I was involved very early on with using the remotes.? I was N4CY then.? Stan W4MQ was the Reston ham involved initially. ? The Middle east remote was YI9DXX.? It was a blast operating from Iraq. What I recall most was the unbelievable number of Russia hams heard from there.?? It was a lot of fun and very popular until ARRL with its antediluvian approach to new ideas would not recognize the remote for DXCC purposes.? Interest in YI9DXX then waned.?? W7DXX was initially a remote in the Boston? area with a big log periodic that boomed into Europe and Africa.?? I once received a 50db over S9 from an Italian ham while we were on SSB.? He said I was the strongest signal he had ever heard from the USA.? Once he relocated to NM, performance IMHO seemed to go down a lot notwithstanding the elevation.? Number of ops greatly increased. Downtime also increased.? Then when Keith opted to add FT-8 operation down time seemed to increase even more. Finally a couple of years ago I decided to no longer financially support the remote because of down time and operator saturation, but I have continued to monitor this reflector hoping that things would improve. ?? Keith was a friend, a great asset to amateur radio and his early work with remotes was unique and innovative.??

RIP OM free of QRM! ? And a final 73 de George K4GM

On 9/30/2024 4:22 PM, David_KB7ZZ wrote:

Very sad news indeed.? I met, Doc on a road trip returning from Dayton Hamvention so many years back I can't even recall.? On the road we chatted for hours driving back from the event.? I recall his dream of setting up a remote station operation and plans to begin the experiment in short time.? As it turned out W4AB(?) in Reston, Virginia offered his station as the first remotely controlled, via a burgeoning Internet, as the first remote HF station, ever.? There were a few of us active on it, but it didn't really catch on.? A few years later Keith started the W7DXX remote with new more advanced software and set up a remote in the Middle East.? It was a long time back, so I can't recall the call sign.? It was a hit!? Still, not may amateurs were interested, and so it was only up for about a year.? Many years later, W7DXX, with new 'Remote Ham' software became a successful entity!? Despite antenna, amplifier and computer issues the remote was fabulous!?? Rare DX became a reality for loads of hams, oftentimes cued to work the DX station on CW and SSB.? VERY slick!? Later came FT-8.

I'll miss Keith, our monthly chats, always fun and informational.? He was a 'giving' fellow and always ready to help the 'cause' to keep the remote on the air.? At times, without donation or dues to buy equipment or spares just to keep the 'members' happy.? He was a fabulous friend, fellow broadcaster and a true innovator in the hobby he loved.? I was fortunate to have known him and shared in his dream.

73, Doc.? Fly west young man.? Clear skies ahead.

David, KB7ZZ

On 9/30/2024 1:06 PM, kh6dc via groups.io wrote:

[Edited Message Follows]

This is sad news.? RIP my friend.

?

Thanks for letting us know Don.

?

Delwyn, kH6DC

--
KB7ZZ Roanoke Island, North Carolina FM25dv

--
73 de George K4GM

On Sep 29, 2024, at 1:22?PM, David Herman via groups.io <david.herman22@...> wrote:

?

Don, thank you very much for letting us know, and my condolences to Mary and the family. Keith was truly a pioneer. He certainly advanced amateur radio through the development of the remote, and kept this group together through some exciting and challenging circumstances. I will miss his notes and the camaraderie of this group.

DCH

AC0JX?

David C. Herman, MD

Duluth, MN?

david.herman22@...

On Friday, September 27, 2024 at 06:28:27 PM CDT, Don Nesbitt via groups.io <n4hh@...> wrote:

It is with much sadness that I inform the group that Keith (W7DXX) passed away yesterday September 26th after a series of difficult illnesses.? He was surrounded by his beloved Mary and the family and passed peacefully around 5:30 pm. I've been in touch with Mary - Keith's wife - and she wanted me to let the group know about his passing and how much he loved ham radio and having the interations with each of you. Having known and worked with Keith on ham radio endeavors over the years, I can say that he will be greatly missed.

If you would like to reach out to her, Mary's contacts are: 575-496-5118 (cell phone) and mlamonic@... (note: no "a" at the end of the name for the email
.? Mary wanted me to share the following obituary which was written by a long time ham friend and fellow broadcaster from Alabama whose nickname is "Cactus" - sorry, I don't know his call sign. I hope you all are healthy and enjoying this wonderful life to it's fullest.

'73 es gud dxing -- Don, N4HH

The obituary follows:

Keith E. Lamonica (W7DXX), a veteran broadcaster and former adjunct professor at New Mexico State University, died Thursday. He was 81.

Keith was born in a suburb of London, England, the son of Edna Donnelly and a Canadian soldier. He was later adopted by an American soldier, Ralph Lamonica, who married Edna Donnelly. Keith was a naturalized U.S. citizen who grew up in England; Fairfield, California; and the Tri-Cities area in central Washington State. He attended Bushy Park High School in London and schools in Fairfield, California. When not enthusiastically involved in science classes, Keith served on the track team. He was the first person in Fairfield to hear the tones from the Soviet Sputnik satellite on his ham radio and made the front page of his local paper as a teenager for the accomplishment.

A lifelong amateur radio enthusiast, Keith was a career broadcaster. He worked at radio and television stations in a number of cities and states, including Tacoma, Washington; KDAY in Los Angeles; WMPS in Memphis; WAAY in Huntsville, Alabama; and at other stations in Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, and Florida. During the 1970s, Keith worked for 73 Magazine in New Hampshire. Although he began his broadcasting career as a DJ, Keith soon transitioned into news. He was the recipient of a Peabody Award for his coverage of the James Earle Ray trial. He also has numerous awards from the Associated Press for news stories.

Lamonica also was a pioneer in the satellite radio talk show industry, establishing a talk show called FM American. He also hosted a talk radio show on the Sun Broadcast Network. He testified on satellite issues in front of the U.S. Congress during the years of the Reagan administration.

In his later years, Keith transitioned into establishing the world's first remote base for ham radio, working with other amateur radio enthusiasts to develop the software to allow individuals without access to antennas to work ham radio remotely through a computer.

He also served as an adjunct professor, teaching broadcasting and public speaking classes at several colleges and universities in Massachusetts in the early 2000s, and, later, at New Mexico State University and Dona Ana Community College in Las Cruces, NM.

He is survived by his wife, Mary; three daughters: Angela Walker of Iuka, Miss.; Dana Lamonica of Hollywood, Ala., and Emily Lamonica of Las Cruces, NM; as well as by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

At his request, no funeral services will be held. A celebration of his life will occur in Huntsville, Alabama, in May 2025 when family can gather.

It is with much sadness that I inform the group that Keith (W7DXX) passed away yesterday September 26th after a series of difficult illnesses.? He was surrounded by his beloved Mary and the family and passed peacefully around 5:30 pm. I've been in touch with Mary - Keith's wife - and she wanted me to let the group know about his passing and how much he loved ham radio and having the interations with each of you. Having known and worked with Keith on ham radio endeavors over the years, I can say that he will be greatly missed.

If you would like to reach out to her, Mary's contacts are: 575-496-5118 (cell phone) and mlamonic@... (note: no "a" at the end of the name for the email
.? Mary wanted me to share the following obituary which was written by a long time ham friend and fellow broadcaster from Alabama whose nickname is "Cactus" - sorry, I don't know his call sign. I hope you all are healthy and enjoying this wonderful life to it's fullest.

'73 es gud dxing -- Don, N4HH

The obituary follows:

Keith E. Lamonica (W7DXX), a veteran broadcaster and former adjunct professor at New Mexico State University, died Thursday. He was 81.

Keith was born in a suburb of London, England, the son of Edna Donnelly and a Canadian soldier. He was later adopted by an American soldier, Ralph Lamonica, who married Edna Donnelly. Keith was a naturalized U.S. citizen who grew up in England; Fairfield, California; and the Tri-Cities area in central Washington State. He attended Bushy Park High School in London and schools in Fairfield, California. When not enthusiastically involved in science classes, Keith served on the track team. He was the first person in Fairfield to hear the tones from the Soviet Sputnik satellite on his ham radio and made the front page of his local paper as a teenager for the accomplishment.

A lifelong amateur radio enthusiast, Keith was a career broadcaster. He worked at radio and television stations in a number of cities and states, including Tacoma, Washington; KDAY in Los Angeles; WMPS in Memphis; WAAY in Huntsville, Alabama; and at other stations in Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, and Florida. During the 1970s, Keith worked for 73 Magazine in New Hampshire. Although he began his broadcasting career as a DJ, Keith soon transitioned into news. He was the recipient of a Peabody Award for his coverage of the James Earle Ray trial. He also has numerous awards from the Associated Press for news stories.

Lamonica also was a pioneer in the satellite radio talk show industry, establishing a talk show called FM American. He also hosted a talk radio show on the Sun Broadcast Network. He testified on satellite issues in front of the U.S. Congress during the years of the Reagan administration.

In his later years, Keith transitioned into establishing the world's first remote base for ham radio, working with other amateur radio enthusiasts to develop the software to allow individuals without access to antennas to work ham radio remotely through a computer.

He also served as an adjunct professor, teaching broadcasting and public speaking classes at several colleges and universities in Massachusetts in the early 2000s, and, later, at New Mexico State University and Dona Ana Community College in Las Cruces, NM.

He is survived by his wife, Mary; three daughters: Angela Walker of Iuka, Miss.; Dana Lamonica of Hollywood, Ala., and Emily Lamonica of Las Cruces, NM; as well as by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

At his request, no funeral services will be held. A celebration of his life will occur in Huntsville, Alabama, in May 2025 when family can gather.

Just checked, the remote is working now.??

?

73 de KH6DC

I see it in the lobby but for me, it's grayed out.? Guess Keith is working on the stuck TX issue.

Still here - AB0DE

--

Steven Altchuler

Rochester MN 55901

altchuler@...

?

---

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Keith Lamonica, W7DXX via groups.io <w7dxx@...>
Sent: Friday, September 13, 2024 2:12 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: [W7DXXREMOTE] WHO

?

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?WHO IS? STILL ON THIOS LIST?.

?

M,PORTANTN? PL;EASE? ?RSVP? ?

On Friday, September 13, 2024, 3:12 PM, Keith Lamonica, W7DXX <w7dxx@...> wrote:

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?WHO IS? STILL ON THIOS LIST?.

?

M,PORTANTN? PL;EASE? ?RSVP? ?