Mills 2017

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 of Contact Time Station Worked Band or Freq (MHz) Mode TX RX Operator’s Name QTH IARU Locator Distance (km) Notes
RST No. RST No.
13/05/2017 10:08 MW0BGQ 3.7 SSB 58   58   Dave Mid Wales      
13/05/2017 10:10 GW6EWX 3.7 SSB 58   58            
13/05/2017 10:19 G1HCM 3.74 SSB 55   55   Fred Isle of White      
13/05/2017 10:25 G3TGB 3.74 SSB 57   57   Brian Braintree      
13/05/2017 10:32 M0BAW 3.74 SSB 59   59   Don Brentwood      
13/05/2017 10:35 2E0KFR 3.74 SSB 59   59   Chris Dorset      
13/05/2017 10:38 M0ATB 3.74 SSB 59   59   Bob Poole      
13/05/2017 10:41 M0CVP 3.74 SSB 59   59   Bruce Chester      
13/05/2017 10:46 G8QZ 3.74 SSB 57   59   David Derby      
13/05/2017 10:47 GB0BM 3.74 SSB 57   58   David Burcott Mill Wookey     Special Event Station
13/05/2017 10:51 G4PEK 3.74 SSB 59   59   Lesle Cornwall      
13/05/2017 10:54 G0SYF 3.74 SSB 58   58   Bob Wotton under Edge      
13/05/2017 10:58 G6EED 3.74 SSB 59   59   Nigel Somerset      
13/05/2017 11:01 G4TXF 3.74 SSB 59   59   Colin Pershore      
13/05/2017 11:03 G3TQD 3.74 SSB 59   59   Roger Redditch      
13/05/2017 11:07 GB0CHW 3.74 SSB 59   59   Bob Chailey Heritage Windmill     Downland Radio Group
13/05/2017 11:09 G0NEV 3.74 SSB 59   59   Mike Weymouth      
13/05/2017 11:11 MX0NBC/P 3.74 SSB 59   59   Tony Snuff Mills Bristol     North Bristol ARC
13/05/2017 11:19 GB1WML 3.74 SSB 59   59   Martin White Mill Dorset     Christchurch ARS
13/05/2017 11:20 2E0PPF 3.74 SSB 59   59   Steve Chard      
13/05/2017 11:22 G0CXP/M 3.74 SSB 59   59   Keith        
13/05/2017 11:25 GB2TMI 3.74 SSB 59   59   Geoff Thwaites Watermill Leeds     Denby Dale ARS
13/05/2017 11:30 G4ZJO 3.74 SSB 32   55            
13/05/2017 11:35 GB0CMW 3.74 SSB 59   59   David Cattells Mill Willingham     Cambridge and District ARC
13/05/2017 11:47 2E0SBH 3.74 SSB 59   59   Stev        
13/05/2017 11:57 GB4HCM 7.025 SSB 57   57   Chris Heron Corn Mill     Sands Amateur Radio CG
13/05/2017 12:00 M6VKM 7.025 SSB 59   59   Kevin Norfolk      
13/05/2017 12:08 DL1GWW 7.145 SSB 52       Wolf Germany      
13/05/2017 12:27 GB0DWM 7.175 SSB 59   59   Merv Dulow Mill     Special Event Station
13/05/2017 12:40 GB2RGM 7.175 SSB 53   57   Marc Royal Gunpowder Mill     Special Event Station
13/05/2017 12:44 GB6CFM 7.175 SSB 59   59   John Cheddleton Flint Mill     Staffordshire Portable ARG
13/05/2017 13:08 G3IAZ/M 7.133 SSB 59   59   Alex Beachey Head      
13/05/2017 13:17 G4PWO/P 7.133 SSB 59   59   Phil London      
13/05/2017 13:21 G4HRP 7.133 SSB 59   59   Ken East London      
13/05/2017 14:10 M0DFW 3.755 SSB 59   59   Dave Cambridge      
13/05/2017 14:26 GW4GMY 3.755 SSB 59   59   Martin Welshpool      
13/05/2017 14:28 M0BAW 3.755 SSB 59   59   Don Brentwood      
13/05/2017 14:42 GW0AVW 3.755 SSB 59   59   Terry Caerphilly      
13/05/2017 14:46 G0XAE 3.755 SSB 59   59   Mike Forest of Dean      
13/05/2017 14:51 GB0BWM 3.755 SSB 59   59   Matt Brill Windmill Buckinghamshire     Chesham and District ARS
13/05/2017 14:57 2E0WEK 3.755 SSB 59   59   Keith Horsham      
13/05/2017 14:59 M0LJT 3.755 SSB 59   59   Eddie Bristol      
13/05/2017 15:00 GW7VJK 3.755 SSB 59   59   Nigel Llandovery      
13/05/2017 15:02 GB0CMW 3.755 SSB 59   59   David Cattells Mill Willingham     Cambridge and District ARC. Duplicate Contact
13/05/2017 15:04 GB0JAJ 3.755 SSB 59   59   Chris Jill Post Windmill Brighton     Mid Sussex ARS
13/05/2017 15:05 G0DTX 3.755 SSB 59   59   John Glossop      
13/05/2017 15:07 G0WYD 3.755 SSB 59   59   Bob Tidworth      
13/05/2017 15:08 MW0GMH 3.755 SSB 59   59   Owen Brecon      
13/05/2017 15:10 F4VPL/P 3.755 SSB 59   59   Dave St Jacut les Pins Windmill Brittany      
13/05/2017 15:12 G4LJG 3.755 SSB 59   59   Dave Rushden      
14/05/2017 10:04 MW0ZVR 7.149 SSB 59   59            
14/05/2017 10:06 GB2GGM 7.149 SSB 59   57   Ant Gelligroes Mill Blackwood     Andrew MW0LAO
14/05/2017 10:07 2W0LLT 7.149 SSB 57   57   Lloyd Cardigan     Museum of Power
14/05/2017 10:12 GB2WBM 7.149 SSB 59   59   Keith Brighton and Hove     Special Event Station
14/05/2017 10:14 GB1WML 7.149 SSB 59   59   Martin White Mill Wimborne Dorset     Christchurch ARS. Duplicate Contact
14/05/2017 10:15 G4YOH 7.149 SSB 59   59   Wayne Chard Somerset      
14/05/2017 10:17 GB4WMM 7.149 SSB 57   57   Jerry Warsborough Mill     Denby Dale ARS
14/05/2017 10:19 DL8FQ 7.149 SSB 57   57   Rolf        
14/05/2017 10:21 M0PER 7.149 SSB 41   55   Alan Chester      
14/05/2017 10:24 MM0AUP/P 7.149 SSB 53   57     Orkney      
14/05/2017 10:28 MW0BYT 7.149 SSB 59   59   Ross Bangor      
14/05/2017 10:32 MM0VEG/M 7.149 SSB 53 001 57 005          
14/05/2017 10:36 G3WBB 7.149 SSB 56   56   Ted Blackpool      
14/05/2017 10:40 G4PEK 7.149 SSB 59   59   Lesle Cornwall      
14/05/2017 11:02 G3PWY 7.149 SSB 59   59   David High Wycombe      
14/05/2017 11:03 GB4NHM 7.149 SSB 58   58   Rob New Hall Mill Sutton Coldfield     Sutton Coldfield RS. Home call 2E0ZAP
14/05/2017 11:17 GB0BWM 3.766 SSB 59   59   Terry Brill Windmill Buckinghamshire     Chesham and District ARS. Duplicate Contact
14/05/2017 11:20 G2IIM 3.766 SSB 59   59   Mike        
14/05/2017 12:23 G4NFS 3.766 SSB 58   58   Norman        
14/05/2017 12:29 G0UYN 3.766 SSB 59   59   Malcom        
14/05/2017 12:31 G4NVL 3.766 SSB 57   57   Steve        
14/05/2017 12:47 G4PCE 3.766 SSB 59   59   Richard Solihull      
14/05/2017 13:09 GB6CW 3.775 SSB 57   55   Rob Cromer Windmill     Stevenage and District ARS
14/05/2017 13:46 GB2MGM 3.775 SSB 59   59   David       Special Event Station
14/05/2017 13:50 G0RGB 3.775 SSB 59   59            
14/05/2017 13:59 2E0HVJ/M 3.775 SSB 59   59            
14/05/2017 14:02 M0JCE 3.775 SSB 55   55   Julian        
14/05/2017 14:42 G3YZY 3.745 SSB 59   58   Howard Waterlooville Portsmouth      
14/05/2017 14:44 GW0AGZ 3.745 SSB 57   56   John Oswestry      
14/05/2017 14:52 M0CIW 3.745 SSB 59   59   Howard Abingdon     Icom 707 parallel dipoles 20m/40m/80m
14/05/2017 14:58 GW4XKE 3.745 SSB 55       Dennis Cardiff