Descendant of Samuel Morse - Diana Morse now KB3NNP

Thanks to help from the Polar Bears QRP Club, the 5th generation descendant of Samuel Morse, who devised Morse Code, is now on the air as a licenced Radio Amateur.

Diane Morse KB3NNP sent this email to the Polar Bears after getting her licence:

Fellow hams, Polar Bears, QRP'ers, et al (I know some of these overlap...)

Thank you for the good wishes. It occurred to me this morning that there may not be many relatives of Samuel FB Morse transmitting, although mathematically speaking there should be quite a few of us out there.

My daughter is going to take classes next fall...she is 5th cousin, 6 generations removed to Samuel.

My parents, of the puritan bent, didn't tell my siblings and I of our relationship because it was "vain." Sadly, I very nearly missed knowing about my heritage.

I'm 5th cousin, 5 times (generations) removed from Samuel FB Morse--he is 7th & I am 12th generation from Anthony Morse, who came to Mass. in 1635.

In an unusual twist of events, as Ron can better explain, it was brought to light. Thanks, Ron & all the Polar Bear QRP'ers who kept after me till I got my ticket.

Everyone, I'm pretty slow yet...5 wpm is all I can copy...but I'm working on 7.

My heartfelt and warmest thanks for welcoming an "L", whether Y or XY into your ranks. I will try to make you, and cousin Sam, proud.

My best regards & 72,

Diana Morse, KB3NNP

The Polar Bears have supplied the following information on Diana’s progress

Hello,

I guess it is time to give an update about the progress of Diana Morse, KB3NNP.

Two weeks ago the original four Polar Bears went to Diana's QTH to present her with the radio gear and get her setup.

The original four are Ron de WB3AAL, Ed de WA3WSJ, Ed de K3YTR and Mark de NK8Q.

We did the presentation and took pictures. Then we proceeded to set up the station for her. Once we got everything setup we placed a wire out the window so she could do some on air copying. She did not want to get on the air because she never used a keyer and iambic paddles. She wanted to practice before she got on the air.

Last Sunday Mark de NK8Q and I de WB3AAL went up to her place to make come connections on the power cords so Diana could disconnect the radio and take it with when they go to NH. We also placed a G5RV up as a temporary antenna until I get my spare Butternut HF9V in working shape. We told her that she was going to make her first 2 QSO's that day.

We had everything up and running. I went out to my car and fired up my K2 on 7.115 MHz. I called for KB3NNP and low and behold the sounds of the Morse station was finally on the air.
I exchanged the usual information and welcomed her to the hobby. Surprisingly, her fist was very good. She just has to get the copying of the code up to speed of her sending. After I signed with her, Mark came out to my car and I ran into the house. Mark made a QSO with Diana and enjoyed contacting a relative of Samuel Morse.

This seemed to work out very good since she did have questions on what to send and how to do this. Today she got on 40 meters and called out her first CQ. Bob KC8MFF from WV came back to her CQ and the Ham Radio bug has been implanted. Diana was very excited that someone heard her CQ and came back to her call. We told he that the more she gets on the air and make QSO's she will be up her confidence and CW skills.

Diana's Morse History
I'm 5th cousin, 5 times (generations) removed from
Samuel FB Morse--he is 7th & I am 12th generation
from Anthony Morse, who came to Mass. in 1635.

Until I had all the links, I wasn't sure if I was comfortable
talking about it, since it was one of my main reasons for
learning code : )   (other than your wonderful support).

Diana Morse de KB3NNP

So if you hear KB3NNP on 40 or 80 meter CW in the Novice section, please stop and say hello to her. She is going to start studying to take her General Class license.

72 and Thanks,
Ron Polityka WB3AAL
www.wb3aal.com
www.n3epa.org

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