The first Bath Buildathon took place on Saturday 26 January with 12 amateurs building their first transceivers. Some had been licensed for years but had never built anything whilst others were Intermediate students from the Bath radio classes. Builders travelled from as far away as Wolverhampton, East Grinstead and Southampton showing that there is still a widespread interest in homebrewing in the UK.

The kit chosen for the Buildathon was the Walford Electronics Brendon 80m DSB transceiver and very popular it proved too. Everyone commented on how well the kit went together and all were extremely pleased when they received their first signals. Not everyone finished the transmit side before the event closed but those that did enjoyed QSOs across the room with Tim Walford, G3PCJ, the kit designer. Tim very kindly donated a prize to Brian Jones, G1ZEZ, who was the first to complete the kit on the day.

Feedback from the builders was extremely positive and most are ready to do it again soon. Steve Hartley, G0FUW, who arranged the event said that it had been a huge success and that he would encourage other tutors and clubs to have a go with their own Buildathon. Steve was assisted by Mike Coombs,G3VTO, and Lewis Thomas, G4YTN, and all agreed that team work was the key to success.

If anyone would like more information on how to organise a Buildathon of their own Steve can be contacted at g0fuw@tiscali.co.uk or at the address in the RSGB Yearbook.

Photographs taken at the Bath Buildathon by Jacob Howarth, M3MOB