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Weekly net every Monday 8:30pm on N6NFI 145.230 MHz (-) 100Hz

Pacificon 2025

Pacificon is taking place in San Ramon betwen Friday, October 10 and Sunday, October 12. Please check their website for more information about the venue, hotels, and the talk schedule.

PAARA is responsible for setting up and managing the W1AW/6 SES (Special Event Station) for Pacificon. If you would like to help with the setting up, being a station captain, or tearing down the SES, please continue reading this page.

Scouts are welcome and have priority on 20m Saturday from morning till late afternoon!

Day Time What
Thursday Noon Setting Up
Friday 12:00 - 23:59 Station is operating - need Station Captains!
Saturday 00:00 - 23:59 Station is operating - need Station Captains!
Sunday 00:00 - 11:59 Station is operating - need Station Captains!


If you think you can help us with the Special Event Station, please fill in this form !

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What is W1AW/6

PAARA has for many years been responsible for setting up and managing the Special Event Station for Pacificon. For the last six years, Mikko (AB6RF) has been the PAARA member managing this task.

The Special Event Station (SES) is much like the PAARA setup for the ARRL Field Day:

  • We setup typically around five HF stations, each station being locked on one specific band.
  • Each station has an HF rig, logging computer, headsets, CW paddle etc. etc. and of course an antenna for that band.
  • For the 10m, 15m and 20m bands we use the PAARA tower trailer and the KT43A 4-element ri-band beam.
  • For the lower bands we use various wire antennas.
  • Typically the CW/SSB stations also have a linear amplifier, that we usually run at around power level.

ARRL Station Manager

The W1AW/6 call sign is made available to us by the ARRL Station Manager. We apply for the call sign way in advance, and then get a written authorization to use it during those specific days. The ARRL Station Manager also takes care of all QSL cards and LOTW conformations after we provide him a composite log file of all the contacts that were made during the event.

Running the station

During the weekend, from Friday noon to Sunday noon, the SES is open for Pacificon visitors to make HF contacts under our supervision, using the W1AW/6 callsing.

A trusted PAARA member has to be present at the station at all time during the weekend to:

  • Act as the official control operator
  • Help and guide the visiting operators
  • And to of course keep an eye on all that equipment we have out there

While PAARA has a couple HF rigs and the logging computers, the vast majority of the station equipment is loaned by PAARA members for the event.

Volunteers needed

Here’s where we need your help (as PAARA members):

  1. Setting up the antennas and the tents on Thursday. We usually start around noon.
  2. Setting up tents, tables, and stations Friday at 9am. This is on a shorter schedule than we usually have, so extra hands are needed.
  3. Station Captain duty during the weekend. We need some there at all time during the 48 hour event. Volunteering for some of those over-night hours is VERY critical.
  4. And lastly, we need help tearing it all down and packing it away starting noon on Sunday.

If you think you can help us, please fill in this form.

Contact us

If you want to get in touch with us, you can use one of the following methods:

  1. Email Mikko (AB6RF) (email address at QRZ)
  2. Email Christopher (AI6KG) (email address at QRZ)
  3. Contact us on Discord in the #pacificon channel.

Past events