Many are unaware of the depth of the diplomatic and human contribution made by amateur radio operators worldwide. As early as the 1960s and 1970s, rare moments of openness were recorded. At a time when Israeli amateur radio operators were legally prohibited from communicating with Arab countries, one voice nonetheless broke through: that of a Jordanian radio amateur bearing the unique call sign JY1, King Hussein.
Hussein, an avid radio enthusiast, operated a station from the royal palace and at times from London. His contacts with Israeli radio amateurs were exceptional. He did not limit himself to brief, formal exchanges, known as QSOs, but held long, friendly conversations marked by genuine human curiosity. This was an unusual phenomenon at the time. Years later, following the signing of the peace treaty, King Hussein invited Israeli amateur radio operators for an official visit to Amman and presented them with gifts as mementos.
I personally remember hearing King Hussein on the air back in the day, mostly on the high frequency shortwave bands which are heard around the world. The King famously insisted on being called "Hussein" (and of course his callsign, "JY1") on the air, rather than "Your Majesty" or some other honorific. One special time however, (probably in the mid 1980s), I actually heard him on a local VHF repeater in Providence, RI while he was visiting his son who was attending Brown University. Unfortunately, I never got through the "pileup" of all the other hams trying to work him!
Read more – Jerusalem Post: https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-880631
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