Very sad news just received from the daughter of John, ON4UN
It is with sadness, but also gratitude and pride, I have to let you know my father John ON4UN, has become silent key.
John’s health has steadily deteriorated throughout the year, but in the last few weeks he was home with us where he peacefully passed away yesterday November 9.
Ham Radio, and especially Low Band DXing, were my father’s lifelong passion and always had a strong presence in our house. Sometimes literally, when many of you paid us a visit or a group of DX’ers came over for a weekend of contesting. At other times in the background, when my dad was working on a project or experimenting with new equipment or antennas.
Though I don’t have a call-sign, I very much feel part of the big radio family and always will. I am very proud of everything my father has accomplished together with you, and I am grateful to the many of you who have given him so much joy over the years. We will miss him dearly, but we take comfort looking back on the beautiful life he lived as a member of the wonderful Ham Radio community.
We are planning a digital farewell ceremony on Saturday November 21st and will keep you updated on practicalities.
If you would like to send us a message please mail to ON4UN.SK@gmail.com – John’s old e-mail account is not in use anymore.
In the meantime, you can pay him a visit at QRZ.com where he always kept his resume up to date.
Marleen Devoldere
John was, of course, the author of Low Band Dxing
Thank you for your famous book!
RIP OM John.
73 de SA4HMR Harry.
Amateur Radio has lost one of it’s greats.
ON4UN showed all that is good in the hobby, a hobby which owes him a great debt of gratitude..
73s John Great man , wonderful experimenter, we all miss you
Always a great signal and a gentleman on the air. I worked him many times over the decades. Low Band DXing is a must read for all hams. We lost a ham radio titan. My prayers are with the entire family. RIP John Rick N1DC
REST IN PEACE NOW JOHN ( JOHAN FOR ME as we both used our christian names ) . VERY OFTEN FAR AWAY IN DISTANCE BUT NEVER IN MEETING US OVER THE AIRWAVES . THANK YOU DEAR FRIEND . HOPE TO MEET YOU SOME DAY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HEAVENLY PILE UP .
SAD BUT GRATEFULL . Aimé “Jim” ON4DS ( former ON5UM )
R.I.P. John
R.I.P. John
Jan SP9BRP
I am so sorry to hearing this news.
My deepest condolences to his family.
RIP John
DJ2RG / Klaus
The work of John about low band communication and antennas is a fundamental in amateur radio.
His book a musterpiece.
His callsign and name will remembered for a long time from all us….
Mauro I1MMR
John your contribution to Ham Radio has been appreciated by many operators around the globe.
You will be missed.
RIP VE7FE
RIP
YC0KCW
I had the pleasure of contacting John in FEB 1995 on 20m CW. Thank you for this contact and your QSL card. Final 73 RIPeace.
I first learned about John’s work back in ‘06 when my friend Leon, 9Z4BM asked me to get a copy of Low Band DXing for him. I ended up getting a copy for myself as it was just so good. John is one of those rare people in amateur radio who knew his subject well enough to make even the difficult seem easy. He was also a very strong presence on air and I always enjoyed when he called me in the pileups. Every contact netted a bureau card, of course, and these I will treasure forever. John was always a strong supporter of the ARRL and also of my work in the League. But this was really just a bigger part of his whole love for ham radio. We miss you, John, thanks for all of the QSOs especially on 80 and 160.
73
Ria, N2RJ
Director, Hudson Division, ARRL
RIP IN PEACE JOHN
YOU HAVE DONE LOT ON LOW BAND DX.ING
MY FAVORITE BOOK EVRY TIME REED , LEARN AND FIND NEW THINGS .
GREAT CONDOLENCE FOR THE FAMILY.
RIP John ON4UN, thanks for your wisdom in this great hobby !!
Très peiné par cette pénible nouvelle, il a beaucoup donné pour le radio-amateurisme.
Beaucoup de courage à ses proches.
RIP John
To Johns family: Your dad will be always remembered. Not just through his books but also for his personality.
Were you the little girl sitting on the box that was used to put down radials? If so , you were very nice.
I also used my daughter the same way. Thank you for being John’s family
Jerry no2t
Having worked John many times on the bands over the last 50 years it was my pleasure to have met him at the Dayton Hamvention in 1994. He was kind enough to autograph the copy second edition of Low Band DXing I had just bought, having worn out my copy of the first edition. His last edition of Low Band DXing is my most used book and I refer to it often.
There will always be a sadness when I pick up those books in the future….
Rest in Peace old friend
73
Dan K8RF/NP2J
Très peiné par cette triste nouvelle. Beaucoup de courage à ses proches.
RIP John.
RIP JD Low Band Legend… Tnx for your contribution to our world of LB. I met u once @ the American hamfest long time ago… We’ll meet again OM @ a different spectrum! GBWU… 73 de Wyn AB2QV
# Hello my friend Walt Bordett N2IK. Pse pass on my best to all CNY hams… GBU all !
As a wanna-be ham in the 1970-ies, and later in the 1980-ies, John and Ghis ON5NT, where my inspirations of fellow country-men who took ham radio to the next level, be it at the level of operating from remote locations or putting a real science-factor into what we did.
Little did I know at that time, that John would become my ham-neighbour in Belgium in the 1980-ies, as he came to visit my home, with his daughter, Marleen, to help me model my HF monobanders.
That was the start of a partnerships in contesting, DX-ing, and DXpeditioneering.
In my DXpedition adventures through FO0CI, AH1A, 3Y0Pi and VK0IR, John remained my link to my family and was a constant supporter. Beyond that, we also ventured with other hams, to experiment and test the boundaries in contesting at his home.
As I ventured along to work with the UN in remote places, John remained my lifeline and link to home.
I remember vividly in November 2001, shortly after the Taliban was pushed back from Kabul, when I was leading a UN convoy from the Bagram airport to Kabul, our convoy was late and was overtaken by nightfall.
There I was, in the middle of nowhere, in the pitch dark, pierced by our headlights, with the Taliban ready to attack us from the hills surrounding us, and …. I could not reach the UN radioroom in Kabul to report on our position.
I re-programmed one of our commercial HF radios in the car, to 14.195, and made a general CQ-call to anyone. A US ham picked up our call, and I asked him to call John, to come onto the frequency. It took seconds before I had John, with his familiar booooooming voice, on the frequency. I asked John to call Islamabad to raise the Kabul radioroom via satphone, to ensure we were properly tracked and supported. It took John minutes to make the communications link.
I will always remember, John’s voice in our HF radio in the car, booming in, confirming he made the satellite call, while we were in the middle of nowhere, in the deep dark night, expecting a Taliban attack from the hills around us, at any moment. His voice, was a voice of comfort and support.
Right there, in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of Taliban territory, John’s voice over HF, thousands of miles away, saved our lives, and brought us to safety.
John was an icon, in many ways, but above for all of that, John was my friend. And I was privileged to call him a friend.
We lost a ham icon, but I lost a friend.
Go well, Johan. I loved you and all what you meant to us.
Peter – ON6tt
ON4UN: A legend in his own time.
Best 73 es eternal DX de K3BR.
My condolences to the Devoldere family.
My qso’s with John date back to at least 1978, both in contests and rag chewing, on 10 through 80 meters. I have both his books on Low Band DXing in my ham library, and share his love for those most challenging frequencies, thanks to John’s influence and expertise. Having met him several times( at Dayton), his warmth and grace were apparent both in person and on the air. In fact I often found myself listening in on John’s qsos with his many friends around the world, both new and old, and learned something each time. Just “reading the mail.”
My one regret is that during my time living in Belgium ( Liege) back in 1973-74, I did not take the time to visit with him. I did not want to impose. I know now that it would not have been an imposition.
73 Old Friend. CUL
de Bob W3HKK (since 1956) – ON8UD – F7AL – 5A3TG – 9G1GS – PY8/W3HKK – PS7/W3HKK
I had met John a few times over the years and he always had an outstanding signal on the bands. . John helped so many of us with our low band work thank you John for all you did. We will miss our qso’s and big signal
RIP my old friend
73 Tony WA4JQS /VP8SSI /3Y0PI
great loss for HAM Radio and Low Band DX ing , thanks John, dado ex YU4JHI now E74AW
RIP John
ON5YA
I am sorry to hear this sad news. He was a great man in radio amateurism. Many have learned from him. My condolences to the whole family. Stuck in these dark days. RIP John. The ON4CKT Rudy
RIP John, your huge contributions to low band success and your enthusiastic participation in the world wide ham radio community will be long remembered. 73 de Walt N2IK
I am very sorry to hear about your father. Like you, we also feel the lack of John’s presence. My heartfelt condolences. All the good things he did will always be remembered by those who had the pleasure of knowing him.
A big loss also for the amateur radio community. Enclosed is a video of the DXpedition VK0IR in 1997 in which the operator calls John first (04:43)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYX-F1mulTo&t=283
R.I.P.
We have all lost a good man who showed the way to operate the Low Bands. We had QSOs on 5 bands
and met at Dayton, where he signed his book Low Band DXing for me. RIP John you will be missed.
Paul W2JGQ
We won’t forget you, John.
RIP,
Tomi, ha7ry
Joe VE3BW RIP John you were the one that made me a believer in low band DXing and it was always a pleasure to put you in my log. Studied your books through the years and they made for some of the most exciting qso’s in my life.
We lost a one referent in the low band dxing, thank for your contribution to many of Us
Sad news. John RIP.
Thanks for your contributions over all these years. Learning about shunt feeding my tower
I was able to get on 160 and work you and others in Europe.
Good Bye Mr. Low Band.
Karl N1DL VE7ZDL
Ever since I became into the Hamradio when I was just a kid, John Devoldere has been an alive legend for his Savoir-faire and large knowledge. Knowledge shared with all of us through his books.
Thanks for all John. Your memory will last forever.
RIP.
Jose EA5BCQ
Klaus DK8DB
RIP John.
He was a great great HAM Operator
John was our rock and mentor in hamradio for many years.
Thanks John R.I.P.
I am very sad.
You have taught me a lot of various things. Thank you very much. Please sleep peacefully.
R.I.P.
RIP JOHN
Sad news… We learnt so much from you John and you gave us a chance to enjoy “Low Bands Dxing”. Many thanks for having shared your knowledge with our community. Condolences to your family. Rest in peace my friend.
Herik, FR5DX.
You will be missed John, we talked several times. Till next time. RIP Old Friend.
True gentleman and radio pioneer.
His books are always on my bookshelf.
Ham’s world is fully dad.
Thank you John.
73, Máximo EA1DDO
We’ve been friends since the mid-80s.
John will remain forever in my heart.
R.I.P and wait for us.
Dmitriy UT5RP
RIP John
What a knowledgeable man who shared most of it ! I worked John on 10 meter voice once. Very rare for John to be on voice but that was lucky for me. I mentioned reading a couple of books of his and he was actually flattered…all that he has done for amateur radio and still humble. 73s John until we talk again……Morgan WW7B
R.I.P. Low band DX-ing book is on my table in russian and english language.
Thanks John! You will be forever in my hearts.
Victor UA4HBW.
Ham radio will not be the same as John was one of the best CW operator I know. First work John in 1978 on 10 meters.What a pleasure to work a guy that I read all his books on Dxing.He will be missed RIP my friend
Cal K1CAL
We have lost a lighthouse. On the bands, and technical giving for everyone to learn from. Nearly all of my low band antenna “success” is directly attributable to John’s work. And I cannot imagine how much time and love went into everything he published. I got to meet him briefly once at Dayton, but John was always a heart warming beacon on all bands, .
RIP
Jeff – W2FU
Ham Radio will be a different world without John, a deeply and truly inspiring friend. May God bless his soul and give comfort to his family.
We will miss you John. Rest in peace.
Andrew M0HJJ
I along with just about everyone else Worked John many many times over the past 30+ years. His call is a visible presence in my logbook
Prayers for the family and 73 to a great DX’er
Greg WA3GM
Condolences.
RIP John. 73 de Rebecca KB0VVT
John was a recognised voice on top band. Always keen to have a chat and a jam. RIP top band.
Rejean VA2AM
First 80 m QSO back 1993 and 160 m qso ssb & cw after applying his shunt-fed tower idea in 1994 just after the night power restriction removed from LORAN system. By the way I am still using the same top band antenna. Always a pleasure to chat with him or exchanging a contest qso. His antenna books will stay in my library forever, RIP John.
I met John and Frida at my home in San Diego many . . many years ago. They came to visit me and we had a great shindig for him and Frida. All of the SD Dxers came to a dinner that was held in their honor. Freda’s laugh filled the room as she was the power behind John!
He was such a magnanimous person that it was love at first contact! That was so long ago, I can’t remember it.
I can remember one winter’s evening while watching TV, I got a call from a local ham that said John wanted me to get on 75mtrs. There he was . . with a signal like a local.
We were honored to know such a fine man as he . . and his wonderful wife. They both are missed.
I posted a picture of them on my website: http://www.k6jrf.com/John_Frida.jpg
I will always cherish the special 6 section CD John gave me in May 2005 in which he wrote me a big, long “Thank You” on the CD cover for giving him #300 DXCC worked on 80m from my D68AF operation in September 1978 and for being a longtime friend. He worked me many times on other DXpeditions of mine on CW, and in those days before email and international cellphone cheap calls he called some USA hams and asked them to spread the word I was on 80 or 160m.. Such a neat person, and we had many conversations and ate together at dinner, including in Dallas at HamCom. We will miss his expertise on low band antennas, propagation and so many other low band ideas on how to work DX. Our thoughts are with the family at this time. . ?
R.I.P. John. You will be missed in the hiss of 160 meter DX.
John helped everyone around the world with his advice and books. Of course we will miss him and hope you and your family get some relief knowing that the ham family is grieving along with you.
My sincere regrets,
Greg Chartrand
W7MY
It was a pleasure to work with John on a couple of editions of low band dxing. He had a lot of passion for the low band dxing book, and he did a great job of putting it all together for the amateur community. Rip john
RIP John, thinking of his family also at this time.
Jim K7JJP
RIP my friend. I was so happy when you visited George and me at my Colorado QTH. I knew you would always hear me even When I called in a big East Coast pileup. I will miss your friendship and great operating. It was my pleasure knowing you.
Oh how sad. I have a few of his Low Band DXing books… he was a very clever man and a great contributor to Ham Radio. R.I.P John 73 de VK4HF – VK2RR
A true legend in 80/160 antennas and low band DXing. I met him once and found him very engaging and willing to share his antenna ideas and findings. A copy of that first publication, “80-Meter DXing”, a simple, thin, paper bound black and white handbook (1977) still graces my bookshelf. John’s evolution of that book into the large “Low Band DXing” was truly remarkable and infinitely helpful to me and many others. RIP John, there will never be another like you.
R.I.P. John
Peter DL1YAW
I will always remember the day I met John at his home QTH near Gent. I could not believe what an amazing antenna farm he proudly showed to me. Rest in peace John. I have a great treasure in my shack: Low Band DXing that he dedicated to me. From Manuel, EA7PS
Dear John,
I am very sad to have lost you. You have taught the know-how of Low Band DX to many ham radio operators.Thank you very much for your great contribution to the Low Band. R.I.P.
Tac JA7QVI
I remember a few months ago someone already put sad news about John`s passed away. I also had many QSO with this Great and Friendly Ham Radio Guy. Who He obviously has been for the entire life. Big sadness again. As well as I am very sorry to his daughter Marleen and the rest of the Family. Mike SQ6WE RIP
I am so sorry for everyone. John was a very fine gentlemen and a very significant contributor to ham radio. His low band dxing books are testament to his enjoyment and knowledge of 80 and 160. I was very fortunate, as others, to have known him.
When Peter I island was first on the air during a dxpedition, I heard John calling him while I was. I knew he needed it for a new one and I told John to go ahead and he worked the station. Well, conditions deteriorated and the station could not work any more people including myself that day on 80m. My point is that the next day, the Peter I station was specifically looking for me. Word had apparently got out (I bet it was dear John) and I worked the station for a new one. My point is that, it gave me great pleasure to do it for John and I think of the many things he had done for others.
Very sad news. It was always a good day, when I worked John
Very Sad Day for all of us.
N3ZRX
Thanks John for the contacts in contests, and also for your big inspiration for low band dx, that made me focus on 160m band in the wintertime.–RIP –… …– . .
de OZ1FJB – OU2V
RIP John, thanks for your work for our passion.
Very sad news. Although I didn’t know John except through the magic of radio ON4UN was a familiar call sign. I worked him many times on cw and considered him a friend. RIP John, 73 de Peter GM0EUL
May GOD rest your soul John and may he comfort your family. I’m saddened by your passing, but happy that I got to meet you at Dayton and spend a little time with you. Rest in Peace OM.
Goodbye John
RIP
Marc ON5FP
Pour condoleance
You will be allways in our hearts
PZ5JW Rico
Thanks for your book, your QSOs and QSL cards, mostly your inspiration. Respects to your family and
friends. Gerard EI5KF
I’m so sad to hear that news.
We are all tks to you and all experiences you tried succesful leaving this huge acknowledgement into OM field.
73s John de iz8eyp
Many years ago my family and I had the pleasure of visiting John & Freda in their home. Several years later at an Asia Pacific DX Convention in Osaka, John, my youngest daughter and I spent a lot of quality time together. Always a big signal with good ears AND an incredible QSLer!!! RIP John! Glenn W0GJ
I am very sorry about your father, may he rest in peace and your family find peace. His call sounded familiar so checked my logs and I did have a contact with him back in 2011.
John was always a joy to work on the air, either on SSB or CW. He defined a first class operator and ambassador for the hobby. He will always live on through his Low Band DXing book and his writings. I still remember calling him once when I was in Brussels and explaining my flight arrived too late to journey over to his QTH for a tour. My 6 hour layover was now less than 3 hours. We both were disappointed. My condolences to his daughter and her family on this loss. Please know that many of us consider ourselves part of John’s extended family and mourn with you. Scott, K0MD
John will be forever missed. He was the top of the top!! May he rest in Peace. Larry, W0PAN
I’ve been a ham for more than 60 years, and John has always been one of my radio heroes. I refer to his books often.
Hans KØHB
Rest in peace John, thanks for all, see you in another world
73 de ik4cie low band entusiast as you
John visited Tucson a few years ago. I had the pleasure of spending most of one day with him discussing his publications and the writing of a new one for the DXer’s of the world. John always had a big signal on any band, he sure was a great guy,, he will be sorely missed.
Don – K7NN
Thanks for the good work and your books that have inspired me. Merci pour votre beau travail et vos livres qui m’ont inspiré.
736, ve9vic
I am so sorry to hearing this news, my deepest condolences to his family.
Ibrhim, HZ1XB
As a 160 meter enthusiast, this news saddens me, when I met him at the Friedrichshafen fair he was very kind and answered my questions by giving excellent advice. He was a competent operator and shared his experience with everyone. Rest in peace.
Very unfortunate ……. QSO on all bands was only missing Vhf. Rest in peace
John was my hotel roommate one year at Dayton. A delightful guy. We laughed when we discovered we packed for a trip about the same way. I tried to visit him at his home one time, but his wife was ill at the time and, out of concern for her, nothing could be arranged. DL2CC and others, who have spent a weekend there, will have some good stories I’m sure. He was a great engineer, and his books were a great contribution. — Fred K1VR
Big people passes away, but they never completely dies. Their works continues to live after they left us. One of them was John Devoldere, ON4UN. There were many things to learn from him. His book Low Band DX-ing (in several editions) is an “alpha and omega” for any amateur radio enthusiast who wants to work in the low bands. I had the honor to meet him personally! May he have eternal glory! Last 73 for him!
Mile Kokotov, Z33T
Worked him and with him many a late night on 80 metete
John will be forever in our hearts through the Bible of anntenas called Low Band Dx!
Congratulation John!
R.I.P and never left behind!
Petrica YO9RIJ
Ham Radio and specifically DXing has lost an icon. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family…. RIP, John and thanks for all you have done to make our hobby what it is today… Hal W8HC