Author Archives: gdars

2026 Rally – Sunday 25th October 2026 – Confirmed Traders

Our annual rally will take place on Sunday 25th October 2026, in the Volunteer Hall in Galashiels.

Entry will be £3 for adults, accompanied children under 16 free.
Doors open 11:15am, 11:00am for priority disabled access and Bring and Buy booking in.
Note the slightly later start time from last year due to later entry for setting up. Also remember to change your clocks back to UTC.

Traders with a table booking can access the hall from the rear entrance from 8:30am for setting up.

Traders confirmed as of 19th October 2026:

Tables available! As of 17th October we still have a few tables available. Email us to book a table.

Bob GM4CID – Surplus shack kit, hand-built equipment and radios
Bring and Buy Stall
Alan Clegg – Valves etc
Mirfield Electronics – Martin Stokes
Canny Components
Pete Bates GM4BYF
Chris Tran GM3WOJ
Dave Bagshaw
Mike Wills G0TNF – Military radio sets
Kit Hall GM4EMX – RSARS
Tony Kruszelnicki – TK Electronics
Mickey Hunter M9MMM – Batteries, memory cards etc
John Keymer 2M0YTN
Scottish Borders Repeater Group
RSGB – Radio Society of Great Britain
Perth Repeater Group
CSFMG – Central Scotland FM Group
Tynemouth Radio Club
Gavin Wright G3VUF – WWII radios, books
GQRP Club

Hot and cold drinks and food will also be available.

Any trader enquiries should be directed by
EMAIL to rallytraders @ galaradioclub.co.uk
Comments on pages on the website may be missed, so email only please.
Once tables are filled, any later booking requests will be added to a reserve list in case of cancellations.
General enquiries about the rally to rallyqueries @ galaradioclub.co.uk

Railways On The Air 2026, Whitrope, GM0WRH Sat/Sun 26/27th September 2026

Again some club members will be taking part in the annual Railways on The Air (https://rota.barac.org.uk/) event.

We’ll be setting up at the Whiterope Railway Heritage Centre on the B6399 south of Hawick.

Dave HTL will be setting up the caravan in the carpark on the Friday evening, and the event takes place over the Saturday and Sunday.

Callsign used will be GM0WRH (Waverley Route Heritage) operating on HF bands on both days. All club members and any visitors are welcome to come along and join in or just watch. There will be coffee/tea facilities and microwave if you want to bring your own microwave meal to have in the evening.

The Whitrope Heritage Centre is run by the Waverley Route Heritage Association who have restored a length of track and sidings on the old Waverley line (1849-1969) between Hawick and Carlisle. Further details here: https://wrha.org.uk/about/

Location:
Whitrope Heritage Centre, Whitrope, Hawick, Roxburghshire TD9 9TY
Location: 11 miles south of Hawick on B6399 (Hawick to Newcastleton road).

Locator and directions:

Maidenhead Locator: IO85PH 00co
55.294320, -2.748944 (55°17’39.6″N 2°44’56.2″W) 1034ft (315m) asl
NGR: NT 52540 00279
WAB Square: NT50
Google: 9C7V77V2+MC
W3W:///jousting.windmills.wire
https://wrha.org.uk/the-association/find-us/

Satellite image showing location of Whitrope Heritage Centre carpark

https://rota.barac.org.uk/
https://wrha.org.uk/the-association/whitrope-heritage-centre/

PW QRP 144MHz Contest 2026 – Sunday 14th June 2026, 0900-1500UTC

As usual, some of our members will be going up the hill to participate in the Practical Wireless 144MHz QRP Contest, taking place on Sunday 14th June 2026.

We will use the callsign GM4YEQ/P and be operating from our usual spot on the Yarrow Swire/Witchie Knowe IO85MM.

Read more »

GDARS DMR Net – Friday Evenings TG23557

Members of the club now hold a weekly net on networked DMR on Friday evenings at 1900 until around 2000 UK time. Everyone is welcome to join and catch up or just check in and say hello.
Talkgroup 23557 Scotland East (crosslinked on Brandmeister and DVSPh).

2026 Rally – Mark your diaries: Sunday 25th October 2026

Our annual Rally and Open Day will take place on Sunday 25th October 2026. Venue is the usual Volunteer Hall in Galashiels. Opening time 11:00am(GMT) for general admission, 10:45am for disabled and early Bring & Buy booking.

Many tables are booked but any trader enquiries should be directed by
EMAIL to rallytraders @ galaradioclub.co.uk
Once tables are filled, any later booking requests will be added to a reserve list in case of cancellations.
General enquiries about the rally to rallyqueries @ galaradioclub.co.uk