{"id":1841,"date":"2020-04-07T06:39:33","date_gmt":"2020-04-07T09:39:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.summersidearc.com\/?p=1841"},"modified":"2020-04-07T06:39:33","modified_gmt":"2020-04-07T09:39:33","slug":"rac-bulletin-special-event-vc2stayhom-is-now-active-april-6-to-may-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.summersidearc.com\/index.php\/2020\/04\/07\/rac-bulletin-special-event-vc2stayhom-is-now-active-april-6-to-may-6\/","title":{"rendered":"[RAC-Bulletin] Special event VC2STAYHOM is now active: April 6 to May 6"},"content":{"rendered":"
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https:\/\/www.rac.ca\/special-event-vc2stayhom-now-active\/<\/b>\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Some countries around the world are now allowing Radio Amateurs to use special \u201cSTAYHOME<\/b>\u201d call sign suffixes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Michael Shamash, VE2MXU, is using\u00a0VC2STAYHOM<\/b>\u00a0to raise awareness for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic and global public health emergency. He is a member of Radio Amateurs of Canada and is based in Montreal.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn Canada we are unfortunately limited to a 7-character prefix, hence the VC2STAYHOM without the last \u2018E\u2019. I would like to thank those at Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) for expediting the process and allowing me to get this call sign up and running within a couple of days, without the traditional 60-day wait period.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m hoping that by using this call, I can help promote social distancing across the globe (or as far as my 100-watt rig will get me!) and remind people that we each have a role to play in helping contain the spread of this virus.<\/p>\n

I will begin using the call on\u00a0Monday, April 6<\/b>, once the issued authority to use it begins, until the time it expires on\u00a0Wednesday, May 6<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a full-time undergraduate student in microbiology transitioning to Graduate studies in the fall, my schedule is quite busy over the next few weeks but I will try my best to get on the air and make contacts with those who would like this unique VC2 prefix and suffix in their logs!<\/span><\/p>\n

I am usually most active on 20m and 40m, split between SSB and FT8.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before the COVID-19 crisis arrived to Canada, we were already discussing its possible implications in classes. That\u2019s when I came up with the idea to get a call sign set up, and with the recent \u2018stay home\u2019 and \u2018shelter in place\u2019 orders issued by many governments worldwide, the time felt right to do so, and it would give those who are stuck at home one more fun aspect of the hobby to work on!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Michael will operate on HF Bands and QSL via Logbook of the World (LoTW).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to Canada,\u00a0Australia has permitted the Radio Amateur Society of Australia (RASA) to use the special call sign\u00a0AX2020STAYHOME<\/b>. At 14 characters, that may set a record for world\u2019s longest call sign.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some other special event call signs:<\/span><\/p>\n