FEATURED MEMBER

As part of our efforts to get to know the GERATOL leadership, net control stations and members in general, our focus for this post is none other than our Net Control Coodinator, and regular Net Controler, Bruce – N0HD.

Bruce states that his job as Net Control Coordinator is to insure we have a designated Net Control Station for each shift of the GERATOL net. He also points out that he does this with a heavy dose of assistance from both Dave – KJ8V and Frosty – W0FP. He also makes sure the NCS stations are compensated appropriately, which consists only of the sincere gratitude of those who check into the net.

Bruce was first licensed in 1976 as a Novice with the call WN6QGF. After that he held 7 call signs: WA6QGF, WB7TTU, KB7FX, KE6IO, KG0HL, AA0XY and finally his current call of N0HD ! Wow, I think Bruce may hold the greatest quantities of call signs on the net !!! Back in the day of course, if one moved from one call area to another, the FCC would require you change your call sign accordingly. Thank goodness that’s a thing of the past eh ?

His first station consisted of a Swan 500C transceiver and a 40 Meter dipole. As Bruce puts it: Plenty of power, lots of TVI and a nifty VFO that drifted like a cork on the ocean. His current shack boasts of some much better equipment, but we always remember the thrill of the equipment and QSO’s made with that ifirst set up. His current station includes: an IC-7300, Palstar HF Auto Tuner, an ALS-1306 Amp and a Yaesu FT-857D which he hopes to put in the mobile some day in the future. His antenna at the house is a 43 Ft Vertical, an 80 Meter Carolina Windom and a Cushcraft A4S.

Bruce achieved his GERATOL # 1973 in March of 1996.  In addition to his work as our NCS Coordinator, Bruce was the creator of the “Veteran’s Salute” Award, which many of the regulars continue to pursue, and which is a great tribute to our veterans.

He joined the Navy right out of High School in 1973, because he says he was really not a farmer and hated milking cows. We “udderly” agree with that. He was hoping that 4 years in the U.S. Navy would help him get his head on straight and get positioned for a run at college. One thing led to another, and he ended up making the Navy his career, spending 20 years serving his country, for which we are all grateful. He did not totally forget college however and obtained his AAS degree in Farm Management in 1996.

Bruce recalls the highlight of his Naval career was being afforded the opportunity to make 3 deployments to Antarctica in the early 80’s. Wow, folks are now paying BIG bucks to take excursions there, to see Mother nature at her rawest. Today, many (myself included) try to track down RI1ANO operating from there on CW, to put that one in our log books, but Bruce got to operate KC4USY while stationed in Antarctica, running Phone Patches for those stationed there, and working all the DX he could handle. Imagine being at that end of the DX pile up ? Bruce knows what it is like. He says it was a BLAST !!

Bruce and his wife Judy with their Indian Chieftain Motorcycle

Now that he’s really, really retired he spends time shifting his focus between Ham Radio and restoring a few old AM broadcast radios. In addition, he enjoys gardening and riding his motorcycle during the nicer weather. He has a really sharp (see insert picture) Indian Chieftain motorcycle and is chomping at the bit for the weather to cooperate so he can take to the road. As the commercial on TV says, “Going Up Country” !!

Bruce has been married to his wife Judy (Also a Ham – KB0WVX) for 27 years and has a son (Steve) and two daughters (Becky and Sarah) as well as two step-sons (Matt, also a Ham – KB9JAW) and Michael. He has six grandkids, ranging in ages from 5 to 18, none of whom are licensed YET !! But with three other Hams in the family, it is probably only a matter of time.

I wish to thank Bruce for providing the information for our write up, which I only tweaked, as well as for his contributions to our grand old net, as well as his service to our Country. Take a minute to put a COMMENT on this post and express your own words to him. It only takes a minute, and the guys really appreciate it.
Kevin N1KL

03/16/2018

The deadline is April 30 for US schools, museums, science centers, and community youth organizations (working individually or together) to submit proposals to host an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with an orbiting crew member on the International Space Station (ISS). Contacts would be scheduled between January 1 and June 30, 2019.

Each year, ARISS provides tens of thousands of students with opportunities to learn about space technologies and communications through Amateur Radio. The program provides learning opportunities by connecting students to astronauts aboard the ISS through a partnership between ARRL, AMSAT, and NASA, as well as other Amateur Radio organizations and worldwide space agencies. The program’s goal is to inspire students to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and Amateur Radio.

“Educators overwhelmingly report that student participation in the ARISS program stimulates interest in STEM subjects and in STEM careers,” ARISS said in announcing the contact opportunities. “As one educator wrote, ‘It exceeded our expectations — it created a great interest in both Amateur Radio and in space exploration. Our kids are completely inspired!’”

More than 90% of educators who have participated in the program have indicated that ARISS provided ideas for encouraging student exploration and participation. Some of them even become radio amateurs after experiencing a contact with an ISS crew member.

ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed, exciting education plan. Students can learn about satellite communications, wireless technology, science research conducted on the ISS, radio science, and any related STEM subject. Students learn to use Amateur Radio to talk directly to an astronaut and ask their STEM-related questions. ARISS will help educational organizations locate Amateur Radio groups who can assist with equipment for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students.

Proposal webinars for guidance and getting questions answers will be offered on Thursday, March 29, at 7 PM EDT (0000 UTC on Friday, March 30) and on Monday, April 16, at 4 PM EDT (2100 UTC). Advance registration is required. More details, such as expectations, proposal guidelines, and the proposal form, are on the ARISS website. — Thanks to ARISS via Dave Jordan, AA4KN

Source: ARRL Ham Radio News

Featured Member

Those who frequent the net, are familiar with Joe, WS8X.   Joe is one of two Loverti’s on the net, the other of course Joe Sr. WW8X from Ohio.

Joe serves as our Saturday evening Net Control station. Saturday evenings are often one of the busiest on the net, even during these days of rough conditions, and Joe does a great job handling all the check-ins and keeping the net moving along efficiently, with a touch of humor as well.

For those wondering how Joe puts out such a strong signal from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, his current station consists of a 40/80 Meter Parallel dipole. He also sports a Multi band doublet. His current rigs are an ICOM 751A and an ICOM 7300 along with a Drake L7 amp.

Joe and his sidekick at his Ham Shack

Joe was first licensed in 2001 with the call KC8RNF. His first station was comprised of an ICOM 745, MFJ Versa Tuner, which he loaded into a G5RV antenna. Joe was fortunate in his selection of Elmer’s to get him started, namely his Dad, Joe – WW8X. Like many of us, Joe has his WAL, or Worked All Licenses, going from Novice, all the way up to Extra Class. In addition to WW8X, Joe has three uncles who are also Ham Radio Operators.

Joe recalls his first DX QSO was with a station in Western Europe. Funny, how we keep those type of events in our Ham Radio memory banks. Our first QSO, first DX contact, first CW QSO, etc. Fun stuff.
Joe achieved his WAS via the GERATOL net, achieving G # 2607 in 2011. He later added his Director’s number 737 to his GERATOL achievements.

Those of us who are regular check-ins to the net, know that Joe is Active Duty Coast Guard (Thank you for your service Joe), where as a Radioman, he handled numerous Search and Rescue cases. I bet some of those would make great stories to hear more about if any of us have a chance for an eyeball with Joe. He’s been in the Coast Guard since 1999.

Feel free to comment on this post about Joe – WS8X, on our website, or fire him off a note, and thank him for his service to our country and his support of the GERATOL Net.

Kevin N1KL