Events
Recent events
In July and October we operated GB4BCW from the former ROC post at Brindle, near Chorley, which has recently been restored by a team of volunteers including Mike G4WYZ.
And in June we ran Special Event Station GB1TT from within the historic Turton Tower, for the International Museums Weekend. Operation was on 2m and 40m.
Monday night meetings
Our programme of weekly Club Meetings is shown below (but check this site regularly for updates).
The meetings on the 2nd & 4th Mondays of each month are usually held at our Ladybridge venue, while the others are online or on-air. All meetings start at 7:30pm.
We live-stream some of our Ladybridge meetings (in addition to the all-online sessions) - contact us if you're interested in joining in.
2024
11th November Ladybridge meeting: "Simple test equipment" a practical session with Chris, G4ADN
18th November Online meeting: "Getting started on FT4/8" a discussion hosted by Mark, M0UFC
25th November Ladybridge meeting: Digimodes Workshop - with live stations operating on HF and remotely on 2m!
2nd December Club net - back on 2m FM
9th December Ladybridge meeting: "VHF Propagation, part 2 - DX modes: ionospheric-based and Moonbounce", with Richard G4HGI
16th December Online meeting:
23rd December Christmas break
30th December Online meeting:
2025
6th January New Year net
13th January Ladybridge meeting: "Beamforming Antennas", with Dave, G4MVU
20th January Online meeting:
27th January Ladybridge meeting: Gala Awards Night ("pasties, peas & prizes") plus AGM & election of new Committee
3rd February On-air net
10th February Ladybridge meeting:
17th February Online meeting:
24th February Ladybridge meeting:
3rd March On-air net
10th March Ladybridge meeting:
17th March Online meeting:
24th March Ladybridge meeting:
31st March Online meeting:
Past events
Club stand at the NARSA Rally 2023 in Blackpool
Our stand manned by G4WYZ, M0UFC, M6SEC, M7MCQ, G4CFP, M0MHW and G4JLG (plus G4HGI behind the camera!)
Weekend activities at Smithills Hall Museum
Our extensive "antenna farm" in the grounds, from where we operate during the national Museums On The Air weekend and other "field-day" events.
Upcoming 2025 meetings
7th April On-air net
14th April Ladybridge meeting:
21st April Bank Holiday
28th April Ladybridge meeting:
5th May "Mayday" Club net
12th May Ladybridge meeting:
19th May Online meeting:
27th May Bank Holiday
2nd June Club net
9th June Ladybridge meeting:
16th June Online meeting:
23rd June Ladybridge meeting:
30th June Online meeting:
7th July Club net
14th July Ladybridge meeting:
21st July Online meeting:
28th July Ladybridge meeting:
4th August Club net
11th August Summer activity
18th August Online meeting:
25th August Bank Holiday
1st September Club net
8th September Ladybridge meeting:
15th September Online meeting:
22nd September Ladybridge meeting
29th September Online meeting:
6th October Club net
13th October Ladybridge meeting:
20th October Online meeting:
27th October Ladybridge meeting:
3rd November Club net
10th November Ladybridge meeting:
17th November Online meeting:
24th November Ladybridge meeting:
1st December Club net
8th December Ladybridge meeting:
15th December Online meeting:
22nd December Christmas break
29th December Online meeting:
Previous 2024 meetings
1st January New Year net on 2m FM (eight stations participating)
8th January Ladybridge meeting: "Keeping Track - 60 Years of APRS?" with Ross G6GVI
15th January Online meeting: "Natter night"
22nd January Ladybridge meeting: Gala Awards Night ("pasties, peas & prizes") plus AGM & election of new Committee
29th January Online meeting: "Operating on VHF from a difficult QTH" with Ross G6GVI
5th February On-air net: 2m "Classic SSB revival" - eleven stations, contributing nearly 300 years of radio heritage!
12th February Ladybridge meeting: "The Repair Shop, Part 5" with Steve G4AQB, plus 2023 Prize presentations
19th February Online meeting: including "Sources of RF interference" (from RSGB 2023 Convention)
26th February Ladybridge meeting: "Show & Tell", including Chris's VHF-FM crystal set, Tom's ultra-compact HF transceiver, Stephen's SCAM mast renovation, Ross's Five years on 23cm and Gary looking forward to GB1TT.
4th March On-air net: 2m FM (thirteen stations participating)
11th March Ladybridge meeting: "Of Diodes & Triodes - and why you should never go to Law" with Dave G4JLG
18th March Club net, on 70cm FM for a change (eleven stations particpating)
25th March Ladybridge meeting: "Memoirs of a BBC Transmitter Engineer" with Alan G4FZP
1st April Club net, on 2m FM (thirteen stations participating)
8th April Ladybridge meeting: "NARSA Blackpool Rally Plans"
15th April Online Meeting: Testing Google Meets as alternative to Zoom
22nd April Ladybridge meeting: Surplus equipment table-top sale (anything left over from NARSA).
Plus - meet the 17th Bolton Scout Group leaders.
29th April Online Meeting: "Previewing our International Museums Weekend and Bunkers On The Air events"
6th May Club net: "Six on the sixth" - on 6m FM & SSB (nine stations participating)
13th May Ladybridge meeting: Communicator Badge training with the 17th Bolton Scouts Group
20th May Online meeting: "VHF antennas at home" - an open forum on masts, rotators, feeders, etc.
27th May Informal net on 4m FM (ten stations participating)
3rd June Club net, back on 2m FM (eleven stations participating)
10th June Ladybridge meeting: "Final preparations for Turton Tower Special Event"
17th June Online meeting: Review of GB1TT ( including pictures and video)
24th June Ladybridge meeting: "From Restoration to Operation" - Stephen M0KSE on his pneumatic mast
1st July Club net, on 2m SSB (thirteen stations participating)
8th July Ladybridge meeting: "Exploring SDR using GNU Radio" with Ross G6GVI
15th July Online meeting: discussing various topics, including baluns and slot antennas
22nd July Ladybridge meeting: "Why I settled on the IC-705 for QRP operation" with Evan M0TJU
29th July Online meeting: including the reception of radio signals from stratospheric balloons
5th August Club net, on 2m FM (thirteen stations participating)
12th August On-air net: "Seventy times two" - an opportunity to compare our coverage on 70MHz and 70cm (ten stations participating on 4m and then nine on 70cm)
19th August Online meeting: including VHF weather satellite reception & decoding
26th August 40m net with GS0BWC operated by Chris GM4HYG from Elgin (ten stations participating)
2nd September Club net, on 2m FM (nine stations participating)
9th September Ladybridge meeting: "Fun with an Arduino Nano" - a selection of Amateur Radio projects from Steve G4AQB
16th September Online meeting: "A radio tour of Northern France" with Richard G4HGI
23rd September Ladybridge meeting: "VHF Propagation, part 1 - local & distant tropo conditions, scatter and ducting" with Richard G4HGI
30th September Online meeting: reviewing the recent National Hamfest and recalling rallies of yesteryear
7th October Club net, on 2m SSB (ten stations participating)
14th October Ladybridge meeting: "Testing times" - a practical session with test equipment
21st October Online meeting, including previewing the weekend's Bunker On The Air event
28th October Ladybridge meeting: "Show & tell" - Mike with R&S test kit, Richard with Bird 43 meters, Ross on the 70cm LoRa revolution, Steve M7HME on renovating a 70cm ZL Special and Chris G4ADN restoring National SSB receivers.
4th November mid-afternoon Club net: GS0BWC (operating from Elgin) on 40m, plus eleven BWC members.
2023 meetings
2nd January 2m FM net (eleven stations participating)
9th January Ladybridge meeting: "Top Band to 9cm using three rigs" with Richard G4HGI
16th January Online meeting (host M0IUO)
23rd January Ladybridge meeting: Gala Awards Night ("pasties, peas & prizes") plus AGM & election of new Committee
30th January Online meeting: Introducing the Smith Chart, with a simple L-match example, with Ross G6GVI
6th February 2m FM net (fourteen stations participating)
13th February Ladybridge meeting: "The Repair Shop, Part 4" with Steve G4AQB
20th February Online meeting: "Behind the microphone" - another audio special from Mark M0UFC
27th February Ladybridge meeting: "Show & Tell": M0KSE on 3D printing, G4HGI on the halo antenna and G6GVI on 40m NVIS operation.
6th March 2m FM net (fifteen stations participating)
13th March Ladybridge meeting: "IC-7300: My experience with it" with Evan Duffield M0TJU
20th March Online meeting hosted by Mark M0UFC. "Portable Antennas. What's your favourite holiday choice?"
27th March Ladybridge meeting: "Thinking Outside the Black Box" - operating home-built or modified equipment on the Amateur bands, with Ross G6GVI
3rd April 2m FM net (thirteen stations participating)
10th April 2m SSB net (six stations participating)
17th April Online meeting hosted by Mark M0UFC "Hints and tips for constructors and restorers"
24th April Ladybridge meeting: EGM (to discuss changes to our Constitution), plus component sale and members' table-top bring and buy.
1st May 2m FM net (fourteen stations participating)
8th May 70cm FM net (fifteen stations participating)
15th May Online meeting: review of recent activities and plans for the coming weeks
22nd May Ladybridge meeting: "N1MM Logger Workshop" with Chris G4HYG
29th May 2m SSB net (ten stations participating)
5th June 2m FM net (eleven stations participating)
12th June Ladybridge meeting: "Show & Tell" : G4WYZ's PoKit oscilloscope, M7MCQ's portable HF stations, M7RFS's digital microscope and G8HIK on Zello
19th June Online meeting: Preparations for GB2SHM at Smithills Hall Museum
26th June Ladybridge meeting: "NanoVNA Workshop" - measuring antennas, cables, filters & components, with Ross G6GVI and Dave G4JLG
3rd July 2m FM net (fourteen stations participating)
10th July Ladybridge meeting: "3D Printing of Ham Radio Accessories" with Stephen M0KSE
17th July Online meeting: "Ham Radio Exhibition Friedrichshafen 2023" with Richard G4HGI
24th July Ladybridge meeting: "Workshop techniques - soldering & rework" (video plus practical tips)
31st July Online meeting: Workshop on packet radio and APRS
7th August 2m FM net (seven stations participating)
14th August Ladybridge meeting: "Pies, Peas & Proposals" - responses to the OfCom consultation (with refreshments!)
21st August Online meeting: "Operating with digital modes" with Ian G0VGS (live from Morecambe)
28th August 70cm FM net (eleven stations participating)
4th September 2m FM net (ten stations participating)
11th September Ladybridge meeting: "Getting on the air with Morse Code" with Lynda G6QA
18th September Online meeting: "Operating practices - hints & tips, dos & don'ts" (open forum)
25th September Ladybridge meeting: "Testing, testing, testing" a novel workshop session, featuring NanoVNAs, oscilloscopes, spectrum analysers, generators, DC power, battery and component testers, RF and DC calibration, etc. (Not available via Zoom)
2nd October 2m FM net (nine stations participating)
9th October Ladybridge meeting: "Ask the RSGB" with Martyn Bell M0TEB Regional Representative for Region 3
16th October Online meeting: "News from the RSGB Convention" - some of our members were there over the weekend.
23rd October Ladybridge meeting: "Passive Intermodulation (how good are my connectors?)" with David G4MVU
30th October Online meeting: Joe Spencer KK5NA introducing the CW Academy and demonstrating a few of his enormous collection of Morse keys.
6th November 2m FM net (nine stations participating)
13th November Ladybridge meeting: "Show & Tell": G4AQB on the "CQ2" receiver, G6GVI on 70cm preamp restoration, M0UFC on renovating old test equipment and G4HGI on solar activity.
20th November Online meeting: "VHF DX via meteor reflections", with Richard G4HGI
27th November Ladybridge meeting: Alan G4FZP (from Bury RS) with "Down to Earth (earthing in the ham shack) "
4th December 2m FM net (ten stations participating)
11th December Ladybridge meeting: "QRP Combo: Xeigu X6100 + Alex Loop" (detailing the use of the QRP transceiver with a small loop antenna) with Evan M0TJU
18th December Online meeting: "Open forum - feedback on this year's activities and ideas for 2024".
2022 meetings
31st January Online talk: "Crystals - understanding and using them in circuits" with Gerry N9XR
14th February Online talk: "The Repair Shop, Part 3" with Steve G4AQB
11th April Ladybridge meeting: "Nice to see you, after 2 years!"
9th May Ladybridge social: Table Top Sale & Pasty and Peas Night
13th June Ladybridge meeting: "The G4JLG/P Microwave Contest Station" and "BWC activity on 3.4 GHz" with G4JLG, G4AQB, G4HGI, M0UFC and G6GVI
11th July Visit to Nuclear Bunker hosted by Mike G4WYZ www.brindle-roc-post.org
8th August Ladybridge social: Barbecue
22nd August Ladybridge meeting: "Calculators Through The Ages" with James GM4WZP
12th September Ladybridge meeting: "Polar Exploration from the back garden" - a homebrew antenna-testing range, with Ross G6GVI
26th September Ladybridge meeting: BWC Club Discussion with pasties, peas and free junk
10th October Ladybridge meeting: Audio Special with Mark M0UFC
17th October Zoom Net: "Using Antenna Analysers" (video)
24th October Ladybridge meeting: "HF NVIS" with Chris G4HYG
31st October Zoom Net: Committee Meeting Run-down & Members' Forum.
7th November Zoom Net: "The Holme Moss transmitter" (video) & "Using deciBels"
14th November Ladybridge meeting: "Show & Tell" - members tell us briefly about something new. Hosted by Mark M0UFC
21st November Zoom Net: Remembering Alfred M3RNX & "C-band LNB experiments"
28th November Ladybridge meeting: "30 Years on Four Metres" with Ross G6GVI
5th December 2m FM net (fifteen stations participating)
12th December Ladybridge meeting: "Solar Cycle 25: what it has in store for us" with Evan Duffield M0TJU
19th December Zoom net: "Construction & testing of a CAT interface" (video)