Special event stations and 1x1 call signs

A special event station marks something: an anniversary, a festival, a museum ship, a convention. Many use a short 1x1 call sign such as K2A or W1P, and many offer a certificate or QSL card. For a new ham they're easy, friendly contacts. For a club they're a great public-facing project.

Independent guide, not affiliated with ARRL, the 1x1 coordinators or any event. This site's SES hub is our own tool. It doesn't issue call signs.

Special events v1.0 · written 2026-10-08 · ARRL and coordinator procedures checked as of Oct 2026

Finding special event stations

• ARRL's Special Event Stations listing is searchable by date. Events submitted early enough also appear in QST.
• This site's SES hub shows events hosted here, what's on the air now, and certificates you can claim once organizers publish logs.
• Spotting networks: special event stations get spotted like anyone else. Watch a DX cluster or your logger's spot window. See DXing.
• Yearly favorites, each with its own site and rules (see the Program atlas):

- 13 Colonies Special Event, every July 1–7. Stations K2A–K2M represent the original colonies, plus bonus stations. In 2026 it ran July 1, 1300 UTC to July 8, 0400 UTC. Details at 13colonies.us. - Museum Ships Weekend, run by the NJ2BB club each June. Ships around the world come on the air from their radio rooms. See nj2bb.org/museum.

Working a special event station

• Treat it like any pileup: listen, call once, keep the exchange short. See Pileups.
• Log the call exactly as sent, including any /suffix. The event's certificate is matched to its log.
• Certificates: follow the event's own instructions. Many now use online request forms or downloadable PDFs. ARRL's listing page describes the traditional method: send your QSO details with a 9 by 12 inch self-addressed stamped envelope for a certificate, or a business-size SASE with your card for a QSL. Add a donation only if the event asks for one.
• Don't ask for a certificate on the air. Work them, then request it the way they describe.

How 1x1 call signs work

Per ARRL's 1x1 page, drawn from FCC rules:

• The pool: 750 call signs. The format is K, N or W, then one digit (0–9), then one letter. X isn't available.
• Who issues them: five FCC-approved coordinators (ARRL, W5YI, WCARS, W4VEC and Laurel) share one database at the 1x1 call sign site, which W5YI maintains. There's no FCC license document. The assignment appearing in the database is your authorization.
• What qualifies: an "event of special significance," ideally publicly visible and non-recurring: anniversaries, festivals, conventions, dedications, public demonstrations. A contest alone isn't the point, though you can use the call in a contest that falls inside your dates.
• How long: normally 15 days or less. You can't chain back-to-back periods, and holding more than one 1x1 a year is discouraged.
• When to apply: up to 365 days before the first day of use. Allow at least 5–7 business days, and don't submit duplicate applications.
• Days are UTC, 0000Z to 2359Z.
• Don't use it before it's approved. Using a special event call without approval is a rule violation.
• Still give your own call once an hour. While you use a special event call, the station must also transmit its assigned call sign at least once per hour (§97.119(d)).

Don't want a 1x1? Any station may add an indicator to its own call, separated by a slash, as long as it doesn't conflict with another country's prefix (§97.119(c)). ARRL's example is "W1AW/national convention."

Running a special event station (club checklist)

1. Pick the event and dates. Reserve the 1x1 early. Popular calls go fast around anniversaries.
2. List it. Use ARRL's special event application. For a QST listing, ARRL must receive it by the 1st of the second month before publication; for example, a March listing must be in by January 1. ARRL may reject political or commercial events.
3. Plan the station: bands, modes, operators and a schedule. Post exact frequencies and spot yourself.
4. Log carefully. Use one log, with the event call in STATION_CALLSIGN and each operator in OPERATOR (see N3FJP and Support Your Parks for the club-call pattern). Upload to LoTW if you can.
5. Certificates and QSLs: decide early whether you'll mail cards, email PDFs or use a claim system. On this site, organizers can host events and certificates through the SES hub.
6. POTA at the same time? You can activate a park with a special event call, but POTA's own rules still apply: in the park, 10 QSOs and the right log upload. See Activate.

Habits / gotchas / checklist

• Hunting: log the exact call, then follow the event's certificate instructions.
• Running: the 1x1 shows in the shared database before day one.
• 15 days or less, UTC days, one 1x1 a year.
• Station's own call given at least once an hour alongside the 1x1.
• ARRL listing submitted by the QST deadline.
• One clean log with STATION_CALLSIGN and OPERATOR.
• Certificate plan announced before the event.

Sources (checked Oct 2026)

• ARRL: Special Event Call Signs (1x1), Special Event Stations, Special Events Application.
• 1x1 Special Event Call Sign database (maintained by W5YI).
• 47 CFR §97.119 (station identification and indicators).
• 13colonies.us, NJ2BB Museum Ships Weekend.