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 Previous: UO-14 Satellite Declared Dead |  Next: In Brief |
By Angel M. Garcia, WA2VUY
November 11, 2003
Enthusiasts of both Amateur Radio and cycling, two New Jersey hams combined their interests to put on a unique special event.
Rudy Kerl, K2MVW, and I have become good friends through our equally passionate interests in ham radio and cycling. During our daily morning schedule, our conversation usually switches between Collins radios and Cinelli bicycles, or the latest technology in HF rigs and bike materials. During the autumn of 2002, we realized that we would have a unique opportunity to combine the two hobbies by airing a special event station for the 100th anniversary of the Tour de France bicycle race in July 2003. On this occasion, American and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong of the United States Postal Service team would also be attempting to win his fifth and consecutive Tour de France.
Our first step was to learn more about how to obtain a special event 1x1 call sign. A search at ARRLWeb took us to online information and an online application; requests can also be sent via e-mail, fax or postal mail to the ARRL. We also learned that 1x1 call signs cannot begin with the prefix A or end with the suffix X.
Rudy and I discussed potential call signs and decided upon W1T, the 1 standing in for 100 and the T for Tour de France. We used the online Web application to apply for W1T and our call sign request was approved the same day. The ARRL took care of updating the 1x1 Call Signs Data base (courtesy of the W5YI Group) which is also a good resource for searching for information on the availability of 1x1 and previously issued 1x1 call signs.
 W1T was the special call sign issued for use during the 100th Anniversary of the Tour de France. The photo features 21 of the 22 living Tour champions. |
The next step was to design a QSL card. We had seen a wonderful photograph of a reunion in Paris in 2002 of the living Tour de France winners. We contacted the publisher of cyclingnews.com, explained ham radio and QSLing, and were then granted permission to use this photograph on our QSL card.
In June we began e-mailing, along with a digital image of the QSL card, W1T operation information to DX bulletins and national radio societies. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, July 5--the first day of the Tour de France--arrived. Rudy and I hit the air from our New Jersey homes and it was obvious that word of the W1T operation had spread. We made many contacts from 1.8 to 1296 MHz. Rudy really surprised the VHFers, especially during 6 meter openings, by showing up with a 1x1 call sign. On HF there was also great interest in contacting W1T and by the end of the Tour de France we had logged 2500 contacts and made DXCC! We even started another W1T-related project: having some of the Tour riders, past and present, autograph W1T QSL cards.
Lance Armstrong gave us three weeks of incredible excitement on his way to a fifth Tour de France win. Thanks to the 1x1 special event call sign program, we were able to undertake an exciting project that was just as special to us.
Angel Garcia,
WA2VUY, is an avid 10 meter DXer, with 341 countries confirmed on the band and
a top spot on the DXCC Honor Roll. Licensed since 1976, Garcia recently retired
from the New York Life Insurance Company after a 33 year career in information
systems management. He lists cycling and travel as his other major interests.
Garcia can be contacted via e-mail at wa2vuy@arrl.net.
| Previous: UO-14 Satellite Declared Dead | Next: In Brief |
