North Pole Net 1999

Santa (aka KFØHOHO)
 The 1999 edition of the North Pole Net was a huge success. By working closely with Santa and his elves. Members of the Ak-Sar-Ben Amateur Radio Club were able to bring Santa LIVE and in person to the television screens of hospitalized children in Omaha. Three hospitals were contacted and two were able to have the personnel availabe on Saturday December 11th so that Santa could visit. At the last minute St. Joseph's hospital notified honorary elf, Pat NØHPP that all the children there had been dismissed (A Christmas Blessing) but there were still several kids at the University of Nebraska Med Center (UNMC) who were anxious to see Santa.
How this works is .... Members of the Ak-Sar-Ben ARC set up tempory studios near the North Pole and provided by the Heartland Chapter Of the American Red Cross and transmit Santa via Amateur Television. Special equipment has been installed at the participating hospitals to receive this frequency and hooked into the hospitals video distribution center. When the television in the hospital is tuned to the proper channel. There's Santa! Live in full color, calling them by name. By using handheld radios, the honoray elves in Omaha can allow the kids to talk directly to Santa via the clubs KØUSA repeater, while santa answers them over Amateur TV

NØHPP - KØNSA - WØNSA - KA4ZZQ

Santa not only knows their names, but the names of their brothers and sisters who are visiting, or even the name of a brother who was in surgery at the time Santa spoke with the older brother in the waiting room! Often Santa knew their favorite singer. While Santa knows all this, he receives a little help from his ham radio elves by way of the KØBOY repeater where the details are relayed to the North Pole from the communications room in the Red Cross. Cue cards are available for Santa in case he needs a reminder. Requests for Christmas gifts ranged from Pokemon to a healthy brother to a new kidney. Santa makes no promises on any request, as you know, but tries to do what he can to make every wish come true. Santa asks that you too do what you can to do too.
This year's honorary elves were. Pat NØHPP, Bill KØNSA, Linda WØNSA, and Scott KA4ZZQ. Hams who ventured to the studios at the "North Pole" were Ken AJØA, Dave WJØZ, Mary NØTRK, Margee KC6NEJ. A big thanks goes to the Staff of St. Joseph's Hospital, the Staff at UN Med Center, the Heartland Chapter of the American Red Cross, WOWT television who's tower is home the ATV repeater and the Ak-Sar-Ben ARC's 146.940 repeater, WBØCMC who supplied equipment to the Med Center to receive the signal, and also supplied the ATV repeater!
Also thanks to KØBOY for the use of this 147.360 repeater which is housed on the top of Vet's Hospital. And of course thanks to KFØFO, who without his close relationship to Santa none of this would have happened and of course to his wife Marilyn drives Santa's sleigh! And of course Pat NØHPP who is the point of contact between all involved entities. Thanks again Pat!