From The North Pole Gazette
Filed by WX4PBC 12/14/2014

On December 8th,2013, PBC Skywarn amateur radio operators and the AMARA Shriners Temple co-hosted the 3rd Annual Santa with the Shriners Children's QSO Party. The QSO party takes place during the AMARA Temple's annual Children's Christmas party.

The Christmas party is for children and their families involved in the Shriners medical program and is held annually during the Holiday Season at the AMARA Temple in Palm Beach Gardens Florida. The children and their families enjoy  fellowship, lunch and fun activities for the children.

 

What is the Shriners medical program for children?

In 1920 the Shriners passed a resolution to establish a hospital system with the first hospital opening in 1922 in Shreveport La. Today, the Shriners maintain 22 children's hospitals in the US and abroad. 

World class medical staff volunteer their time and expertise to the treatment of children throughout the world.

 

What is the "Santa Amateur Radio QSO Party?

In 2011 Shriner / Skywarn member Brian Price was looking for a Shriner project for the children. Brian mentioned it to Assistant PBC Skywarn Coordinator and Amateur Radio operator Ray Ruby WX4PBC. with the support of Palm Beach County Skywarn Coordinator Maurice Dake K9EE, "The rest as you know...is history".

They established the "Santa QSO Party whereas 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 amateur radio 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 workshop or in amateur radio speak, Santa's "Home 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 boys and girls speak with Santa in flight via amateur radio. On arrival at the temple, Santa makes his rounds visiting all the children and gave 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.  

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  Santa QSO Party 2013  

Steve Wiesen KE4JAR (next to radio) and Jeff Hepburn KI4BQB set up their radio station at the temple for the 
children to speak to Santa.  

Santa reviewed the flight weather information provided by PBC Skywarn and the National Weather Service WFO-Miami. 

Steve and Jeff coordinated the flight plan and tracking of Santa's flight using APRS or Automatic Packet Reporting System used by amateur radio operators to track APRS equipped radios.

 

 

 

 

Santa established radio communications with Steve from Santa's new and improved elf designed reindeer proof PBC Skywarn radio Go-Kit and special mobile sleigh no ground antenna built by Ray WX4PBC & Sandy KJ4YZE. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Santa immediately began having QSO's with the children while  en-route to the temple.

After a 45 minute flight and upon getting clearance from PBIA tower, Santa had "Hoofs Down" on time at the temple. 

 

 

 

 

The Ladies of the Shrine or LOS, assisted Santa by filling out the amateur radio QSL card which is a worldwide amateur radio custom to confirm a radio "contact" or "QSO" between stations.

The earliest two-way radio QSL card exchange reference seems to be a card sent in 1916 from 8VX in Buffalo, New York to 3TQ in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Like the Shriners, the "Ladies of the Shrine" or LOS volunteer their services to the Shriner projects and community. The LOS work 
tirelessly and graciously.

PBC Skywarn amateur radio operators thank the LOS for their service in maintaining the QSL cards for the children each year. 

Each child received a QSL Card  & Shirt confirming their amateur radio contact or "QSO" with Santa.

 

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PBC Skywarn would like to thank the Shriner AMARA Temple for allowing us once again to participate in their noble community service program. 

Our participation would not be possible if not for AMARA Temple Potentate Dan Dyle and Chief Rabban and Skywarn member Brian Price. and the support of Palm Beach County  Skywarn Coordinator Maurice Dake K9EE and Skywarn amateur radio operators. And of course, Santa and crew. 

L to R: AMARA Temple Past Potentate: Dan Dyle
Santa & AMARA Temple  2014 Potentate Brian Price 

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Photos By Shirley Simmons

 

See you next year and remember..."Keep Your Eye on the Sky"

&

"When all else fails...Amateur Radio "

 

 

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