Scottish Charity number SC045038
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LRS Messages of the Day
Thu 29 Jan – LRS Committee Meeting – If you have any issues, please inform Hon Sec Colin GM4HWO in good time.
Wed 28 Jan – LRS – 8:00pm at BHH library – ALMA (Atacama Large mm Array) – A Radio Observatory in Chile – The Trials & Tribulations of working at greater than 100 GHz – Bill Dent GM8RBT (Retired System Astronomer at ALMA).
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 25 Feb 2026 – 8pm at BHH – Digital Voice Modes by Allister Watson GM7RYR.
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Wed 11 Feb 8:00pm at BHH – LRS Quiz Evening. How much have you learned on your Amateur Radio journey and how much has been forgotten? (Teams of 4, so there is plenty of space to hide.) Brian Howie GM4DIJ @ James Gentles GM4WZP.
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Wed 28 Jan – LRS 8:00pm in BHH library – ALMA (Atacama Large mm Array) – A Radio Observatory in Chile – Trials & Tribulations of working at greater than 100 GHz by Bill Dent GM8RBT.
Bill will talk about the ALMA radio observatory in Chile. This is an array of 66 dishes, the largest and most powerful in the world, operating together at frequencies of 30-1000GHz in the Atacama desert, one of the driest places on earth. He will describe the site, some of the technical challenges of observing at >100GHz, and show some of the astronomical results. Bill is retired from System Astronomer at ALMA.
RECENT MEETINGS
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14 Jan 2026 – LRS Video Night 2026.
The Video Night 2026 was presented by Colin Murray GM4EAU in the… 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
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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20 Jan 2026 – Powerful X-Class Solar Flare causes Aurora in Scotland
Aurora from Dyke, Moray. Peter GM4DTH reports that an X1.9 flare and an associated CME were responsible for the events
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8 Jan – Strange Data Transmission on Medium Wave Band.
Brian Howie GM4DIJ reports: “I’ve come across a high-speed RTTY-sounding signal on the Medium Wave Band on 570kHz . I can
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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. Norman can now confirm
2. SILENT KEYS
There are no current silent key notifications. Click on the heading to see the silent key archive.
3. ITEMS FOR SALE
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17 Jan 2026 – Items for Sale by Norman GM1CNH / MM0BMG
Equipment for sale v2025-08-17 GM1CNH Equipment Sale Updated: 17 August 2025 Alinco HF Mobile Whip Antenna 2.7 m mobile whip;
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17 Jan 2026 – Please note: all unsold items offered by Dave-6 GM6KGZ have now been removed from this website at his request. Look out for any new items that may appear!
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22 Feb 2025 – Triangular Mast 15m FREE to Pick up
Sat 22 Feb 2025 – 15m Tower : dismantled 2 sections x 7m triangular 0.5m. FREE to pick-up from Tom
Lothians Radio Society activities – latest reports
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Wed 30 July 2025 – LRS Pub Night 3 @ Wee Bennet’s Bar
Peter GM4DTH, Mike GM8KCS, John GM4JRT (+ dog Skye/K9 under arm), John GM8OTI.
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23-24 Aug 2025 – Montrose Air Station Open Days, Radio Sale & HF Demo Station
Three LRS members – Colin GM4HWO, Bill Dent GM8RBT and Mike GM8KCS attended. “We are holding the Open day at
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9 July 2025 – Pub Night 1 at Wee Bennet’s Bar
L-R: Vic GM3OWU, Colin GM4HWO, Mike GM8KCS, Colin GM4EAU, Melvyn GM4HYR, Pete GM4BYF, Alan GM3PSP, Peter GM4DTH, Andy MM7MDX.
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25 June 2025 – LRS 2025 Barbecue
Guests gathering for the meal. The 2025 Summer Barbecue was again held at the QTH of Pete GM4BYF and Kay
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18 June 2025 – Nicholas Gretzinger WN2G – 1st International Winner of the Andre Saunders GM3VLB Scottish Islands Award
18 June 2025 – WN2G Nicholas Gretzinger – 1st International Winner of Andre Saunders GM3VLB Scottish Islands Award Photo –
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18 June 2025 – AGM – Summary.
The AGM was chaired by LRS President, Andy Sinclair MM0FMF. There was a good turn-out of 18 members and
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9 June 2025 – GB3RMK 50MHz Beacon Back-on-Air nr Muir of Ord
GB3RMK Beacon-Keeper Chris GM3WOJ with GB3BI Beacon-Keeper Kenny MM0GKB. The 50MHz beacon GB3RMK, located on a hilltop near Muir of
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2 July 2025 – SAQ Grimeton 100th Anniversary 17.2kHz VLF Transmissions. Report by Brian GM4DIJ.
Brian GM4DIJ listened for SAQ and reports: On July 2nd, 1925, 100 years ago, the Swedish Grimeton Radio Station SAQ
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Sat 14 June 2025 – Musical Evening with The Hi-Hats at Prestonfield GC.
Sat 14 June 2025– LRS members were invited by Mike Brunsdon GM8KCS to a musical evening by his wedding band
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Sun 15 June 2025 – Secret Listeners interview at Borders Book Festival in Melrose
Bruce McCartney GM4BDJ was interviewed by Alistair Moffat about the WWII Secret Listeners at the Borders Book Festival in Melrose
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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
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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