Santa Claus returns to radio club’s airwaves
As the pandemic continues for a second holiday season, some local Santa’s helpers are assuring that children still will get the chance to tell Old St. Nick what they want for Christmas in a safely distanced way.
After devising a plan last year to connect Santa Claus with children via ham radio, the Longmont Amateur Radio Club once again is reserving some air time for Kris Kringle. Children will be able to talk with Santa Claus from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday and 6 to 7 p.m. Monday.
Chuck Poch, radio club president, said that last year the club was able to connect 34 children with Santa Claus, including one from Ohio and one from Canada.
With opportunities to visit Santa Claus last year lessened because of concerns about the spread of the coronavirus, the club still wanted to give children the chance to participate in the tradition in a safe and distanced way. Poch, of Firestone, said they wanted to extend that opportunity this year.
“I think hopefully it will still give children a little cheer to know that Santa is out there,” Poch said. “You may not be able to see him in person and sit on his lap. But get on the air and talk with him, and you at least know he’s there.”
Longmont’s Steve Haverstick, the radio club’s publicity committee, said he knows how much getting to talk to Santa Claus on the air meant to kids last year when many holiday traditions were nixed because of the pandemic.
“That’s what sparked this whole Santa on the air,” Haverstick said. “It was like wait, ‘With COVID, kids can’t go talk to Santa Claus.’ I think it meant a lot especially to talk to Santa. Any amateurs in the background tried to coach the kids to get good communication.”
Poch said he believes that talking with Santa Claus on air helped to spark in youths some interest in ham radio operation, although, he’s always hoping for more.
Poch added that the knowledge of the technology and engineering that goes into ham radio operation can be used for more than just a hobby, including helping to transmit important information in emergency situations when internet and cell towers aren’t working. Longmont’s club, which is made up of 163 members, works with Longmont’s Office of Emergency Management to teach staff members about ham radio operation and how to get a license from the Federal Communications Commission.
“Ham radio is the original social distancing,” Poch said. “It’s over 100 years old.”
To acknowledge their radio communications with each other, ham radio operators will send a handwritten confirmation, called a QSL card. As an added touch to last year’s talk with Santa Claus, Poch created QSL cards. He sent them to Alaska to be postmarked and returned to all of the children who participated.
“I’m going to do that again this year,” Poch said.
To participate in On Air with Santa, children must connect with him through a licensed ham radio operator. If children want to participate, but don’t know of a ham radio operator, they can email Poch at k0itp@w0eno.org to get connected. Licensed operators can tune in using Echolink software. The node is 5803.
Poch said anyone is welcome to listen in, from Boulder County to around the nation and world.
Poch hopes to continue the tradition again next year and involve more clubs.
“If I can watch it grow, to me, then it’s worth doing,” Poch said.