WeekendBlast – UKBOTA

RUNS MONTHLY WHERE NO DEDICATED UKBOTA EVENT IS SCHEDULED

Activators

From the bunker

The aim: To work as many stations as possible, scoring bonuses for B2A (Bunker to UKBOTA Activator), different bands and modes.

Choose any single UKBOTA-registered bunker as your base for the long-weekend (do 30 minutes or all 3 days, it's up to you!) Your score is built entirely from that one bunker — return as many times as you like.

ℹ️ You may activate other bunkers during the weekend for standard UKBOTA award purposes, but only contacts made at your chosen Blast bunker count towards your Weekend Bunker Blast score.

ℹ️ If an activator activates more than one bunker over the weekend, the bunker with the highest points total will automatically be counted as the scoring bunker for the event.

⚠️ Each unique callsign + band + mode combination can only be scored once per day. For example, if you work M0XYZ on 40m SSB twice on Saturday, only the first contact scores. However, working M0XYZ on 40m SSB again on Sunday counts as a new contact for that day. To earn additional points from the same station on the same day, work them on a different band or mode.

// Scoring

Point per unique callsign worked

For each additional band used to work that callsign

For each additional mode used to work that callsign

+2
For each UKBOTA Bunker-to-Activator (B2A) QSO worked — applies per band and mode B2A Bonus
Note: if the worked station is activating multiple bunkers (e.g. a 3-fer), only one bunker counts for the +2 B2A bonus. Each activator worked scores only once per day, per band and per mode, for these B2A points irrespective of how many bunkers you or they activate on that day.

// Awards

Accumulated points total across all 3 days

Bronze

points

Silver

points

Gold

points

Platinum

100

points

Diamond

150

points

Master

200

points

Hunters / SWL

Chasing bunkers

The aim: To work as many UKBOTA activators as possible, scoring bonuses for different bands and modes.

Work UKBOTA bunker activators over the weekend from any location. The more bunkers, bands, and modes you chase, the higher your score.

⚠️ Each UK bunker activator + band + mode combination can only be scored once per day. For example, if you work a UK activator on 20m FT8 twice on Saturday, only the first contact scores. However, working the same UK activator on 20m FT8 again on Sunday counts as a new contact for that day. To earn additional points from the same bunker on the same day, work it on a different band or mode.

ℹ️ If an activator is operating from multiple bunkers simultaneously (e.g. a 3-fer), only one point is scored for that callsign + band + mode combination — the number of bunkers they are activating does not affect your score.

1 point per UK activator worked

For each additional band used to work that UK activator

For each additional mode used to work that UK activator

// Awards

Accumulated points total across all 3 days

Bronze

points

Silver

points

Gold

points

Platinum

points

Diamond

points

Master

points

Valid Modes

All categories

The following modes are valid for the Weekend Bunker Blast. Contacts made on any other mode will not count towards your score.

SSB

Single Sideband

Frequency Modulation

Morse Code

RTTY

Data Mode

SSTV

Slow Scan TV

FT8

Weak Signal Digital

MFSK

FT4

ℹ️ Additional modes may be added to future Weekend Bunker Blast events if there is sufficient interest from participants.

Weekend Warrior

Special Award

A special award available to those who achieve Master level on three or more Weekend Bunker Blast events across the 2026 series.

ℹ️ Activators may return to the same bunker each weekend or may choose a different bunker each weekend — the choice is theirs.

Activator

Weekend Warrior

Master × 3 weekends

Hunter

Weekend Warrior

Master × 3 weekends

Scoring Tips

Strategy

A few pointers to help you maximise your Weekend Bunker Blast score.

◆

Each new day of the 3-day long weekend resets the slate — you can work the same stations again, so every day is a fresh opportunity to build your score.

◆

This event rewards band and mode agility, not just raw QSO count — limiting yourself to a single band and mode like 40m SSB will leave points on the table.

◆

Work the same station on a different band or different mode and it scores again — chasing new AND mode combinations is where the big points are.

◆

Getting to Master by camping on 40m SSB will be tough, as it would be just camping on 20m FT8. Variety = top points ... don't be a camper, go explore bands and modes and have a blast!

◆

Planning and preparation pays off! Which bands are likely to have the best propagation? What antenna and band options do you have available? Can you gain extra points from digital modes like FT8 or datamodes like RTTY?

IMPROVISE ◆ ADAPT ◆ OVERCOME