Tag Archives: humber fortress dx

Another Successful Radio Rally !

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On Saturday, 11 July 2026, radio enthusiasts from across the region gathered at Welwick Village Hall for the HFDXARC Annual Radio Rally.

The hall and outdoor areas quickly filled with traders, radios, amplifiers, components, accessories, and plenty of bargains. Visitors were busy browsing the tables, chatting about radio, and searching for that special piece of equipment to take home.

The canteen was working flat out throughout the day, serving bacon, sausage, and tomato butties, while the tea and coffee kept flowing. The club stall and tombola were also busy from start to finish, adding even more fun to the friendly atmosphere.

It was fantastic to see so many familiar faces, catch up with old friends, welcome new visitors, and enjoy a great day of amateur radio together.

A huge thank you goes to all the traders who supported the rally and brought such a great selection of equipment, and to every visitor who came along and helped make the day such a success.

We would also like to thank the Welwick Village Hall Committee for all their help and support, along with the local residents and village community who supported the event and made everyone feel so welcome on the day.

A tremendous amount of planning, preparation, and hard work goes into organising and running a radio rally. A very special thank-you must therefore go to the club members who gave their time and worked tirelessly before, during, and after the event to make it all happen.

Whether you helped with planning, signage, loading, setting up the hall, catering, the entrance, the club stall, the tombola, security, clearing up, or packing everything away, your contribution was greatly appreciated.

On behalf of the full HFDXARC membership: thank you. You all know who you are, and the rally simply could not have happened without you.

We hope everyone enjoyed the day, found a bargain, won something on the tombola, and went home well fed.

Thank you to everyone who attended and supported the HFDXARC Annual Radio Rally. We look forward to welcoming you all back again next year!

Posted in Club News, Events, News Letters, Todays News

Building Steve M9NSQ’s Tilt-Over Mast From Scrap Steel | Amateur Radio at its Best

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Club Project

Steve M9NSQ’s Tilt-Over Mast Project

Steve, M9NSQ, built a simple mast support about a year ago using two pieces of 50 by 50 angle iron concreted into the ground, with a scaffold pole bolted between them to carry his six-metre mast.

Original mast support

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The Problem

The original setup worked, but it was not ideal. Raising and lowering the mast safely on his own was becoming harder, and servicing the antenna system was not as easy as it could be.

Then Mike Wood and Andy, G7LRR, came round for a look.

Within minutes, they had a better idea: why not build a proper tilt-over system, allowing Steve to raise, lower and service the mast completely by himself?

The challenge was on.

From Spare Steel to Proper Engineering

Club chairman Pat, M0PKE, was involved from the early stages, helping with the welding and fabrication work.

Using steel already lying around Mike’s workshop, an old hand winch, and parts saved from previous projects, the fabrication began.

Soon Andy was producing showers of sparks, Mike was grinding and assembling parts, Pat was welding and fabricating, and before long the new tilt-over frame was taking shape.

Fabrication and build work

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The Finished Setup

The only new parts bought for the whole project were the pulleys and the winches.

The finished structure carries Steve’s six-metre wind-up mast with a twenty-foot extension pole above it. It will eventually support a Cobweb antenna for HF and an X300 vertical for VHF and UHF.

Steve can now safely wind the mast up, lower it down, and tilt the entire assembly over whenever maintenance is needed.

The mast taking shape

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Built from scrap
Designed by friends
Raised safely
Operated by one man

Four radio amateurs, a pile of spare steel, a few good ideas, and one very happy Steve.

That is amateur radio at its very best.

73 from Steve M9NSQ

Update: It’s Up

The mast system is now up and taking shape. More photos will be added once everything is fully completed and in the air.

Steve M9NSQ tilt-over mast project installed at the QTH
Completed mast support and antenna project at Steve M9NSQ's QTH

More photos will be added once the final antenna setup is completed.

Posted in Club News, Events, News Letters, Todays News, Uncategorized

GB0MMH – Raising Awareness for Men’s Mental Health

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# STRONG SIGNALS — STRONGER MINDS
## Men’s Mental Health Awareness Through Amateur Radio
The Humber Fortress DX Amateur Radio Club is proud to support Men’s Mental Health Awareness through the worldwide reach and community spirit of amateur radio.
Across two special event weekends during 2026, amateur radio operators from around the United Kingdom will come together on the airwaves using dedicated GB#MMH special event callsigns to help promote awareness, encourage conversation, and support those affected by mental health struggles.
Mental health affects countless men every day. Too often, many suffer in silence. Through this event we hope to encourage people to speak openly, check in on one another, and remind everyone that support is available and nobody has to face things alone.
—
# GB0MMH — Humber Fortress DX Amateur Radio Club
Our primary event station, GB0MMH, will be operating from the Humber Fortress DX Amateur Radio Club headquarters located at:
## The Mill House
Patrington Haven
Near Hull
HU12 0PS
## Operating Weekends
### 23rd – 24th May 2026
### 26th – 27th June 2026
Operations will take place across the HF amateur bands using:
– SSB
– FT8
– FT4
Operators will be active throughout the weekends making contacts around the UK, Europe, and worldwide while helping spread this important message across the amateur radio community.
—
# Supporting Operators Across The UK
We are incredibly grateful to the many operators and supporters who are generously volunteering their time to take part in this event.
Participating stations currently include:
| Special Event Callsign | Operator | Callsign |
|—|—|—|
| GB0MMH | Humber Fortress DX ARC | MX0HFC |
| GB1MMH | Darren | M0DCX |
| GB5MMH | James | M0GQC |
| GB8MMH | Troy | G7LHK |
| GB9MMH | Bob | M0RWL |
| GB19MMH | Clint | M0OPV |
| GB20MMH | Dave (MLS) | M0TFP |
| GB26MMH | Stu | G5STU |
| GB88MMH | Calum | M0XXT |
Additional operators and stations may also join throughout the event weekends.
—
# Visit The Mill House
We warmly welcome visitors to join us at The Mill House during the event weekends.
Whether you are:
– A licensed radio amateur
– Studying for your licence
– Returning to the hobby
– Interested in radio technology
– Supporting the mental health campaign
– Or simply curious about amateur radio
—you will be made very welcome.
Visitors will be able to:
– Watch live HF operating across multiple bands
– See contest-style amateur radio stations in operation
– Meet operators from around the UK
– Learn more about amateur radio and special event stations
– Experience FT8, FT4, and SSB operation live
– Enjoy a friendly and relaxed atmosphere with refreshments available throughout the day
This event is not just about radio contacts. It is about community, conversation, support, and awareness.
—
# Mental Health Awareness
Sometimes the hardest thing to do is simply start a conversation.
This event aims to help encourage people to talk openly and support one another.
> “It’s okay to talk.”
> “Strong men ask for help.”
> “You are not alone.”
> “Silence isn’t strength. Speaking up is.”
> “Even the strongest need support.”
If you or somebody you know is struggling, please remember there are people and organisations ready to help.
—
# Support Organisations
## Andy’s Man Club
A free peer-to-peer support group for men.
## Mind
Providing advice and support for anyone experiencing mental health problems.
—
# LET’S BREAK THE SILENCE — ONE TRANSMISSION AT A TIME
Tune in for awareness.
Speak out for strength.
Join us on air to support Men’s Mental Health Awareness.
We look forward to welcoming operators, visitors, supporters, and members of the public to The Mill House for what we hope will be a meaningful and successful event for everyone involved.

Posted in Club News, Events, Todays News
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