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Welcome to UK Bunkers on the Air (UKBOTA)

What is UKBOTA?

The 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. UKBOTA is proud to be part of Worldwide Bunkers on the Air (WWBOTA). More information on WWBOTA and with links to other national partner schemes can be found hereWhilst not a contest, awards (PDF certificates) will be issued to both activators and hunters submitting logs and demonstrating QSO with the requisite number of stations. Awards are also available for SWL submitting reception logs. UKBOTA is beginner friendly but also offers challenges to the more experienced portable operator and activation chaser. UKBOTA is not a competitve awards scheme, we make a point of not producing league tables.

Getting Started

* Join our active and friendly Facebook community here.
* Have a look at Rules & Guidance page (see the menu options on the top of this homepage).
* BunkerBase is our awards database, this also contains a full detailed list of all UK bunkers (separate registration required).
* Details of available awards can be found by clicking here.
* Download the latest version of our UKBOTA reference list here.
* Click here to visit our sponsors M1ECC antennas, home of the Slidewinder.

Meet the Team

Bill M0DXT – The Boss

Carl M0ICR – Reference List, Mapping, Awards Design

Mark M0XIC – Awards Manager

Phil G7TVB – Database and IT support, Merchandise

Jason 2E0JIV – Communications and outreach

Rob M1EGP – Sponsorship

Contact Us

Awards Claims – awards@ukbota.org

Bunkerbase and logging-in issues – webmaster@ukbota.org

What's new?

Operation Mana / Chowhound – SES with bunkers!

24th –  27th of April 2025

  • Lincoln Short Wave Club from RAF Binbrook with GB8MAN B/G-2249
  • Norfolk Amateur Radio Club from the 100th Bomb Group Museum with GB80CHO B/G-1335
  • Lincolnshire Portable Radio group from the International Bomber Command Centre Lincoln with GB80MAN B/G-2245

More information here.

UKBOTA Historic Counties Event

The popular UKBOTA Historic Counties event will run throughout the month of May 2025. Visit here for more information.

WWBOTA – Bunkerfest 25

14-15th June 2025 will be the first WWBOTA International Festival of Bunker with activations across the entire worldwide bunkers community. To find out more about this exciting event click here.

UKBOTA Bunkerbase

Visit BunkerBase today to record your activations and bunkers hunted. 

Resources

Ham2K PoLo

For portable activation logging UKBOTA recommends Ham2K Portable Logger (PoLo), see more information here.

Fieldspotter

Worldwide bunker activations are now shown on  the www.fieldspotter.radio tool. The map  is integrated into our WWBOTA cluster with map view: https://wwbota.org/clusterwithmap/

UKBOTA