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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31 May 2025 – Peebles Get-Together
Brian GM8BJF and Colin GM4HWO met up in Peebles for dinner & a pint with Brian’s friend Andrew Dozier visiting from USA.
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28 May 2025 – LRS 2025 D/F Hunt
Summary report on D/F Hunt 2025 by Peter GM4DTH (Fox – GM3HAM/P). Photos by James GM4WZP (tnx). Starting from “The Tardis” on Braid Hills Road, the Fox station GM3HAM/P was located in the Roseburn Woods near to the Roseburn Bar. Four hunters were at the start and were welcomed and briefed by Coordinator James…
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18 May 2025 – Braehead Rally, Glasgow.
LRS members Colin GM4HWO, Peter GM4DTH, Iain GM1MSS & Colin GM4EAU. For full report with many photos, click.
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19 May 2025 – GB3EDN 1296MHz Beacon in Edinburgh spotted in Sweden
The GB3EDN beacon on 1296MHz in Edinburgh has been spotted on 2025-05-19.It was spotted on 1296.99MHz at 08:27 UTC by SM6VTZ locator JO58UJ27 distance 939km. Comment:- jo58uj<tr>io85jv 539 n 0.
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Andy MM0FMF/P on Stuc a’Chroin in RSGB RadCom June 2025 p.59
Congrats to LRS President Andy Sinclair MM0FMF on the publication of his SOTA /portable photo on Stuc a’Chroin in Radcom, June 2025, p59.
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14 May 2025 Engineering Challenges: Microwave Preamps for 70cm and 23cm by Pete Bates GM4BYF.
14 May 2025 Engineering challenges: Microwave Preamps for 70cm and 23cm by Pete Bates GM4BYF. There was a turnout of 23 for Pete’s talk on his work on UHF preamps.
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23 Apr 2025 – Special Meeting: The Future of our Amateur Radio Hobby by Chris Tran GM3WOJ.
23 Apr 2025 – LRS Special Meeting: The Future of our Amateur Radio Hobby by Chris Tran GM3WOJ For this special meeting, our good friend Chris Tran GM3WOJ travelled down to Edinburgh from his home near Invergordon. This July Chris will have been licenced for 58 years and has been very active in contesting and…
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12-13 Apr 2025: Norbreck (Blackpool) Rally.
Photos tnx Colin GM4HWO: LRS group shot at end of rally. Norman Stewart GM1CNH, Peter Dick GM4DTH, Rob Humphrey MM0RHU, Colin Wright GM4HWO, Peter Barclay GM0PXV, Brian Flynn GM8BJF, Dan Robson GM1CMQ. Brian GM8BJF, Colin GM4HWO & Mike Chapman GM4IGS outside the Bispham Hotel. Dan GM1CMQ, Peter GM0PXV, Norman GM1CNH & Rob MM0RHU…
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9 Apr 2025 – Surplus Equipment Sale
The LRS Spring Surplus Equipment Sale was held as usual at St Fillan’s Church in Buckstone. There was an excellent turnout of 30, including a number of members of the Livingston club who brought many items for sale from a recent Silent Key. Ed Bain GM4AIS Norman Stewart GM1CNH LRS Chairman Andy…
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28 Mar 2025 – 80 Years of Airborne Radar – Dr Iain Scott FREng
Wed 26 March 2025 – Dr Iain Scott FREng: “80 years of Airborne Radar – From the Cavity Magnetron to Multi-Function RF Systems” Dr Iain Scott FREng, VP Capability & Chief Technology Office at Leonardo Electronics Division. The talk explored key milestones in the developments of airborne radar, from the development of the Cavity Magnetron…
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12 March 2025 – Amateur Radio in Colombia – Norman HK3/MM0BMG.
The T-shirt reads “He’s not a businessman, he’s a very naughty boy!”, or something like that… Report soon. Norman talked about his experiences operating in Colombia with reciprocal licence HK3/MM0BMG.
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Sat 15 March 2025 – MoC Goudie Lecture by Dr Peter Grant – Wartime Centimetre Wavelength Radar Developments
Click for full information.