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When was the last time you set yourself a new challenge?
What do you mean you're too busy, too old or too _____ ? (fill in the blank yourself)
This is my latest mission.
Can you believe that the Cuckfield ROC bunker has NEVER been activated? I couldn't believe it, but there are loads of bunkers that are in the same 'un-activated' state.
They may not all have the natural charm of a beachfront location, the wildlife rewards of a Local Nature Reserve or the panoramic views of a SOTA, but they all have a fascinating history, and I'm always interested in that.
It's sent me down a bit of a rabbit hole, researching Horsham ROC 2 Group HQ and it's associated network of Royal Observer Corps bunkers and infrastructure. I love history you can wander about the local area and experience first-hand. I always remind my long-suffering family members that when you're standing right next to something like this, the only dimension that displaces you from the full reality of these places is the small matter of time. What can I say... my kids spent untold hours growing up in museums.
Forget being dragged around retail parks and run-down town centres buying over-priced Christmas tat that nobody wants, and get bunkering with UKBOTA!
Berni M0XYF
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Finally! It's only taken them 10 years, but Chris G4ZCS will be happy!
Read the ARRL notification here: https://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-allocates-60-meter-world-wide-amateur-band-approved-at-wrc-15-continues-amateur-use-of-four-addi
It's not everything that US amateurs wanted, but at least (hopefully) the band allocation itself will now be officially recognised for awards etc.
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Today saw the re-imagining of the once iconic and globally respected British Rail (if you can filter out the memories of what it was actually like towards the end...) with the government offering a glimpse into the future by recycling something that looks for all the world like the misty-eyed past.
It reminded me of the dirty, smelly interiors of the slam-door rolling stock I used to ride to work, and I was reminded once more of those days just a few hours later, when I was presented with this version of the classic moquette seat fabric from back then.
I think we're going to need a bigger allocation for data-modes...
Forty metres at tea-time. It was madness. Everyone was just pouring on more and more power, trampling deliberately over the weakest signal on the band like animals. When you're having to fit 50 data exchanges into the space taken up by one SSB signal, something's not right.
Welcome to the future. I hope our railways have better luck, but I doubt it somehow.
Berni M0XYF
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OK, so this was two weeks ago now, and the sunshine might seem like a distant memory, but there are still windows of opportunity to get out and about, to see some beautiful Sussex scenery as well as to get away from all that 'orrible band noise you probably suffer when you're at home.
S2 noise floor experienced at GB-5778 Widewater Lagoon Nature Reserve below, and a stunning sunset to boot. I doubled-up with the adjacent and equally peaceful GB-5777 Shoreham Fort to make for a memorable afternoon out. Cheap and easy parking at both sites.
Included are just a couple of views from my 'shack'.
Both of these locations have recently been registered with the POTA programme, and I suspect that thanks are due to Paul G4BWQ for that. Cheers buddy. I'd never been to either of these sites.
A good sprinkling of contacts made at each 'park' including with regulars such as G4FKA, M7CUW, DK5UR, DL4DBM, G0RQL, HB9DLT, IK4IDF, G6LEE, SP2DMB, DN2FBG, DB4SNK, G4NAQ, IK1IYU, DG6OAY, CT1EHX and SP8QC who all get into my log often. These people are properly committed, and make me look like the noob that I am.
Respect to them, and thanks for putting up with my sloppy operating skills.
Pictured below is where I stay out of the less favourable weather when the particular park operating conditions permit:
I'm currently doing a bit of 'hunting' as I was duped into believing that the POTA Operator-to-Operator award for 50 contacts with a single operator was available to activators, but sadly this is not the case (which is ridiculous in my opinion). The American masters of our destiny have spoken, and we mere overseas mortals shall have no say in that. I tried.
I've hit most of my personal goals this year for POTA, but will be doing just as many activations next year, and with many more SSB QSOs. I've also signed up for BOTA - Bunkers On The Air (oh, no...)
There is not a snowball's chance in hell you'd ever get me underground in one of those terrifying cesspits, but I'll happily plonk myself down next to one with a radio and an antenna, so prepare to be bored stupid hearing about my adventures at these historic sites next year.
I'll also be doing Mills 2026 (maybe at Chailey?) plus BIWOTA (Google it...) at Ardingly reservoir, and ROTA at Beech Hurst in memory of Gavin, using the Special Event callsign GB6DGK, so look out for those. Everybody welcome, as always.
I'm considering setting up Fishing Lakes On The Air and Questionable Underpasses On The Air in my spare time.
Good to see quite a few at the club last week for some fish and chips, and don't forget that there is one more club night this year on the 12th December 2025.
I've also just published the new membership form for 2026, so get yourselves signed up for next year here: https://midsussexars.org.uk/join
73's (and 44's for you outdoorsy-types)
Berni M0XYF
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First of all, my tech girl has fixed the Tiscali e-mail so it is operational again should anyone want to communicate. (Thanks Emma)
This month I am going to explore the North Pole. There is a floating ice laboratory run by the Russians using the call RI0SP and the ship is named Severny Polyus.
The operator uses FT8 and I have worked him many times. The FT8 program includes a 4 digit grid square, so the grid BR66 is longitude square B, due north of Alaska, and the latitude R is as far north as you can get. The number is 00 in the bottom left, up to 99 in the top right. Again my northern most contact was with KR98 which is due north of north cape in Norway.
This last year we worked the following squares; BR66, CR46, ER60, KR98, LR90, MR18, OR38, QR63, and RR65. It is worth a look on the web to see some maps of their travels!
On the DX front things seem to be on the up. Africa seemed to be the best with; 5V7RU Togo, TY5AD Benin, 9U1RU Burundi, 7X5CY Algeria, V51PJ Namibia, TL8GD Central African Republic, 9L8MD Sierra Leone, and 5R8XX Madagascar.
On the first I managed two VKs, VK5COL, and VK5UW one after another for OC-001.
On the 6th I was working V31MA From Belize, when we finished a Japanese station JA2JBT called me for another grid square. The 14th bought a nice surprise, two QSLs from Africa from Mozambique islands AF-098 and AF-103, pictures below. They are Chiloane Island and Inhacamba Island respectively.
On the 17th I contacted AT44I for my second Antarctic station of the year. It is worth looking up this one too, as it seems that all these Antarctic stations are built to totally different styles. On the 18th I worked NA-103, NA-091, NA-109 and between the 20th and the 29th I managed to work 25 USA counties.
Next month, as we come to the end of the year I'll try to write up a review of 2025.
Good DXing
Chris G4ZCS
[ Of note (to me...) this month, I had QSOs with T77RN on 60m (San Marino), TL8GD on 10m (Central African Republic), TY5AD on 15m (Benin), 5Z4VJ on 12m (Kenya), XW4KV on 12m (Laos) and 9U1RU on 40m (Burundi), maybe one or two more - I tend to misplace/overwrite some of my FT8 logs, and don't often record SSB contacts unless they're POTAs. I have no real idea what I'm doing, but I'm having fun all the same! Thanks to Chris for inspiring me to have a go. Berni M0XYF ]
