Gallery
2025 Leicester County Show
The Leicestershire County Show takes place annually over Sunday and Monday of the August Bank Holiday.
The Welland Valley Amateur Radio Society put a station (GB2WVR) on air over the two days to demonstrate Amateur Radio. We used HF Radios through a Cobweb antenna on our 30-foot mast, UHF through the club’s repeater, GB7WVR - and satellite coms, using a handheld Yagi antenna.
On HF, we used SSB and FT8 data modes on HF.
Additionally, we ran our "Learn your Name in Morse" activity for kids. Morse fascinates children, although it requires some explanation.
More info can be found on the QRZ.com page for GB2WVR
2025 Carnival
The 2025 Market Harborough Carnival took place on Saturday, June 14, 2025. The day featured the popular Carnival 10K Run in the morning, a lively parade through the town, and an afternoon of entertainment, food, and stalls at the Symington Recreation Ground..
The Radio Society put a station on air in the Symington Recreation Ground, on Carnival Day, in order to showcase Amateur Radio. We used HF Radios through a Cobweb antenna on our 30-foot mast. Unfortunately, we had a Mac n' Cheese stall with a generator right next to the stand.
Working HF, we used some SSB, but mainly FT8 data mode, due to the QRM from the generator.
We ran our "Learn your Name in Morse" activity for kids as usual.
More info on the Market Harborough Carnival can be found here...
2025 HARBOROUGH 1940'S EVENT
A 1940’s weekend took place at Harborough Market to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day. The event occurred on the weekend of May 3 and 4, 2025, in Harborough Indoor Market and outside in The Square.
The free event featured vintage fashion, memorabilia, vintage cars, and other entertainments.
The Harborough Indoor Market featured a DJ and live singers, stalls with vintage goods, and of course, the Welland Vallet Amateur Radio Society Stand.
Our stand contained a selection of period radio equipment and our ever popular "Learn your Name in Morse" activity for kids.
The Society even got a mention on the local News Station
2024_Carnival
In a similar manner to this year, at last year's Market Harborough Carnival the Radio Society put a station on air in the Symington Recreation Ground. We ran our popular "Learn your Name in Morse" activity for kids as usual.
More info on the Market Harborough Carnival can be found here...
2024 Bunkers on the Air
The date for the May activation of the Bunker at Sutton Bassett was set for the 27th May 2024.
Pete G4XEX organised a special GB call and contacted the Bunker owner and Farmer to get access. We turned up in the morning and set up our new gazebo, in order save us from being soaked or fried, depending on what the weather would bring. As it turned out, wind was the greatest problem! However, we go set up and made some successful QSO’s. The farm manager attended and unlocked the Bunker, so we were able to explore inside. The owners have made an amazing effort to preserve and restore the Bunker, with a small memorial to the people who served there.
About BOTAThe aim and purpose of the United Kingdom Bunkers On The Air (UKBOTA) programme and awards scheme is to support radio amateurs and short-wave listeners, both in the United Kingdom and overseas, to communicate with other radio amateurs activating ROC and other types of bunkers in the United Kingdom. So, a good day out playing radios, with some interesting miliary history included.
For some more information on BOTA check out:BOTA
About ROC Bunkers
Royal Observer Corps monitoring posts are underground structures all over the United Kingdom, constructed because of the Royal Observer Corps' nuclear reporting role and operated by volunteers during the Cold War between 1955 and 1991. In all but a very few instances, the posts were built to a standard design consisting of a 14 foot (4.3 m)-deep access shaft, a toilet/store and a monitoring room. Today, most posts lie derelict and abandoned. Approximately half of the posts built have been demolished, either on stand down by the ROC or by private owners in subsequent years.
For some more information on Royal Observer Corps monitoring posts check out: Subterranea Britannica
