Gallery

Going underground with Bunkers On The Air

Club members operated the Special Event call GB4BCW from the former ROC post at Brindle (on the Western side of Winter Hill) in July and October 2024 (these pictures are from the July session)

We set up an inverted-V doublet for HF and a 2x half-wave colinear for 2m.

The VHF station (and catering) was above ground.

Richard G4HGI and Stephen M0KSE operating on 2m.

Meanwhile, those with "a head for depths" ventured underground...

... where they found the recently restored Royal Observer Corps post.

Mike G4WYZ was one of the team who had restored the site.

And Mark M0UFC had organised the doublet antenna and feed.

Steve M7HME and Alan M7RFS operating and logging on 40m.

Putting Turton Tower on the air

Club members operated Special Event Station GB1TT from Turton Tower, for International Museums Weekend in June 2024.

The activation team included Mark M0UFC, Chris G4HYG, Gary M0MHW, Steve M7HME, Jack G8HIK, Richard G4HGI and Chris G4ADN.
Thanks to Karen and the staff at the Tower for making us so welcome.

Publicity materials were on display for visitors to the Museum.

Local contacts were made on 2m FM,

and further afield on HF.

All contacts were logged and will receive our commemorative QSLs.

This map shows where our signals reached.

Jack G8HIK has produced a video of the event.

Communicator Badge training with the Scouts

The 17th Bolton Scouts visited us in May 2024, to try out some real-world communications activities.

The Scouts practised using the Morse Code with Richard G4HGI, after Bill G4CFP had helped them to build a key and oscillator circuit.

Steve G4AQB demonstrated tuning in signals on radio receivers,

whilst Gary M0MHW showed how to use an online SDR receiver to receive and log stations too.

Alan M7RFS and Stephen M0KSE explained the use of "Q-codes" and Callsigns,

then Slawek M0SQJ helped the Scouts to send their own messages over the air to Tom M7MCQ, who was parked nearby with a mobile station.

BWC Awards 2024

The BWC HF Trophy was presented to Tom M7MCQ, for great effort with the “Back Pack” and working HF on low power.

The winner of the G3EGC Award was  Dave G4JLG, for once again for activating Winter Hill on the SHF UKAC events.

The M3OTT Memorial Shield was presented to Alan M7RFS, in recognition of his impressive dedication to learning Morse.

Another award was the Construction & Renovation Cup, which was won by Stephen M0KSE, for taking on the total restoration of a Clark “SCAM” mast, obtained from Bob G8DTF

The 2024 winner of the BWC VHF Trophy was John G4NTY, our overall top scorer in the year's UKAC events.

The M3RNX Memorial Shield went to Steve M7HME, as a newcomer to amateur radio and with excellent skills in getting on the air.

BWC Awards 2023

The BWC HF Trophy was presented to Chris G4HYG, for his HF Antenna projects (including  NVIS) , activity over the years at our events at Smithills and also operating the G6ZZ transatlantic station in Dec 2022.

The first winner of the new G3EGC Award was Dave G4JLG, for his SHF exploits on Winter Hill throughout the year, often in awful conditions.

The M3OTT Memorial Shield was presented to Stephen M0KSE as our best newcomer in the UK Activity events and home construction of VHF antennas.

Another new award for 2023 was the Construction & Renovation Cup, which was won by Steve G4AQB for his outstanding skills in design, construction and restoration: his "Repair Shop" on restoration of old equipment and "pie-dish" antenna for 9cm.

The 2023 winner of the BWC VHF Trophy was John G4NTY, our overall top scorer in the year's UKAC events.

The newly-established M3RNX Memorial Shield went to Jason M0WJG for his work on digital modes such as JS8CALL, WSJT, WSPR and building magnetic loop antennas.

And a special individual award was made to Ian G0CTO, in appreciation of his stalwart service on the Committee over the last decade. 

Smithills Hall 2022

Among the attractions was a microwave antenna-testing range,  built and operated by Ross G6GVI

Testing the "pie-dish" 3.4GHz dual biquad antenna by Steve G4AQB

An RFExplorer Signal Generator acts as the source

A Celestron LCM telescope mount is used as a positioner for the receiving Antenna Under Test

Visit to ROC bunker at Brindle, 2022

In July 2022, Mike G4WYZ invited Club members for a tour of the Royal Observer Corps observation post near Chorley. This site is being restored by a team of volunteers.

Back above ground: Bill G4CFP, Mike G4WYZ, Dave G4JLG and the landowner. 

Previous visits to Smithills Hall

A real "antenna farm" of HF aerials!

Chris G4HYG operating on digimodes

On our first visit (in 2009) we operated ATV and APRS in addition to telephony, from inside the Hall.

Previous BWC Awards winners

Tim M6SEC (lt) receives the BWC VHF/UHF Trophy for joining in the Club's microwave activities in 2017. 

Alfred M3RNX (lt) receives the BWC HF Trophy for regular appearances on the 160m net. Presented by Chairman Glenn G6HFF in 2017

Gary 2E0GXC (rt) is presented with the M3OTT Memorial Shield by Chairman Dave G4JLG in 2018

Gary M0XGS (lt) receives the M3OTT Memorial Shield for home-grown progress through the examinations. Presented by Chairman Glenn G6HFF in 2017