[nrv-hams] Independence Day special event stations

[Kay Craigie]

The ARRL's web site has published this announcement:

The annual 13 Colonies Special Event will take place during the first week
of July, with participating 13 colonies' stations on the air from 1300 UTC
July 1 until 0400 UTC July 6. Event sponsors say at least two special event
stations will operate from each colony state. The theme for 2014 is "Banners
of the Revolution," and the certificate - available to all participants
regardless of the number of stations worked - will reflect that theme. Those
working all 13 colonies qualify for a "Clean Sweep" certificate designation,
and a special endorsement will be attached for stations working WM3PEN in
Philadelphia. The suggested exchange is call sign, name, signal report and
state/province/country. The event's sponsors report that more than 62,000
contacts were logged in last year's 13 Colonies Special Event.

The event's own web site is at http://www.13colonies.info/. The stations'
special call signs are listed there. 

This is a fun concept. I chased this award last year and came away
successful but frustrated. My experience was that although some of the
operators had very good ears and obviously a lot of experience in coping
with being called by many stations at the same time, others were less
skilled and consequently the calling stations got grouchy. Prepare to be
patient if the special event operator is struggling to pick call signs out
of the bedlam or happily gabs way too much for this kind of time-limited
operation. I hope I listen to my own good advice!

73 - Kay N3KN