Scottish Charity number SC045038
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
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.
-
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
-
9 Feb 2011 – RSGB National Amateur Radio Centre by Angus Annan MM1CCR
At the LRS meeting on Wednesday 9th February we were privileged to have a presentation from RSGB Past-President Angus Annan MM1CCR on the new RSGB National Amateur Radio Centre which is currently under construction and fitting-out at Bletchley Park and scheduled to open on 18 April 2011. A full report is posted in the Meeting Reports section. Angus Annan…
-
Congratulations – Michael Flynn, MM6MWF
Congratulations to Michael W Flynn, the proud owner of new callsign MM6MWF (his initials) after passing the Foundation Licence training course at the Cockenzie & Port Seton Amateur Radio Club. Michael is the son of LRS member Brian GM8BJF and Jane MM3MOM. He is a third generation ham – his grandfather was Geoff GM4FH (SK), this call now held by…
-
26 Jan 2010 – International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend 2010 by Geoff Crowley MM5AHO
Geoff Crowley MM5AHO talked about “The International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend 2010” at the LRS meeting on Wednesday 26th January. Also present was Alistair MacLeod MM0HAI, one of his two crew members. Geoff’s presentation included many photographs of their radio cruise in the Western Isles of Scotland and was much enjoyed by all who attended. A report with 16 photographs is posted in Meeting…
-
HAPPY NEW YEAR
HAPPY NEW YEAR to all Members and Friends of the Lothians Radio Society. We look forward to seeing you at LRS meetings in 2011. – The LRS Committee.
-
Lothians RAYNET Active During Snow Emergency
Members of Lothians RAYNET were called out by the City of Edinburgh Emergency Planning Officer, NHS Lothian and the Red Cross on Monday 6th December. Lothians RAYNET members were asked to provide support throughout the Lothian and Central Scotland areas, together with Lothians 4X4 at 10:41 on Monday, and their duties included providing transport for…
-
GM3HAM/P Featured in RadCom
The VHF NFD Report in the December 2010 issue of RSGB RadCom carries the photograph below (from the LRS website) of Brian GM8BJF operating on 70cm. In addition, there is the announcement that GM3HAM/P won the Restricted Section on the 50 MHz band and at 5th place was the highest-placed Scottish group overall in the Restricted Section,…
-
Intermediate Licence Training Course
The Cockenzie & Port Seton Amateur Radio Club will be running a training course for the Intermediate Licence from 8th January to 5th February 2011. The fee will be £65.00. Registrations must be submitted to Bob Glasgow by 11th December at the very latest. Full details are available in the Training section of this website.
-
Christmas Curry – Wednesday 8th December
The Lothians’ traditional Christmas Curry was held at the Himalaya Tandoori Restaurant at Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh on Wednesday 8th December. A great time was had by all the 18 LRS members and partners present. An album of additional photographs is posted in the Meeting Reports 2010-11 section. John GM8OTI, Peter GM4DTH & Brian GM4DIJ. The “who’s got…
-
Wed 24 November – Special Video Night
With the postponement of the scheduled talk, Peter Dick GM4DTH stepped in at a moment’s notice and organised an enjoyable program of DVDs of classic short documentary films made in the 1930s by the GPO Film Unit. These were related somewhat to our last talk “GPO Vans in the Strangest of Places” by John MacDonald GM4XZN. The films shown…
-
10th November – GPO Vans in the Strangest of Places, by GM4XZN
John Macdonald GM4XZN talked about “GPO Vans in the Strangest of Places” at the LRS meeting on 10th November. His talk was in two parts: (a) Early telegraphs in the Highlands; (b) GPO plant, vehicles & activities in the 1960s, illustrated by a Powerpoint show and 35mm slides. A full report with photographs is available in Meeting…
-
LRS Leaflet available for downloading
The LRS information leaflet can now be downloaded here for printing and giving to your radio friends. Copies can also be obtained from the secretary at club meetings.
-
Presentations now on Website
A number of presentations from LRS meetings are now available in the Meeting Reports area for you to read. Most have been converted from Powerpoint (.ppt) to PDF (.pdf) format to make them easier to open. If you have made a presentation that you would like to have added to this area, please send it to…