The GERATOL Special Event station, W1G will be going active beginning Sunday evening, at 0001Z. The station will remain active through 2359Z on Feb 20th.
If you work W1G during the net, no QSL exchange is needed, simply request that you want to receive one, and one will be mailed to your QRZ address.
Anyone working W1G not during the net, or on other frequencies, will need to send a SASE as described on the W1G QRZ listing.
In conjunction with the 2021/2022 GERATOL Net season, we are pleased to announce the launch of a new certificate, to help celebrate our 50th Anniversary. Truly a major milestone for the GERATOL Worked All States Net.
The certificate is being sponsored by our Awards Manager, Dave – KJ8V and our Treasurer, KJ8W – Sandy, as a show of their appreciation for the GERATOL net, and all it’s members. Simply follow the guidelines set forth by the following requirements, and you can participate in working toward the certificate, this season and seasons to come, since this special certificate will be offered beyond the 2021/2022 season. Below is a sample of the certificate being offered upon successful completion of the requirements.
Join in the fun starting October 1st (GMT) and begin working toward this very special commemorative certificate celebrating 50 years of the GERATOL Worked All States NET.
Our thanks to Dave and Sandy, for suggesting this certificate to help us celebrate this major GERATOL milestone. In addition, for providing the guidelines, requirements and especially the resources to support the certificate.
In addition, a big shout out to Kevin – N1KL for creating such a colorful certificate, to accompany this special occasion.
The net resumes operation at 0100Z time, on Oct. 1st. Remember, that means the net starts up again Thursday evening, 9/30/21 at 9:00PM Eastern time, on 3.668 Mhz.
So let’s hope all the antenna work has been completed, the rigs are tuned and ready to go. Feel free to spread the word among some of your fellow GERATOLers, who may not see the website update, or view the announcements on QRZ, eHam, etc. Come join the fun Thursday evening !!
We want to take a minute to recognize our latest registrants to the GERATOL Website:
Thanks for taking the time to register on the net Website guys, and we look forward to working you all some evening in the coming weeks as the net continues at 3.668 Mhz at 0100Z
From the GERATOL Board of Directors and all Net Officers, we wish you all a very Happy, Healthy and Safe 2022, with lots of good operating and great QSO’s to fill your log books !!
Kevin N1KL
In the spirit of the season, we would like to wish each and every GERATOLer, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May Santa be good to you all, and may he bring you all the Ham Radio toys you asked to receive !! We hope you have been behaving appropriately, to insure his arrival at your QTH !!
Per the attached picture, it seems he’s still working on his 1922 Ham Radio list, so it may take a while for your request to arrive !! LOL !!
For those who remember, and for those not familiar with the origins of our net, it was the ARRL along with the GERATOL founders (John, W0NL and Hank, K2DS) who sponsored the original efforts to promote use of the newly assigned Phone privileges on 80M to Extra Class hams. The ARRL actually issued a unique Serialized WAS award, with a special sticker, which read: “75 Meter 2 Letter Extra Class SSB” with a lightning bolt on it, for those persistent enough to complete the requirements. That serialized WAS award number, then became your GERATOL # see example below:
Today of course, we are fortunate to have the tradition carry on, by issuing new GERATOL #’s in association with the Unbelievable Operating Achievement Award. The Serializations, (GERATOL numbers) on the Unbelievable Operating Achievement Award, picked up where the ARRL serialized 80M WAS Awards left off. Hats off to our current and former Awards Managers for keeping the “G” numbers consecutive from that era, to our current process.
Speaking of the ARRL, below are some old Christmas covers of QST from years gone by. In addition to the interesting artwork on each cover, note the cost of the magazine over the years !!
On behalf of the GERATOL Board of Directors, Net Control Ops and all those affiliated with the GERATOL Net, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night (of operating).
73 Kevin N1KL
We would like to welcome aboard the GERATOL Website, two new registrants. Thanks for taking the time to register on our website gents, and we look forward to working you on the net in the near future.
New Registrants:
Should you have any questions about the website and/or the net, feel free to fire me an email to: n1kl@geratol.net Kevin N1KL
We are pleased to announce, the GERATOL Net will be activating a special event station, “W1G” to help celebrate our 50th year as a Worked All States net on 80 Meters.
W1G will be active starting Feb. 7th and will remain active through Feb. 20th. W1G will be checking into the GERATOL Net, and will also be active in the Extra Class portion of other bands, to promote the GERATOL Net to Extra Class operators who may not be familiar with the net.
For those who work W1G during the GERATOL Net, a special commemorative QSL card will be issued to them, without the need for a SASE. For those working W1G off the net, a SASE will be required.
As most are aware, the GERATOL Net, and Dave – KJ8V and Sandy – KJ8W, are sponsoring a special Certificate to commemorate our 50th year as a Worked All States net.
Dave has informed me, multiple Certificates have already been issued, and there are several GERATOLers who are still working toward completing the requirements for their commemorative certificate. It’s not too late to start working toward this colorful certificate. It’s a great way to help you celebrate the 50 years our net has been serving the Ham Radio community on 80 Meters.
You don’t need a GERATOL Number to work toward the certificate, but you need to work folks who do have a GERATOL Number. So, for those with GERATOL numbers who care to assist those working for the certificate, come up on frequency and share your G# with those looking to put you in their log.
Details on the requirements may be found on our website, both under the POST announcing the certificate, as well as in the tool bar at the top of the page under Awards, then under Other Awards and Certificates. Below is a sample of the certificate itself. A nice way to celebrate our anniversary, while having fun renewing old acquaintances or making new friends.
All the best to new and old GERATOLers alike. We hope to hear you all on the net in the near future.
Regards, Kevin N1KL Website Administrator
We would like to extend a Happy Thanksgiving to the entire GERATOL family, and we hope you are able to spend quality time with family and friends this year.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we would also like to give a special “Thanks” to our Net Control Operators, who continue to keep the GERATOL Worked All States alive and active, and have done so now, for 50 Years !!! Thanks to all NCS.
We would like to take a minute to welcome some of our latest subscribers to the GERATOL Website.
73 Kevin N1KL Website Administrator
The new GERATOL Anniversary Certificate is being actively pursued on the net. Our Awards Manager, KJ8V informed me that he has issued several certificates already !! That is awesome. Again, thanks to both Dave (KJ8V) and Sandy (KJ8W) for their sponsorship of this exciting new certificate, celebrating 50 Years of the GERATOL Worked All States Net.
If you have not heard about it yet, check the POST on our website explaining how to qualify for one, or simply go to our website, and look under the AWARDS tab, at the top of the site’s tool bar.
The following hams took the time to register on our GERATOL Website. Let’s give them a hearty welcome aboard, and we hope to hear and work them on the net this season. WELCOME guys !!
Welcome aboard to each and every one of you, and should you have any questions about the website, or the net in general, feel free to fire me off a note to: n1kl@geratol.net
73 to all, Kevin N1KL
We continue to receive new registrants for our GERATOL Website. Please welcome the following ops, who have taken the time to register on our site, and let’s hope we get to hear them on the net in the coming weeks/months:
Welcome aboard to all of you, and feel free to fire me off a note to n1kl@geratol.net if you have any questions about the website.
Frosty was nice enough to create a log form, to be used by those working toward the new GERATOL 50th Anniversary Certificate. There are two pages for the log form, so make sure you print out both of them. They can be found via the following links:
https://geratol.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/50-Year-Anniversary-Log-Form-1-1.jpg
https://geratol.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/50-Year-Anniversary-Log-Form-2-.jpg
Simply click on each link, the document will appear, and you can then print it out. Fill in your QSO’s as the log form requires, and when you reach the magic 50, send in your application to Dave, KJ8V or simply email him your log forms, and he will process your certificate. Good luck, and have fun. Kevin – N1KL
Featured GERATOL Member WV1Y – Kenneth Magee
Ken was first licensed in 1975 in Colorado Springs, but he got his start in our great hobby, about ten years prior while stationed in Oregon. Ken was living in Oregon at the time, with his wife Evelyn, when a fellow Air Force buddy, none other than Jack, WM0G stopped by and asked Ken to keep an eye on his ham radio equipment while Jack was traveling. Ken agreed to babysit Jack’s equipment, and the rest is history !!
Jack knew of course, by leaving the radio, along with a long wire for some serious Short Wave Listening, that Ken would be smitten by the Ham Radio Bug !! Sure enough, it worked and by doing that “favor” for Jack, Ken became interested in Ham Radio obtaining his Novice license in 1975 while stationed in Colorado.
Ken – WV1Y “On The Air”
That first encounter with Ham Radio was in 1961, but years later (1992 to be exact) Ken had checked into the GERATOL Net, and a gentleman from Colorado gave him a call and asked if Ken had ever served in the Air Force, and if he had ever been to Klamath Falls. Indeed the answer was YES to both questions, and the inquiring Ham was none other than his old Air Force buddy, Jack, WM0G ! Imagine, after all that time since Jack had sparked Ken’s interest in radio, thirty years later they were having a QSO on the GERATOL Net !! This is truly an amazing hobby, and this is a great story about two old Air Force buddies reconnecting via the GERATOL Net.
After Oregon, Ken had moved on to Colorado, where he studied for and then received his ticket. His fellow Club members served as his Elmer, teaching him the basics and helping Ken achieve his Novice ticket, where he was licensed as WN0TLR. His rig at the time, was a staple for many of us beginners, a HW-101 which he fed into a dipole antenna up a whopping twenty feet in the air !! But it worked !!
Ken’s 1st Rig HW-101
Years later, Ken and his wife Evelyn settled down in “Little Rhody” aka: Rhode Island in 1988 after traveling and serving in the Army, Air Force and then Bendix Engineering. Ken is one of a handful of ops on the GERATOL net, who served in more than one branch of service. His dual service helps those working toward the Veteran’s Salute Award. Over the years, Ken’s eyesight had deteriorated and in 1990 the Handi-Hams group (a great organization) lent a hand by sending Ken a Century 21 CW rig, modified for visually impaired hams. Ken pounded away at CW, getting to 20 wpm proficiency and obtaining his Extra Class ticket ! Ken then upgraded his gear to a Kenwood TS440S, coupled with a G5RV antenna. He got hooked on County Hunting during the day time hours on 20 Meters, and has completed ALL counties, now five times over !! As Ken stated in his bio material he sent me, “What an adventure” What an accomplishment Ken ! Well done.
In addition to his County Hunting prowess, Ken has amassed over 137 Countries for his DXCC. One of his more memorable DX contacts was working both the North Pole and Alaska during Christmas time.
Ken served in the Army from 1948 through 1952, and then in the Air Force from 1955 through 1975. Some of spots he visited while serving included: Republic of Panama, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Iceland, Korea, Vietnam and even Thailand. Ken has not only Worked All States on the GERATOL Net, but he has also visited all 50 states in person, while with Bendix Engineering.
His wife Evelyn of 49 years passed away in 2006. She hailed from Denver, Colorado and was a great support for Ken while he was studying toward his ham license upgrade. She would test and quiz Ken so often, he says that it got to the point where she knew more than he did !! She provided that same support to Ken in his pursuit of Economics, where he eventually graduated with a degree from Roger Williams College.
As we all know, Ken hails from the little state of Rhode Island, which also happens typically to be a “tough one” for many ops to get on 80 Meters, but Ken is there most evenings, putting RI in the log books of so many future GERATOLers, as well as bringing his excellent operating skills and gentlemanly manner to the net. By the way, for those who may not know it, Ken recently achieved obtaining GERATOL # 2669 for his Club Call: AA1KM ! Congrats on that latest achievement Ken and thanks for all you do for our net.
Kevin N1KL
