✅ To find suitable bunkers to activate a good start point is the map and list at www.bunkerbase.org (requires registration). You can also use the M1SDH map (see below) download the UK list as a CSV file and/or KMZ file for Google Earth from the Files area on this site (see the menu above)

✅ Many bunker activators enjoy to, and are encouraged to, activate bunkers at the same time as references for other schemes, e.g. POTA.

✅ Note that each bunker ‘reference’ begins with a ‘B’ and a ‘/’ followed by a country code and then a four digit number. For example, the country code for Scotland is ‘GM’, so a typical bunker in Scotland will have a reference ‘code’ like ‘B/GM-0123’.

✅ For UKBOTA the activation zone is 1000m, ie. you must activate within 1000m of the coordinates given for the bunker on the UKBOTA list. In UKBOTA you may activate up to 5 bunkers in one activation (a 5fer) but ALL activation zones must overlap at the place you are activating from.

✅ Have a good read of the Rules and Guidance and Awards page on this website (see the menu at the top of your screen or device), they will help you understand how many QSOs are required and other useful information helpful to make your activation a success.

✅ Prepare! Even seasoned activators forget equipment or forget to put batteries on charge! A checklist helps.

✅ Most bunker operations centre on 40m and 20m SSB but other bands are increasingly popular including the higher HF bands, and also VHF and above. CW, FT8 and other modes are also popular – give it a go and call “CQ Bunkers on the Air”. There have been bunker activations in SSB, CW, FT8,FT4, RTTY, PSK and SSTV!

✅ You will find it useful to ‘spot’ yourself (or have someone spot you) when you activate. There are various way to do this either through our internal ‘cluster’, which requires registration to spot but not to view (see www.wwbota.org). Many like to use the ‘cluster’ version with the embedded (and quite excellent) fieldspotter.radio map (by Ian Renton, M0TRT) which gives an excellent visualization of WWBOTA spots (as well as POTA and other schemes) and a handy band map for finding other bunkers and having a ‘bunker to bunker’ (B2B) QSO (see link below). The WWBOTA ‘cluster’ with map is here: https://wwbota.org/clusterwithmap/

✅ Spots made on the WWBOTA ‘cluster’ are automatically forwarded to our bespoke WhatsApp Spots and Alerts Group. The WhatsApp group is here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/H4jzyuuOGHrHxovvo05Zod Please note that group is just for spots and alerts, not general chat.

✅ Self-spots, which are automatically forwarded to our internal ‘cluster’ and the WhatsApp Spots and Alerts Group, may be made using the excellent Ham2K Portable Logger.

✅ After the activation, log back into bunkerbase and make a record of your activation on the Activator Dashboard. You may upload your ADIF file if you wish, but presently it is not mandatory.

✅ Finally, watch some of the videos embedded on the www.wwbota.org homepage, they will give you a good idea of what to expect.

⚠ ⛔ Note that neither WWBOTA or UKBOTA take responsibility for safety or right of access issues. If you are unsure then check with a land owner and never activate inside a bunker, or enter private property, or restricted areas, unless you have permission and it is safe to do so.