Silent Key

SK – Chris W1KMA RI’s 13 Colonies K2C Manager

- by Nancy Austin

Chris W1KMA now a Silent Key

SK – Chris W1KMA RI’s 13 Colonies K2C Manager 

Dave Neal, W2DAN is sad to report that Chris Kilpert, W1KMA of Warwick, Rhode Island is now a Silent Key. 

From 2013 through 2024, Chris W1KMA enthusiastically led the Rhode Island State Team of about a dozen K2C special event operators every July for the fun post-Field Day week-long Special Event known as 13 Colonies. DaveDan, W2DAN wrote that in his decade-long role as the Rhode Island’s K2C QSL Manager, Chris “really enjoyed sending and receiving all the cards after the 13 Colonies Special Event. He will be missed!

The K2C QRZed page Chris W1KMA maintained is here, with updates to follow: https://www.qrz.com/db/K2C/?dxc=1 

Many thanks to the volunteer team of Rhode Island’s 13 Colonies operators he led:

  • W1KMA – Chris – Warwick,  RI – QSL Manager – SSB & Digital
  • W2DAN – Dave – Tiverton, RI – SSB
  • W1WIU – Jim – North Scituate, RI – SSB
  • AJ1DM – John – Westerly, RI –  CW
  • KI1U – Mike – Coventry, RI – CW & Digital
  • N1QDQ – Pete – Westerly, RI – Satellite
  • KC1FUU  Jon – Scituate, RI – CW
  • N1KM – Mark – Bristol, RI – SSB, CW, Digital & Satellite
  • W1KDA – Ron – Warwick, RI – SSB & Digital
  • N6RFM – Robert – Bristol, RI – Satellite

2024 results are:

    OP W2DAN   3,486  PH  HP

    OP W1KMA  3,338  PH HP  1,679  DIG TOTAL OF 5,017

    OP W1WIU    1,972  PH   37 CW  TOTAL 2,009   POWER 400 Watts

    OP AJ1DM    688   CW  100 WATTS

    OP KI1U        569   CW  100 WATTS

    OP KC1FUU  166  CW  100 WATTS

    OP N1QDQ   129  SAT

    RI Total    8,796 PH    1,460  CW    1,679  DIG     129  SAT     Total QSO’s   12,064

See also this post from last year, July 2023:: 

[2023] Small State, Big Pileup for K2C  – 13 Colonies Special Event RI Results [July 2023 post]

Following on Field Day is the popular and patriotic 13 Colonies Special Event. For the week around the United States July 4th holiday, teams of dedicated operators in each of the original thirteen colonies field QSO pileups with thousands of stations looking to make contact with as many of the event stations as possible, in as many modes as possible. But since this is a Special Event (and not a “Contest“)  every participant can be a winner and eligible for a 13 Colonies certificate by making even just one QSOs with a colony state or bonus station. 

The Rhode Island State Team of about a dozen K2C event operators has been led by Chris, W1KMA since 2013. 

He writes: Conditions were not that great at times but we did 14,534 QSO’s: +1351 from 2022. [WOW!] It has been a lot of fun getting hams into our logs. Many are looking for that “rare” RI contact for WAS (Worked All States). The greatest joy about this event is working people who are so happy to make contacts with all 13 colonies to get a clean sweep and they tell you that you were their last one.

The tough part is being on this side of a pile-up. If anyone would like to give it a try and help, we are happy to welcome you aboard. Just send me an email, so we can  connect with each other. CW ops are always in demand, but any mode you like to work is fine.

[The K2C team offers : SSB, CW, Digital & Satellite]

New hams should not be afraid to try either, you will have a good time for sure. Everyone works at their own pace, this way you have fun and share fun at the same time. This year we had two brothers from upstate new camp out in Exeter working K2C QRP.

This year, the French bonus station (TM13COL) was hosted by the Clipperton DX club (CDXC) and the réseau des émetteurs français (REF). 

Rhode Island still accords special honors to the French for their pivotal support during the Revolutionary War, as witnessed by, for example, a monument to Rochambeau at King’s Park in Newport and ongoing historical commemoration. We tend to forget that the British occupied Aquidneck Island for three years from December 1776 to October 1779, with devastating consequences. For more on this history, see for example: https://battleofrhodeisland.org/learn-battle-of-rhode-island-timeline-and-maps/

Congrats again to the Rhode Island K2C 13 Colonies Team for their commitment to this Special Event and their dedication to make over 14,534 QSOs in 2023. 

Congrats to Chris, W1KMA for leaving such a meaningful legacy.