Happy to report there were NO Geratoler Silent Keys reported in the Feb. QST. Dave KJ8V
Archive for the 'GERATOL NET NEWS' Category
NCS Needed for the following dates
As I will be out of town The Net needs someone to fill in on the following dates. February 12th, 19th, 26th. Also March 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th.
Hopefully some one will step forward and help the Geratol Net run.
Thank you in advance for any help you can offer.
COMMENTS CAPABILITY
Hello fellow GERATOLers. I know many of you have posted “Comments” to several posts. We have had an issue with some of the security settings, and have discovered the COMMENTS that many of you have made, were ending up in a “pending” folder.

Al and I prefer to err on the side of site safety, and hence, keep your email accounts safe and secure from any SPAMMERS. Now that we know what the issue has been, PLEASE don’t be bashful about placing COMMENTS on any of our POSTS, and we will see to it, they get attached to the POST ASAP.
Sorry for the inconvenience. Keep those “COMMENTS” coming guys…
Kevin N1KL
A HUGE THANK YOU
Thank you to three Geratolers for stepping up to help run the Net. Thanks to Dan K2DJL for volunteering to run the net for the next two Monday nights. Thank you to Steve AC9GK for volunteering to run the net on the remaining Monday nights through the end of the season. Also thank you to JJ W5RJJ for volunteering to run the net if required. What a great bunch of Geratolers.
If you hear these guys on, be sure to thank them for stepping up to the plate. I personally can not hank them enough. Great job guys.
Dave KJ8V Acting NCS coordinator.
Happy New Year !! 🎉
To all GERATOLers far and wide, we would like to wish you a Happy, and above all, Healthy New Year !! For many of us, we can’t wait to put the year 2020 in our rear view mirrors !!
Here’s to a great 2021, without pandemics, pestilence or poor propagation !!

Since we are celebrating the coming of a new year, and the passage of time, here are some photos of some Ham Radio gear from years gone by. See if you can identify any of the following rigs, and/or manufacturers.
(There is a description of the various rigs shown, following the last picture)







Details for Rigs listed above, starting with Rig # 1:
RG # 1 Drake R4C; Manufactured by the R.L. Drake company.

This receiver was used in tandem with the Drake T-4XC Transmitter. It was capable of receiving SSB, CW, AM and RTTY. It was the third generation of the receiver; it’s predecessors were the Drake R4, R4-A and R4-B.
Rig # 2 Johnson Valiant Transmitter; Manufactured by the E. F. Johnson company.

This transmitter was manufactured circa 1955-1962 and was capable of Modes: AM/CW, Bands: 160 – 10 meters, Input Power: 200 watts (AM), 275 watts (CW), VFO: Internal, Power Supply: Internal
Final Tubes: ( 3 ) 6146 parallel, Modulator: ( 2 ) 6146 push-pull
Rig # 3 Ameco AC-1 Transmitter, manufactured by AMECO Company

This transmitter was sold as a kit, and was a popular rig for Novice operators, looking to terrorize the HF bands on 80 and 40M CW. I bought mine at Lafayette Radio in Natick, MA for around $25.00 Wound my own coils, and found the Novice band crystals at local ham fests ! What a blast.
Rig # 4 Heathkit SB101 Transceiver; Manufactured and sold as a kit by the Heathkit Company out Benton Harbor, Michigan

Heathkit rigs were designed to emulate the look and feel of the more expensive, Collins equipment. The SB-101 was an 80-10M CW/SSB Transceiver. 180W PEP on SSB, circa 1967-1970
Rig # 5 Collins KWM-2 Transceiver; Manufactured by the Collins Radio Company. Today, known as Rockwell Collins Inc.

This transceiver is still sought after by many old time radio enthusiasts. I got my first chance at using one, while stationed at NCTC Naval training center in Pensacola, FL. What an amazing rig it was, and still is to this day. It operated 80-10 Meters, with SSB and CW. Output was 100W PEP (nominal)
Rig # 6 The Yaesu FT101 Transceiver; Manufactured by Yaesu Corporation

This transceiver was a solid state rig, except for the finals. It also employed the use of various modular elements, which could be removed from the rig for repair, and/or sent back to manufacturer for repair. Upon graduating from college, my wife purchased this rig for me, as a graduation present, and I used it up until I purchased an ICOM IC-735, at which time, I gave it to my Dad, WA1EJY who used it for many, many years. The rig had an output of around 130W PEP, and was extremely rugged and forgiving. It operated 160 through 10, on SSB, AM and CW.
Rig # 7 Heathkit Apache Transmitter, Manufactured by the Heathkit Company of Michigan. The rig operated AM and CW, and was sold circa 1958-1960 and sold at the time for a whopping $230.

It had input of around 150W on AM and 180W on CW and the transmitter weighed in at a hefty, 103 lbs. !!! I saw one of these in MINT restored condition at the Tampa, FL Hamfest a few years ago, and was tempted to barter with the owner, but remembered I only had so much room in our car for the return trip to MA !! LOL !
Rig # 8 NCX-3 Transceiver, manufactured by the National Radio Company of Malden, MA.

The rig only operated on 80/40/20 Meters, but had an output of 200W and could operate SSB, CW and AM with the latter output reduced to 30W. It had VOX or PTT, a 5200 KC (now khz) filter and bandwidth of 2.5KC at 6db
Rig # 9 R390A Receiver; The one pictured was manufactured by the Collins Radio Company

For those of you ex-service guys who were in communications, I bet this receiver brings back memories from the 50’s, 60’s and even 70’s era. Total production of the R-390A is over 55,000 units. Initial production started in 1955 and ran through approximately 1970. The receiver was manufactured for our military by a variety of manufacturers including: Collins, Motorola, Capehart, Stewart Warner, Fowler Industries and Electronic Assistance Corp. I recall, as a Navy intercept operator in training, having to spend many hours listening to CW on an R390A
Rig # 10 Gonset Communicator G-50 6 Meter AM Transceiver, Manufactured by Gonset Corp

The rig operated on 6 Meter AM, covering the entire 50-54 Mhz and putting out 50W. The rig was popular during the mid 60’s, when the 6 Meter band was open every day. With openings so regular, I recall having a sked with a fellow ham in Iowa during my summer vacation.
Feel free to place a “Comment” on this POST and let us know what rigs you recall using over the years, and perhaps, which ones you are using today.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL !!!
Kevin, N1KL Website Administrator
URGENT Need NCS Help
Dale WG5N has left his hone for 13 weeks on a trip with his wife. Due to this we need an NCS to start running the Net starting January 18 through the end of the season. I am going to run it tonight and Dan K2DJL will run the Net the following two Monday nights. After that NO one is signed up to run it on Monday nights through the end of the season. Even if you could run it for a few weeks it would help.
Also I will be gone from Feb. 12th through April 1st. and some one will have to pick up Friday nights during my absence. So guys, belly up to the bar and help out. It’s actually pretty easy and fun.
Thanks for any support you can offer to keep the Net going.
Dave KJ8V Acting NCS Coordinator
GERATOL NEWS !
Merry Christmas !
First and foremost, may we wish all GERATOLers a very Merry Christmas, and hope that all may engage in some measure of Christmas spirit with family and friends, in this challenging year of 2020.
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM OUR BOARD MEMBERS:
From our Chairman, Frosty – W0FP: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Stay Safe, Wear a Mask and stay 6 feet away from Others
From our Secretary, Frank – AA0ZP: To all GERATOLers, Wishing all of you a big batch of Propagation and a bag full of new contacts. AA0ZP – Secretary Frank Taylor
From our Treasurer and Awards Manager, Sandy – KJ8W & Dave – KJ8V:
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from Sandy and Dave !
A Ham Radio Christmas Poem:
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the shack
The rig was turned off and the mic cord lay slack
The antenna rotor had made its last turn, the tubes in the linear
had long ceased to burn.
I sat there relaxing and took off my specs, preparing to daydream of
Armchair DX– When suddenly outside I heard such a sound, I dashed
out the door and looked all around.
The moon shone down brightly and lighted the night. For sure
propagation for the low bands was right.
I peered toward the roof where I heard all the racket and there was
some guy in a red, fur-trimmed jacket!
I stood there perplexed in a manner quite giddy: Just who WAS this
stranger? di di dah dah di dit ditty ?
He looked very much like an FCC guy who’d come to check up on some
bad TVI.
I shouted to him: “Old man…QR-Zed?”
“Hey you by the chimney all dressed up in red!”
I suddenly knew when I heard sleigh bells jingle
The guy on the rooftop was Jolly Kris Kringle
He had a big sack full of amateur gear; which was a BID load
for his prancing reindeer.
Transmitters, receivers, for cabinets and racks
Some meters and scopes and a lot of coax.
He said not a word ’cause he’d finished his work.
He picked up his sack and he turned with a jerk.
As he leaped to his sleigh, he shouted with glee
And I knew in a moment he’d be QRT.
I heard him transmit as he flew o’er the tree
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all seventy-three.”
“Ho Ho Ho” Reporting for Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Jim Damron, N8TMW.
Author: Unknown; Source; Amateur Radio Newsline
From the Website Administrator and Webmaster:
On behalf of Al, AE2T and myself, N1KL, we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and thank you to all who have registered on the GERATOL Website this past year. Welcome aboard, and to those who have been loyal members, thank you very much !! Kevin, N1KL
Merry Christmas to all Geratolers
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all Geratolers from Dave KJ8V and Sandy KJ8W. We did ask Santa for better band conditions for Xmas.
Postal Service Problems
The reason for the Jan. 8th date is that the Lady I talked to in Washington from the Postal Service advised me not to send any packages (mailing tubes) until this date. She said they should have all of the Christmas mail out of the way by then. Seems like they have a lot bigger problem than they are letting on to. I have a package coming to me that was mailed on 12-3-2020 coming from southern Ohio and it just now (according to the tracking) got out of Granville PA. with no expected delivery date. Go figure.
Any way your awards will still be processed the same day that I receive them and I will let you know via email or a phone call. I will have all certificates done the same day as I get your application but wont mail them until Jan 8th. Thanks for your patience.
Dave KJ8V Awards Manager
GERATOL NEWS
UPDATES FROM KJ8V- Dave:
Health and Welfare Updates from Dave: I talked with Kenny KE9TC and Harv AA4HF today. Kenny sounded a lot better and he is making progress and taking one day at a time. But he really did sound better. I also talked with Harv and he is much better. He sounded great and was no longer bed ridden. He said that flat smooth surfaces to walk on were great but steps were still a challenge. Anyway, it sounds as if both are on the road to recovery. Both also said to tell everyone hello and to have a good Christmas and New Year coming up.
Problems with the Postal Service: Effective immediately I will process awards as usual, however, I will not start mailing certificates until January 8th, 2021. I will notify you of your awards and the numbers of the awards. I will need a valid email address with your submission for notification purposes. This problem all started back on October 16 2020. I mailed a certificate to a location in Pennsylvania on that date and it still has not been delivered. I mailed a replacement certificate for that one after two weeks and it took 33 days to be delivered and then only after getting some help from a Lady in Washington from the Postal service. Since then I have mailed several certificates etc. and they have taken a long time to get delivered. Don’t worry, you will get your certificates after January 8th
If you have any questions please send me an emailed so I can reply. Sorry for any inconvenience this causes. Thanks, Dave – KJ8V
WELCOME ABOARD !!
Let’s welcome aboard, our latest GERATOL Website registrant.
- AI8O – Dan; He hails from the great state of North Carolina. He’s is working on his basic, and he is also working toward his DXCC. Let’s get some new states, and some new Canadian Provinces up on the net for Dan to work ! Welcome aboard Dan, and thanks for taking the time to register on our GERATOL website.
Let’s be on the lookout for some new operators, interested in checking out the GERATOL Net.
- Be on the lookout for Bill, AB5G who hails from the state of Louisiana. Bill is very active in the area of Emergency Communications, and may join us some evening this season. Let’s make sure we give Bill the usual hearty, GERATOL Net welcome when he does check into the net.
GERATOL NET ACTIVITY
Conditions, as well as activity on the net are improving. Of course, the two typically go hand in hand. Monday, December 14th, Dale was quite busy with nearly 20 check-ins, representing 14 different states. This of course, is truly helpful to the guys working toward their basic award.
Speaking of conditions, here is an excerpt of some of the upcoming sun spot activity and the move off cycle 24 over to cycle 25, and hence possible improved conditions in the months ahead:
Sunspot Index and Long-Term Solar Observations (SILSO) in Belgium said this month that the minimum between Solar Cycles 24 and 25 “most probably” took place last December. SILSO, a part of the Royal Observatory of Belgium and formerly known as SIDC, cited as evidence the January 2020 increase in the 13-month smoothed sunspot number — the first upswing since the Cycle 24 maximum in April 2014.
“[F]or now, this latest smoothed value in January 2020 is the very first point indicating a rise of the activity. So, the date of the minimum still needs a full confirmation over the coming months,” SILSO said on its website. “For now, preliminary smoothed values, limited to less than 13 months, hint at increasing values over coming months. If the rising trend indeed continues, this [December 2019] date will become fully definitive.”
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