A Ham's Night Before Christmas

A little holiday cheer from ARVN's KN4AQ. I wrote the poem back in 1996, and recorded an audio version a few years later. In 2009, my friend Don Mercz WA3AYR recorded a Christmas medley on guitar, and I thought it would make a good background for the poem, so I mixed them.

Then I thought "video" (that's my business, you know). But what could I use to illustrate the poem? Live action? Too complicated. Animation? Too extensive.

How about December QST covers? Most years they have a holiday theme. I asked the publisher, and he said "sure!" But the covers didn't have quite enough material, so I turned to the ads to fill things out (and contacted all the advertisers that were still in business - most were from before 1960).

So here it is. I hope you enjoy it!

• Category

  Entertainment

[5lkk]

I heard Wayne Green mention & wondered how many would be thinking to themselves who's he & what does he have to do with ham radio? Great job thanks for sharing

[KN4AQ]

Wayne is W2NSD (Never Say Die). He founded 73 Magazine, and was the editor for most of its run. It's a bit of poetic license to call him "mean," (though that is one of the two biggest laugh-lines when I perform the poem live), I think it's fair to call him "curmudgeonly." Anyway, he's never complained to me! (The other big line? "A flying sleigh, with an 8 element beam." And thanks, everybody, for taking this video viral! 73, Gary KN4AQ

[KN4AQ]

VIEWERS: Thank you for your kind comments! As we cross 20,000 views (!) the stats show that this little video is being seen three times per viewer (or, per IP address), on average. More than half arrive via a link from e-mail. So thank you for sharing it with your friends, radio club, etc. 73 - Gary KN4AQ

[Victor covell-london]

Great Santa.....Now just a little word, I have some outstanding qsl cards could you help?

[KN4AQ]

- He did it for me... maybe he'll do it for you. Have you been a good ham all year? 73, Gary KN4AQ

[K7AGE]

HI, how long did it take to put this together, all the clips, writing, music and editing? Randy

[KN4AQ]

- Hey, Randy! A note from the master! I did this piece by piece. I wrote the poem in 1996 in about 4 yours. The voice recording was a few years ago, with a quick update this year to add some manufacturers, drop "plus" from Technician, and change the end a bit. Let's say 3 hours to record and mix. Music was provided complete. 10 to 15 hours of video prep and edit. A couple hours of render time (old, slow computer running Premiere 3). Where does the time go?

[ThePauperPrepper]

My BEstf friend who is Non HAM (Ive been working on him, has the "What do I have a cell phone for" mentality, but he helped make my copper J-Pole!!) enjoyed it even. It is well done and will be a new HAM Christmas Classic!! Thanks foir the effort.

[goldieboy09]

never gets old.MERRY CHRISTMAS GARY.

[maxwellbricks]

The rigs feathered were the dreams I had as I delivered papers during my novice days. I also think of K2ORS, Shep on WOR radio from 11:15 to mid night. Burned out SO many 9 volt batteries listening to him. I think he had a NCR3.

KN4AQ, thanks for the great youtube! Yup, have to play this a few times as I dream of a 5 band vertical antenna this spring to hook up to my IC-7410.

[frequencycast]

Mentioned on the UK RSGB news service GB2RS this morning, 18 December. 73 de M0PSX

[James Weisbeck]

mentioned on radio newsline

[MaXiLeeCH]

Nice one Gary,

Due to your update, your video got a mention on the Elecraft mailing list this year.

Thanks for all your hard work!

73 de

Jeff VK4BOF

[glennodonnell]

VY FB poetry, Gary, and the guitar work is a perfect accompaniment!

[leakyspacesuit]

That's awesome! I love it! 73

[YO2LDK]

i like "SMART woman" at 0.28" !  :))

[carter1956]

Loved the video.  73