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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Lothians Featured in RSGB Yearbook 2011
The Lothians Radio Society has been added to the “Featured Clubs” section of the new RSGB Yearbook 2011, just published. In addition to a write-up of LRS activities, a number of photographs of recent portable contests are included in the CD which is enclosed with the Yearbook. Hurry – order your copy today! Click for RSGB Shop.
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Wed 20th October – Junk Sale
The LRS autumn Junk Sale was held on Wednesday 20th October at St Fillan’s Church Hall, Buckstone Drive, arranged by Pete Bates GM4BYF. There was a good turn-out of members and visitors from other clubs. Lots of good “stuff” was sold, producing useful income for club funds. A report with photographs can be accessed by clicking here. Chairman John GM8OTI welcoming…
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6th October – GB3EDN 23cm Beacon by GM8BJF
Dr. Brian Flynn GM8BJF talked about “The GB3EDN 23cm Beacon – History and Update” on 6th October. A full report with photographs is available in “Meeting Reports“. Brian GM8BJF with the hardware for the new GB3EDN beacon.
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September 22nd Meeting – Visit to Museum of Communication
The Lothians Radio Society made its annual visit to the Museum of Communication, 131 High Street, Burntisland, Fife on Wednesday 22nd September. The current exhibition at the MOC is More Great Scots – Mary Somerville, the 19th century astronomer, mathematician, artist, georgrapher translater and “local hero”. Members also had access to the museum’s large collection of radio- and…
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2m Trophy 2010 at Gatehouse of Fleet – 4/5 September 2010
Photographs of this event by Peter GM4DTH are now available for viewing under Society Activities – Contest-Portable. Norrie GM1CNH hard at it in the 2m Trophy contest
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New LRS Archive Section on Website
A new Archive section has been created on this website and the Editor – Alan GM3PSP – is working to fill it with photographs and historical data of the Lothians Radio Society. Feel free to send him any photographs etc from the early (or not so early) days of the LRS that illustrate our history…
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President’s Address – 8th September 2010
New LRS President Dr. John Cooke GM8OTI presented his President’s Address “Home-brew /P” on Wednesday, 8th September at the Braid Hills Hotel. John’s main interests in Amateur Radio are VHF and up, simple “home-brew” radio equipment, and portable operation. He talked about some of his recent projects, including linear amplifiers, antennas, and a 23cm transverter. He…
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Galashiels Rally – 17th October 2010
The Lothians Radio Society had a table at the Galashiels Rally on Sunday 17th October to promote the club and seek new members. It was manned by Alan GM3PSP and LRS President John GM8OTI. The new LRS promotional programme of photographs of recent meetings, DF Hunt, social events and portable contests was shown continuously on a…
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Cockenzie Junk Night – 13th August 2010
The Lothians Radio Society had a promotional table at this event with the new GM3HAM banner on display and staffed by LRS President John GM8OTI. A number of positive enquiries about LRS membership were received. At least 12 LRS members attended. An album of photographs has been posted under Society Activities.
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GM3HAM/P – VHF Field Day 3-4 July 2010
L-R: Stuart MM3TZP (operator) and SWL MIchael (logger) did a great job on 2 metres. VIEW MORE PHOTOS OF THIS EVENT BY GM4DIJ & GM3PSP IN ‘SOCIETY ACTIVITIES’. Using the LRS club callsign GM3HAM/P a small but dedicated group of members of the Lothians Radio Society took part in VHF NFD from our usual site…
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30 June 2010 – Barbecue
30 June 2010 Annual Lothians Barbecue The annual Barbecue of the Lothians Radio Society was held on Wednesday 30th June at the QTH of Pete GM4BYF and Kay Bates GM6KAY and was enjoyed by all who attended. Our thanks go to Pete and Kay for their kind hospitality. For more photographs of this event by GM4DTH and GM3PSP, go…
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Annual General Meeting – Report
9 June 2010 Annual General Meeting 2010 The Annual General Meeting of the Lothians Radio Society was held in the Braid Hills Hotel, 134 Braid Road, Edinburgh EH10 6JD on Wednesday 9th June 2010. The following Committee members were elected (for all photographs, go to the Committee page on this website): President: Dr. John Cooke GM8OTI…