Special event stations are a lot of fun. Earlier this summer, ARROW set one up at the Saline Depot Museum and operated for several hours, passing traffic from the site. They’re not only fun, but they’re good PR for ham radio.
You can also get special 1×1 callsigns for your special event station. You can apply for one via the ARRL website or through three other VECs.
This summer, I’ve worked three W8 1×1 special event stations:
- W8C. This was a special event station set up at the annual Manchester, MI chicken broil by the Chelsea (MI) Amateur Radio Club. I contacted this station from a friend’s house who lived just down the street from the event. Not real DX, but fun.
- W8L. This station was set up at the Marquette (MI) lighthouse, and they were operating the station as part of Internation Lighthouse Day. Both he and I were operating QRP.
- W8T. I just worked this station about 15 minutes ago. The operator’s name was Jed (or so he said), and the station was set up at the Tucker County (WV) Hick Festival. He said they had six operators there, and were having a lot of fun. Kind of sounded to me like they were already hitting the moonshine. (just kidding, just kidding)