Welcome to the Lothians Radio Society
27th Feb 2019 - Amateur Radio Operating in Colombia - Norrie Stewart GM1CNH / HK3/MM0BMG
- Details
- Written by Alan GM3PSP
On 27th Feb 2019 Norrie Stewart GM1CNH gave an illustrated talk on Amateur Radio Operating in Colombia as HK3/MM0BMG. Having travelled to Colombia many times since 2010, in 2018 he decided to take radio gear with him. This is how he got on...
Self-taught in Amateur Radio while at school and first licenced in 1983 with a class B licence GM1CNH. In 1997 passed the 12 wpm Morse test and gained a class A licence MM0BMG. Worked in the aerospace and defence industry since 1986 on airborne fire control and surveillance radar systems for various fixed wing and rotary wing platforms.
Norrie with his portable vertical aerial, which he used mostly on 20m during his trip to Colombia.
More on AMSAT Es'hail-2 geostationary satellite - now called Quatar OSCAR-100 or QO-100
- Details
- Written by Alan GM3PSP
LATEST: Brian Flynn GM8BJF reports that he has worked PY2GN near Sao Paolo in Brazil at GG56tv.
Feb 2019 - Brian Flynn GM8BJF reports that he is now QRV on the satellite and has worked / ragchewed with G8BKE and has heard GM3SBC and GM0ONN, noting that "on the whole, the satellite is not too busy". Alan GM3PSP has heard Brian via the BATC Goonhilly site, working OH1ZAA, GM0ONN & PA3FYM.
John Cooke GM8OTI is now also able to receive the geostationary satellite Es'hail-2, now called Quatar OSCAR-100, using simple equipment as demonstrated by Brian Flynn GM8BJF in his recent LRS talk on 23rd January - see below.
GM8OTI's screenshot of what is believed to be test transmission of broadband digital TV signal.
Click for John's Reception Report with photos.
Click for John's Narrowband Report: with photos
Click for BATC Narrowband transponder now open
Click for BATC Goonhilly Narrowband WebSDR with live sound
Narrowband display showing several beacons and active stations, from BATC Goonhilly link above.
23rd Jan 2019 - (1) Modern Roll-Your-Own PCBs - (2) The AMSAT Es'hail2 Geostationary Satellite - Brian Flynn GM8BJF
- Details
- Written by Alan GM3PSP
LRS President Brian Flynn GM8BJF was the speaker at the meeting on 23 Jan 2019 when he gave two talks:
1. Modern Roll-Your-Own PCBs.
Brian stressed that the messy days of etching your own PCBs with ferric chloride were now history! He described how high quality PCBs can be bought from numerous suppliers in China, and the procedures to be used when ordering them. Click for Full Slide-Show.
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2. Receiving the Es'hail-2 Geostationary Satellite
Photo credit: Es'hailSat
In his second talk, Brian showed how to receive the recently-launched AMSAT Es'hail-2 geostationary satellite. He has been receiving the 10 GHz transponder output at his QTH in Peebles and has established that it can be done with quite simple gear. As it is planned to be operational for 20 years in its geostationary orbit it could have quite an influence on amateur radio and be readily accessible.
Rx set-up: 60cm Sat TV dish, PLL LNB & SDR dongle.
12th Dec 2018 - LRS Christmas Curry
- Details
- Written by Alan GM3PSP
Photo - courtesy Mike MM0MLB.
After meeting first at the Booking Office on Waverley Bridge, the LRS 2018 Christmas Curry was held on 12th December at the new venue of the Gurkha Café & Restaurant in Cockburn St where we had a very enjoyable Nepalese meal.
In the Booking Office bar beforehand, we were joined by Robin GM4YPL and his XYL.
L-R: Veronica Saunders, Andy MM0FMF, Robin GM4YPL & XYL, Andre GM3VLB
9th Jan 2019 - Video Evening - "The Dish on the Dish" - by Peter Dick GM4DTH - at the Edinburgh Cine & Video Soc.
- Details
- Written by Alan GM3PSP
Peter Dick GM4DTH again hosted the LRS Video Evening. It was held on 9th January 2019 as usual at the Edinburgh Cine & Video Society in Fettes Row.
The title of the show was "The Dish on the Dish" a comprehensive record of the first moon-landing, from President Kennedy's decision for Americans to be the first to land on the moon, to the successful completion of the Apollo-11 mission in 1969 with the three astronauts' safe return to earth.
Click for Full Report with stills from the video.
28th Nov 2018 - RSGB Convention Lecture Videos - presented by Brian GM8BJF
- Details
- Written by Alan GM3PSP
At the meeting on 28th November 2018, LRS President Brian Flynn GM8BJF presented the videos of two talks given at recent RSGB National Conventions.
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(1) 3000 + km QSOs on 2m by Tropo & MS
by John Regnault G4SWX ~ 45 mins
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(2) Home Design and Construction
by Bob Burns G3OUU ~ 30 mins
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Click for full report and links to both videos.
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14th Nov 2018 - R.V. Jones' Most Secret War - Prof. Joe McGeough
- Details
- Written by Alan GM3PSP
At the meeting of the LRS on Wed 14th Nov 2018 Prof Joe McGeough of Edinburgh University talked about 'Why Churchill Waged R.V. Jones' "Most Secret War".
During his darkest hours Prime Minister Winston Churchill turned to a young scientist, R V Jones, still in his twenties, to explain how enemy bombers were able to carry out precision bombing over Britain at night even when the skies were covered in clouds, and to find a solution. Using information from Bletchley Park and the Enigma machine there Jones provided the answers. It was the start of a close working relationship between the elderly statesman and the young scientist. Later in the war Jones devised “ Window “ using Aluminium foil to confuse the enemy radar during the D Day landings.
3rd Nov 2018 - GMRT - Scottish Microwave Round Table at MoC Burntisland
- Details
- Written by Alan GM3PSP
LRS Members James Gentles GM4WZP and Andy Sinclair MM0FMF did an audience brainstorming session on the design of a portable antenna for 13cm.
Members of the LRS again organized the Scottish Microwave Round Table on 3rd November 2018 at the Museum of Communication in Burntisland. This enjoyable event, chaired by Martin Hall GM8IEM, was attended by 34 from all over the UK and there were 19 at the dinner afterwards in the Kingswood Hotel, with an auction by Roger Blackwell GM4PMK.
1. 3cm Beacon Update - David Anderson GM6BIG.
2. NI Beacon Cluster - Gordon Curry GI6ATZ
3. Deep Space Project - John Cooke GM8OTI
4. 13cm SOTA Update - Andy Sinclair MM0FMF
5. Crowd Design of a 13cm Portable Antenna - James Gentles GM4WZP and Andy Sinclair MM0FMF
LRS President Brian Flynn GM8BJF (R) presented the GMRT Construction Trophy to Peter Howson GM8GAX (Alloa) for his reflectometer for 70cm, 23 cm & 13 cm.
Full report with many photos on the GMRT website now.
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