MONTANA and OREGON SKED IS ON !

Just a reminder, this Saturday evening at 12 Midnight Eastern, or 0500Z,
both Oregon and South Dakota will be on frequency. (3.668 +/- QRM)

John from South Dakota will be on once again, and our old friend Bill, from Oregon will also be there to work anyone who needs them for the BASIC and for any other Certificates, Endorsements or Awards.

SILENT KEYS

With sadness, we are reporting the loss of two of our fellow GERATOLers.

George, W4OUI from Alabama GERATOL # 554

Angelo, W8ERN from Michigan GERATOL # 1610

Our condolences to their family and friends on their passing.

We will surely miss them.

(Information submitted by Barry: K2MF)

GET READY !!!

For those who have been diligently working toward completing the VETERAN’s SALUTE AWARD, stand by because we have some breaking news, about those requirements.

Our Awards Manager, Bob – AI4IL has approved the following changes to this award.

RULES:
You must contact two each U.S. Veteran or Active Duty service member from: Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard or Space Force, in each of the contiguous 48 states. 96 contacts are required for this award. No QSL cards required.  The two vets/active duty ops per state, must not be from the same branch of service, but any combination of two different branches.    

PLEASE NOTE:  These revised requirements go into effect starting immediately but ALL QSO’s made from 01/05/2015 are good toward the new requirements. 

This award is an ongoing award with no ending date. You do not need to have a GERATOL number to work towards this award. No GERATOL numbers are required from the stations contacted.

Typical log style information is required such as; Call sign, Name, Date, State, Time, Signal Report and branch of service of stations contacted. Frequency must be to four digits. (See the link below for Application forms)

Please note: If you work a remote station, such as N1KL who is remote from CO, his Navy Vet status is GOOD for CO, or any state from which he, or other remote ops may be operating. 

To apply for this award, send a check for $10.00 made out to our Awards Manager, AI4IL – Bob Gurka, along with the appropriate log information to receive the award.

For log and application form, go to the GERATOL Website, click on AWARDS on the menu bar, then click on OTHER AWARDS AND CERTIFICATES, scroll down to Veterans Salute Award and the log form is located on the attached link.

Any questions should be sent to either Bob – AI4IL or Kevin – N1KL

Montana will be on frequency (3.668) this coming Saturday evening, at 12 Midnight, Eastern time.

Steve, KA4CZL from NC has made arrangements with John from MT, to be on our net frequency, this Saturday evening, Feb 1st

In addition, I will be on from either WA or CO to make sure we can hear John, and alert him you guys are calling.

I will also notify via email the following Ops:

W3NU
KD2NZO
AA3KC

Regards, and good hunting……

Thanks to Steve for arranging this sked with MT

Kevin N1KL

Hey everyone. Good news is the website transfer is FINALLY completed. Both the DOMAIN NAME and CONTENT have been successfully transferred over to the new owners.

We can now begin the process of updating the site, and fixing some of the previous links, etc. we had been hoping to address, prior to the transfer.

73, Kevin N1KL

Silent Key Update

We have been informed by Barry, K2MF about the passing of an old time GERATOLer…..

I am sorry to report that John Kanode, N4MM, G# 48, became a silent key on 1/13/2026. You can see this on QRZ.

From K2MF, Barry: “I first remember hearing about John when I first got on the Geratol Net in December, 1978, since he was the 48th person to earn the coveted 2-letter 75m WAS award, but I never did hear him or work him. Unfortunately, I don’t have the exact date he earned this award. It looks to me like he was the first double suffix ever who earned a G#.”

More about John from his old QRZ page:

First licensed in August 1952 as WN4WSF. Upgraded to General in May 1953 and to Amateur Extra in December 1958.

Served as manager of the W4/K4/N4 ARRL QSL Bureau in the 1970’s. Elected ARRL Vice Director for the Roanoke Division in 1981 and to ARRL Director in 1989. Elected ARRL Vice President in 2000.

Received the ARRL Roanoke Division Special Service Award in 1984 and was inducted into the CQ DX Hall of Fame in 2000.

Past calls held were W4WSF, K5UYF, HP1XWS, KZ5II (Canal Zone), PJ9KK, KK4ITU, KJ4ITU.(Special Calls for ITU Week),N200MM.

Served on the ARRL DX and Contest Advisory Committees and the CQ DX Awards Committee and the CQ Contest Committee.

Member of the North Shenandoah DX Association, National Capitol DX Association, Potomac Valley Radio Club and the Shenandoah Valley Amateur Radio Club.

Life member of ARRL, QCWA, AMSAT, INDXA and IARC.

Elected ARRL Honorary Vice President in January 2003.

Top of the Honor Roll for DXCC, DXCC Challenge Award 2986. VUCC 6Meters #4 1055 grids, 2M 159 grids, 70 CM 58 grids.

Member:  The ARRL Maxim Society, Member of the NSDXA-SVARC ARRL VE Team, Conducted over 180 VE Sessions.

Our thoughts go out to John’s family and friends on his passing. May he rest in peace.

Kevin, N1KL

Attached below is a thumb nail sample of our new award, the “FROSTY AWARD“, commemorating our late Chairman of the Board.

A very colorful award to commemorate the work of our former long serving Chairman of the Board – W0FP, Frosty

Bob – AI4IL, our Awards Manager has done an awesome job creating this colorful award, which will be granted to those who complete the requirements. Remember also, stickers will be awarded for each of the elements you complete.

Bob announced on the net Sunday evening, you have a choice of how you would like to receive the award. Once you complete the award and send your application to Bob, you will be able to download a printable version off our website, or you can request a formal professionally printed version upon request. The downloadable version is free, but the specially printed version will cost $10.

Speaking to a few regulars on the net, they are having fun chasing this latest award, and are making fairly good progress already……it will be interesting to see who will be the first to complete the requirements.

GERATOL SPECIAL EVENT

We are pleased to announce the GERATOL Net will once again be running a Special “1×1” call sign special event station some time in 2026. Stay tuned for more information

73, Kevin N1KL

A time for giving thanks !! All the best to our fellow GERATOLers, their families and friends. We hope your turkey is moist, and your gravy is plentiful !!!

FROSTY AWARD REMINDER

THE FROSTY AWARD LAUNCHES DECEMBER 1st, but remember that is November 30th our time, since 0100Z net time, is December 1st. All QSO’s made on that date or later, will qualify to help you finish the new award in honor of our late Chairman of the Board, Frosty Phillips – W0FP

AWARD LOG FORM

The log form for this award can be downloaded by clicking on the Download link below. Simply open the excel file, save it to your computer and start updating it with your QSO’s

If you don’t have excel, you can use the attached pdf form, and fill out the log form by hand. Again, click on the Download button below, and get started. (PS Try to be as legible as possible for our Awards Manager.)

Let’s have fun working on this latest Award, and we are sure Frosty would be very appreciative of keeping his legacy with the GERATOL net for years to come !!

Any and all questions surrounding the award, including the rules, etc. may be directed to Bob, AI4IL or Phil, AE4GH. Both are good on the QRZ pages.

A reminder to all GERATOLers, our net begins as usual at 0100Z Sunday evening, BUT with Daylight Savings Time, that means the net starts off at 8PM Eastern time on 3.668 Mhz +/- QRM vs the 9PM Eastern start time we have been using.

OPEN INVITATION

We would like to extend a formal, informal or any other type of invitation we can think of, to any and all GERATOLers, or NON-GERATOLers alike to stop by Sunday evening at 0100Z or 8PM Eastern, on 3.668 Mhz +/- QRM We have several ops in need of a few states to wrap up their BASIC award, as well as endorsements or certificates and we could sure use your help, by putting your call sign, name and state in their log books !!

We all recall the fun and the challenge associated with completing our BASIC awards, and/or endorsements and even some of the nice certificates, so stop by and give our regular check-ins a chance at experiencing the same feeling we had as we completed GERATOL milestones.

One of the certificates the guys are chasing is the GERATOL NET CALL AREA CHALLENGE certificate, see below. We have a couple ops who only need a hand full of call sign formats to wrap up their requirements for this certificate. Let’s try and help them out by stopping by the net this Sunday, or ANY evening you can make it.

Thanks, and 73 Kevin – N1KL

NET FREQUENCY OF 3.668 +/- QRM

The 2025/26 Season is officially underway. We have had some challenges with QRM on our usual net frequency of 3.668 and have had to QSY down a few times to 3.667. So bear with us, as we navigate the launch of the new season, and if you don’t hear us immediately on 3.668, simply tune around a bit to find us. Thanks for your patience as we get the new season up and running.

SILENT KEYS

We are sad to announce the passing of Al, KJ2F G# 489. Al was a very long time member of the net, and he will surely be missed. Our thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.

Our thanks to Barry, K2MF for this update on Al.

LOOKING FOR INPUT/SUGGESTIONS

As the net gets under way, there is no secret the challenges we face from rotten conditions, to very few new members, to a loss of our long time leadership team, a very antiquated website, etc.

We welcome any input/feedback on how we can spark things up, bring some new life to the net, or simply make things better for those who check into the net on a regular basis, and to entice those whom we have not heard from in a while.

Simply fire a note off to myself, Kevin, N1KL at n1kl@arrl.net or to Bob, AI4IL at ai4il@arrl.net

Thanks much, and hope to hear from you soon.

73, Kevin N1KL

Come join us this evening at 0100Z or 9PM Eastern Time

The net launches a new season this evening (Tuesday) on or about 3.668 Mhz. Feel free to stop by and say hi to old friends and make some new ones.

Please join our NCS Ron, AA8PI and let’s keep him busy with a few check ins from previous seasons, and perhaps even some new folks to join us !

Thanks to Ron and all our friendly and dedicated Net Controllers for launching yet another GERATOL Season, I believe 52nd or 53rd. Perhaps someone has the exact number, feel free to let me know.

Regards, Kevin N1KL Website Admin

2025/2026 SEASON GETS UNDER WAY SOON !!

Get ready, a new season of the GERATOL Net will soon get under way next month.

A reminder, the net begins on October 1st, at 0100Z on 3.668 Mhz +/- QRM, but remember, since that is ZULU time, the net actually begins at 9:00PM Eastern Time, September 30th, or TUESDAY September 30th at 9PM Eastern.

Let’s keep the GERATOL NET Tradition alive, by checking in to say hi, work a few new states and just enjoy each other’s company.

SILENT KEYS

It is with great sadness we must announce the passing of several GERATOL members, including:

Harlan – KM8U # 667
Harlan was a very active member of the GERATOL Net. Many of us worked him during last year’s session. He hailed from the state of Michigan, and was always willing to help out the new folks on the net

Emery – N4DX # 694
Yet another “Old Time GERATOLer”, Emery was from the state of GA who enjoyed getting his basic award and sharing QSO’s with many new GERATOLers

Dick – NG9L # 1074
He passed in 2019 and was a Major in the United States Army, who served during the Korean War. He hailed from the great state of Wisconsin

Gene – WM9H # 1385
Gene was a teacher, athletic director and Dean of Students at Martin Luther High School in Greendale, WI. He and his wife were married for 71 years.

Our thoughts and prayers to these GERATOLers and all those who have passed away. May we keep them in our logbooks, and kin our thoughts.

Our thanks to Barry, K2MF for providing this latest SK update on our GERATOL members.

NET CONTROL OPERATOR MAY BE NEEDED

Bob, AI4IL has confirmed we have Net Controllers for every night with the exception of Saturday. Bob did send a note to our VERY reliable Saturday NCS from the last couple of years, Steve (AC0SG) but have not heard back as yet. Steve, if you see this POST let Bob know you will be our Saturday night NCS, and thanks for all your work in the past. Bob, AI4IL@ARRL.NET

We are always looking for NCS coverage, in case one our regulars is unable to make it. Running our net is not only easy, but is fun as well. We have a very cordial group, and other NCS ops will be on hand for sure, to assist if you need any help. Give it a try you may find it very rewarding and enjoyable. Just let Bob know you would be willing to take on back-up NCS role.

Meanwhile, a heartfelt thanks to all those who have volunteered to cover all the other days of the week. Without you guys, we have no net. Many thanks from the GERATOL community at large. Right now this is what we have:

MONDAY – Chuck, N5WGA
TUESDAY – Ron, AA8PI
WEDNESDAY – Bob, AI4IL
THURSDAY – Steve, AC1DR
FRIDAY – Steve, KA4CZL
SATURDAY – Steve (AC0SG ???)
SUNDAY – Kevin, N1KL

SPECIAL AWARD FOR THE COMING SEASON

Bob, AI4IL is working with Phil, AE4GH on the creation of a new GERATOL special award or certificate, which will be designed to commemorate our late Chairman of the Board, and long time GERATOL expert for logging software and simply all around GERATOL mentor, Frosty – W0FP.

Stay tuned, as news about this special award/certificate will be forthcoming during the upcoming 2025/26 Season of the GERATOL Net.

73, Kevin N1KL Website Admin.