Mills 2025

Mills QSL Card

Introduction

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 (WGS84 Geoid): 51.401318°N, 2.451439°W
  • OSGR: ST 68692 67018 (6 figure ST686670)
  • IARU: IO81sj
  • WAB: ST66 – England
  • IOTA: EU005 (UK Mainland)
  • What 3 Words: ///unravel.transmits.rely (Operating Post Entrance)
  • What 3 Words: ///haggis.bibs.explored (Parking)

Location

Equipment

  • Nissei DPS300GL power supply,
  • Yaesu FT991 HF/6m/2m/70cm multi-mode transceiver,
  • MFJ 993 auto atu,
  • 80m flexweave doublet fed with 450Ω ladder line supported at the feedpoint by a MFJ-1908H 13m telescopic mast,
  • Acer Aspire 8942 laptop running CQRLog under Debian with the Cinnamon Desktop,
  • Behringer XENYX 302USB audio mixer, and
  • Logitech external powered speakers.

Operation

We’ve always been lucky with the weather at the Saltford Brass Mill and this year was to be no exception. We were operating from outside the Mill, as we usually do with a gazebo, in the front alongside the main road allowing us to say “hello” to anyone passing the Mill or entering the grounds.

On the Saturday Mark M0SKV, Andy G7KNA and Dave M7DVY set the station up allowing us to get on air around 11:15 local time. Our first contact was into John Webbs Thaxted Windmill. We continued to work English stations for a further 45 minutes before working Southern Ireland (Eire) and Wales.

Mark M0SKV operating GB0SBM assisted by David M7DVYMark M0SKV operating GB0SBM assisted by David M7DVY

A couple of Dutch stations about an hour into the morning was our first mainland Europe contacts and after about an hour and a half we added Northhern Ireland to our haul of UK countries.

Mark M0SKV operating GB0SBM assisted by David M7DVYMark M0SKV operating GB0SBM using the Club Yaesu FT-991A

We were joined in the afternoon by Greg 2W1BUF who was kind enough to bring some lunch to help us through the days operating.

The Club station used for GB0SBMMark M0SKV operating GB0SBM assisted by David M7DVY

Propagation wasn’t the greatest but it was better than we encountered in 2024 and we managed 59 contacts in 4 hours and 24 minutes equating to 1 QSO every 4 minutes and 28 seconds.

Greg 2W1BUF logging QSOs with GB0SBMMark M0SKV operating GB0SBM with Greg 2W1BUF logging

Parking at the Mill is something of an issue. The area immediately adjacent to the Mill that we used to operate from is now designated residents parking. There is a small pay and display car park which thankfully accepts ordinary coin of the realm as well as payments via the app as mobile phone coverage is so poor that making a payment via the app wasn’t successful. The problem is that due to the high volume of watersports enthusiasts in the warmer months, parking in the car park is limited to only 3 hours with a restriction on return. There is aslo some free on street parking adjacent to this car park but this is also time and return limited.

We got around this by swapping an on street parking place with an in car park space but this meant that one of our team had to move to a different on street location. It’s all a bit of a faff really.

On Sunday Andy G7KNA was joined by Ken M7MYU, Greg 2W1BUF and Mark M0SKV. Being a little earlier allowed some of the team to secure parking that was close to the Mill but also not restricted in terms of dwell time or limited in terms of return time.

Andy G7KNA operating GB0SBM with Ken M7MYU logging and Mark M0SKV observingAndy G7KNA operating GB0SBM with Ken M7MYU logging and Mark M0SKV observing

Conditions were not as good on Sunday as they were on Saturday but some contacts were made. We only managed to add 15 more QSOs to our log including Belgium as a new country.

The photographs, above, show gratuitous product placement for a well known coffee brand. We did the same thing last year and hoped to receive a little recognition for this advertising. To our knowledge this has not occurred so we are again offering it in the hope of some sponsorship or support with our Outreach activites. The alternative is that we switch our allegence to, I don’t know, Starbucks or Cafe Nero or Coffee #1. It’s up to you Costa!

Andy G7KNA operating GB0SBM with Ken M7MYU loggingAndy G7KNA operating GB0SBM with Ken M7MYU logging

Map of particpating Mills on the Air stations worked

GB0SBM 2025 Mills on the Air log

Date (UTC) Time (UTC) Station Worked Band Mode Sent Received Operator’s Name QTH IARU Locator Dist (km) Notes
RST No. RST No.
10/05/25 10:14 GB0TWM 40m SSB 59   59   Graham JOHN WEBBS THAXTED WINDMILL JO01EW   Operated by HARLOW & DISTRICT ARS Harlow and District ARS G6UT
10/05/25 10:22 GB0AEL 40m SSB 59   59   Mick EU     QRZ.com
10/05/25 10:39 M0MDN 40m SSB 59   57   Shane Hull EU      
10/05/25 10:43 M0GGO 40m SSB 59   59   Chris Dover EU      
10/05/25 10:48 G3XKT 40m SSB 59   59   Stanley Nottingham EU      
10/05/25 10:50 G4KXP 40m SSB 59   58   John Droitwich EU     Deep QSB RST Rec’d is average 56 – 59+10
10/05/25 10:54 G2XV 40m SSB 59   59     GREAT CHISHILL JO02AA   Operated by CAMBRIDGE & DISTRICT ARC Cambridge and District ARC Post Mill
10/05/25 10:55 G0YAP 40m SSB 59   58   Ian Norwich EU     S5 – S9+20
10/05/25 10:58 EI7HDB 40m SSB 59   59   Dale County Carlow EU      
10/05/25 10:59 G0JNT 40m SSB 58   59   Les EU      
10/05/25 11:00 GB2UW 40m SSB 46   59   Kevin UPMINSTER WINDMILL JO01CN   Operated by HAVERING & DISTRICT ARC Havering ARC
10/05/25 11:07 GW1KGR 40m SSB 59   59   Pete North Wales Coast EU      
10/05/25 11:10 2E0RLJ 40m SSB 59   59   Rob Newcastle EU      
10/05/25 11:12 GB1SMP 40m SSB 59   59   Ian Solihull EU      
10/05/25 11:14 GW6STK 40m SSB 59   59   Robert North Wales EU      
10/05/25 11:18 PA25MILL 40m SSB 59   59   Koss MOLEN VAN DE POLDER WESTBROEK JO22MD   Operated by VERON A08 / CENTRUM
10/05/25 11:19 PA3EFR 40m SSB 59   59   Erwin EU      
10/05/25 11:21 M7BBZ 40m SSB 59   59   Norman Bristol EU      
10/05/25 11:23 GB2NW 40m SSB 57   58   Phil NUTLEY WINDMILL JO01AB   Operated by WEST KENT ARS
10/05/25 11:25 M0WLF 40m SSB 59   59   Wilf Bristol EU      
10/05/25 11:28 M1TES/M 40m SSB 57   59   Jim Beccles EU     Some QSB
10/05/25 11:31 G4DRI 40m SSB 59   59   Ron EU      
10/05/25 11:33 GB0SNM 40m SSB 59   59   Carlow STURMINSTER NEWTON WATER MILL IO80UW   Operated by BLACKMORE VALE ARS Sturminster Norton Water Mill
10/05/25 11:36 M0VIE 40m SSB 59   59   Kevin Cheshire EU     Some QSB
10/05/25 11:37 PA6MM 40m SSB 59   59   Peter DE MIDDELMOLEND JO21JU   Operated by VERON DEPT. DORDRECHT A12 VERON A12 PI4VAD PI4VAD
10/05/25 11:41 MN0GFE 40m SSB 59   59     EU      
10/05/25 11:41 G4YCA 40m SSB 59   58   Peter Chester EU     Some QSB
10/05/25 11:46 EI4ABB 40m SSB 59   59     Gallway EU      
10/05/25 11:47 2M0YTN 40m SSB 57   58   John Ayeshire EU     57 – 59 Received
10/05/25 11:51 2E0IHS 40m SSB 59   59   Gary Reading EU      
10/05/25 11:54 GB2NW 40m SSB 59   59   Stephen NUTLEY WINDMILL JO01AB   Operated by WEST KENT ARS
10/05/25 11:56 GB5BCW 40m SSB 59   59   Fred Bembridge Isle of Wight EU      
10/05/25 11:57 PI4ZWN 40m SSB 58   56   Wienhalt DE VIJF GERBROEDERS JO11VL   Operated by VRZA ARDELING ZUID WEST NEDERLAND Windmill
10/05/25 12:01 2E0FEH 40m SSB 59   59   Carl Saltash EU      
10/05/25 12:02 M0XAL 40m SSB 59   59     Staffordshire EU     SK20
10/05/25 12:03 G0MGU 40m SSB 59   58   Colin Harlow Essex EU      
10/05/25 12:07 GM8OFQ 40m SSB 59   59   Geoff Orkney Islands EU      
10/05/25 12:10 PB3MAR 40m SSB 59   59     EU     QSB on our signal
10/05/25 12:11 PF1SCT 40m SSB 56   57   Frank EU      
10/05/25 12:13 2E0MTR 40m SSB 59   59   Mike Folkstone EU      
10/05/25 12:14 M0PPF 40m SSB 59   59   Steve Somerset EU      
10/05/25 12:19 GB5HW 40m SSB 59   59   Connor HEAGE WINDMILL IO93GB   Operated by NUNSFIELD HOUSE ARG
10/05/25 12:24 M7FLL 40m SSB 57   59     EU     QSB
10/05/25 12:30 M1AJU 40m SSB 57   59   Shane Dill EU      
10/05/25 12:35 M0KKZ/M 40m SSB 45   59     EU      
10/05/25 12:40 GB2DWM 40m SSB 59   59     DULOE TOWER MILL IO92UF   Operated by HUNTINGDON ARS Huntingdonshire ARS
10/05/25 12:45 G0UQT 40m SSB 57   59   Steve Bridgwater EU      
10/05/25 12:48 M7BBZ 40m SSB 59   59   Norman Bristol EU      
10/05/25 12:49 G0HEU 40m SSB 57   59   Paul EU      
10/05/25 12:56 M0WID 40m SSB 59   59   David Redhill EU      
10/05/25 13:00 GB2NW 40m SSB 59   59   Melvin NUTLEY WINDMILL JO01AB   Operated by WEST KENT ARS
10/05/25 13:02 M7BUE/P 40m SSB 59   59   Ian EU      
10/05/25 13:02 M0WPJ 40m SSB 58   58   Peter Canterbury EU     300W
10/05/25 13:07 G3TKF 40m SSB 59   59   Robin EU      
10/05/25 13:09 G6NBF 40m SSB 59   59   Geoff Doncaster EU      
10/05/25 13:10 M0XOF 40m SSB 59   59   John London EU      
10/05/25 13:17 2E0FDS 40m SSB 58   58   Keith Chester EU      
10/05/25 13:19 2E0IEN 40m SSB 58   59   Craig EU      
10/05/25 14:38 GB6MW 40m SSB 59   59   Toby MEOPHAM WINDMILL JO01EI   Operated by CRAY VALLEY RS Duplicate
11/05/25 09:29 PB5X 40m SSB 59   59     EU      
11/05/25 09:38 G3TKF 40m SSB 59   59   Robbin Duplicate contact EU      
11/05/25 09:43 G4BUO 40m SSB 59   59   Dave North Hartfordshire EU      
11/05/25 09:46 GB6GEM 40m SSB 59   59   Howard GAINSFORD END TOWER MILL JO01GX   Operated by BRAINTREE & DISTRICT ARS
11/05/25 09:56 GB0TM 40m SSB 59   59   Kavin Rochester EU      
11/05/25 10:05 GB4NHM 40m SSB 59   59   Jason NEW HALL MILL IO92CN   Operated by SUTTON COLDFIELD RS
11/05/25 10:08 G4HHX 40m SSB 59   57   Richard Dover EU      
11/05/25 10:14 MM0KBT 40m SSB 56   57   David Galloway EU      
11/05/25 11:21 ON4BW 40m SSB 59   59     EU      
11/05/25 12:58 GB0CWM 40m SSB 56   57   Mark COGGLESFORD WATERMILL IO93TA   Operated by DEREK WARRINER
11/05/25 13:44 GB5HM 40m SSB 57   59   Phil HOUGH MILL IO92HR   Operated by LOUGHBOROUGH & DISTRICT ARS
11/05/25 14:07 GB0IWM 40m SSB 58   59   Eddie IFIELD WATER MILL IO91VC   Operated by CRAWLEY ARC
11/05/25 14:12 G4FKA 40m SSB 59   59   Geoff Bristol EU      
11/05/25 14:16 G4JTR 40m SSB 59   59   Vin Reading EU      
11/05/25 14:22 G3RXQ 40m SSB 58   59   Stewart Lancaster EU      

10 Year RSL Tracker (2016 – 2025)

The Regional Secondary Locators (RSLs) are optional (except in the case of Intermediate Licences commencing with a 2 when they are mandatory) 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 if the significance can be justified.
Changes to this system are promised as part of the Licence overhaul.
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!

  2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
 
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 ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑  
 
 
I
n
 
Y
e
a
r
 		 England ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑
Guernsey ☑ ☐ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☐ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☐
Isle of Man ☑ ☐ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☐
Jersey ☑ ☐ ☑ ☐ ☐ ☑ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Northern Ireland ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑
Scotland ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☐ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑
Wales ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑