EXERCISE BLUE HAM
Engaging with the amateur radio community on the UK MOD 5MHz (Shared) Band.
Blue Ham – Exercise Hermia 20-21 June 2026.
Operating times: 1000 to 1600 (LOCAL)
Exercise Blue Ham will provide an opportunity for Cadet radio operators to experience other distinctive styles of radio operating, CCF (ARMY), ACF and SCC may participate in Exercise Blue Ham.
OBJECTIVE
The exercise will deliver safe and rewarding training activities for cadets to:
Improve their communication skills in an environment that is challenging and interesting.
Please remember this is a Cadet Exercise, not a Contest or Competition.
However if you require a Participation Certificate, e-mail a copy of your log to the Blue Ham Team at: blueham2026 at alphacharlie dot org dot uk
OPERATING TECHNIQUE
RAFAC and Cadet stations use standard ICAO – NATO radio procedures. To provide the opportunity for Cadet operators to interact with different operating techniques. Radio Amateur radio operators are requested not to adopt the ‘Cadets’ radio procedure but maintain their own personal amateur radio style of operating.
OPERATING
Phase One
Initial contact will be the customary exchange of the following information.
It is required for the station Blue Ham contact log.
* Time (Zulu)
* Frequency in use
* Contact Callsign
* Radio Check results
* Contact Location (Maidenhead Locator)
* Contact Transmitter Power
* Contact Antenna Type
* Contact Antenna Direction
Others information is optional like equipment Make and Model, operator name, location, local weather conditions, will also be logged by the Cadet operator.
Cadet units will use the Maidenhead Locator square to give a 6-character reference of the Station location.
To confirm the Cadet Operator has copied your details correctly the prowords ‘I Read Back’ may be used.
In the interest of Safety, Cadet operators will maintain the formality of RAFAC radio procedure, no operator names, personal amateur callsigns or actual unit location will be given.
OPTIONAL – Phase Two
Exercise Ice Breaker
Repeating of the initial contact information listed at Phase One in second or subsequent contacts with a Callsign already contacted may become boring for both Cadet and Amateur operators.
An OPTIONAL extension to the exercise has been included.
The Amateur station may be asked if they are willing or able to participate in Phase two, ‘Ice Breaker.’
Participation in Ice Breaker
The following information is required for the Contact Log.
* Time (Zulu)
* Frequency in use
* Contact Callsign
* Radio Check results
If conditions are favourable and the other station is prepared to participate in Ice Breaker, the exchange of the message and reply can take place.
Maidenhead Locator Encode
Using https://dxcluster.ha8tks.hu/hamgeocoding/
Taking RAF Cranwell as an example, the Maidenhead Locator square 6-character reference for RAFAC HQ at RAF Cranwell is: IO93RA, an identifiable feature is located at IO93RA88OS.
The simple message would be what is located at,
IO93RA88OS.
The reply would be Lord Trenchard statue (RAF Cranwell).
Or if the Maidenhead locator is given as IO91XM01TU
the reply would be the Ravens Enclosure (Tower of London).
Maidenhead Locator Decode
Using https://hamnut.com/geocode/locator
Type in the 8 or 10- character Locator to identify the location or feature.
EXERCISE BLUE HAM FREQUENCIES
RAFAC stations should change (QSY) to a new exercise frequency every 20 minutes.
Note If operating on SUNDAY, RAFAC stations will vacate 5.398.5 kHz from 15:00 to 1530 UTC. The frequency will be used by the GB2RS News Broadcast.
RAFAC SPOT FREQUENCIES IN THE MOD 5MHz (Shared) BAND
Frequency |
Blue Ham Channel |
Assignment – Use |
5278.5 kHz |
BH 01 |
|
5298.5 kHz |
BH 02 |
|
5301.0 kHz |
BH03 |
|
5304.0 kHz |
BH04 |
|
5320.0 kHz |
BH05 |
|
5335.0 kHz |
BH06 |
|
5354.0 kHz |
BH07 |
WRC-15 Allocation, available to European radio amateurs |
5363.0 kHz |
BH08 |
WRC-15 Allocation, available to European radio amateurs |
5365.0 kHz |
BH09 |
|
5366.5 kHz |
BH10 |
Not in use for Exercise Blue Ham |
5369.0 kHz |
BH11 |
|
5371.5 kHz |
BH12 |
Not in use for Exercise Blue Ham |
5379.0 kHz |
BH13 |
|
5395.0 kHz |
BH14 |
|
5398.5 kHz |
BH15 |
Not to be used 1500-1530 UTC on Sunday |
5403.5 kHz |
BH16 |
Available in the US and Canada |
Blue Ham exercises provide a platform to further develop Cadet radio operator skill and confidence by engaging with the Amateur radio community via the MOD 5MHz (Shared) Band.