CARS Operating from Great Baddow using GB75CH

The 360ft mast at Great Baddow (ex Canewdon) is the last wholly intact example from the Chain Home radar system that was developed by Sir Robert Watson-Watt and his team at Bawdsey Manor following the Daventry Experiment on 26-Feb-1935, and played such a vital role supporting the RAF in 1940. 26/27/28th February 2010 saw the 75th anniversary of the original experiment at Daventry. Three Amateur Special Event Stations marked the anniversary of this historic development: GB75CH - Great Baddow, Essex GB75RDF - Daventry, Northamptonshire GB75BRS - Bawdsey, Suffolk The main CARS report is below, but also see these other Links/Reports: Chain Home: www.chainhome.org.uk BBC News: Wartime radar system anniversary marked at Great Baddow

GB75RDF QSL Card received by GB75CH

GB75RDF QSL card rear

Friday, 26th February, Operating from GB75CH

On Thursday afternoon we brought the caravan in, put the awnings up, the antennas tuned and connected in the most appalling conditions.
Friday started wet but the wind got up and blew the rain away and a little sun came out.
80m had more background noise than the previous day but at least there were good signals.

Looking up the Mast with the 50ft and the 200ft platforms in view
A full size 40m & 80m Dipole and a Long-Wire was supported from the 50ft platform.
Photographs by John, G8DET

Classic Riley brought by a member of the Royal British Legion as it was made the same year as the mast.
Photograph by Mark, M0IEO

John, Mark & Norman standing in front of the Mast.
The shed behind has a steel reinforced roof to protect from things which maybe dropped off the Mast.

Mark, M0IEO standing in front of his caravan

GB75CH Organiser Murray, G6JYB making the historic 11am contact with Bawdsey and Daventry

Mark, M0IEO (left) standing with Andy Tyler, G1GKN, BAE Systems Engineer for the Mast

Clive, G1EUC (left), Andy, Murray, Colin (head only), Norman and Clive, M0GHH

The Royal British Legion party outside the caravan - the Essex President in the British Warm overcoat.

The Royal British Legion party with Murray - posed for Essex Chronicle

Andy Kersey, G0IBN reading the crib sheet while in QSO from GB75CH.
It is unusual to see Andrew using a microphone as he is an expert with Morse and is more at home with a "Key".

Norman standing while operating

CARS Chairman John, G8DET on the microphone - rare occasion.
Photograph by Colin, G0TRM

BAE Systems Director, Mike Worboys introducing the Royal British Legion party to the presentation by Andy Tyler

The Royal British Legion party

Andy Tyler giving his presentation in front of a "100:1" model of the Mast

CARS Member Clive, M0GHH (left) talking to Andy and two members of the Royal British Legion

The Royal British Legion's Poppy statue and BAE System's Charity Mascot

Saturday, 27th February, Operating from GB75CH

The wind had died and the sun came out so it was a very nice day.
80m Band conditions were much improved and there were plenty of stations interested in the Chain Home story - some even had worked on it.

Norman, (nearest the camera), Andy and then Murray.
Note the Vodaphone Dongle hanging from a loop - this provided QRZ.com
Photograph by Colin, G0TRM

Murray, (nearest the camera), Bob, G4MDB on the microphone
Photograph by Colin, G0TRM

Chris, G0IPU (left) and Murray with Peter, G1FOA on the microphone

The SG230 loading the 360ft Mast on Top Band - quite a good aerial!

Richard, M0ZBU logging

Sunday, 28th February, Operating from GB75CH

It started raining heavily at 3am and continued until 2pm, flooding much of the surrounding countryside.   Although the area by the Chain Home Mast was very wet, it is built on a slight knoll so most of the excess standing water was running away.   The caravan was parked on the only small piece of stable ground which was fortunate - see photographs of the recovery below.

As the weather forecast had predicted dreadful weather, Mark had taken down the tenting and stacked it away dry and so Sunday's operation was from inside the caravan.

Prior to starting, the CARS Lottery SDR-IQ receiver surveyed both a quiet 80m band and a busier 40m one.   This resulted in a stable spot on 40m for the rest of the day and resulted in a fresh new crop of UK and European stations for the GB75CH operating team.

The Sandon Brook near the BAE System's QTH overflowing

The self powered Caravan driving itself onto the service road.
Mark is holding the control Remote.

Mark towing the Caravan home after a fabulous long weekend of Radio.

Thanks to Mark and John from Canvey Island for all the kit and time provided to make GB75CH such a success.

Thanks to BAE Systems and Murray G6JYB for arranging the GB75CH event and Ofcom for allocating the SES Call-sign.

Thanks to BAE Systems for the hospitality in displaying this historic event.
Thanks also for the effort and kind help especially to those persons behind the scenes who are so necessary to the success of such an event.