th June 2012 at the Braid Hills Hotel. The newly-elected committee for 2012-13 is: President: Andy Sinclair MM0FMF Secretary: Alan Masson GM3PSP Treasurer: Peter Dick GM4DTH Committee: John Cooke GM8OTI Brian Flynn GM8BJF Paul Ingram GM4UPN Jack Smith GM1CQH Colin…
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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 May 2012. Click for Full report.
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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 2012, members of the GM3HAM/P Contest Group of the Lothians Radio Society again took part in the RSGB UHF-Microwave Contest. Our location was on a hilltop above Gatehouse of Fleet in Kirkcudbrightshire where we have operated…
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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 DXer Chris Tran ZL1CT / GM3WOJ described his single-operator DXpedition to the island of Niue (OC-040) in the South Pacific from 21st October to 20th December 2011. Using the callsign ZK2V Chris made 35,686 QSOs from this rare…
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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 and well-known as the Chairman of the GMDX Group, talked about the ARRL DX Century Club award (DXCC) and ARRL Logbook of the World (LOTW), the on-line system for QSLing contacts. As a bonus, Rob also described his DXpedition to…
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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 GM3VLB talked about “Radioactivating East Africa in the 1960s/70s”. Andre was accompanied by his wife, Veronica, who acted as projectionist. Report here. Andre says: “The alternative title to my talk might be “From Scottish Crystals to Tanzanian Gemstones”…
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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 Past-President Dr. John Cooke GM8OTI talked about “Homebrew Microwave Construction”. John is an avid SOTA operator and has designed and constructed all his lightweight portable equipment, progressively moving up in frequency band, now on 13cm. When first licensed…
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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 weakening the strength of the magnetic field BZ). Only the latter part finally produced some aurora, but not as strong as it might have been. Finally the BZ turned south and around 12:00 UTC the…
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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 “Utility Radios” that were manufactured by a number of companies as affordable broadcast receivers for the home during World War II. Then Peter Dick GM4DTH showed film footage of broadcasting during the war and played a selection of recordings…
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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 GM8BJF described how to modify computer power supply units for use in Amateur Radio. The talk started off with a description of the operation of SMPS – Switch-Mode Power Supplies – and an explanation of the commonly used topologies (circuit…
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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 disturbances on the Sun, what it looks like & how it was “explained” in the past, with plenty of illustrations. Dr Gavine is retired from teaching astro-navigation and meteorology at Leith Nautical College (where Colin Wright…