GERATOL RAG CHEW WEDNESDAY EVENINGS

Greetings GERATOLers. We had our first off season GERATOL Rag Chew session last Wednesday evening at 0100Z on 3.668 Mhz

The following ops stopped by to say hi, and share some RAG CHEW time with us:

N5WGA – Chuck OK
WG5N – Dale OK
KA4CZL – Steve NC
AK1NH – Conrad NH
N9SC – Steve MA
K4MIK – Abner TN
K1HG – Ray FL
AG8AR – George NC
AI4IL – Bob GA
N1KL – Kevin (Remote NC) and base from MA

It was fun just to share info, say hi and enjoy a relaxing round table of topics. The RAG CHEW sessions are NOT regular formal GERATOL Net sessions held from Oct through April, but rather are fun way for folks to stop by and say hi during the GERATOL off season. However, if you work an op with info you need to complete any awards or endorsements, those will count, despite being off season.

For our session tomorrow evening (Wednesday) at 0100Z on 3.668 Mhz we are proposing a topic for folks to share: When and how did you get started in Ham Radio?

We will also try to improve our “round table” format, and insure we take breaks to hear if anyone on the fringes, due to QRN, can be heard trying to join us.

73, and look forward to hearing some folks on 3.668 Mhz at 0100Z Wednesday evening.

Kevin – N1KL

ANOTHER GERATOL SEASON IN THE BOOKS

The GERATOL net has wrapped up another season, it’s 52nd season at that. Once again, conditions were not our friend, but several of our regulars persisted, and in addition, we had a lot of old timers stop by to say hi, not to mention welcoming several new participants, including Hunter – W3CZ. Thanks to all who participated in the net this past season.

One of those who toiled through rough conditions the last few years, but who persisted in obtaining his coveted GERATOL #, was Chuck – N5WGA who now holds G # 2680. Chuck’s persistence is evidence, that even in times of tough conditions, the Unbelievable Operating Achievement Award, or the BASIC award is attainable. Congrats to Chuck.

SILENT KEYS

All too often, part of our GERATOL Net news is to share those who are no longer with us, and have become Silent Keys. This year was no exception, with the loss of some fine GERATOLers, including our Chairman of the Board, Logging Software creator, Net Controller and simply, the guy who kept us going for many, many years, Frosty – W0FP. We remember his dedication and support of the net, and his willingness to accept new ideas to keep the net interesting for the regular net attendees. Next season, we hope to honor his contributions to the net, by sponsoring a special certificate we can all work to complete in his memory. More to come on that, stay tuned.

In addition to Frosty, let us also remember the following GERATOLers we lost last season:

Verne – NK0H, Cliff – KC0CA, Mike – WA5CMI, Jim – WI7M, Leonard – KR3J, Mike – NE9O, George – KC0T
Lowell – KB0BA, Frank – AA9JJ and John – N7TT

THANKS TO NCS OPS !!

Needless to say, without Net Control Operators, there would be no GERATOL Net. Thanks to each and every one of you, who have made the net possible this past season. We truly hope you keep us going for another year, next season. Also, thanks for doing such a great job running W1G this past season, we had multiple QSL requests come in from the stations you worked, while operating our special event station.

Special thanks to this past seasons NCS ops including:

Frosty – W0FP (SK), Bob – AI4IL, Steve – AC0SG, Ron – AA8PI, Chuck – N5WGA and JJ – W5RJJ (Special W1G NCS for West Coast)

If I missed anyone, my appologies…..

INFORMAL GERATOL RAG CHEW GROUP

We have had several ops inquire about having an off-season (May/June/July/August/September) rag chew session once per week on the GERATOL Net frequency. We have agreed to meet informally on WEDNESDAY evenings, at usual net time of 0100Z and frequency of 3.668 Mhz starting this coming Wednesday, May 7th on the calendar, and May 8th Zulu time. Stop by just to say hi, share some stories of GERATOL seasons past, new rigs, antennas, etc. etc. It’s fun and informal, and we look forward to having a casual round table once per week as the summer days move by.

FALL SEASON – STARTS OCTOBER 1st

As we all know, we lost our long time Chairman of the Board, Frosty W0FP and all he brought to the net. However, in addition to Frosty, our Vice Chair, Kenny – KE9TC has also announced his retirement from his role as Vice Chairman of the Board. Our thanks to Kenny for his years of service as an NCS and as our Vice Chairman. Thank you Kenny.

We have been VERY fortunate to have a viable website, and domain name, thanks to Al – AE2T who has served as our Webmaster and keeper of the domain name. Unfortunately, Al is also looking to retire from those roles, and has asked our membership to find a suitable replacement. Our own, Bob – AI4IL has agreed to take on those duties, and we have notified Al of that decision. Our thanks to Bob for assuming those new duties, on top of the other GERATOL hats he’s already sporting.

Needless to say, we have multiple key positions to fill. Besides Chair and Vice Chair. Currently, Bob – AI4IL is holding down the fort by serving as: Treasurer, NCS Coordinator, Net Information Officer, not to mention running the net at least three days per week.

To keep the tradition of the GERATOL net alive, in the Fall we will be soliciting nominations for the following GERATOL Net BOARD of DIRECTOR positions:

Chairman of the Board

Vice Chairman

In addition, we will be asking for volunteers to serve in key positions, including:

Net Controllers

NCS Coordinator

So, if you enjoy the net, and the comradery of so many good ops over the years, be thinking about throwing your hat or hats into the ring, when nominations are made. More to come on that during the summer months, keep an eye out for new POSTS on the website regarding same.

If there are any questions on any of the items listed in this POST, feel free to add a comment to the POST and/or send me an email to: n1kl@arrl.net

73, and hope to hear you on the RAG CHEW this coming WEDNESDAY !!!

SPECIAL EVENT STATION “W1G’ WRAPPING UP

Our Special Event station, W1G will be wrapping up, and will be on the air for the last time this season on Saturday evening. So, if you have not worked W1G yet, to qualify for the special certificate and/or QSL or both, swing by the net frequency this Saturday evening at 0100Z and again at 0300Z.

A special thanks first and foremost to all the Net Control operators, who used the special W1G preamble, and who brought W1G to life on the airwaves during the special event period. In addition to our regular NCS ops, we also had W5RJJ – Mr JJ from New Mexico, bringing W1G on the air for our West Coast folks, at 11PM Eastern or 0300Z each evening.

Finally, thanks to those who took the time to stop by, wish us congrats and work our Special Event call sign.

WELCOME ABOARD

We would like to welcome aboard, the following operators who subscribed to our website, and we hope to work you on the net before the end of this season, which ends on April 30th.

Let’s extend a hearty welcome aboard our website to: Travis – KB5ILY from Arkansas. Thanks for taking the time to subscribe to our website Travis.

SILENT KEY UPDATE

We are sad to announce, the loss of three GERATOL members:

G #1122 NK0H Verne in NE
SK in 2024

G #1199 WA5CMI Mike in TX
SK on 12/29/2017

G #1762 KR3J Leonard in PA
SK on 5/5/2024

Our thanks to Barry, K2MF for the updates…

WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY !

World Amateur Radio Day, held on April 18 each year, is celebrated worldwide by radio amateurs and their national associations which are organized as member-societies of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). It was on this day in 1925 that the IARU was formed in Paris. American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Co-Founder Hiram Percy Maxim was its first president. A major theme for 2025 is celebrating 100 years of IARU.

To help promote amateur radio science and technology, and to honor the 100th anniversary of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU), ARRL is inviting radio clubs and schools to organize a Ham Radio Open House in April, centered around World Amateur Radio Day on April 18, 2025. The event is intended to highlight the Amateur Radio Service for its development and practice of the latest radio communications and technology, and as a hands-on pathway into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields for the next generation. In April 2025, amateur radio clubs, school stations, and other groups will have the opportunity to advance public knowledge about ham radio by welcoming their communities into their stations for the Ham Radio Open House, around World Amateur Radio Day. The focus will be on scientific advancement and demonstrating cutting-edge technology. This is a chance to not only shape the conversation about modern ham radio but also to show how it serves as a steppingstone and testbed for many young people pursing future STEM education and high-tech careers.  

CELEBRATING 52nd GERATOL NET SEASON

The GERATOL Worked All States net, will be operating special event station, W1G from April 6th through April 13th. To work W1G, you may check into the GERATOL Net at 0100Z on 3.668 Mhz. The special event is to celebrate the 52nd season of the net, which operates solely in the Extra Class portion of th 80 Meter band.

In addition, W1G will be operating from the West Coast at 0300Z on 3.668 Mhz

After working W1G on the net frequency, you may choose from a commemorative certificate or you may send for a special W1G QSL, information on both is shown below:

SPECIAL EVENT CERTIFICATE

The attached certificate may be downloaded to commemorate your QSO with W1G. It is a png format,
and simply click on the certificate below, to download and print or have printed at your convenience.

SPECIAL EVENT QSL

To receive a W1G QSL, send an SASE with your QSL to the following address:

N1KL
POB 124
Wheelwright, MA 01094-0124

If you work W1G during the celebration, that QSO and subsequent QSL will count towards confirmation requirement, for the BASIC Worked All States Award. However, PLEASE NOTE: When you send in for your QSL card, make sure you put which state the Net Control Op was operating from, when you worked him using W1G, to insure you garner credit for the state in which you worked the special call.

Thanks for participating, and hope you can join us as we celebrate 52 years as a Worked All States Net exclusively on the 80 Meter band.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at: n1kl@arrl.net

73, Kevin N1KL Website Administrator

NEW WEBSITE SUBSCRIBERS!

We would like to welcome the following operators aboard the GERATOL Website. Thanks for taking the time to register on our website, and we look forward to working you on the GERATOL Net this season.

K8YS – Dean from the state of Michigan

KX1W – Ron who was first licensed in 1971, is from NJ

WA3PWX – Al who was first licensed in 1970 and is from the state of NY

We now have 344 registered users on our Website, which is a long way from two years ago. Many thanks to one and all subscribers for taking the time to register.

Just a reminder: for those who wish to place a COMMENT on a POST or who wish to place a POST of their own on the website, when you register with your call sign, and/or name associated with a call sign on QRZ, we always upgrade your free subscription to “CONTRIBUTOR” which means you can place comments and posts. If you register with an email only, you are only granted “SUBSCRIBER” status. No POST or COMMENT privileges.

GERATOL NET SPECIAL EVENT STATION

• W1G will be active: Apr 6-Apr 13, 0001Z-2359Z
• The GERATOL Net Worked All States net is celebrating 52 years of service to the Amateur Radio community. For a special downloadable certificate, look for W1G Special Event on 3.668 Mhz exclusively, starting at 0100Z each evening. https://geratol.net
• This year’s celebration has a beautiful certificate available for download, once you work W1G. (See below) This is probably one of the nicest looking certificates we’ve ever had, thanks to Bob – AI4IL for his design efforts on this one.

REMOTE QSO’s and QSL’s with N1KL/Remote

I have returned to MA from our stay in FL, and have been working to catch up on any QSL cards needed, for those who worked me REMOTE from the various states the past two plus months.

So far, I have sent out Remote QSL cards to the following stations:

W3NU – Frank Sent QSL for our QSO while I operated remote in AZ

KA4CZL – Steve Sent QSL for our QSO while I operated remote in AZ

AA3KC – Brian Sent QSL for our QSO while I operated remote in CO

If there are any ops whom I may have missed, PLEASE let me know by sending me an email to n1kl@arrl.net and provide the date we worked.

WELCOME ABOARD !

We would like to recognize the following stations/ops for taking the time to register on our GERATOL Website:

W8AR – Walt who hails from the great state of Ohio, he is an Army vet and was first licensed in 1977

AK1NH – Conrad from the state of New Hampshire. A retired school teacher, Conrad was first licensed in 1978 and for those looking for primary state abbreviation for NH, Conrad fits the bill.

Thanks again for taking the time to register on our website. A reminder, those who register and get approved by the website administrator, are eligible to place POSTS on our website, and/or add comments to new posts, such as this one.

GERATOL SILENT KEY UPDATE

We are sad to share the news on the loss of yet another long time GERATOLer:

KC0T – George G # 656 from MN

My thanks to Barry, K2MF for sharing the sad news about George.

It is with great sadness, we share the news on the passing of our Chairman of the Board, and long time GERATOLer, Frosty – W0FP G # 2026

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

For many years Frosty served as the Chairman of the GERATOL Board of Directors, and literally was the GLUE that kept the tradition of the GERATOL net alive and relevant. His efforts assisted in keeping the net going into it’s 52nd season in service to the Extra Class ham community.

PROGRAMMER AND CREATOR

In addition to his role for many years as our Chairman of the Board, Frosty designed, programmed and shared the tools we use to track progress for completing many awards, certificates and endorsements. Many GERATOLers, including myself, use GNEC and GLIST as phenomenal GERATOL tracking tools, and data resource material.

GNEC ENDORSEMENT TRACKER

GNEC allows ops to track their progress against many of the GERATOL Awards and Endorsements, via a quick glance on the opening page. The RED button designates a completed endorsement.

GLIST REFERENCE TOOL

GLIST allows you the ability to search via GERATOL #, D #, etc. to see if you may still need to work that station.

In addition to his work as our Chairman and Programmer, Frosty was ever present on the net, and would not only run the net every Sunday evening, but would be there each night to fill in for any NCS unable to make their scheduled NCS rotation. His location in Liberty, MO in the middle of the country, afforded him the ability to hear check ins from both coasts…

Frosty was also an avid County Hunter, and we believe he actually completed worked all counties, not once, not twice, but THREE times over !! He was also a member of Quarter Century Wireless Association and an Air Force veteran.

FAREWELL TO FROSTY

My recollection of him had to do with his laugh. When one of us GERATOLers would tickle his funny bone, he would let out a hearty laugh, to acknowledge your humorous comment.

We thank Frosty for his years of service and dedication to our net, and we would like to extend our sincere condolences to his Family and Friends. RIP Mr. Frosty !!

Please, fellow GERATOLers, feel free to respond to this post, and add your comments/stories/etc about Frosty. If you are unable to add a comment, simply send me your comment, and I will be happy to add to the comments section on your behalf on this POST. Send to: n1kl@arrl.net

73, Kevin N1KL

Saturday 7/22 Sked at 0700Z NO QSO’s

REGARDING AK SKED

Unfortunately, despite the efforts of: JJ – W5RJJ, Louis – N9LY, Bill – KI7O and Bob – AI4IL and KL7AJ -no QSO’s were made with our sked set up with Eric – Eric – KL7AJ

I did correspond with Eric later on Saturday, and he said he was indeed on frequency, and called a few times himself, and heard nothing at all. He said the band was totally dead his way. So, once again the condition gods were plotting against us.

Eric also said he would be very willing to give it yet one more try.

POTENTIAL HI SKED

JJ – W5RJJ periodically checks into the HI/CA Net and he asked folks there if there were any ops from HI who would be willing to arrange a sked, to have HI come on frequency for those who need it for their basic and/or other endorsements. He’s reaching out to those guys now, and will be letting us know if that can a reality. JJ suggested we do a 2 fer, and get a sked with AK and HI on the same night, so you guys don’t need to take multiple sked naps !! LOL

So stay tuned, and we will keep you all posted via this website on developments.

73, and thanks to all. Kevin N1KL

We have arranged for a sked with AK at 0700Z 2/22/25 (or 2AM Eastern Time) on 3.668 Mhz

Once again, Eric – KL7AJ from Fairbanks has agreed to be on frequency at 0700Z time. Again, that is 2AM East Coast Time.

In addition, the net control for this upcoming event will be W5RJJ – JJ from NM. I am unavailable that evening (morning). Also, on frequency, KI7O – Bill from OR will be on hand to insure we can hear Eric.

Assisting on frequency once again to assist, and to insure all on the East Coast are heard trying to check in will be: Louis – N9LY and Bob – AI4IL

I have the following ops listed as those who wish to work AK for basic or other endorsements:

KA4CZL – Steve
W3NU – Frank
N1TL – Tom
NM2R – John
AI4IL -Bob
AA1QW – Brian
W5RJJ – JJ

Any questions, feel free to email me at n1kl@arrl.net

Good luck to all, and many thanks to JJ, Louis, Bill and Bob for their help.

Kevin N1KL

Reminder, the sked with KL7AJ – Eric, is on 3.668 Mhz at 0600Z on 2/15/25, which is 1AM Eastern, NOT 2AM as previously stated in my last post.

I have the following stations who wish to participate:

KA4CZL – STEVE
W3NU – FRANK
N1TL – TOM
NM2R – JOHN
AI4IL – BOB
AA1QW – BRIAN
W5RJJ – JJ

If I missed anyone, please let me know asap, and I will make sure we add you to the list, or just show up on frequency, 3.668 at 0600Z and we will make sure you are heard.

73, Kevin N1KL