The GERATOL Net

75 Meter Extra Class WAS Net

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GERATOL NET NEWS

WELCOME ABOARD !

We would like to welcome aboard Larry – KN4MVH to our GERATOL Website. Thanks for taking the time to register on the site Larry, and thanks for bringing up that 2×3 call sign from the Volunteer State of TN.

If you have any questions about the website, and/or the net, don’t hesitate to fire off an emailto me at n1kl@arrl.net

SILENT KEY UPDATE

We are sad to announce the loss of three fellow GERATOLers:

Jim – WI7M G # 1373 from Utah I recall working Jim on several occasions, as we both were working toward our G numbers around the same time period.

Mike – NE9O G # 1017 from FL

Lowell – KB0BA G # 2624 from IA In addition to being a GERATOLer, Lowell was also an avid County Hunter

We will miss you all gents, and may you Rest In Peace !

Our thanks to Barry, K2MF for providing the updates on these fellow GERATOLers

COMING SOON !!

Just a reminder, for those working on their Call Area Challenge certificate, who wish to work Special Event station W1G, it will be activated next month, beginning March 17th.

73, Kevin N1KL Website Administrator

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GERATOL NET NEWS !!

GERATOL NET ELECTION UPDATE

CHAIRMAN: Frosty, W0FP G#2026

VICE CHAIRMAN: Kenny, KE9TC G#2437

SECRETARY: Dale, WG5N G#2575

TREASURER: Bob, AI4IL G#2303

Congrats to all, and a special shout out, and THANK YOU to:

Sandy, KJ8W for her efforts over the years as Treasurer

Frank, AA0ZP for his efforts as our Secretary for many years as well

GERATOL BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Below are the minutes from the recent Board of Directors meeting held on 1/27/24

BOARD MEETING MINUTES FROM SESSION HELD ON 1/27/2024
The Chairman, Frosty W0FP opened the board meeting at 01:00Z on January 27, 2024 for the purpose
of putting in place new officers for the GERATOL Net.
There were four nominations tabled in the meeting which are listed:
Frosty, W0FP – Chairman
Kenny, KE9TC – Vice Chairman
Dale, WG5N – Secretary
Bob, AI4IL – Treasurer.
A request was floored by Frosty, W0FP – Chairman, three times for any additional nominations. There
were none.
A motion was made by Frank, AA0ZP and seconded by Kenny, KE9TC to accept the four listed above as
the new officers.
A motion was made by Dale, WG5N and seconded by Frank, AA0ZP to adjourn the meeting.
The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 01:04 on January 27, 2024.
Minutes Submitted by Dale Chrisman, WG5N – Secretary – GERATOL Net Secretary

The minutes will also be posted under the FILES section of the Website Menu

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WELCOME ABOARD

We would like to welcome the following operators, who took the time to register on our GERATOL Website, and who are now regular check-ins to our net as well.

Welcome to:
WARREN – AB0HX FROM MO
WARREN HAS G# 2169 AND IS ALSO ACTIVE IN THE OMISS NET
HE IS ALSO A MARINE CORPS VETERAN

JOHN – K3AOK FROM TN AND NC
JOHN IS NEW TO OUR NET, AND IS WORKING ON THE BASIC
HE’S A RETIRED ENGINEER, AND HAS A GREAT SIGNAL OUT OF TN, BUT YOU MAY ALSO HEAR JOHN OPERATE FROM NC AS WELL

WELCOME TO OUR WEBSITE TO BOTH OF YOU GENTS, AND SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WEBSITE AND/OR THE NET, DON’T HESITATE TO SEND ME AN EMIAL TO: N1KL@ARRL.NET

CALL AREA CHALLENGE CERTIFICATE UPDATE

Just a reminder, the CALL AREA CHALLENGE CERTIFICATE is available to ALL operators, whether you have a GERATOL number or not. More information is available on the website, along with logging documents, to help you keep track of your progress in completing the certificate. Rumor has it, there are a few operators who are closing in on completing the requirements for this new certificate. Good hunting guys, and above all, HAVE FUN chasing it.

In conjunction with this certificate, the GERATOL Special Event Station, “W1G” will once again be activated this coming March. See dates below.

N1KL/R REMOTE ACTIVITY

For those working on their basic, who need the states of Rhode Island or New Jersey, Kevin will be active from both states REMOTELY, over the next couple of weeks. So, if you need either state for your basic, or for any endorsements, he should be active from either state this month. In addition, he will be running Club Call sign, K3RI from Rhode Island, which will be a Primary State abbreviation from that state.

73, Kevin N1KL Website Administrator

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New Logging Files

Attached please find two new logging files from Frosty;

First file is: GNEC210-01 which is used in conjunction with ACLog

The second file is: GNEC130-00 which is used in conjunction with WinEQF

Our thanks to Frosty, W0FP for keeping these logging files updated, with the latest GERATOL related database updates.

Kevin N1KL Site Admin

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Welcome Aboard !!

We would like to welcome the following operators, who took the time to register on the GERATOL website. Welcome aboard guys !!

NK0X – Mark who hails from Denton, NE
Mark was first licensed in 1981, and also enjoys CW

AD8IF – Rod, from the great state of Michigan.
Rod is currently using an FT991A into a 130′ End Fed antenna

AF4DN – Felton, who operates from the state of GA, and the town of Sugar Valley
Sugar Valley can boast of a Post Office that has been in operation since 1844

N0WD – William, from Wildwood, MO.
Wildwood is in the county of St. Louis

N7QJP – Stu, from Bemidji, MN.
If you work Stu on the net, ask him how is little friend “Simon” is doing

Welcome aboard our GERATOL website gentlemen, and we hope to hear you on the net. Should you have any questions about the net and/or the website, feel free to reach out and ask by sending me an email to: N1KL@ARRL.NET Kevin

We currently have 317 registered members on our website

73 – Kevin N1KL Website Administrator

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HAPPY NEW YEAR !

A belated Happy New Year to all GERATOLers ! Let’s hope the new year brings improved conditions on the net, and that we continue to greet and meet some new operators to our net, and our website.

Last evening, Bob – AI4IL ran the net, and did his usual superb job in welcoming some new folks to the net. The net had a lot of activity, with WY as well as the CO Capital checking in.

Conditions are improving, and it’s time to make good on that New Year resolution, where you told yourself you would try to check into the net once and a while. Now is the time, with some new ops working on their basic award, some not-often heard states, like WY checking in, and just saying hi to old acquaintances, not to mention, working on the new Call Area Challenge certificate. (See website for details on that one)

Also, don’t forget to mark your calendars for March. GERATOL Special Event station, W1G will be on the air for one week in the month of March. Again, more details on the website for days, times and frequencies.

REMOTE QSO’s and QSL’s from N1KL

Just a reminder, while I am in Florida, (Jan-April) I will be unable to send out hard QSL cards, confirming any QSO’s from the various remote states, in which I have operated, unless the QSL’s are done via eQSL.

I WILL reply to ALL QSL via snail mail, but not until I return to MA in April.

Thanks for working me while I am transmitting from remote stations, and thanks for your patience in getting my QSL.

Regards, Kevin N1KL

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Silent Key Update

We have been informed, that long time GERATOLer, John – N7TT, GERATOL # 787 from Washington, is now a Silent Key. John was also an active County Hunter, with the USA – CA # of 191.

May John’s soul, and all the souls of our previously departed GERATOLers, rest in peace.

My thanks to Barry, K2MF for providing us with this update.

Kevin N1KL

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SAD NEWS

We were informed by our GERATOL Net Chairman, Frosty – W0FP, that our long time friend and dedicated GERATOLer, Dave, KJ8V passed away on Christmas Day.

It is certainly with a heavy heart, we share this news with our fellow GERATOLers, who came to know Dave very well over many years of his support and hard work on behalf of our WAS Net.

Dave assumed the duties of Awards Manager, which was a HUGE task, given the condition of the data base, and it’s need for updates. Dave took it upon himself, to reach out, to research and to catalogue, as many names, call signs and awards, to fill in all the blanks on the data base, as humanly possible. To say he was tireless in that effort, would be an understatement.

More recently, he and Sandy, his XYL and KJ8W, provided the net with an awesome keepsake award, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the GERATOL Net. The Award remains active, and for anyone interested, may continue to work toward that, as a way of expressing your thanks for he and Sandy’s support of that award. The award, and all the hard work he has done for the net, will be remembered on our website as a tribute to his commitment and dedication to keeping the net alive.

On behalf of the GERATOL Board of Directors and Net Officers, as well as all the members of the GERATOL Net, we wish to express our deepest sympathy to Sandy, KJ8V on Dave’s passing. Please know, there are literally hundreds, if not thousands of GERATOLers past and present, and from coast to coast, who will keep Dave and yourself in our thoughts and prayers.

Kevin – N1KL

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GLIST 1.10

For those who need a copy of GLIST 1.10 to run the programs created by Frosty, there is a copy on the FILE section of the tool bar, but in addition, please find one attached below.

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GERATOL NET NEWS !!

NEW LOGGING FILE FROM FROSTY

For those of you using the N3FJP logging software, in conjunction with tracking GERATOL QSO’s and endorsements, please note, that a new file has been placed out on the website. Go to the main tool bar at top of opening page, then to FILES then to ADDITIONAL AIDS AND FORMS FOR THE GERATOL NET and you will find the latest GNECAC file from Frosty there.

From: Frosty – W0FP
New GNECAC FILE
I added the AC on the end of the name to identify that it is for
N3FJP’s ACLog that produces Microsoft Access database Log files.
One thing that I found out is ACLog doesn’t put the Canadian province abbreviation.
in the state field of the log, so everyone will have to modify their log file
in ACLog adding the 2 letter province abbreviation in the State field
I found out that I can run both ACLog and GNECAC at the same time
that ACLog does not lock the log file while it is open.
ACLog is a great program.

One other thing, I put all of the abbreviations.
for the different items like initial call (IC) in the Comments field of ACLog
I moved the Other8 ACLog field on the main ACLog screen and placed it
between the County field and Country field and I renamed the Other8 field
GERATOL that is where I put the Geratol number.

If there are any questions, just ask. If people are moving their Win-EQF file
to ACLog with an ADIF file, to move the Geratol number from the EQF Track field
to the ACLog Other8 field, you have to rename the ACLog Other8 field
to APP_EQF_TRACK during the ADIF Import in ACLog. After the import
is complete, you name the Other8 field to GERATOL

I hope people enjoy this effort
73 Frosty W0FP

Frosty, thanks for the hard work and time you put into making all our logging files so useful.

GERATOL SILENT KEY UPDATE

With sadness, we have been informed that Fred, W0ULU GERATOL # 878 is now a Silent Key. Fred was a resident of Cottage Grove, Minnesota.

FRED – W0ULU

We would like to pass along our condolences to all his family and friends on his passing.

NEW GERATOL CALL AREA CHALLENGE CERTIFICATE UPDATE

Well, guys continue to work toward completing the newest GERATOL Certificate being offered, entitled the CALL AREA CHALLENGE.

No one has completed or applied for the certificate as yet, but listening to the net, it is obvious that folks are having fun chasing QSO’s to complete the requirements. There have been a few new stations on frequency this season, some invited up by folks chasing the requirements for the certificate. So, if there are some call sign formats you need, regardless of what call area they currently reside in, feel free to fire off an invite, and have them come on frequency, to say hi and make a few QSO’s.

For example, if a station from Maine, (1st call area) checks in, and his/her call sign is W7XYZ, that call sign is good for the 1×3 format from 7th call area.

As the administrator of the certificate, I declared myself ineligible for the certificate, but will be confirming Logs submitted, for completion of the challenge, and to send those ops who complete the requirements, a nice copy of their certificate. (See example below) I can’t wait to issue the first one !!!

And don’t forget, we have a special ENDORSEMENT sticker, for those who work W1G, the Special Event call sign, commemorating the GERATOL Net, which will be activated on St. Patrick’s Day, 3/17 and remain active for an entire week.

All the best, and good hunting folks, and above all “have fun” chasing it.

73 from the Website Administrator

PS My thanks to Al, AE2T for his recent assistance on some of our website file placements. Thanks for always being on hand to assist Al !! Much appreciated N1KL

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