{"id":44854,"date":"2020-08-17T16:31:27","date_gmt":"2020-08-17T20:31:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=44854"},"modified":"2020-08-17T21:28:09","modified_gmt":"2020-08-18T01:28:09","slug":"w9ims-chance-for-a-commemorative-certificate-and-qsl-card","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/w9ims-chance-for-a-commemorative-certificate-and-qsl-card\/","title":{"rendered":"W9IMS: Chance for a Commemorative Certificate and QSL Card"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Indy 500 Week Offers the Chance for a Commemorative W9IMS Certificate and\/or QSL Card<\/h1>\n

By Brian D. Smith, W9IND<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your chance to obtain the 2020 W9IMS Checkered Flag Award \u2013 or at least a QSL card commemorating this year\u2019s Indianapolis 500 \u2013 unfolds in the coming week. And both amateur radio operators and SWLs are welcome to try.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s certificate is easier than ever to earn. Normally the Indianapolis Motor Speedway\u2019s three major races take place on three different weekends, but this year, because of Covid-19 concerns, two races were consolidated into one weekend \u2013 and in turn, two W9IMS special events merged into one.<\/p>\n

For anyone who bagged that two-in-one event, you can seal the deal on the certificate by catching the station again between now and Sunday, Aug. 23. The Indy 500 operation will conclude at midnight local time (0400 UTC) Monday, Aug. 24. (Note: Indianapolis is on EDT or New York time.)<\/p>\n

Even if you succeed in snaring W9IMS only once, you can still claim the corresponding QSL card. All certificate and QSL designs are brand-new each year.<\/p>\n

How to find W9IMS? The station\u2019s two transmitters will operate on three bands \u2013 20, 40 and 80 meters \u2013 and may appear at any time of day or night until the final signoff at 0400 UTC Monday.<\/p>\n

However, the best bet is to catch the station during prime time \u2013 2200 through 0200 UTC on weeknights (6 to 10 p.m. Indy time). W9IMS operators will frequently activate 20 meters on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. (1200-1800 UTC); and will cover all three bands at various times throughout the weekend starting at 10 a.m. (1400 UTC) daily.<\/p>\n

If you still haven\u2019t caught W9IMS by 11 p.m. Sunday in Indianapolis (0300 UTC Monday), operators commonly conduct their own \u201chappy hour\u201d \u2013 working stations in rapid contesting style \u2013 during that final hour of the special event. But W9IMS has also been known to pull the plug a little early on Sunday evening if no stations are calling.<\/p>\n

Here are tips for locating the station:<\/p>\n