Special Event Radio Station

GB0ROC

Machynlleth ROC Post

During the month of September 2009 a special event amateur radio station will operate from Machynlleth ROC post with the special call sign GB0ROC. The station will be operating most weekends but at extended times August 27th 31st and September 11th - 14th

Visitors will be welcome at any time when the station is operating or you can listen out for the station mainly on the 80,40 and 20 M bands.

The station will be operating from within the monitoring room of the post 7M underground.

Machynlleth ROC post was built in 1959 as one of over 1500 posts constructed across the UK. their function was to allow the Royal Observer Corp to monitor weapon yields and fallout in the case of a nuclear attack during the period of the cold war. The numbers were reduced in 1969 and finally stood down in 1991 when the treat of a nuclear attack was considerably reduced.

This post is being restored as a private project and the special event station is to help increase awareness of the importance of such posts during the post war period.

This post is just outside Machynlleth in Powys, Wales This is a view from the back end of the compound across the Dovey Valley.

Looking back towards the hatch and GZI mount showing the FSM (Field Survey Meter) tube that runs down to the monitoring room. During an attack the post would be manned by 3 personel for a period of up to 3 weeks.

Power was originally from two batteries providing a 12V D.C Supply which was charged by a small generator on the surface. The power system is being restored and the batteries will be charged by solar panels.