It is always wonderful to learn how amateur radio is an important part of the quality of life for people with disabilities, impairments or limited mobility and/or can counteract loneliness.

Lothar, DL9JBN, is a very successful whitesticker on the DL2025C operating team.

Now, some people might be wondering: how do the QSOs from a blind operator get into the log?

A simple but effective technological process has been developed for this. There’s close collaboration with me as the team leader. First, I initiate the online registration on the server. Then Lothar is left to his own devices. As agreed, and preferably in FM on 70cm/2m.

So, during his last mission on March 17, 2025, 66 contacts were logged via the relevant repeaters in just a few hours. The term “log” isn’t quite right here. After each QSO, Lothar records the data on tape… and then it’s off to the next QSO.

Then comes part 2 – the “log conversion.” Another call to me signals the end of the activity, after which I first log off the server. But the main focus of our usually lengthy 🙂 phone call is the audio conversion. Lothar plays the tape piece by piece, and I take over the entry of each QSO into the log program, including the exact time and QRG. Then two more upload clicks, and Lothar’s QSOs are on the award server – and that’s it.

P.S.: Lothar is now well into his 80 years.

Steffen, DM6WAN, Team Leader of DL2025C

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Ham radio helps combat loneliness and exclusion. The all-important social contact with like-minded people is almost always guaranteed – and this is done on a global scale, in a spirit of friendship and mutual respect. If needed, you can also access topic-oriented ham radio communities where you can pursue specific topics and find help and support.