A Memorable Journey to Spurn Lighthouse: HFDXARC’s Annual Lighthouses on the Air Event
Every August, the HFDXARC team embarks on its much-anticipated pilgrimage to Spurn Lighthouse for the annual Lighthouses on the Air event. This year was nothing short of spectacular, with stunning weather and tremendous support from the dedicated team at Spurn Lighthouse, making the event even more enjoyable.
The team worked like a well-oiled machine, setting up camp with precision and teamwork. They quickly assembled the tent and raised an array of antennas, including verticals for multiple bands and an inverted V. The technical setup was equally impressive, featuring a Yaesu FT-2000, a Challenger 3 amplifier, and an FT8 station expertly provided by Ed (2E0HKZ).
What followed was an exciting string of global contacts, reaching distant corners of the world such as Australia and South America. Operators took shifts throughout the day and night, ensuring non-stop action on voice modes and making the most of the opportunity.
A special shout-out goes to Kerry from Yorkshire Wildlife for her invaluable assistance. Thanks to her and the fantastic off-road Unimog, the team made it down to the lighthouse easily, adding another layer of adventure to the experience.
The rugged beauty of Spurn Point provided a breathtaking backdrop for the event, making the weekend unforgettable for everyone involved. With the rare privilege of staying at Spurn Lighthouse throughout the event, HFDXARC had a unique chance to operate radios globally while fostering camaraderie within the team. It was more than just a radio event—it became a fantastic team-building exercise.
As the event drew to a close, the team couldn’t help but reflect on the bonds strengthened, the memories made, and the sheer joy of participating in such a unique event. The cooperation from the Spurn Lighthouse crew, combined with the stunning scenery and smooth logistics, made this year’s Lighthouses on the Air one of the best to date.
With each passing year, HFDXARC continues to grow stronger, and events like this play a vital role in nurturing a shared passion for amateur radio while forming lasting friendships. The team is already looking forward to next year’s event. Until then, 73 from HFDXARC!
Enjoy the Slide Show
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CQWW Contest Preparations: Excitement at the Club!
Excitement is brewing this month at the Club as preparations ramp up for this year’s CQWW contest! We’re gearing up bigger and better than ever, with new antennas, masts, and a total of seven stations operating around the clock.
This year, our 10m and 15m stations will be powered from upstairs, featuring impressive four-element mono-band Yagis and Quads. Achieving this required a monumental effort to install new masts and rotators specifically for the contest.
Steve M0EBJ will once again roll in with his mobile trailer mast, adding a unique twist to our strategy and expanding our options for the event. Our phased verticals for 40m are complete, and we’re optimistic they’ll perform well this time around. Each element has been meticulously maintained, tested, and tuned, with custom coax runs made to measure.
We’ve also laid down new coax and control cables to the towers, with extra runs ready for deploying RX antennas and verticals as needed. Standby radios and amplifiers are on standby, and all bandpass filters have been revamped and tested, ensuring we can null out any interference.
Of course, our preparations faced a small hiccup when a recent storm visited, causing some minor damage to our main tower rotator. But our dedicated members swiftly took care of it.
This year, the M6C team has organized schedules to ensure we have full coverage of all open bands throughout the weekend. And let’s not forget the culinary delights in store! Our members and their spouses have planned a feast to keep our operators fueled and focused, balancing radio duty with delicious meals.
As we gear up for the contest, we hope you’ll listen in and call us if you hear our signals.
Unfortunately, this is our only closed event and is invite-only, but if you’d like to visit the club in the future, please reach out through our website.
Stay tuned, and wish us luck! Until the contest, 73 from the M6C team!
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GB0MMH Events: A Beacon for Men’s Mental Health
In early 2023, the Humber Fortress DX Amateur Radio Club (HFDXARC) embarked on a pioneering journey.
They launched a special event station dedicated to Men’s Mental Health— in the amateur radio community.
The initiative turned out to be a resounding success, capturing widespread attention and heartfelt support.
Fast Forward 12 Months: A Growing Movement
By May 2024, the momentum had only grown. HFDXARC teamed up with three other amateur radio enthusiasts and YouTube content makers, all proudly sporting GB#MMH callsigns.
Together, they took on the mission of promoting Men’s Mental Health during International Men’s Health Month.
Event Dates: May 17th & 18th
Highlights:
– Contacts Made: Over 1,700.
– Support Received: An overwhelming flood of kind emails and messages.
– Engagement: Massive pileups demonstrated a high level of interest and support.
The support and enthusiasm from the global amateur radio community were truly inspiring.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to every individual who reached out, made contact, and shared words of encouragement with us all.
### June 2024: Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month
The movement didn’t stop there. In June, the event expanded even further, becoming one of the largest organized special events in HFDXARC’s history.
This time, seven more amateurs and YouTube personalities joined the cause.
Event Dates: June 14th – 16th
Participants: Friends, family, and members of the Hull and District Amateur Radio Society (HADARS) joined in the fun.
Many brought tents or rented glamping pods from the site owner, Mike.
Activities:
– BBQ Adventure: Saturday’s planned BBQ faced a sudden challenge as the weather turned.
However, thanks to Mike’s quick thinking and generous offer to use his barn/workshop, the BBQ was saved.
Everyone enjoyed a fantastic feast, turning what could have been a dampened event into a memorable gathering.
Tea Boy: We had two members join the club within a few months and in the tradition of the club that goes back to 2010, the last member to join got the tea boy roll and we had a handing over and modelling of the uniform.
– Radio Operations: The team dived back into radio operations with everyone well-fed.
The pileups were massive, showcasing the immense support and interest.
By Sunday lunchtime, they had made over 1,700 contacts, and their QRZ page GB0MMH had over 13,000 lookups.
For the full event, all QSOs made was over 3700 and we hope to email out QSL cards for every contact made soon.
### Special Thanks
We owe the success of these events to so many wonderful people:
– Participants: Every amateur radio operator who joined us, bringing their enthusiasm and dedication.
– Supporters: All the friends, family members, and HADARS participants who made the event lively and enjoyable.
– Mike: Our site owner, went above and beyond to ensure our BBQ was a success, despite the weather.
– Global Community: Everyone who reached out, made contact, and sent messages of support. Your engagement has been the driving force behind our success.
### The Road Ahead
Planning for next year is already in full swing. After such tremendous growth and success, the club is eager to see how they can top this year’s achievements.
With a commitment to promoting Men’s Mental Health and the unwavering support of the amateur radio community, the sky’s the limit.
The GB#MMH events have become a beacon of hope and solidarity, showing the incredible power of community and the impact of raising mental health awareness.
HFDXARC’s innovative approach proves that even in the world of amateur radio, you can make a real difference.
### Final Words
As we look forward to future events, we remain deeply grateful to everyone who has been a part of this journey.
Your support, participation, and enthusiasm have turned a small idea into a powerful movement.
Together, we are making a difference and highlighting the importance of Men’s Mental Health.
Thank you all, and we can’t wait to see what we can achieve together next year!
73 from all of us who took part, and the full membership of both local radio clubs.
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