2021/2022 Season Approaching
It won’t be long, a new season of the GERATOL Net is approaching quickly, so if you need to get some antenna work done, or reactivate that old version of WinEQF, now is the time, before the new season launches on October 1st.
As we all know, the last few seasons have been “challenging” for the new folks working toward their Unbelievable Operating Achievement Award, or the basic award, due to less than stellar band conditions. Let’s hope this season brings with it, some improved conditions, and for the Old Time GERATOLers, let’s do our part to help these guys out, by taking a few minutes some evenings, to check in and put our respective states on the air for them.
Our awards manager, Dave KJ8V is standing by, ready to issue those new GERATOL numbers, Director Numbers or new Endorsements, so let’s keep him busy this year !!
The life blood of the net continues to be our Net Control Stations !! They keep the net alive, and all do a great job, making it fun, friendly and fair to all who check into the net. Big thanks in advance to those who volunteer to run the net. If you would like to try your hand as NCS, just fire a note off to Dave, KJ8V and let him know you wish to help out this season. It’s fun, challenging and very rewarding.
Speaking of “checking into the net”……we would also have no net, unless we have folks checking in. So, feel free to spread the word about our net at your next club meeting, or put a blurb in your club’s newsletter about the net starting up again, and invite any and all with the proper license class. I’ve found many are incorrectly under the impression you need to have an Extra Class formatted call. I always try to stress the fact, any and all call sign formats are more than welcome, in fact, encouraged, since we have several endorsements that require those types of call signs. As long as they have the appropriate license class, they are MORE than welcome to join our ranks. Spread the word !
GERATOL NET TURNS 50 THIS SEASON !!
During this coming 50th season, feel free to put your own POSTS on the website, about your experiences on the net, and tell us about the interesting, unusual or otherwise fun QSO’s you’ve had, while working toward your basic, or as NCS, or grabbing that LAST state you needed, or whatever !!
For example, I recall working from my mobile on the net one evening from VT, putting VT into as many logs as possible. As I was making one QSO after another, a rather curious VT police officer approached my truck, and asked what I was up to. I explained, and he was intrigued. So much so, he stayed there listening to me hand out signal reports, swap numbers, exchange info with other ops for nearly an hour ! He gave me his email address, and I sent him the name of a local club in his area, where he could learn more about our hobby !! You never know who’s listening !! Or watching for that matter ! Let’s hear your interesting stories…..
If you are not sure about how to place a POST with your story, just fire me off a note, and I will be happy to either send you a tutorial showing you how to place a POST, or will add the POST on your behalf. Just send your request to: n1kl@geratol.net
As mentioned, our upcoming season represents the 50th Anniversary of our net. To celebrate this milestone, a new award will be made available by our Awards Manager, Dave – KJ8V. Stay tuned for details from Dave and Sandy, and get ready to begin working toward the new award, this coming season and join in the celebration.
Let’s make the coming season another fun, and friendly experience for new and old members alike, as we have been doing for fifty years now !! Spread the word, GERATOL turns 50, and for those who have not checked in for some time, please take a minute to join us some evening, to help celebrate our anniversary, and to share your experiences.
All the best, Kevin N1KL GERATOL Website Admin and Public Relations
I’ve long forgotten my number, issued back in the 1980’s.
In those days we also had a parallel GERATOL net in the Extra portion of 15-meters.
My favorite part of GERATOL was actually the NYTOL (G’Nite All) net which followed the close of GERATOL. Informal chatter, no numbers, no NCS, just friends visiting and chattering late into the night.
73, de Hans, KØHB, gone to CW.
Hello Hans, I recall the days of multiple shifts of NCS stations on the net as well. By the way, your GERATOL Number is 515. Good story about the 15Meter version of the net, I don’t recall that aspect, no doubt before my time…..73, and have fun brass pounding, I’m a CW enthusiast myself….Kevin – N1KL