Stations bearing call signs that promote the ‘stay-at-home’ message and the value of social distancing and isolation have sprung up during the COVID-19 pandemic, with some 150 000 messages of support shared around the world.
An on-air gathering over the 6 and 7 June weekend will offer a further opportunity for stay-at-home stations and radio amateurs to share greetings in a contest-like framework, looking toward the day that restrictions will ease, eventually making the stay-at-home injunction obsolete.
The patron of the STAYHOME radio campaign is Finland’s Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto and the worldwide activity has the endorsement of International Amateur Radio Union President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA and the United Nations Amateur Radio Club.
“Amateur radio operators across the world are experiencing something we have never seen before, with the current COVID-19 pandemic,” Tim Ellam said. “In times like this, on-the-air activities can benefit our communities and ourselves. Events such as this are important to improve operating skills. It is also encouraging us to get on the air and keep active, as well as promoting social distancing.”
Tim, VE6SH expressed thanks to the national regulators in more than three dozen countries that made special stay-at-home-suffix call signs available for amateur use.
Sponsoring the event and campaign are the Finnish Amateur Radio League (SRAL), in cooperation with Araucaria DX Group (ADXG) of Brazil and Radio Arcala (OH8X) in Finland.
The 4U1UN station will be on the air to support of the global STAY HOME movement, as will sister stations 4U1GSC (operating as 4U9STAYHOME) and 4U1A (operating as 4U2STAYHOME).
The STAYHOME event gets under way at 10:00 UTC on Saturday 6 June and ending 24 hours later. Bands will include 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters using CW, SSB and FT4 or FT8 only. The exchange is a signal report and operator age.
Complete information about the associated award and certificate programme can be found on http://ko8sca.com/awards.pdf.