ILLW 2022

Lighthouses QSL Card

Introduction

Former TRINITY LIGHT VESSEL 55, now renamed the ‘John Sebastian’ in honour of Bristol’s famous explorers, is moored in Bathurst Basin in the centre of Bristol and has her own postal address, namely: “The John Sebastian, Bathurst Basin, Bristol BS1 4RL”. She is now the home to the Cabot Cruising Club who have produced an interesting history document covering her past service. However, there are some specific details that will be of interest to radio hams:

  • Lat/Long (WGS84 Geoid): 51.446542°N, 2.594951°W
  • OSGR: ST 58750 72118 (6 figure ST587721)
  • IARU: IO81qk
  • WAB: ST57 – England
  • IOTA: EU005 (UK Mainland)
  • ILLW Reference: UK0176
  • What 3 Words: ///flute.brains.petal (Operating Post Entrance)
  • What 3 Words: ///visa.forget.fluid (Site Entrance)

Location

Operation

Equipment

We equipped ourselves in the usual way:

  • 80m doublet fed with 450Ω ladder line in an inverted vee suspended from the lantern tower and secured to the bow and stern
  • MFJ 993 IntelliTuner
  • Yaesu FT-991 HF/VHF/UHF multi-mode transceiver
  • Nissei DPS-300 30A linear power supply
  • Behringer Xenyx 302 USB audio mixer
  • Logitech amplified speakers
  • Acer Aspire 8942 Laptop running PyQSO under Ubuntu Studio 21.04 (now running Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS)

International Lighthouses and Lightships on the Air 2022 took place over the usual third weekend in August 2022, i.e. Saturday 20 August and Sunday 21 August. The South Bristol Amateur Radio Club returned to the John Sebastian in Bathurst Basin and renewed our acquaintance with the Cabot Cruising Club who very kindly allow us onboard the John Sebastian each year to take part in this Special Event.

John Sebastian in Bathurst Basin

Saturday 20 August 2022

The weather over the weekend was particularly good, almost unseasonably warm. For once Andy G7KNA accompanied by Ken M7MYU was on site at more or less the appointed time although he came in for some stick from those also there for the set-up because he’s stopped to grab a bacon roll and coffee for himself and Ken M7MYU from a chain bakery situated in a well known supermarket on the other side of the ‘New Cut’. They were joined over the course of the day by, in no particular order, Ken G4XCB, Dave M7BBN, Greg M7BUF (usually MW7BUF) and Kevin M7AWX who had travelled by coach from Taunton!

First order of business was to get the antenna up, so while the team started transferring equipment into the upper saloon Dave M7BBN and Andy G7KNA grabbed a convenient ladder and access the roof and the lantern tower. Here we take advantage of the installed lanyard that allows us to quickly pull our antenna feedpoint to the top of the lantern tower.

Erecting the doubletErecting the doubletErecting the doublet

We particularly like operating from the John Sebastian because of this lanyard which makes the erection of the antenna particularly easy, certainly the easiest of any of the regular locations we normally use, especially as the ends of the doublet are tied off to the bow and stern making the antenna completely self contained on the boat and a true maritime antenna. We know that light vessels were used by the Royal Navy to evaluate wireless use at sea and train wireless operators, and wonder if LV55 ever had such an antenna installed when on site on the East and West Grounds.

Equipment in the SaloonEquipment in the Saloon

Meanwhile the indoor setup continued in parallel with the antenna erection so that we were quickly able to make final connections and check the station was in good order.

Log for International Lighthouses and Lightships on the Air 2022

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.
20/08/2022 10:06 GI0PGC 40m SSB 59       Jim       RSL 1/7 – Northern Ireland
20/08/2022 10:21 GW6STK 40m SSB 59   58   Robert Colwyn Bay     RSL 2/7 – Wales
20/08/2022 10:25 GB0NFL 40m SSB 59   59   Ian North Foreland Lighthouse     UK0128
20/08/2022 10:28 EI0NDR 40m SSB 59   59     Baily Lighthouse, Howth, Co Dublin     IE0025
20/08/2022 10:42 EI3CTB 40m SSB 59       Justin        
20/08/2022 10:45 MI0IRZ 40m SSB 58   59   David        
20/08/2022 10:49 GM0WED 40m SSB 56   56   Ed Orkney Island     RSL 3/7 – Scotland
20/08/2022 10:51 G1OCN 40m SSB 59   59     Portland     RSL 4/7 – England (yes, a full callsign doesn’t have an RSL but it is an English station)
20/08/2022 10:55 GB0CSL 40m SSB 58   59   Liam Covsea Skeries Lighthouse     UK0204
20/08/2022 10:59 ON4CB 40m SSB 55   59   Kert        
20/08/2022 11:00 2E0FEH 40m SSB 55               RSL 4/7 – England (for the pedants this is an English callsign employing the “E” RSL)
20/08/2022 11:00 GM4MTI 40m SSB 54   59   Stuart        
20/08/2022 11:02 MI6LFU 40m SSB 58   59   Clive        
20/08/2022 11:04 PD2GCM 40m SSB 55   59   Gerard        
20/08/2022 11:06 F5RYT 40m SSB 59   59   John        
20/08/2022 11:07 M0UGE 40m SSB 59   59   Ross Bristol      
20/08/2022 11:08 M0BUI 40m SSB 59   59   Les Bude      
20/08/2022 11:24 IG9ITT 20m SSB 57   59            
20/08/2022 11:32 MI0DWE 20m SSB 59   59   David        
20/08/2022 12:17 OT7L/P 40m SSB 59   59           BE0004
20/08/2022 12:38 GB4EUL 80m SSB 54   58   Rich East Usk Lighthouse     UK0159
20/08/2022 12:47 G0AOZ 80m SSB 59   59   Roger SW Oxfordshire      
20/08/2022 13:02 GI4XAA 40m SSB 58   59   Des        
20/08/2022 13:03 M0IXW 40m SSB 55   57   Ashley        
20/08/2022 13:12 M0DMB 40m SSB 55                
20/08/2022 13:15 MM0KBT 40m SSB 56   57   Davy        
20/08/2022 13:22 G4DHK 40m SSB 59   59   Roger        
20/08/2022 13:23 G0PMJ 40m SSB 59   59   Dave        
20/08/2022 13:25 G4LPP 40m SSB 59   59   Phil        
20/08/2022 13:27 F2PI 40m SSB 59   59   Patrick        
20/08/2022 13:28 G3OCA 40m SSB 59   59   Ken Derby      
20/08/2022 13:29 2E0IGD 40m SSB 58   59   Gary        
20/08/2022 13:31 2E0MNG 40m SSB 59   59   Neal Derbyshire      
20/08/2022 13:34 G0EWV 40m SSB 59   58   Trevor Bolton      
20/08/2022 13:36 EI0FZ 40m SSB 59   59            
20/08/2022 13:37 GI4SZW 40m SSB 56   56            
20/08/2022 13:39 2E0EPB 40m SSB 57   59   Shane Hull      
20/08/2022 13:41 GB0NL 40m SSB 57   59   Aaron Newhaven Lighthouse     UK0190
20/08/2022 13:46 GB0NFL 40m SSB 59   58   Phil North Foreland Lighthouse     UK0128
20/08/2022 13:50 G4JYU 40m SSB 58   59   Nigel Sandwich Kent      
20/08/2022 13:54 G0AXC 40m SSB 59   59   Gary Sidmouth      
20/08/2022 14:00 M0HEM 40m SSB 58   59   John        
20/08/2022 14:00 M0FAR 40m SSB 59   59   Andy Fleet Hampshire      
20/08/2022 14:03 M0CLH 40m SSB 59   59   Terry Oxford      
20/08/2022 14:05 G3YZY 40m SSB 58   56   Howard Portsmouth      
20/08/2022 14:07 GB0NHL 40m SSB 59   58   Nigel Noss Head Lighthouse     UK0039
20/08/2022 14:09 M0PBK 40m SSB 57   59   Paul Worcestershire      
20/08/2022 14:12 MW6OTT 40m SSB 59   59   Mark Anglesey      
20/08/2022 14:13 GB2HLH 40m SSB 58   59   Peter Hunstanton     UK0011
20/08/2022 14:19 M3TLJ 40m SSB 57   57   Barry        
20/08/2022 14:19 M0SIH 40m SSB 58   59   Simon Great Yarmouth      
20/08/2022 14:21 G3OKA 40m SSB 59   59   John Liverpool      
20/08/2022 14:22 GI4DQT 40m SSB 58   59   Sean        
20/08/2022 14:23 2E1HYD 40m SSB 58   59   Tony Leeds      
20/08/2022 14:24 GB2SJ 40m SSB 59   59   Ernie        
20/08/2022 14:26 GM8OFQ 40m SSB 59   59   Geoff        
20/08/2022 14:27 G7ENA 40m SSB 58   59   Daphne        
20/08/2022 14:29 G1PIE 40m SSB 59   59   Mark Preston      
20/08/2022 14:32 EI4BZ 40m SSB 57   57   Dave Cork      
20/08/2022 14:33 PC4K 40m SSB 54   59            
21/08/2022 09:01 M0XDX 40m SSB 58   59   Paul Lincolnshire      
21/08/2022 09:02 GB2EL 40m SSB 59   59   Joe Rathlin East (Low)     UK0056
21/08/2022 09:03 M0TLX 40m SSB 59   59   David        
21/08/2022 09:05 PE1COS/P 40m SSB 57   59            
21/08/2022 09:07 DK0DAN 40m SSB 59   59     Knock     DE0049
21/08/2022 09:09 PB5X 40m SSB 59   59   Bob        
21/08/2022 09:09 MM0CPZ 40m SSB 59   59   Richard        
21/08/2022 10:15 GM0GTU 40m SSB 59   57   Stewart Nairn      
21/08/2022 10:20 PA1/DL1HXB/P 40m SSB 59   57   Juliet        
21/08/2022 10:33 FT4MZI 40m SSB 41   59            
21/08/2022 10:36 MM0PDM 40m SSB 55         Peterhead     UK0227 – Buchan Ness Lighthouse
21/08/2022 10:41 PA0RMS 40m SSB 59   58   Henny        
21/08/2022 10:45 ON4CCC 40m SSB 57   59   Mark Belgium      
21/08/2022 10:50 F/DD4KO/P 40m SSB 59   59   Olaf        
21/08/2022 10:58 F5VKT 40m SSB 59   57   Ian        
21/08/2022 10:58 PA3CNO 40m SSB 55   57            
21/08/2022 11:00 GB5BL 40m SSB 57   58           UK0032 – Blackhead Lighthouse
21/08/2022 11:09 GM4CNF 40m SSB 58   59   Colin        
21/08/2022 11:10 ON4CFO 40m SSB 59   59   Wim Brussels      
21/08/2022 11:11 G7SXR 40m SSB 57   59   Mark Leeds      
21/08/2022 11:13 F4HRU 40m SSB 59   59   Oliver        
21/08/2022 11:14 G4CPA 40m SSB 59   59   Jeff Skipton      
21/08/2022 11:16 M7FLY 40m SSB 59   57   Jeff        
21/08/2022 11:18 GW0JLX/P 40m SSB 59   59            
21/08/2022 11:20 F4ILH 40m SSB 59   59            
21/08/2022 11:22 ON4BAR 40m SSB 59   59   Nico        
21/08/2022 11:23 G1BBY 40m SSB 59   59   Walter        
21/08/2022 11:25 M0PWC 40m SSB 59   59   Paul Stoke On Trent      
21/08/2022 11:28 MM0JTV 40m SSB 59   59   John Glasgow      
21/08/2022 11:31 M0BZZ 40m SSB 59   59   Bob        
21/08/2022 11:35 G0RGU 40m SSB 59   59   John        
21/08/2022 11:43 M0TWA 40m SSB 59   59   David Worksop Nottinghamshire      
21/08/2022 11:48 G4OBB 40m SSB 59   59   Des Suffolk      
21/08/2022 11:50 M6GVP 40m SSB 53   59   Geoff Warwickshire      
21/08/2022 11:52 PA1MV 40m SSB 59   59   Jaap        
21/08/2022 11:54 ON5GM 40m SSB 59   59   Mark        
21/08/2022 11:56 ON5LS 40m SSB 59   57   Stefan        
21/08/2022 11:57 M7ERU 40m SSB 54   59   Andrew E Yorkshire      
21/08/2022 11:58 M7NHC 40m SSB 57   59   Nick Eastbourne      
21/08/2022 11:59 M7ERJ 40m SSB     58   Chris Worcestershire      
21/08/2022 12:00 2E0GYW 40m SSB 55       Thomas W Yorkshire      
21/08/2022 12:02 PA2CVD 40m SSB 52   55            
21/08/2022 12:04 M3XAC 40m SSB 53   58     Stokton On Tees      
21/08/2022 12:06 M7DPA 40m SSB 53   58   Alex Plymouth      
21/08/2022 12:07 2E0AND/P 40m SSB 58   59   Andy Colbeck Common Lake District National Park     20W G90 Half wave inverted Vee dipole
21/08/2022 12:12 G0UJK 40m SSB 59   59   Colin North Downs Of Kent Near Dartford Bridge And Brands Hatch      
21/08/2022 12:14 G4WIA 40m SSB 58   58   Ivan The Lizard Cornwall      
21/08/2022 12:20 G6WUD/P 40m SSB 59   59       IO84wt 377  
21/08/2022 12:22 TM59LH 40m SSB 59   59     “Sandettie” Lightvessel     FR0036
21/08/2022 12:23 G6TEQ 40m SSB 59   59   Ian Torquay      
21/08/2022 12:26 F/DG2KJA/P 40m SSB 59   59   Annelie        
21/08/2022 12:28 EI3FW 40m SSB 58   59   Craig Boyle Nw Eire      
21/08/2022 12:32 GD8BUE 40m SSB 59   59   Ian Ramsey     RSL 5/7 – Isle of Man
21/08/2022 12:36 M0KVA 40m SSB     59   Alex Shoeburyness Essex     50W End Fed Half Wave
21/08/2022 12:41 F8VOF 40m SSB     59   Bill Mid West France      
21/08/2022 12:43 G0GWY 40m SSB     59   Geoff Scunthorpe     SE90
21/08/2022 12:46 G4NKT 40m SSB 59   59   Dave Downend Bristol      
21/08/2022 12:48 GU0BEZ 40m SSB 59   59   Victoria Sark     RSL 6/7 – Bailiwick of Guernsey (inc Alderney and Sark)
21/08/2022 12:54 MW7PWC 40m SSB     59   Phil South Wales      
21/08/2022 13:00 M0JKI 40m SSB         Adrian Between Ipswitch And Bury St Edmunds      
21/08/2022 13:02 EI4XIR 40m SSB 59   59   David        
21/08/2022 13:03 G0TDY 40m SSB 59   59   Andy Swindon      
21/08/2022 13:04 M0MCY 40m SSB 42               5W
21/08/2022 13:08 MM1BHO 40m SSB 59   59   Richard Dumfries And Galloway      
21/08/2022 13:15 MW3WQZ 40m SSB 57   59   Paul Pembrokeshire      
21/08/2022 13:18 M0SRS 40m SSB 57   58   Sid Cambridgeshire      
21/08/2022 13:20 G4VWD 40m SSB 57   58   Allan Liverpool      
21/08/2022 13:22 F5HKL 40m SSB 56   58            
21/08/2022 13:24 M3VBL 40m SSB                  
21/08/2022 13:27 GB8SL 40m SSB 58   59   Ed Shoreham Lighthouse     UK0023
21/08/2022 13:29 GI0DUP 40m SSB 59   59   Roderick 10 Miles SE Belfast      
21/08/2022 13:34 GM3VAL 40m SSB 59   59   Alan        
21/08/2022 13:49 GB4LD 40m SSB 59   59   Keith Lizard Peninsula     UK0232
21/08/2022 13:56 GI4XIR 40m SSB 55   58   David        
21/08/2022 14:01 EI3INB 40m SSB     59   Malcolm        
21/08/2022 14:05 PA/DG5MG/P 40m SSB 53                
21/08/2022 14:09 ON3PDM 40m SSB 59   59   Peter        
21/08/2022 14:12 M0HWV 40m SSB 55   59            
21/08/2022 14:17 M7DFH 40m SSB 55       Simon Norwich      
21/08/2022 14:19 DN3PI 40m SSB 59   59     SW Germany     Portable from a “little small” castle
21/08/2022 14:22 DL0KJ 40m SSB 59   59   Jers Kirn     Home call DH6PC
21/08/2022 14:24 ON7UDM 40m SSB 59   59   Ulrich        
21/08/2022 14:26 DL4PY 40m SSB 59   59   Tom        
21/08/2022 14:27 DL7LM 40m SSB 59   59   Hans        
21/08/2022 14:28 F4HRG 40m SSB 59   59            
21/08/2022 14:29 PA3ECZ 40m SSB 59   57   Rudi        
21/08/2022 14:32 F8GGZ 40m SSB 58       Michel        
21/08/2022 14:33 PA2Z 40m SSB 59   59   Ad        
21/08/2022 14:35 ON7YZ 40m SSB 59   59            
21/08/2022 14:36 G4GTX 40m SSB 55   59   Stuart Sunderland      
21/08/2022 14:38 G4ABX 40m SSB 58       Bruce Lutterworth     10W KX3 Off Centre Fed Dipole

Those “Pesky” RSL’s

The Regional Secondary Locators are 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 depending on:
1. Ofcoms disposition,
2. Who you ask,
3. Who you know, and
4. How much “clout” you can bring to bear.
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 came close on this event). We didn’t manage it this time, but we live in hope!

  2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
 
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     ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑