CQWW SSB 2015 | GB0SNB/MX0SNB/M0SNB – Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker

This weekend saw members of the bunker group activating the site for the CQWW SSB Contest. Operating from the Dave M0YOL’s caravan awning, we set up two stations, one at each end.

We arrived about midday on Friday 23rd October and got setup. Dave M0TAZ was underway with the construction of his 21 MHz beam while George M1GEO and Dave M0YOL were setting up the caravan. Some time later the 14 MHz beam was built and put on the SCAM12.

Then food! Here, we see the pre-contest dinner inside the awning, with (left to right) Dave M0YOL, Dave M0TAZ and Chris G8OCV.

… and breakfast …

Station 1

Icom IC7700 HF transceiver
Heathkit SB200 amplifier
Yaesu GX600RC rotator

Station 2

Kenwood TS990 HF transceiver
HAL 1200 amplifier

Antennas

14 MHz 3 element homebrew yagi
21 MHz 4 element homebrew yagi
1.8/3.5 MHz doublet; 26 metres
28 MHz vertical dipole; 8 metres
7 MHz ground-plane vertical; ground level

The shack was powered by two Honda EU20i 2kW slient generators with phasing harness, delivering a solid 4kW of mains power. We were a bit worried with the heavy rain on Saturday, so we fashioned an umbrella to help protect the electrics!

During the evenings, it got pretty cold. Here, George M1GEO operates with hood up for insulation, while Dave M0TAZ’s amplifier reports 8C inside the shack.

Band conditions were good (and busy), and many QSOs were made over the weekend. At the start of the contest, some of the lower bands became very packed!

Overall, we worked 1434 in our casual operating weekend. You can see the full log here. Some interesting contacts include Tunisia, many Caribbean Islands, China, Ceuta & Melilla, French Guiana, Liechtenstein, African Italy, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. For more information, look at the full countries breakdown!