The GERATOL Net

75 Meter Extra Class WAS Net

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Featured Member – Ken WV1Y G#1674 (SK-RIP Kenny)

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

 

posted by Kevin in From the Administrator,GERATOL NET NEWS,Uncategorized and have Comments (4)

Worked Canada Award Info

Worked Canada Award information. I probably have not looked at this award for at least 6 years due to a lack of interest in working it by Net members. I had forgotten about Canada combining the providences of Newfoundland and Labrador into one Providence. So, keep in mind that you only need to work one or the other for this award. This also means that you only need 10 providences plus one Territory to complete this award. If you use Frosty’s GNEC program open the folder and look for the README file and print it out. The Worked Canada Award info starts on page 5 and continues on page 6. The above is all explained in the requirements for this award on page 6. Thanks to Glenn for sending in his application for the award as it has brought to light several things about the award.

The second thing is the cost of the award. The cost of the Worked Canada Award is $5.00 plus funds to return your cards if you want them back or an SASE to get your cards back if wanted

The third thing about the award is the Certificate. Again, due to the lack of activity in this award I have no certificates for it. Glenn’s Award was the first one finished since 2002 and there were no certificates forwarded to me as Frosty made up the certificate and sent them out. This is no fault of Frosty’s. I take full responsibility for not asking about the certificates. Frosty and I are working on getting the certificate to me so I can print them out. With that being said you will have to have patience in receiving your certificate. In the mean time send your application and funds as usual and I will issue the award to you and send the certificate to you as soon as I get it and can print it. All complete and approved applications received will be numbered and put in que in the order they were received. Also keep in mind that I have NO CONTROL over the US POSTAL SERVICE and their delivery dates. Frosty and I are working on the certificate and will get it done as soon as possible.    

posted by Dave KJ8V in Uncategorized and have Comments Off on Worked Canada Award Info

Congratulations Glen WS0B

Congratulations to Glen WS0B for finishing the Worked Canada Award number 22. According to the records I received in 2012 when I took over the Awards Manager position Glen is the first to work and finish this award since 2002 when Mark K8MH finished the award and after the Geratol Net created the award after the Canadian Metro Radio Club quit allowing the US Amateurs and Geratol members to work their version of the Award. I worked the Canadian Version and was awarded certificate #143 on 4/1/1993 before the Metro Club stopped issuing it to US Hams. So, Glen has achieved something a long time coming. Again, congratulations Glen on finishing this award. Dave KJ8V

posted by Dave KJ8V in Uncategorized and have Comments (2)

New GLIST File on Website

Frosty (W0FP) has updated the GLIST with new G and D #’s. You can download the file off our website by going to the opening page of the website, using the tool bar at the top of the page under “FILES”.

Click on FILES and you will see a drop down menu. From there use: “Additional Aids for GERATOL Net” Click on that and you will see useful files, such as GNEC, WinEqf, GNumber and of course, the latest GLIST from Frosty. It was uploaded on 1/5/19

Regards, and enjoy…..Kevin N1KL

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Congratulations Steve AC1DR

Congratulations on completing the Net 50/50 Award. Dave KJ8V

posted by Dave KJ8V in Uncategorized and have Comments Off on Congratulations Steve AC1DR

Two Directors #’s Issued

Dave, KJ8V the Awards Manager,  issued two new Directors numbers today. Recipients have been notified and will probably be up tonight. Dave KJ8V

posted by Dave KJ8V in Uncategorized and have Comments Off on Two Directors #’s Issued

Congratulations George WG8AR

Congrats George on completing the Net Board Award. Dave KJ8V

posted by Dave KJ8V in Uncategorized and have Comments Off on Congratulations George WG8AR

Happy New Year !!

To all GERATOLers, aspiring GERATOLers, SWL’s and anyone else reading this POST on the GERATOL Website, we wish you a healthy, happy and great “hamming” new year in 2019 !!!

Happy New Year
posted by Kevin in From the Administrator,GERATOL NET NEWS,Uncategorized and have Comment (1)

GERATOL Apparel Reminder

Just a reminder, for those looking for a last minute Christmas gift, or to get ready to sport your own GERATOL logo apparel at the upcoming Ham Radio Flea Markets this Spring, the arrangement George put in place with the vendor remains, and the “link” may be found at any time on our web page under the “Files” section of the upper menu, or just click on the link below.

https://www.onctees.com/geratol

What a great way to publicize our Worked All States net at your next Ham Radio Club meeting, Ham Flea Market or any Ham Radio event. When folks approach you and ask you what the heck a GERATOL is, you can explain the net workings, and invite them up.

posted by Kevin in GERATOL NET NEWS,New GERATOL File,Uncategorized and have Comments Off on GERATOL Apparel Reminder

Geratoler Silent Keys

Happy to report that there were NO Geratolers listed as Silent Keys in the January QST Dave KJ8V

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