Scottish Charity number SC045038
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LRS Messages of the Day
4 March 2026 14:00h – SESAME – March IET Talk: The Voyager Interstellar Mission – by LRS members James Gentles GM4WZP and Dr John Cooke GM8OTI – at 2.00pm Napier University Colinton Campus – see Upcoming Meetings below.
Thurs 12 Feb – 6-7 pm – EU Lecture – Frontiers of Wireless Communication by Prof Gerhard Fettweis – Large Events Space, Edinburgh Futures Institute, 1 Lauriston Place (see below). Need to register in advance – CLICK.
Wed 11 Feb – 20:00h @ BHH – LRS Quiz Night in groups of 4.
Sat 7 Feb – FREE Technical books from Andy GM4LLD – See Items for Sale, below.
19 Jan 2026 – Silent Key – Dave-6 Henderson GM6KGZ – Funeral 11 Feb 2026 Mortonhall – Silent Key below.
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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Edinburgh Futures Institute (formerly ERI).
Thurs 12 Feb – 6-7 pm – EU Lecture – Frontiers of Wireless Communication by Prof Gerhard Fettweis – Large Events Space, Edinburgh Futures Institute, 1 Lauriston Place. Need to register in advance – CLICK.
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SESAME – March IET Talk: The Voyager Interstellar Mission – 4th March at 2.00pm Napier University Colinton Campus – Rivers Suite.Launched in 1977, the Voyager 1 & 2 spacecraft continue to send back scientific data despite now being almost 1 light-day from Earth.How has this been done and what of the future?The talk to be given by LRS members, James Gentles GM4WZP (engineer) and Dr John Cooke GM8OTI (scientist), will cover the achievements necessary to maintain this flow of scientific data back to Earth and the scientific discoveries made.You do not have to register but it does help us plan the event. The link to register is given below.
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Wed 25 Feb 2026 – 8pm at BHH – Digital Voice Modes by Allister Watson GM7RYR.
RECENT MEETINGS
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ALMA (Atacama Large mm Array) – A Radio Observatory in Chile – Trials & Tribulations of working at greater than 100 GHz by Bill Dent GM8RBT.
Bill Dent is retired System Astronomer at the ALMA Observatory in Chile.… Read more
RALLIES AND OTHER EVENTS
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Sun 12 April 2026 – Norbreck (Blackpool) Rally
Pete GM4BYF confirms that parking at the rear of the Norbreck Hotel will be free provided that car owners register on the tablet provided within the convention.
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Saturday 28th March 2026 – 27th ANNUAL GMDX CONVENTION & DINNER
The 27th Annual GMDX Convention & Dinner will be held on Saturday 28th March 2026 at the King Robert Hotel, Stirling, FK7 0LJ.
A link to the Convention Programme is below, along with the booking form. Please use the instructions on the booking form, or visit the GMDX website link below to secure your booking: https://gmdx.org.uk/27th-annual-gmdx-convention-dinner/ It would be very much appreciated if you could book as soon as possible. See you there! Thanks & 73. Gordon, MM0GOR GMDX SecretaryGMDX Convention Programme 27th March 2026 -
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.
Looking for a programme organizer for GMRT – contact Colin GM4HWO.
Details will be available nearer the date.
CONTEST CALENDAR
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2026 RSGB Contest Rules published 20 Dec 2025:
2m May contest back to old slot.
70cm and 23cm 24hours again for VHF NFD.
Bonuses rather than multipliers (Post code etc) retained.https://www.rsgbcc.org/vhf/rul
es/26rules/frameindex.html Tnx Brian GM4DIJ.
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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, 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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Sept-Oct 2026 – DXpedition to Colombia by Norman MM0BMG
Following last year’s event. Norman is organizing another DXpedition to Colombia in the autumn of 2026. RSGB RadCom has accepted
2. SILENT KEYS
There are no current silent key notifications. Click on the heading to see the silent key archive.
3. ITEMS FOR SALE
There are no current items for sale. Click on the heading to see any archived items.
Lothians Radio Society activities – latest reports
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24 Apr 2024 – “Contest Coaching” by Pete Bates GM4BYF
“Contest coaching – Tips & Tricks for Contest Operation” by Pete Bates GM4BYF Long-time contester Pete Bates GM4BYF
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20-21 Apr 2024 – LRS at Norbreck Rally, Blackpool
The merry LRS group at the Sunam Indian Restaurant. Pete GM4BYF & XYL Kay GM6KAY at their table. Tnx Colin
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10 Apr 2024 – LRS Spring Surplus Equipment Sale
There was an excellent turnout of 30 including many visitors, for the spring surplus equipment sale. Many interesting items, including
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27 March 2024 – “GB3EDN 1296MHz Beacon – History & Current Developments” by Brian Flynn GM8BJF
Dr Brian Flynn GM8BJF described the long history of the 1296MHz (23cm) beacon GB3EDN in Edinburgh and its various upgrades
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13 Mar 2024 – Running HF Stns Off-Grid – Malcolm Hamilton GM3TAL
Malcolm GM3TAL talked about running HF stations when grid / mains electricity is not available. He has been taking part in
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4 March 2024 – LRS in RSGB Tonight@8
VHF NFD Challenges & Fun Seen Through the Eyes of the Lothians Radio Society https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLKVGWU3-r4 Andy Sinclair MM0FMF (LRS host)
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28 Feb 2024 – “47 Years and Counting – Story of Voyagers 1 & 2” – John Cooke GM8OTI & James Gentles GM4WZP
John Cooke GM8OTI & James Gentles GM4WZP talked about the two NASA deep space probes, Voyagers 1 & 2, which are still
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14 Feb 2024 – “Understanding Baluns” – Brian Flynn GM8BJF
Dr. Brian Flynn GM8BJF Brian described the concept of balanced-to-unbalanced transformers (“baluns”) and showed a number of examples. Click for
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24 Jan 2024 – “SOTA & QRP Labs QCX Mini HF Tcvr” – Andy Sinclair MM0FMF
Andy talked about the QCX Mini tcvr from QRP Labs, its design & construction & use for SOTA operation (Summits On
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10 Jan 2024 – LRS Video Night -“The Boat that Rocked”.
Wed 10 Jan 2024 – LRS Video Night ‘The Boat That Rocked’ was set in the 1960s offshore broadcasting era.
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13 Dec 2023 – Xmas Curry
Good turnout of 15 for the 2023 LRS Xmas Curry at the Gurkha Cafe in Cockburn St.
