ILLW 2023

Lighthouses QSL Card

Introduction

Former TRINITY LIGHT VESSEL 55, now renamed the ‘John Sebastian‘ in honour of Bristol’s famous explorers, is moored in Bathurst Basin in the centre of Bristol and has her own postal address, namely: “The John Sebastian, Bathurst Basin, Bristol BS1 4RL“. She is now the home to the Cabot Cruising Club who have produced an interesting history document covering her past service. However, there are some specific details that will be of interest to radio hams:

  • Lat/Long (WGS84 Geoid): 51.446542°N, 2.594951°W
  • OSGR: ST 58750 72118 (6 figure ST587721)
  • IARU: IO81qk
  • WAB: ST57 – England
  • IOTA: EU005 (UK Mainland)
  • ILLW Reference: UK0176
  • What 3 Words: ///flute.brains.petal (Operating Post Entrance)
  • What 3 Words: ///visa.forget.fluid (Site Entrance)

Location

Operation

International Lighthouses and Lightships on the Air 2023 took place over the usual third weekend in August 2023, i.e. Saturday 19 August and Sunday 20 August. The South Bristol Amateur Radio Club returned to the ‘John Sebastian‘ in Bathurst Basin and renewed our acquaintance with the Cabot Cruising Club who very kindly allow us onboard the John Sebastian each year to take part in this Special Event.

Equipment

Antenna support

We equipped ourselves in the usual way:

  • 80m doublet fed with 450Ω ladder line in an inverted vee suspended from the lantern tower and secured to the bow and stern
  • MFJ 993 IntelliTuner
  • Yaesu FT-991 HF/VHF/UHF multi-mode transceiver
  • Nissei DPS-300 30A linear power supply
  • Behringer Xenyx 302 USB audio mixer
  • Logitech amplified speakers
  • Acer Aspire 8942 Laptop running PyQSO under Debian 12 (Bookworm)

Pile Up

This feels like one of our older or long standing Special Events, we started doing this in 2013, although we didn’t adopt GB0CCC until 2014. This makes 2023 our tenth calendar year, however the Covid pandemic stopped us from taking part in 2020. For comparison we first operated Mills as a Club in 2012 (although the original operators were operating from Saltford for some years prior to it becoming a Club event), Railways started in 2011 so Lighthouses is relatively new to us. Despite this, after 9 active years we’re pretty familiar with both our hosts and the QTH.

We had a moment of panic close to the event when we realised that although we’d made early contact with the Cabot Cruising Club we hadn’t had a response confirming that they were able to accommodate us this year. However a brief exchange of emails resolved this, there was an event at the John Sebastian on Saturday evening which meant we had to be disembarked fairly promptly but other than that we were, once again, welcomed onboard.

Access to the Light Vessel was restricted this year due to the imposition of the Clean Air Zone which requires non-compliant vehicles to pay £9.00 for the privilege of polluting the local air. Carrying the boxes of equipment on public transport was something of a logistical nightmare (especially for one person); fortunately Mark M0SKV has a compliant vehicle so it was possible for Andy G7KNA to bring the Club equipment from the Club and meet Mark at the Long Ashton Park and Ride where equipment and personnel were transferred to Mark’s car for the final journey to the site.

As a side note, Mark’s satnav has no idea where the Long Ashton Park and Ride site is located, delivering him into the centre of a neighbouring housing estate. Google Maps is marginally more intelligent and delivered him to the correct spot only the usual 10 minutes late, however the programme of events had made due allowance for the fact that neither Andy or Mark ever turn up on time and no harm was done!

On site we were joined by, in no particular order, Ken G4XCB and Craig M/Z21LX. With the station setup; a quick tune around showed good active conditions although none of us expected how the day turned out. We did our usual of tuning around for a few minutes, unlike our outing at Mills when the propagation was dire we were pleasantly surprised to hear a number of active stations. We found a spare bit of spectrum in the 40m band and put out a CQ call. We were rewarded by a reply from Rob G7RFO in West Yorkshire. And then the world found out about us and we simply didn’t stop working stations calling us. Mark M0SKV took the first stint with Andy G7KNA logging, and later in the day Andy G7KNA took over the microphone with Craig M/Z21LX taking on the duty of logging for the first time.

Former Light Vessel 55

As a result of the aforementioned function at the John Sebastian on the Saturday evening we had to close down promptly, but despite only being on air for 5 hours and 5 minutes we worked 131 other stations, an average of 1 station every 2 minutes and 20 seconds. We were astonished; in previous Special Events, not just for Lighthouses, we normally manage around 100 – 120 or so contacts in a weekend so to have amassed 131 contacts during the first day was astonishing to us.

One downside of the pileup was that we didn’t really tune around the band or change bands to track down other Lighthouses, but we managed contacts into: England, Scotland, Wales, the Netherlands, the Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, France, Republic of Ireland and Belgium. Having secured The Isle of Man (on more than one occasion) we began to harbour expectations that we would, finally, succeed at working stations with every UK RSL in a single event, the stakes for the second day couldn’t be higher.

We got a message while on air by email from Brian a SWL (SWL No.: EI1898) from the Republic of Ireland reporting hearing our contact with G3ZRB and G0UTP.

Back at the Coalface

Day 2 and we’re back on the harbour, some personnel changes for today saw the group made up of, in no particular order: Greg 2W1BUF, Dave G0DPW, Ken G4XCB, Andy G7KNA, Dave M7BBN and Ken M7MYU.

Radio equipment

Once again Andy, this time accompanied by Ken M7MYU were to “RV” at the Long Ashton Park and Ride. After yesterday it was hoped that Mark would have taught his satnav where this was, or realised that relying on the satnav in lieu of Google Maps was a recipe for disaster. Sadly, this was not the case and in addition to being late (again) Mark once again ended up in the wrong place. Interestingly, or not depending on your point of view, the Park and Ride site is closed on Sundays (something we hadn’t factored into our plans), but fortunately there was on street parking at the entrance road so things went ahead as planned and once again Andy, this time with Ken transferred to Mark’s compliant vehicle to finish the journey to site, which clearly couldn’t be completed by Park and Ride because the service doesn’t run on Sundays. Nice work Bristol City Council, impose an additional charge but don’t offer any alternatives!

Honourable mention should go to Rachel, Greg 2W1BUF’s partner, for bringing Greg to site today in her car as Greg’s daily driver, ‘The Phantom‘ is also not clean-air zone compliant. Interestingly Rachel has made a pact with Greg that if he is successful in gaining his Full Licence with the Bath Based Distance Learning Team then she will take her Foundation Licence. We’re getting our Foundation Notes updated in readiness for this Rachel!

But back to the narrative, we were a bit late getting back onto the ‘John Sebastian‘ but we were back on air just before 11:20 BST with a 20m contact into Sweden to Braten Lighthouse. After this we dropped back onto 40m, working in short order into France, England and an Irish lighthouse. Somewhere along the the way we were placed onto the DX cluster and once again we became the target of a pileup. It wasn’t quite as frenetic as yesterday but it was still pretty relentless.

Former Light Vessel 55

We worked into Sweden, France, England, Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Austria, Russia and Norway. But, did we work the Channel Islands? Well you’ll just have to read on to find out.

We did take some time towards the end of the day to hop onto 20m and worked some European stations including a surprising number of Lighthouses. We were operational for 4 hours and 58 minutes and worked 94 stations, an average of 1 station every 3 minutes and 10 seconds. Not as fast or as many as on Saturday but the overall total was 225 stations in 10 hours and 3 minutes giving an overall average of 1 QSO every 2 minutes and 41 seconds.

Map of Participating Lighthouses Worked

The Log of GB0CCC 2023

Date (UTC) Time (UTC) Station Worked Band or Freq (MHz) Mode Sent Received Operator’s Name QTH IARU Locator Dist (km) Notes
RST No. RST No.
19/08/23 09:56 G7RFO 40m SSB 57   59   Rob W Yorkshire      
19/08/23 10:01 M0ICR 40m SSB 59   59   Carl London      
19/08/23 10:02 M0XDX 40m SSB 59   59   Paul Mablethorpe Lincolnshire      
19/08/23 10:03 G3NFV 40m SSB 59   59   Robin Surrey      
19/08/23 10:04 G4HPE 40m SSB 59   59   Steve Cambridge      
19/08/23 10:06 G0GWY 40m SSB 59   59   Geoff        
19/08/23 10:07 2E0WKV 40m SSB 59   59   Kevin Basildon     50W End Fed FT710
19/08/23 10:08 MM0JTV 40m SSB 59       John        
19/08/23 10:10 MM3PLM 40m SSB 57   59   Pat Edinburgh (30miles north of)      
19/08/23 10:11 G0ERS 40m SSB 59   59            
19/08/23 10:13 G4HHX 40m SSB 59   59   Richard Dover      
19/08/23 10:14 GW0LYF 40m SSB 59   59   Derek Cardiff      
19/08/23 10:16 M5XYZ 40m SSB 57   59   Chris        
19/08/23 10:18 PC1Y 40m SSB 58   59   Peter Rotterdam      
19/08/23 10:19 2E0FEH 40m SSB     59     Cornwall      
19/08/23 10:23 M0VIE 40m SSB 59   59   Kevin        
19/08/23 10:25 G7OXB 40m SSB 57   57   Steve Cumbria      
19/08/23 10:26 MM0KBT 40m SSB 59   59   Davy        
19/08/23 10:29 M0XIC 40m SSB 59   59   Mark Stourbridge      
19/08/23 10:31 M0WPJ 40m SSB 59   59   Peter Canterbury      
19/08/23 10:33 2E0EVM 40m SSB 59   59   Eddie Brixham Berrry Head, Devon     UK0088
19/08/23 10:34 2E0HPI/P 40m SSB 59       Carl Seaton High Tower     UK0198 UK0198
19/08/23 10:37 GM0NRT 40m SSB 59   59   Phil Aberdeen      
19/08/23 10:40 GD7DUZ 40m SSB 57                
19/08/23 10:43 M5DR 40m SSB 59       Dean        
19/08/23 10:44 M0DXT/P 40m SSB 59       Bill Maryport Lighthouse Cumbria     UK0152 UK0152 Not Registered as a Participating Station
19/08/23 10:47 G2UT 40m SSB         Steve Nottingham      
19/08/23 10:49 G6NYG 40m SSB 59   59   Roy Droitwich      
19/08/23 10:51 M0CHK 40m SSB 59   59   Andy Wisbeach      
19/08/23 10:52 M3KQJ 40m SSB 59         Birmingham      
19/08/23 10:53 M7BUE 40m SSB 59   59   Ian Stoke on Trent      
19/08/23 10:55 G4UNM 40m SSB 59   59   Bob Sandown Isle of Wight     TS830S
19/08/23 10:57 GW4GNY 40m SSB 59   59   Martin Welshpool      
19/08/23 10:59 M0HEM 40m SSB 59   59   John Dagenham      
19/08/23 11:02 PA1MV 40m SSB 58   59   Jaap Delft      
19/08/23 11:05 G4ASE 40m SSB 59   59     Co Durham      
19/08/23 11:07 G0UQY 40m SSB 59   59   Preston West Sussex      
19/08/23 11:11 G0BFJ 40m SSB 59   59   Brian W Yorkshire      
19/08/23 11:12 M0DCX 40m SSB 59   59   Darren Bury St. Edmonds      
19/08/23 11:14 G3WNR 40m SSB 59   59   Ken Leeds     FT101MP 200W End Fed Half Wave
19/08/23 11:16 GB6SL 40m SSB 58   59   Mike Hull      
19/08/23 11:19 M0PWC 40m SSB 59   59   Paul Stoke on Trent      
19/08/23 11:21 2W0DSP 40m SSB 59   59   Andrew Swansea      
19/08/23 11:24 M6NER 40m SSB 56   58   Tom        
19/08/23 11:27 2E0MTR 40m SSB 58   59   Mike Folkestone      
19/08/23 11:28 2E0OCR 40m SSB 56   57   Patrick Broadstairs     WAB TR36
19/08/23 11:31 G4ACS 40m SSB 59   59   Geoff Kinver      
19/08/23 11:35 G3VCG 40m SSB 59   59   Don Chelmsford      
19/08/23 11:36 MM0INH/P 40m SSB 57       Paul Barnes Ness Lighthouse     UK0034 UK0034 Not registered as a participating station
19/08/23 11:40 M0FRH 40m SSB 58   57   Ian Littlehampton W Sussex      
19/08/23 11:42 G6ASK 40m SSB 59       Jon Dulverton Somerset      
19/08/23 11:45 G3OJV 40m SSB 59       Peter Hockley Essex      
19/08/23 11:48 M6JNZ 40m SSB 59   59   Steve Cattrick      
19/08/23 11:49 G3ZRB 40m SSB 59   59   Geoff Manchester     1962 Vintage Station
19/08/23 11:51 G0UTP 40m SSB 59   59   Tony Middlesborough     100W IC7300 ICM BG Mic 130 foot long wire 9:1 Unun
19/08/23 11:55 G0YLM 40m SSB 59   59   Linda Morecombe     SD46 100W
19/08/23 11:58 G6INU 40m SSB 59   59   Doug Sidcup     FTDX10 100W
19/08/23 12:00 M1AOB 40m SSB 59   59   Richard       Kenwood TS480SAT
19/08/23 12:03 2E0GHM 40m SSB 59   59   Graham Wirral      
19/08/23 12:04 G7WKW 40m SSB 59   59   Martin Freshwater Bay Isle of Wight      
19/08/23 12:06 M1CBK 40m SSB 59   59   Rob Erith N Kent     400W Inverted Vee FT5000MP Expert Solid Sate Amp
19/08/23 12:09 GI0PGC 40m SSB 59   59   Jim Belfast      
19/08/23 12:12 GX8BBC 40m SSB 59       Jim        
19/08/23 12:16 G4HQX 40m SSB         Peter Berkly      
19/08/23 12:18 M1DHA/P 40m SSB     58     Scarborough      
19/08/23 12:22 PG100N 40m SSB 58   59     Noordwijk aan Zee     NL0009 NL0009
19/08/23 12:25 GB0NFL 40m SSB 59   59   Steve North Foreland Lighthouse     UK0128 Not registered as a participating station
19/08/23 12:26 MM0INE 40m SSB 59   59   Pete Jedburgh      
19/08/23 12:33 M0XOF 40m SSB     59   John South London      
19/08/23 12:36 G4NVF 40m SSB 56   57   Steve Blackpool     15W
19/08/23 12:40 M0RBM 40m SSB 59   59   Rodney Bude      
19/08/23 12:43 MM0CPZ 40m SSB 58   58   Richard Edinburgh      
19/08/23 12:47 G8KHR 40m SSB 58   59   Mark Derby      
19/08/23 12:52 M7DCY 40m SSB 45   57            
19/08/23 12:56 GX3WTP 40m SSB 59   59   Henry Bedford     Tri Forces Navy 4961
19/08/23 12:59 G4NXL 40m SSB 58   59   Malc Derby     WAB SK34
19/08/23 13:04 M0PTZ 40m SSB 59   59   Paul Hampshire      
19/08/23 13:05 GB0NL 40m SSB 59   59   Stu Newhaven Breakwater     UK0190 UK0190
19/08/23 13:08 MN0JQS 40m SSB     49     Lightship “Petrel”, Ballydorn     UK0092 UK0092 – Lightship
19/08/23 13:14 MM7STP 40m SSB 57   59            
19/08/23 13:17 GI0DUP 40m SSB 59   59   Rodrick Belfast     100W 40m Delta Loop
19/08/23 13:23 G6QA 40m SSB 58   59   Lynda Bolton      
19/08/23 13:28 G1HSL 40m SSB 59   59   John Ipswitch      
19/08/23 13:30 PA3GDY 40m SSB 58   59   Erik        
19/08/23 13:32 G0ECX 40m SSB 58   58   Rob Waymouth      
19/08/23 13:33 G3XKT 40m SSB 59   59   Tony Between Derby and Nottingham      
19/08/23 13:35 GM8OFQ 40m SSB 59   59   Geoff Orkney Islands      
19/08/23 13:37 PA1X 40m SSB 59   59   Rob Netherlands      
19/08/23 13:38 GX4CW 40m SSB 59   59     Cross Ness     UK0095 UK0095
19/08/23 13:40 G3YZY 40m SSB 59   59   Howard Portsmouth      
19/08/23 13:42 G0TSH 40m SSB 59   59   Keith York      
19/08/23 13:44 F4VPL 40m SSB 59   59            
19/08/23 13:46 GB8SL 40m SSB 59   59     Shoreham Lighthouse     UK0023 UK0023
19/08/23 13:47 M0NMI 40m SSB 59   59   David Swindon      
19/08/23 13:49 G4ILA 40m SSB 59   59   John Wirral     TS590SG
19/08/23 13:53 EI2HO 40m SSB     58   John Dublin      
19/08/23 13:55 G6HL 40m SSB 59   59   Bill Cromer      
19/08/23 13:57 ON9BD 40m SSB     59     Lightship “Westhinder 3”     BE0006 BE0006 – Lightship
19/08/23 13:59 M3ZLA 40m SSB 58   59   Glyn Chester      
19/08/23 14:02 M0XRK 40m SSB 59   59   Jim Ashford Kent      
19/08/23 14:06 G0DRM 40m SSB 59   59   David        
19/08/23 14:07 2E0OAI 40m SSB 58   57            
19/08/23 14:08 M5AKY 40m SSB 59   59   Don Farrington Gurny      
19/08/23 14:10 G0FWX 40m SSB 59   59   Gary        
19/08/23 14:12 GM4XQJ 40m SSB 59   59   Brian Falkirk      
19/08/23 14:13 GD3ZZN 40m SSB 59   59   Martin Port Erin Isle Of Man      
19/08/23 14:16 M0ZGY 40m SSB 59   59   Jerry Saltash      
19/08/23 14:20 M7DTG 40m SSB 59   59   Daniel Bradford      
19/08/23 14:21 GW0IXM 40m SSB 58   59   Owen Amanford Swansea      
19/08/23 14:25 GM4MTI 40m SSB     58   Stuart        
19/08/23 14:27 G1ILJ 40m SSB 59   59   Clive Scarborough      
19/08/23 14:29 GB2THL 40m SSB 59   58     Tod Head Lighthouse     UK0218 UK0218
19/08/23 14:31 G4PEK 40m SSB 58   59   Les Barnstaple      
19/08/23 14:33 G3RAT 40m SSB 59   59     London     Drowned Rats Radio Group
19/08/23 14:35 M1EAG 40m SSB 59   59   Kev Derby      
19/08/23 14:37 EI2IJB 40m SSB 59   59   Ron Gallway West Coast Ireland      
19/08/23 14:39 M7FRS 40m SSB 59   59   Ben Lowestoft      
19/08/23 14:40 2E0FVN 40m SSB 59   59   Mark Potters Bar      
19/08/23 14:42 EI0NDR 40m SSB 59   59   Mick Baily Lighthouse, Dublin     IE0025 IE0025
19/08/23 14:43 G3YXN 40m SSB 59   59   Paul Cromer      
19/08/23 14:44 G4PAP 40m SSB 59   59   Terry Essex      
19/08/23 14:46 G0KOJ 40m SSB 59   59   Brian Kings Lynn      
19/08/23 14:49 G2NV 40m SSB 59   59   Tom Leicester      
19/08/23 14:52 G4IDF 40m SSB 59   59   Dave Worcester      
19/08/23 14:55 M1DYU 40m SSB 59   59   Gary Wigan      
19/08/23 14:56 GW0PLP 40m SSB 59   59   Don Cardigan      
19/08/23 14:57 M1CIZ 40m SSB 58   59   Steve Rugby      
19/08/23 14:58 G3VWH 40m SSB 59   59   Brian Shrewsbury      
19/08/23 14:59 M0ZEM 40m SSB 59   59   Bob Co Durham      
19/08/23 15:00 G7TFX 40m SSB 59   59   Jim Co Durham      
19/08/23 15:01 EI0LHL 40m SSB         David Loop Head Lighthouse     IE0009 IE0009
20/08/23 10:19 SF6B 20m SSB 57   57     Braten     SE0079 SE0079
20/08/23 10:26 F4JFH 40m SSB 59   59   Serg        
20/08/23 10:37 G7RFO 40m SSB 57       Rob        
20/08/23 10:41 EI3CC 40m SSB     59   Wayne Ballinacourrty Point     IE0018 IE0018
20/08/23 10:46 PA1MV 40m SSB 59   59   Jaap Delft      
20/08/23 10:48 M3KPZ 40m SSB 59       Terry Bristol      
20/08/23 10:50 GW4MM 40m SSB 59       Tim Fishguard      
20/08/23 10:51 2W0XGH 40m SSB 57   58   Melanie Cambrian Mountains      
20/08/23 10:53 G7HFS 40m SSB 59   59   Ian St. Leonards     100W IC7300 Random Wire
20/08/23 10:54 GI0VAB 40m SSB     59   Phil Belfast      
20/08/23 10:56 G0ANS 40m SSB 59   59   John River Medway Rotchester     5W into Linear 200W out IC7100
20/08/23 10:59 G0FVH 40m SSB 58   59   David Poole      
20/08/23 11:00 GW6STK 40m SSB 59   59   Robert Colwyn Bay     Slight QSB
20/08/23 11:01 G4NAK 40m SSB 59   59   Ray Freshwater Isle of Wight     90W Inverted Vee
20/08/23 11:05 PE1OAD/MM 40m SSB 59   59   Michel South of Newcastle     Cargo ship just south of Newcastle en route from USA
20/08/23 11:07 F4FTJ 40m SSB 59   59   Thomas 100km from Paris      
20/08/23 11:09 G7SXR 40m SSB 59       Mark West Yorkshire      
20/08/23 11:11 EI3IS 40m SSB 59       Enda        
20/08/23 11:13 2E0MDM 40m SSB 59       Steve Windsor     FT102 MH25 Microphone End Fed Wire
20/08/23 11:17 GI4XIR 40m SSB     57   David Belfast     Slight QSB J 26
20/08/23 11:19 G2ABR 40m SSB 59   59   Chris Harwich      
20/08/23 11:21 M0RHX 40m SSB 59   59   Richard Stourbridge     IC7300 End Fed Half Wave
20/08/23 11:23 M7ALE 40m SSB 55   57   Dave 20 miles south of York      
20/08/23 11:26 MM7SJJ 40m SSB 54   57   Scott       Operating GB0NHL on Saturday!
20/08/23 11:29 G7UGB 40m SSB 59   59   Martin Norwich      
20/08/23 11:30 MM7EWJ/P 40m SSB 44       Mark        
20/08/23 11:33 M0UCB 40m SSB 57   57   George Northumberland      
20/08/23 11:35 G6AJ 40m SSB 59   57     Barnsley     Barnsley ARC 110 Anniversary
20/08/23 11:39 EI1K 40m SSB     59   Mike Cromwell Poimt Lighthouse     IE0001 IE0001
20/08/23 11:43 G7BHU 40m SSB 58   59   Terry Pinston     J28 M1 Motorway
20/08/23 11:45 M5AML 40m SSB 56   59   John Derby      
20/08/23 11:46 G0PMJ 40m SSB 59   59   Dave Darlington Co Durham     FTDX10 Inverted Vee
20/08/23 11:49 GW0IXM 40m SSB 44   59   Owen Ammanford      
20/08/23 11:56 G4TML 40m SSB 59   59   Barry Huddersfield      
20/08/23 12:00 GB2BHL 40m SSB 59   59   Geoff Bidston Hill     UK0180 UK0180
20/08/23 12:04 G7VKP 40m SSB 59   59   Adrian Chesterfield      
20/08/23 12:07 G1AKN 40m SSB 59   59   Andy Milton Keynes      
20/08/23 12:08 GI0VHG 40m SSB 59   59   Paul Armagh      
20/08/23 12:18 2E0SWW 40m SSB 59   59   John Derby      
20/08/23 12:19 G0NIK 40m SSB 59   59   Phil Ipswich      
20/08/23 12:22 2E0FPZ 40m SSB 59   59   Tony Downend Bristol      
20/08/23 12:25 GI0RQK 40m SSB 59   59   Colin Ballyclare nr. Belfast      
20/08/23 12:27 G4EQZ 40m SSB 59   59   Keith 10m north of Newcastle-under-Lyme      
20/08/23 12:31 MW3WQZ 40m SSB 59   59   Paul Pembrokeshire      
20/08/23 12:35 M0ZGY 40m SSB 59   59   Gerry Saltash      
20/08/23 12:38 M0MNG 40m SSB 59   59   Ed West Sussex Coast      
20/08/23 12:42 M0FSD 40m SSB 59   59   Danny Blackburn      
20/08/23 12:44 ON7DC 40m SSB 57   59   Tom Belgium      
20/08/23 12:47 G0LJV 40m SSB 58   59   Steve Doncaster      
20/08/23 12:54 EI3JRB 40m SSB 59   59   Ruben Co. Monaghan      
20/08/23 12:56 F4IKK 40m SSB 59   59   Stephan Brittany      
20/08/23 12:59 PD0SV 40m SSB 59   59   Jack West Netherlands      
20/08/23 13:02 GW0MHK 40m SSB 59   59   Len Anglesey      
20/08/23 13:07 M0DID/QRP 40m SSB 45   59   Declan        
20/08/23 13:10 2E0JWJ 40m SSB 57   59   Dennis Westbury Wiltshire      
20/08/23 13:12 2E0IHS 40m SSB 59   59   Gary Reading      
20/08/23 13:13 G1PIR 40m SSB 55   59   Dave South Manchester      
20/08/23 13:15 G1RUV 40m SSB 57   59     Ferring West Sussex      
20/08/23 13:19 PE2USA 40m SSB                  
20/08/23 13:22 G4HEC 40m SSB 59   58   Paul Christchurch Dorset      
20/08/23 13:23 ON6YP 40m SSB 59   59   Greg Ypres     Home QTH looks over the Menin Gate.
20/08/23 13:25 G7NIR 40m SSB 58   59   Lester Wirral      
20/08/23 13:27 G7VJA 40m SSB     59   Ken Clovelly      
20/08/23 13:29 F8DVD 40m SSB 58   59   Franc Macon      
20/08/23 13:31 G8GTV 40m SSB 57   59   Barrie Sidmouth      
20/08/23 13:34 MW0IDT 40m SSB 59   59   Ian Llantwit Major      
20/08/23 13:37 M0KEP 40m SSB 58   58   Tim Malvern      
20/08/23 13:38 M0BGS 40m SSB 58   59   Geoff North Leeds      
20/08/23 13:39 GW0WWQ 40m SSB 59   59   Hugh North Wales      
20/08/23 13:43 G0KZH 40m SSB 57   59   Elaine Nr. Manchester      
20/08/23 13:47 M0DEL/P 40m SSB 53   58   Andy Victoria Harbour Old Pier, Hartlepool     UK0236 UK0236
20/08/23 13:52 G0GFY 40m SSB 58   59   James Croydon      
20/08/23 13:54 M1TES 40m SSB 59   59   James Bungay      
20/08/23 13:56 F4WEC 40m SSB 59   59   John France      
20/08/23 13:59 G4AUQ 40m SSB 59   59   Fred Hull      
20/08/23 14:00 G4FZN 40m SSB 59   59   Chris Richmond North Yorkshire      
20/08/23 14:01 GW4FOI 40m SSB 57   59   John Neath     QRP station running 10W
20/08/23 14:04 G8HCZ 40m SSB 55   59   Julian Ipswitch      
20/08/23 14:07 GM0VXA 40m SSB 59   59   Paul Motherwell      
20/08/23 14:10 2E0NMK 40m SSB 58   58   Simon Durham      
20/08/23 14:13 M0XXM 40m SSB 59   59   Mike Kings Lynn      
20/08/23 14:16 G0DRA 40m SSB 57   57   Derek Lichfield      
20/08/23 14:18 DH4PSG 40m SSB 55   55   Peter Germany      
20/08/23 14:20 G0CDB 40m SSB 55   55   John Paignton      
20/08/23 14:31 CS2SP 20m SSB 57   59   John Penedo da Saudade-S. Pedro Moel-Leiria     PT0023 PT0023
20/08/23 14:43 II1L 20m SSB 59   59     Lanterna di Genova     IT0005 IT0005
20/08/23 14:53 IQ4RA 20m SSB 59   59     Marina di Ravenna     IT0028 IT0028
20/08/23 14:58 IK6XUL 20m SSB 59   59     Monte di San Bartolo / Pesaro     IT0024 IT0024
20/08/23 15:01 OK2FSK 20m SSB 59   59   Peter   JN99FQ    
20/08/23 15:09 CS2FSA 40m SSB 55         Farol de Vila Real Santo Antonio IM67HE   PT0034 PT0034
20/08/23 15:11 SP9IFQ 20m SSB 55   58   Marian        
20/08/23 15:13 OE8PJQ 20m SSB     59   Hans   JN66RT    
20/08/23 15:14 R4PEZ 20m SSB 59   59            
20/08/23 15:17 LA8CNA 20m SSB 59   59   Mandor Olsen West Coast Norway      

10 Year RSL Tracker (2014 – 2023)

The Regional Secondary Locators (RSLs) are letters altered or added to an individual or club amateur radio callsign to denote which part of the United Kingdom the station is operating from, the map and table below indicate the principles:

Location Foundation Callsigns Intermediate Callsigns Full Callsigns Club Callsigns Special Event Callsigns
England M#☐☐☐ 2E#☐☐☐ G#☐☐☐
M#☐☐☐		 GX#☐☐☐
MX#☐☐☐		 GB#☐☐☐

Typically Special Event Callsigns are of the form GB + 1 Number (0-9) and 3 letters.
However, Special Special Event Callsigns can have 1, 2, 3 or even 4 letters after 1, 2 or even 3 digits following the “GB” prefix depending on:
1. Ofcoms disposition,
2. Who you ask,
3. Who you know, and
4. How much “clout” you can bring to bear.
Guernsey MU#☐☐☐ 2U#☐☐☐ GU#☐☐☐
MU#☐☐☐		 GP#☐☐☐
MP#☐☐☐
Isle of Man MD#☐☐☐ 2D#☐☐☐ GD#☐☐☐
MD#☐☐☐		 GT#☐☐☐
MT#☐☐☐
Jersey MJ#☐☐☐ 2J#☐☐☐ GJ#☐☐☐
MJ#☐☐☐		 GH#☐☐☐
MH#☐☐☐
Northern Ireland MI#☐☐☐ 2I#☐☐☐ GI#☐☐☐
MI#☐☐☐		 GN#☐☐☐
MN#☐☐☐
Scotland MM#☐☐☐ 2M#☐☐☐ GM#☐☐☐
MM#☐☐☐		 GS#☐☐☐
MS#☐☐☐
Wales MW#☐☐☐ 2W#☐☐☐ GW#☐☐☐
MW#☐☐☐		 GC#☐☐☐
MC#☐☐☐
Map of RSL's

We have long harboured the ambition to work all RSL’s on a single Special Event or contest but have yet to manage this (although we have come close on a few occasions). We didn’t manage it again this time either, but we live in hope!

  2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
 
A
o
t
A
 		 England                   ☑
Guernsey                   ☐
Isle of Man                   ☐
Jersey                   ☐
Northern Ireland                   ☑
Scotland                   ☑
Wales                   ☑
 
 
M
o
t
A
 		 England ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑     ☑ ☑
Guernsey ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐     ☑ ☐
Isle of Man ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐     ☑ ☐
Jersey ☐ ☐ ☑ ☐ ☑ ☐     ☐ ☐
Northern Ireland ☐ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☐ ☐     ☑ ☑
Scotland ☐ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☐     ☑ ☐
Wales ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑     ☑ ☑
 
 
V
H
F
 
F
D
 		 England ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑   ☑ ☑ ☑
Guernsey ☐ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☑ ☑   ☐ ☐ ☑
Isle of Man ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☑ ☐   ☐ ☐ ☑
Jersey ☐ ☑ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐   ☑ ☐ ☐
Northern Ireland ☑ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☑ ☐   ☐ ☐ ☐
Scotland ☑ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☑ ☑   ☑ ☐ ☑
Wales ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑   ☑ ☐ ☑
 
 
I
L
L
W
 		 England ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑   ☑ ☑ ☑
Guernsey ☑ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐   ☐ ☑ ☐
Isle of Man ☐ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☐ ☐   ☑ ☑ ☑
Jersey ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐   ☐ ☐ ☐
Northern Ireland ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑   ☑ ☑ ☑
Scotland ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑   ☑ ☑ ☑
Wales ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑   ☑ ☑ ☑
 
 
R
o
t
A
 		 England ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑  
Guernsey ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐  
Isle of Man ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☑ ☐ ☐ ☐  
Jersey ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐  
Northern Ireland ☑ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☑ ☑  
Scotland ☑ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☑ ☑  
Wales ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑