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K-State Today

November 2, 2023

Amateur Radio Club at K-State participates in special event station operation

Submitted by Vern Wirka

The Amateur Radio Club at Kansas State University, a registered affiliated student organization, participated in the operation of a special event station from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene, observing October as the birth month of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

In cooperation with amateur radio operators from Abilene, the club made contacts with stations across the United States, as well as many stations around the world, using the special event Federal Communications Commission call sign W5E. Under the call sign W5E, 1,021 contacts were confirmed. The special event station used FCC authorized amateur radio frequencies and multiple modes of communication: Morse code, single sideband and digital systems.

The special event station was a cooperative effort with the Grayson County Texas Amateur Radio Club. The FCC authorized the use of 10 distinct one-by-one call signs with each one ending with letters that spelled out "E I S E N H O W E R." Stations that contacted all 10 of the authorized stations receive an award.

In addition to the operation at the Eisenhower Library, some other station locations included the Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site in Denison, Texas, the Eisenhower home in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and the Statue of Liberty national monument.

To learn more about the Amateur Radio Club, see the club's website.