Amateur Radio operators, also referred to as “hams,” are set to display their sense of humor as they prepare a “special event” radio station centered around Friday, Dec. 21 — the end of the Mayan “long count” calendar that has led an astonishingly large percent of the world’s population to conclude that the world will end on Friday.
Special event stations are set up to bring attention to an event or location. Other hams will make contact with the special event station in hopes of trading QSL cards to verify the contact. Most special event cards are artistic in nature and highly prized as collectors’ items.
According to the group’s Web site, www.n0zerodays.com, the station which will bear the specially-issued call sign N0D (Now Zero Days) will celebrate this literally once-in-a-lifetime event “for three days during and possibly after the end of the world. December 20; is a celebration of the end of the world. December 21, the day of destruction, we will be on the air as long as possible. December 22...that is a little iffy right now.”
Their event notice also stated, “Many ham radio operators like to “work” (or operate) special event stations and collect cards and certificates from them,” said Dan Fisher, public information coordinator for the American Radio Relay League, the national association of amateur radio. “Much of our radio operating centers around emergency management, but the bottom line is having fun with the hobby.”
Fisher encourages anyone interested to contact him at 321-254-3422 or email ai4gk@arrl.net for additional information or to listen to the special event station.
Members of the Athens Radio Club will also participate in the event. For more information on local events, including where one might listen, contact Bob Herrin at ke4jll@arrl.net
In the event that the world does end on Friday, don’t worry about accessing the website on Saturday.
