Location

Saltford Brass Mill is situated on the banks of the River Avon in the village of Saltford, 5 miles west of the City of Bath in the South West of England. Its postal address is Saltford Brassmill, The Shallows, Saltford, BS31 3EY. However, there are some specific details that will be of interest to radio hams:

  • Lat/Long (Brassmill): 51.401219°,-2.451116°
  • IARU: IO81sj
  • IOTA: EU005 (UK Mainland)
  • WAB: ST66 – England

The Operation

We registered with Denby Dales website, receiving the confirmation below:

From: g8put@domain
Date: 13 May 2017 at 15:32
Subject: Thanks for registering with Denby Dales ARC’s Mills on the air
To: address@sbarc.co.uk

Thank You for registering with Mills on the Air
Your details are listed below:

  • Callsign: GB0SBM
  • WAB Area: ST66
  • Mill Name: Saltford Brass Mill
  • Contact Email: address@sbarc.co.uk
  • Password: *********

Please keep this email safe. If you need to change any of your mill details, you’ll need your password to be able to log in and change things.
Thanks again for registering.

Armed with our registration and Notice of Variation we descended upon Saltford for the weekend of Mills on the Air. We were blessed with good weather on both days which always goes a long way to making Special Events more enjoyable and encouraging a larger turnout.

Saturdays team comprised in no particular order:

  • Joe 2E0EIC, having only recently passed his Intermediate Course with us;
  • Cyril G3XED, Club President;
  • Mark M0SKV, Club Special Events Coordinator;
  • John 2E0VTT;
  • Julian M0JCE;
  • Nigel M6RUU; and
  • Eddie M0LJT

The Saturday Team

The photo above shows from left to right: Joe 2E0EIC, Cyril G3XED, Mark M0SKV, John 2E0VTT, Julian M0JCE and Nigel M6RUU. Eddie M0LJT is behind the camera taking the photo.

In the background can be seen Nigel M6RUU’s VW T4 Camper that he kindly brought to site on both days to act as our base of operations. We are currently discussing with the Mill staff options to allow us to operate from inside the Mill in future years.

Transceiver and ATUDoublet Antenna

Our equipment was relatively simple, as befits a temporary operation, we deployed:

  • Transceiver: Yeasu FT-991 HF/VHF/UHF Multi-mode transceiver;
  • ATU: Barker and Williamson VS300A;
  • PSU: 12V 85AHr leisure battery trickle charged from 2 stroke 720W generator;
  • Antenna: 80m wire doublet in an inverted vee configuration fed with 300Ω ladder line, feed point circa 10m above ground; and
  • Logging: Laptop computer running Linux Mint and CQRLog

Battery and chargerGenerator

Setting up was reasonably straight forward and we were on the air around 11:00 following about 1 hour of setting up. 40m was not conducive to inter-G activity at this time and we spent the early part of the operation on 80m where we were rewarded with a steady trickle of contacts. Our first Special Event station, Burcott Mill, was snagged about 40 minutes after starting operations and our first registered Mills on the Air station around 60 minutes after starting operations.

In the first couple of hours we made 25 contacts averaging one QSO every 4 minutes and including 5 registered Mills on the Air stations and one other Special Event station. We managed to work our sister club, North Bristol ARC, during this time although it took us a few minutes to realise they were a registered mill as they had registered as M0NBC but were operating as MX0NBC/P!

Keep Calm and Drink TeaStation Details

Around lunchtime 40m became usable and we QSY’d to see who else was persevering on the band. After about an hour and half and 9 QSOs including 1 registered Mills on the Air station and 2 other Special Event stations we returned to 80m feeling that the 40m band had closed again.

We spent the remainder of the afternoon on 80m making a further 16 QSOs before shutting down around quarter past four. By the end of the day we had achieved 50 QSOs including 11 registered Mills on the Air stations and a further 3 Special Event stations.

Part of the Sunday TeamPart of the Sunday Team

Sunday saw a different line up of operators, again in no particular order:

  • Mark M0SKV, the Clubs Special Events Coordinator and NoV holder returned to allow the NoV to be used;
  • Nigel M6RUU returned with his camper van as our base of operations;
  • Cyril G3XED, the Club President;
  • Henryk M0HTB;
  • Andy G7KNA, the Club Secretary; and
  • Kenneth SWL, who logged many of Sundays QSOs and we hope will want to take his Foundation exam in due course.

Part of the Sunday TeamJack playing the part of Club mascot

The bands were flatter today than yesterday, at times it was a struggle to work anything at all. Never the less, we persevered even giving away a couple of contacts in the WAB 40m phone contest that took place between 10:00 – 14:00 UTC and managed to bag a further 31 QSOs including 6 more registered Mills on the Air stations and 2 other Special Event stations bringing our haul for the weekend to 81 QSOs logged including 17 Registered Mills on the Air stations and 5 other Special Event stations

Kenneth SWL Logging with Mark M0SKV OperatingOur Banner

The area we were operating from is a popular walking and cycling route along with many water sports enthusiasts. This gave us the opportunity to speak to members of the public who were interested in what we were doing. Having “spare” operators allowed some of us to talk to the visiting public explaining the equipment and the hobby and giving out free pamphlets about Amateur Radio.

Logbook

GB0SBM – South Bristol ARC (Operating from Saltford Brassmill)

Date (UTC) Time (UTC) Station Worked Band or Frequency Mode RST Operators Name QTH Notes
Sent Rec’d
13/05/17 10:08 MW0BGQ 3.700 SSB 58 58 Dave Mid Wales  
13/05/17 10:10 GW6EWX 3.700 SSB 58 58      
13/05/17 10:19 G1HCM 3.740 SSB 55 55 Fred Isle of White  
13/05/17 10:25 G3TGB 3.740 SSB 57 57 Brian Braintree  
13/05/17 10:32 M0BAW 3.740 SSB 59 59 Don Brentwood  
13/05/17 10:35 2E0KFR 3.740 SSB 59 59 Chris Dorset  
13/05/17 10:38 M0ATB 3.740 SSB 59 59 Bob Poole  
13/05/17 10:41 M0CVP 3.740 SSB 59 59 Bruce Chester  
13/05/17 10:46 G8QZ 3.740 SSB 57 59 David Derby  
13/05/17 10:47 GB0BM 3.740 SSB 57 58 David Wookey Special Event Station: Burcott Mill
13/05/17 10:51 G4PEK 3.740 SSB 59 59 Lesle Cornwall  
13/05/17 10:54 G0SYF 3.740 SSB 58 58 Bob Wotton under Edge  
13/05/17 10:58 G6EED 3.740 SSB 59 59 Nigel Somerset  
13/05/17 11:01 G4TXF 3.740 SSB 59 59 Colin Pershore  
13/05/17 11:03 G3TQD 3.740 SSB 59 59 Roger Redditch  
13/05/17 11:07 GB0CHW 3.740 SSB 59 59 Bob   Mill on List: Chailey Heritage Windmill operated by Downland Radio Group
13/05/17 11:09 G0NEV 3.740 SSB 59 59 Mike Weymouth  
13/05/17 11:11 MX0NBC/P 3.740 SSB 59 59 Tony   Mill on List: Snuff Mills Bristol operated by North Bristol ARC
13/05/17 11:19 GB1WML 3.740 SSB 59 59 Martin Dorset Mill on List: White Mill Dorset operated by Christchurch ARS
13/05/17 11:20 2E0PPF 3.740 SSB 59 59 Steve Chard  
13/05/17 11:22 G0CXP/M 3.740 SSB 59 59 Keith    
13/05/17 11:25 GB2TMI 3.740 SSB 59 59 Geoff Leeds Mill on List: Thwaites Watermill operated by Denby Dale ARS
13/05/17 11:30 G4ZJO 3.740 SSB 32 55      
13/05/17 11:35 GB0CMW 3.740 SSB 59 59 David Willingham Mill on List: Cattells Mill Willingham operated by Cambridge and District ARC
13/05/17 11:47 2E0SBH 3.740 SSB 59 59 Stev    
13/05/17 11:57 GB4HCM 7.025 SSB 57 57 Chris   Mill on List: Heron Corn Mill operated by Sands Amateur Radio CG
13/05/17 12:00 M6VKM 7.025 SSB 59 59 Kevin Norfolk  
13/05/17 12:08 DL1GWW 7.145 SSB 52   Wolf Germany  
13/05/17 12:27 GB0DWM 7.175 SSB 59 59 Merv   Special Event Station: Dulow Mill
13/05/17 12:40 GB2RGM 7.175 SSB 53 57 Marc   Special Event Station: Royal Gunpowder Mill
13/05/17 12:44 GB6CFM 7.175 SSB 59 59 John   Mill on List: Cheddleton Flint Mill operated by Staffordshire Portable ARG
13/05/17 13:08 G3IAZ/M 7.133 SSB 59 59 Alex Beachey Head  
13/05/17 13:17 G4PWO/P 7.133 SSB 59 59 Phil London  
13/05/17 13:21 G4HRP 7.133 SSB 59 59 Ken East London  
13/05/17 14:10 M0DFW 3.755 SSB 59 59 Dave Cambridge  
13/05/17 14:26 GW4GMY 3.755 SSB 59 59 Martin Welshpool  
13/05/17 14:28 M0BAW 3.755 SSB 59 59 Don Brentwood  
13/05/17 14:42 GW0AVW 3.755 SSB 59 59 Terry Caerphilly  
13/05/17 14:46 G0XAE 3.755 SSB 59 59 Mike Forest of Dean  
13/05/17 14:51 GB0BWM 3.755 SSB 59 59 Matt Buckinghamshire Mill on List: Brill Windmill operated by Chesham and District ARS
13/05/17 14:57 2E0WEK 3.755 SSB 59 59 Keith Horsham  
13/05/17 14:59 M0LJT 3.755 SSB 59 59 Eddie Bristol  
13/05/17 15:00 GW7VJK 3.755 SSB 59 59 Nigel Llandovery  
13/05/17 15:02 GB0CMW 3.755 SSB 59 59 David Willingham Mill on List: Cattells Mill Willingham operated by Cambridge and District ARC
13/05/17 15:04 GB0JAJ 3.755 SSB 59 59 Chris Brighton Mill on List: Jill Post Windmill operated by Mid Sussex ARS
13/05/17 15:05 G0DTX 3.755 SSB 59 59 John Glossop  
13/05/17 15:07 G0WYD 3.755 SSB 59 59 Bob Tidworth  
13/05/17 15:08 MW0GMH 3.755 SSB 59 59 Owen Brecon  
13/05/17 15:10 F4VPL/P 3.755 SSB 59 59 Dave Brittany Mill on List: St Jacut les Pins Windmill operated by David F4VPL
13/05/17 15:12 G4LJG 3.755 SSB 59 59 Dave Rushden  
14/05/17 10:04 MW0ZVR 7.149 SSB 59 59      
14/05/17 10:06 GB2GGM 7.149 SSB 59 57 Ant Blackwood Mill on List: Gelligroes Mill operated by Andrew MW0LAO
14/05/17 10:07 2W0LLT 7.149 SSB 57 57 Lloyd Cardigan Museum of Power
14/05/17 10:12 GB2WBM 7.149 SSB 59 59 Keith East Sussex Special Event Station: Brighton and Hove
14/05/17 10:14 GB1WML 7.149 SSB 59 59 Martin Wimborne Mill on List: White Mill Dorset operated by Christchurch ARS
14/05/17 10:15 G4YOH 7.149 SSB 59+10 59+20 Wayne Chard Somerset  
14/05/17 10:17 GB4WMM 7.149 SSB 57 57 Jerry Warsborough Mill Mill on List: Worsbrough Mill operated by Denby Dale ARS
14/05/17 10:19 DL8FQ 7.149 SSB 57 57 Rolf    
14/05/17 10:21 M0PER 7.149 SSB 41 55 Alan Chester  
14/05/17 10:24 MM0AUP/P 7.149 SSB 53 57   Orkney  
14/05/17 10:28 MW0BYT 7.149 SSB 59 59 Ross Bangor  
14/05/17 10:32 MM0VEG/M 7.149 SSB 53 57     Serial 005 Recd Serial 001 Sent
14/05/17 10:36 G3WBB 7.149 SSB 56 56 Ted Blackpool  
14/05/17 10:40 G4PEK 7.149 SSB 59 59 Lesle Cornwall  
14/05/17 11:02 G3PWY 7.149 SSB 59 59 David High Wycombe  
14/05/17 11:03 GB4NHM 7.149 SSB 58 58 Rob 2E0ZAP Sutton Coldfield Mill on List: New Hall Mill operated by Sutton Coldfield RS
14/05/17 11:17 GB0BWM 3.766 SSB 59 59 Terry Buckinghamshire Mill on List: Brill Windmill operated by Chesham and District ARS
14/05/17 11:20 G2IIM 3.766 SSB 59 59 Mike    
14/05/17 12:23 G4NFS 3.766 SSB 58 58 Norman    
14/05/17 12:29 G0UYN 3.766 SSB 59 59 Malcom    
14/05/17 12:31 G4NVL 3.766 SSB 57 57 Steve    
14/05/17 12:47 G4PCE 3.766 SSB 59 59 Richard Solihull  
14/05/17 13:09 GB6CW 3.775 SSB 57 55 Rob Cromer Mill on List: Cromer Windmill operated by Stevenage and District ARS
14/05/17 13:46 GB2MGM 3.775 SSB 59 59 David   Special Event Station:  
14/05/17 13:50 G0RGB 3.775 SSB 59 59      
14/05/17 13:59 2E0HVJ/M 3.775 SSB 59 59      
14/05/17 14:02 M0JCE 3.775 SSB 55 55 Julian    
14/05/17 14:42 G3YZY 3.745 SSB 59 58 Howard Waterlooville Portsmouth  
14/05/17 14:44 GW0AGZ 3.745 SSB 57 56 John Oswestry  
14/05/17 14:52 M0CIW 3.745 SSB 59+10 59 Howard Abingdon Icom 707 parallel dipoles 20m/40m/80m
14/05/17 14:58 GW4XKE 3.745 SSB 55   Dennis Cardiff