It is official, on request of Santa Claus, PBC Skywarn amateur radio operators will once again co-host the 3rd Annual Santa with the Shriner's Children's QSO Party.

The 1st Shriner's Children’s "QSO" Party was held on Sunday December 11th, 2011 during their annual AMARA Temple Christmas Party for the local children under the Shrine's medical care program. 

The Santa QSO Party was established in 2011 by PBC Skywarn assistant coordinator Ray Ruby WX4PBC and  Shriner and Skywarn member Brian Price. 

Amateur radio operators or "ham" members with the Palm Beach County SKYWARN program team up with the Shriners to give the children an opportunity to "speak" with Santa Claus via amateur radio.  

The QSO party allows the children to experience the excitement of speaking to Santa in flight as well as experience the excitement of amateur radio.

The children are members of only a small group who talk to Santa via an amateur radio and for some... is a "Once In A Lifetime" experience. 

The event starts with PBC SKYWARN amateur radio operators assembling a special “Santenna” with the children which is then used to make contact with Santa at his North Pole QTH (Toy Land). Grid Sq. AA00aa

The “Santenna” is a 2m ½ wave vertical antenna (facsimile) made from special conductive candy cane material. The antenna is connected to the radio station with Santa Grade RG316/U candy cane coax. The SWR was a bit high but the signal was 5/9 and reports of very sweet audio. 

The 3nd "Annual Shriner's Children’s "QSO" Party will be held on Sunday December 8th, 2013 during their annual AMARA Temple Christmas Party for the local children under the Shiners medical care program. 

The boys and girls will speak with Santa in flight via amateur radio. On arrival at the temple, Santa will make his rounds visiting all the children and give each child a gift and a “I spoke to Santa” T-shirt and a Special Event QSL card commemorating their in-flight QSO with Santa Claus.

     Some Photos of Last years QSO party.      

The Santenna

Santa's "Go Kit"

From L to R   NCS Steve KE4JAR         ANCS Jeff KI4BQB

Santa's Helpers-Ladies of The Shrine (LOS) QSL Card Division



Santa's QSL Card

Santa and Helper-Ladies of The Shrine (LOS) Elf Division

Photo's By: Shirley & Sandy KJ4YZE
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Don't Forget about the up-coming
 Maritime Mobile Service Net's
20m HF Santa Claus Net
Dec-23rd-24th
Click Here

To learn more about Amateur (Ham) Radio, click here By Don,VE3XD

CQ Santa...CQ Santa 

"Santa, give me my signal report please"


My QTH is  North Pole Station WX4PBC

Santa, You are 5/9

Ok Santa, How tall is a full wave Santenna ?

I went to the event and got the shirt

Ho...Ho...Ho...Santa is watching the show

Post Script; As you can see, the children learned a little "Ham Speak" along the way. 

I would like to thank the below named volunteers for their assistance for which this Special Event could not have happened.

SKYWARN

Maurice Dake                      K9EE PBC SKYWARN Coordinator
Sandy Ruby                         KJ4YZE Camera Crew 
Shirley (Ruby) Simmons       Photographer 
Steve Wiesen                       KE4JAR / NCS 
Jeff  Hepburn                       KI4BQB / ANCS 

Shriners

Brian Price                          Event Liaison

Ladies of the Shrine (LOS)
 
Sharon Sherman                  High Priestess  
Charlene Moreland               Princess
Susan Fischer                      Lady

and of COURSE...SANTA & Crew

  Merry Christmas and 73, 
Ray WX4PBC

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