Scottish Charity number SC045038
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LRS Messages of the Day:
Wed 11 Nov 2026 – 7:30PM – LRS Open Meeting – Need to book your place – The end of the BBC 198kHz Radio 4 long wave service – Mark Hughes GM4ISM. Note that this meeting will be held in the Buckstone Bar, next to the Braid Hills Hotel, if the current maintenance work on the Gathering Bar is not completed.
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.
LOCATION: if the current maintenance work in the Gathering Bar at the rear of the Braid Hills Hotel is not complete, this meeting will be held in the Buckstone Bar next to 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.
RALLIES AND OTHER EVENTS
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31 Oct 2026 – Scottish Microwave Round Table GMRT 2026
The 2026 Scottish Microwave Round Table was held, appropriately, on Halloween this year. The event was sold out and the lecture room at the MOC/Burntisland was full. There were interesting talks – several from LRS members, including Andy (GM4LLD) on portable microwave operating (lugging dishes up some cold Scottish mountains), Peter (GM4BYF) and Brian (GM8BJF) on tricks and techniques on SM component soldering (with lively participation and experiences from the audience). Also Martin (GM8IEM) talked about his sequencer design for the IC9700, and Mark (GM4ISM) gave some ideas about modding commercial microwave gear for amateurs (aka ‘bodging’). There were some cool bits of identifiable (and unidentifiable) microwave goodies for sale, some fancy test gear for GHz visitors, and tasty food for lunch. A good day out and meet up with other microwavers from Scotland and south of the border.
The room was full! 
Andy introduced Brian GM8BJF talking about SM soldering tricks 
Mark/GM4ISM talked about bodging commercial microwave equipment for amateur use. 
Some interesting microwave bits for sale 
Fancy testgear available (not for sale) 
Speakers: Mark/GM8IEM, Peter/GM4BYF, Brian/GM8BJF, Martin/GM8IEM, and Andy/GM4LLD 
More pictures at https://gmroundtable.org.uk/gmrt-2026-photos/
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
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Nov 2026 – Ian Lindsay GM8LYQ – 50 Years in RSGB
Congratulations to Ian Lindsay GM8LYQ who is celebrating his 50 years continuous membership of the RSGB – RadCom Nov 2026, p.10.
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4 Nov 2026 – GB3EDN spotted on 1296MHz – Beaconspot.uk (DXC spot
GB3EDN in Edinburgh on 1296MHz has been spotted on 2026-11-04. It was spotted on 1296.99MHz at 23:28 UTC by SM6EAN locator JO58SA distance 923km. Comment:- io85 <tr> jo58 519.
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25 Oct 2026 – Galashiels Rally
LRS members visited the Gala Rally, enjoying the Storm Boelo winds on the way down. LRS attendees included Jack GM1CQC, Iain GM1MSS, Pete GM4BYF, Colin GM4EAU, Colin GM4HWO and Brian GM8BJF. Among the people present was our good friend Chris Tran GM3WOJ from Tain. Photos by Colin GM4HWO: Entrance to the rally in the Volunteer Hall, Galashiels. The rally hall. The rally hall. Captain Birdseye. Bring & Buy Stall. Pete GM4BYF’s table. Chris GM3WOJ (all the way from Tain). Jack GM1CQC. LRS Secretary Iain GM1MSS & Colin GM4EAU. Brian…
2. RECENT MEETINGS
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 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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“LRS Members and their Shacks”
A new section has been added to this website – “LRS Members and their Shacks“ thanks to the good work of John GM8OTI. Entries are listed in alphabetical order by callsign. Take a look, and if you like what you see, send one or more photographs of yourself and your shack, with a description, to the website…
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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 Mini-Rally. The LRS again had an information table at the Cockenzie & Port Seton Radio Club “Mini-Rally” on Friday 12th August. At the table we showed an updated version of the LRS Powerpoint promo and distributed LRS…
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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. L-R: Vic JA5VQ, Tommy GM4DCL. Alan GM3PSP, Paul GM4UPN & Peter GM4DTH. (Photo by JA5VQ). The merry group (well, most of them!) at the 3rd LRS Pub Night on 10th August. L-R: Colin GM4HWO, Vic…
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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 Group of the Lothians Radio Society participated in VHF National Field Day 2011 on July 2nd – 3rd from our usual site in the hills near Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfriesshire. We entered the restricted section (in which…
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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 Club in the 2011 – 2012 session for the Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced Amateur Radio Licences. Please go to the Training area to view.
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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 Blackford Hill. (Photo by Peter GM4DTH). The 2011 DF Hunt was held on May 25th, starting from the Braid Hills Hotel. The Fox station GM3HAM/P operated by Peter GM4DTH was located on the south side of Blackford…
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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 put on a magnificent spread. An album of photographs is posted in Meeting Reports.
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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 section of VHF-NFD 2010, was displayed at the LRS meeting on 11th May 2011 at the Braid Hills Hotel.
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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 May starting from the Braid Hills Hotel at 7:20 pm (and not 8:00 pm as previously indicated). As usual, Peter Dick GM4DTH will organize this event and will be the “fox” station. Contestants will require…
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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 – 8th May from our usual site on a hilltop near Gatehouse of Fleet. All bands from 432 MHz to 24 GHz were operated under very average conditions. The weather was atrocious at times with very heavy rain…
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11 May 2011 – RAYNET by Charlie GM6MUZ
At the Lothians Radio Society meeting on 11th May 2011 Charlie Duncan GM6MUZ talked about the activities of the Lothians RAYNET Group, of which he is the Controller. A full report with photographs is posted in Meeting Reports.
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27 Apr 2011 – R1155 / T1154 Restoration by Ian GM0UHC
Ian Ropper GM0UHC drew an attendance of 24 on 27th April for his talk on the restoration of the classic Marconi WWII RAF R1155 Receiver & T1154 Transmitter as used in the Lancaster bomber. He demonstrated working equipment which generated much interest. A full report with photographs and Ian’s website URL is posted in Meeting Reports. …