It is with deepest sympathy that I post the passing of Ken KU2US. As you may or may not know Ken is the person that started the 13 Colonies Special Event. Please join me by praying and in keeping the family in your thoughts
In Honor of Kenneth J. Villone, KU2US
Across the air, his voice once rolled, A signal clear, a heart of gold. From Conesus Lake to skies above, He shared his faith, his life, his love.
A soldier strong in years gone by, Who served his flag beneath the sky. With honor earned and duty done, He lived with pride—America’s son.
He built a world where voices blend, Where strangers meet and hearts transcend. The 13 Colonies—his dream made true, Uniting many, yet led by few.
A husband faithful, steadfast, kind, A father’s strength, a brilliant mind. He found his peace by water’s side, With Martha’s memory as his guide.
Though now his call sign fades away, His spirit speaks in quiet ways. In every dawn, in every star, We’ll hear him still—both near and far.
Rest easy, Ken, your work complete, Your signal now in Heaven’s sweep. The band is still, the key now free— God’s frequency has welcomed thee.
Saint of the Silent Key In Honor of St. Maximilian Kolbe, SP3RN
In cloistered halls where silence grew, A friar dared the airwaves through With homebuilt gear and humble hands, He sent out hope across the lands.
The year was dark, the world in fear, Yet faith went forth in voices clear. A call sign born not just in code, But truth and love his signal showed.
Then Auschwitz claimed the faithful few, But Kolbe’s heart held courage true. He took the place of one condemned, And found his crown, life’s noble end.
Now every August, hearts align, In San Max Church, a sacred sign. With dipoles high and relics near, His voice still echoes, bright and clear.
They call as 4A2MAX, With reverence in each contact. On bands that stretch the globe so wide, His legacy will not subside.
For though his mic was laid to rest, His message lives in every test. A saint who spoke through static’s song To faith, to brotherhood, belong.
So hams who tune and call CQ, Remember what one soul can do. From Morse to voice, through sky and flame, We honor still St. Kolbe’s name.
🎙️ For the Amateurs 🎙️ (A Poem on Solar Storms and Signal Loss)
They tune their dials with quiet care, And send their signals through the air. But high above, the heavens flare— And leave the bands in disrepair.
For when the Sun lets loose its might, With X-class flares that blaze so bright, The D-layer wakes in harsh alarm, And HF suffers sudden harm.
From 80 meters to ten and more, The signals vanish, mute and sore. On daylight’s side, the bands fall dead— As if the ionosphere had fled.
And in the north where cold winds roam, The polar paths are not a home. For charged particles flood the skies, And steal the sound from hams so wise.
Auroral curtains twist and dance, But give no signal a fair chance. Their glow may awe the earthly eye, But scatter voices as they fly.
CW and SSB may fail, Distorted like a ghostly wail. Yet Morse and FT8 push through— The hardy modes of just a few.
So hams take heart when signals fade, This too shall pass, though hopes be frayed. For skies that storm will calm once more, And DX calls will fill the floor.
In July's embrace, the airwaves come alive, From July first to seventh, hams strive, A celebration of history and the thrill, Of the thirteen colonies' spirit and will.
From New York’s echo to Virginia’s call, Special stations rise, one for all, K2A to K2M, their voices soar, Across the ether, tales of yore.
On HF, VHF, UHF bands they play, In CW, SSB, and digital display, Operators gather, young and old, In a contest of stories retold.
Certificates await those who seek, Thirteen callsigns, unique and sleek, QSL cards, a treasure to behold, In the hands of those, brave and bold.
A bonus station here, another there, WM3PEN and GB13COL's flair, Reminders of allies and history’s friends, In this contest, where learning blends.
The 13 Colonies, a test of might, Connecting the past with signals bright, Promoting the hobby, a bond so true, Uniting operators, old and new.
So tune your radios, set your gear, For the 13 Colony Contest is here, A week of challenge, joy, and quest, In the spirit of ham radio’s best.
Invisible threads traverse the sky, Radio waves that whisper, shout, and sigh, From earthbound stations, voices rise, Reaching far beyond our eyes.
Through the ether, swift they soar, Bouncing off the ionosphere, exploring more, No barrier holds their eager quest, In endless space, they find their rest.
Just like our prayers, both loud and meek, In moments of despair or peace we seek, They travel realms unseen, unheard, To touch the heart with every word.
In silence or in fervent plea, Our voices find divinity, Beyond the clouds, beyond the stars, In faith, they break through cosmic bars.
Both wave and prayer, unseen yet strong, In their journey, they belong, A bridge between the here and there, Connecting hearts through space and prayer.
So when you send your message high, In radio waves or prayerful sigh, Know that both are heard, embraced, In realms beyond our earthly pace.
Created by MarkWaldrop KE4WA Bible Fellowship Net bfn2.com
In the heart of nineteen thirty's gleam,
Two hams dreamed a crystal clear dream.
Astatic born, from passion, not motion,
Crafted with care, the famed D-104 potion.
A microphone not just of metal and wire,
But of voices carried, higher and higher.
Introduced in an era of swing and of jazz, D-104 microphone,
Its clarity cut through the buzz and the razz.
The D-104, oh, how it stood the test of time,
In amateur shacks, its presence sublime.
From broadcasting booths, its fame would spread,
Professional voices, clearly, were led.
Astatic's creation, from humble start,
Became an icon, in the audio art.
The D-104 microphone, a legend in sound,
Wherever communication is bound.
Decades on, its legacy clear,
A testament to those who hold sound dear.
The D-104, a marvel, a tool,
In the history of audio, forever cool.
March 16, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop
