In the spirit of the season, we would like to wish each and every GERATOLer, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May Santa be good to you all, and may he bring you all the Ham Radio toys you asked to receive !! We hope you have been behaving appropriately, to insure his arrival at your QTH !!

Per the attached picture, it seems he’s still working on his 1922 Ham Radio list, so it may take a while for your request to arrive !! LOL !!

For those who remember, and for those not familiar with the origins of our net, it was the ARRL along with the GERATOL founders (John, W0NL and Hank, K2DS) who sponsored the original efforts to promote use of the newly assigned Phone privileges on 80M to Extra Class hams. The ARRL actually issued a unique Serialized WAS award, with a special sticker, which read: “75 Meter 2 Letter Extra Class SSB” with a lightning bolt on it, for those persistent enough to complete the requirements. That serialized WAS award number, then became your GERATOL # see example below:

Today of course, we are fortunate to have the tradition carry on, by issuing new GERATOL #’s in association with the Unbelievable Operating Achievement Award. The Serializations, (GERATOL numbers) on the Unbelievable Operating Achievement Award, picked up where the ARRL serialized 80M WAS Awards left off. Hats off to our current and former Awards Managers for keeping the “G” numbers consecutive from that era, to our current process.

Speaking of the ARRL, below are some old Christmas covers of QST from years gone by. In addition to the interesting artwork on each cover, note the cost of the magazine over the years !!

On behalf of the GERATOL Board of Directors, Net Control Ops and all those affiliated with the GERATOL Net, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night (of operating).

73 Kevin N1KL