The Lee DeForest Amateur Radio Club will operate special-event callsign K6L to honor Lee de Forest, the Audion vacuum tube, and the radio history carried forward by today’s amateur operators.
The event is centered on K6L. Operators may be active at any time during the event window, with the best chance of finding activity during normal waking hours in the Pacific time zone. For stations using UTC, that is roughly 1400 to 0500 GMT, depending on operator availability, bands, and conditions.
August 7-9, 2026
0000 Pacific August 7
to 0000 Pacific August 10
0700 UTC/GMT August 7
to 0700 UTC/GMT August 10
Operating Window
24 hours a day
Best Chance
Typical waking hours Pacific
1400-0500 GMT
This special event connects three stories: the radio pioneer Lee de Forest, the local Lee DeForest Amateur Radio Club, and the operators who keep the experimental spirit of amateur radio alive today.
Our club supports local operators, emergency-communications readiness, nets, technical learning, license growth, and public-service radio activity in the Hemet and San Jacinto area. This special event connects that local work with our heritage and the larger history of radio creativity and ingenuity. By participating in the event, you give us the opportunity to share our heritage, our story, and our pride in our namesake and amateur-radio community.
QSL Cards
for contacted stations
Everyone who contacts K6L may receive an emailed QSL card. The email will include your card in PNG & PDF formats. The QSL card itself includes a QR code with more information about Lee de Forest and our club.
To provide a email address for your QSL Card
or for a download link to your QSL Card,
Enter your Callsign Below
Find Your K6L QSO
Enter your callsign to find event QSOs, request delivery by email, or download a QSL card.
*The purpose of this tool is if facilitate delivering of QL cards either by email or download.
Your call sign must be in the logs
Mailed QSL Cards are available by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
LDARC
P.O. Box 491
San Jacinto, CA 92581
Operator Certificates
Signed event certificates are for participating LDARC members who operate as part of K6L and request one through the member process. They are separate from contacted-station QSL cards and are not issued through the public inquiry form.
Operator instructions, logging expectations, Club Mode guidance, and support contacts will be linked from the special-event resources area as the operating plan is finalized.
Member Event Mug
Event cups are available only to LDARC members and participating K6L operators who request them through the member process.
The public form below is for K6L event inquiries and questions only. It is not used for mailed QSL card requests, cups, or operator certificates.
K6L Event Inquiry Form
If you have a K6L event inquiry or question, use this form and we will route it to the right club contact. Every completed K6L contact receives an emailed QSL card automatically.
For mailed QSL cards, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the LDARC P.O. Box listed above.
