Since I’m the station manager for WA2HOM, I’m always interested in ham radio events that take place at museums. I am, therefore, excited to note that the operating event, International Museums Weekend, will take place on both June 16-17, 2012 and June 23-24, 2012.
This has been primarily a European operating event, but I’m hoping that we can also get something going here in the U.S. I know that I plan to participate in this event at WA2HOM.
Here’s how the IMW’s website describes the event:
The intention of the event is to set up amateur radio special event stations at as many of the museums as possible throughout the whole of the world. I would hope for an HF, VHF, and if at all possible, a Ui-View (APRS) packet station to be set up at each museum site, but the scope of your station is entirely up to you. The choice of museum is also left very much up to you, however aim for the largest and/or most unusual you can find.
The museums taking part over the years have included ships, castles, air museums, Napoleonic forts, pumping stations, wireless museums, racing museums and many others. For the purposes of the event, the word ‘museum’ is loosely interpreted. There really is no shortage of venues in which such an event can be staged, no matter where in the world you might live.
Related video
Just coincidentally, I received in an e-mail a link to a video that documents two QSOs from a portable station to two museum ships.
Dave says
The 2nd weekend falls squarely on Field Day.
Dan KB6NU says
Good point. I guess we won’t be operating the museum special event that day. As I noted, it’s been mostly a European event.